Question about powered bass cabs

[bassben86]

I am curious as to the potential of a powered bass cab (a Roland d-bass 115 x to be specific)

Could you just run a rackmount preamp straight to a powered cab? Or run a preamp floor pedal/ directbox straight?

Any discussion or comments would be great - thanks!

[klokker]

I assume "powered bass cab" is just another name for a combo amp. The short answer is that if the amp has an effects return loop you can go straight into that and by-pass your pre-amp in the cab. Some effects loops disconnect your input and some don't. I don't know what your Roland has. Some floor pedals are essentially pre-amps and can do that as well, some are not.

If you don't have an effects return input, you can set your pre-amp (in your cab) flat and just go through the instrument input as long as you don't set your volume too high on your rack or floor pedal pre-amp.

[Hellbastard]

No. a powered cab is not a combo amp. The cab the OP is quoting a powered cab, meaning it has a power amp, but not a preamp section.

OP I don't have experience with the roland cab you mention, but if it is like any other powered cab or monitor I don't think there's any problem with running an external preamp into it.

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by bassben86

I am curious as to the potential of a powered bass cab (a Roland d-bass 115 x to be specific)

Could you just run a rackmount preamp straight to a powered cab? Or run a preamp floor pedal/ directbox straight?

Any discussion or comments would be great - thanks!

Yes, you have the right idea.

In fact, I'm fairly sure an active bass could probably go direct in just fine.

[silky smoove]

Originally Posted by klokker

I assume "powered bass cab" is just another name for a combo amp.

No.

A powered bass cab is essentially a power amp and a speaker cabinet in the same box. A combo is a preamp, power amp and speaker cabinet in the same box. EDIT: Hellbastard beat me to it.

To the OP: Yes, you can run any preamp into a powered cabinet provided it has the right connectivity and signal level (i.e. output voltage, line vs mic, etc.). Whether you like the preamp you've chosen into that cab given it's inherent voicing and the internal DSP of the power amp is another story.

[bongomania]

For more details about how to match preamps with power sections, check out the FAQ linked in my sig.

[bassben86]

Thanks so much fellas!

I am looking into maybe just getting a powered cab and running a rack preamp - any suggestions on a good preamp?