Sansamp + Crown???

[hugeismyname]

In my quest of a good sounding rig within my price range i have narrowed it down to either a Sansamp RBI or Sansamp RPM. I will be running it through my svt 810e and was wondering if anyone had some input that could point me in the right direction. what are the main differences in sound and tone control? pros and cons? I would also like any suggestions on which crown power amp would best accompany this set up. with the option of bridging, it really opens up the selection.

Huge

[bongomania]

The RPM has a sweepable mids control and a higher input impedance. Otherwise they're pretty much the same. Crown is a fine brand, but there's no reason to focus on just the one brand. Pick a power amp that has the wattage, weight, size, and price that works for you, and either buy it used or buy the new one with the best warranty.

[Soulfinger]

I had an SABDDI, which is believe is similiar in tone to the RBI. I then got an RPM. The RPM is better in every way--the tone is clearer, the distortion better. It's just so much better I can't even see why they make the RBI. Geddy switched to the RPM for a reason!

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by tech21nyc

The main difference between the RBI and RPM is that the RBI is based on our Bass Driver DI pedal for more modern bass sounds. The RPM on the other hand is based on our Para Driver DI and has a sweepable semi-parametric EQ and also utilizes a 4.7 megOhm instrument level input which works well with acoustic instruments that have piezo pickups. Both units employ SansAmp circuitry but the blend knob allows you to balance the straight sound of your bass with the SansAmp sound.

The other thing I forgot to mention about the power amps is you might be best off with one that has an input sensitivity rating of up to 1.0V but no higher.

[Balog]

Out of the major PA amps, aren't the Peavey IPR's the onl;y ones with <1Vrms inout sensitivity?

[bongomania]

No, the Crest CA series has 0.7V, some QSC amps can be switched between 0.7 and 1.4, and there are lots with exactly 1.0, like the Carvin DCM series.

[Son of Bovril]

If you do decide to go crown, I would recommend the XLS1500 Drivecore series - light, cheap and powerful

[Balog]

Originally Posted by bongomania

No, the Crest CA series has 0.7V, some QSC amps can be switched between 0.7 and 1.4, and there are lots with exactly 1.0, like the Carvin DCM series.

I stand corrected. Thanks

[Blues Bass 2]

I used an RBI/Crown XTI1000 rig for a few years . I used it with a bunch of different cabinets most of the times bridged and it had plenty of power for almost any gig . The best combo of cabs was my 310-115 rig shown here at a benefit gig .



One of the other local bass players around this area uses an RBI/Crown XTI1000 bridged into an Ampeg 810 cabinet with his Kiss tribute band and his sounds very good too . We've played several big gigs on the same bill with those guys and they are a fun bunch .

I've used two different Crowns and a Carvin power amp with the RBI and all of them worked fine , no problems with the RBI matching up . I use a Markbass head now but if I were going back to the RBI rig I'd just get a XLS 1000 or XLS1500 based on the good luck and plenty of power the XTI had . Also the RPM might be a good choice because of the better EQ options but the RBI isn't as much a one trick pony as some people think . Either would be a great way to go .

[cableguy]

I've never used the RPM, but the RBI sounds great through my Carvin DCM 600. I like an Ampegish tone. Some people chain an RBI & RPM together and I hear that sounds great with the ability to switch between the preamps.

[Micky-D]

That is my backup/smaller amp combination. A Sansamp RBI and a Crown Com-Tec410. The Com-Tec is big and heavy and not the most powerful device out there, but they sound fantastic with a high damping factor.

Also, they have the attenuators on the rear of the amp, which I quite like to neaten up the rack. That and it's built like the proverbial brick shithouse.

Cheers,
Mick

[subexpression]

@Soulfinger, Yes, the RPM is the winner!

@Son of Bovril, The Crown XLS1500 is a great amp. It has some interesting features and plenty of power.

However, I'm more privy to the no-frills variety without the LCD screen and embedded operating system menus.

I picked up the Crown XLS 802D, which is out of production. It's been replaced by the XLS1500. Still, it affords me 500W per channel @8Ω. Plenty for me. However, the XLS 802D weighs ~40lbs, but XLS1500 weighs 8 & 3/4 lbs! But hey, I got a good deal on it

I posted a few months back on TB on this very topic...and you can read the threads on how I came to my decision:
!HELP: SWR WP700 or Sansamp RBI?

Now, my chain is:
MXR M-288 Bass Octave Deluxe -> Ibanez TS-9 -> Akai Unibass -> Boss TU-2 tuner -> Boss CS-3 -> ISP Decimator -> Boss DD3 -> Sansamp RPM -> BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer -> Crown XLS 802D
My two cabs are SWR 4x10 and SWR 1x15
The nice thing about stereo 8Ω is I can control the volume of my cabinets separately.
The XLS 802D specs are: 800W/channel @4Ω; 500W/channel @8Ω; 1600W bridge-mono @8Ω; 2100W bridge-mono @4Ω;

The whole rig sounds absolutely stunning!

[JBMysteron]

Originally Posted by Son of Bovril

If you do decide to go crown, I would recommend the XLS1500 Drivecore series - light, cheap and powerful

I'm running a Sansamp RBI + Crown XLS1500 Drivecore series power amp. It sounds amazing, I'm running the bridge mode into my 1200 watt Ashdown 8x10. With the high-pass filter on it cleans up my low end and just sounds super tight.

I sold my Ampeg SVT3Pro to buy this power amp because as Son of Bovril said, light, cheap and powerful. RBI manages to get pretty decent SVT tones so that should treat you quite nicely!

[xring]

I've found that when engaging the 50hz. (lowest it will go) filter on my xls1500 I lose the deep powerful bottom end. I'm running into Aggie 410 and 212 cabs. Filter is disengaged.

[JBMysteron]

I might have to give that a burl, see what the difference is with my rig. I really wish the filter would go lower... around the 30-40hz would be killer

[subexpression]

It's interesting to see how many bass players are going the Sansamp-Crown route.
The tone is fabulous!

[stingray69]

I've used both RBI & RPM for a few years - ran them separately, combined, etc. Finally decided that just the RBI alone was enough for me. The RPM is great, and I'd be the last one to think that I'd go with the RBI if I had to choose. I think my decision was based around the fact I'm running the RBI along with a 5-band fully parametric EQ in my rack as well. With that on hand, I can pull RPM sounds with only slight EQ adjustment.

Without additional EQ at one's disposal, I'd agree that the RPM is a better sounding unit - can be dialed in to be a lot more mid-punchier in general. The RBI + good EQ on hand was the winner for me though. It's the original and carries the RBI trademark SVT-ish tone (probably has a lot to do with the notorious Presence knob). FWIW, I did try extensively via EQ to emulate the RBI tones out of the RPM. Close, but not nearly as well as emulating RPM tones from the RBI. The RPM is in the same ballpark but at the same time I think the voicing is a little different than the RBI - the Tech21 website states that it is geared for a wider, more encompassing range of instruments. Not quite exactly same - seems a bit more polite in tone, although the range of overdrive gets quite a bit further into full on distortion than the RBI. Everything above is IMO only & should be taken in that context. You can get wonderful tones out of both for sure.

I gotta agree with Bongomania - I wouldn't get too hung up on poweramp brand so much as finding suitable performance specs, warranty, etc., that will suite your needs. I pair mine with a QSC PLX-1602 with the 30Hz filter switch engaged. I've never been more pleased with a bass rig than with this setup. It's very nice.

[Son of Bovril]

Originally Posted by JBMysteron

I might have to give that a burl, see what the difference is with my rig. I really wish the filter would go lower... around the 30-40hz would be killer

+1 I use the XLS1500 in bridged bypass mode, but if it had a 30hz HPF I would use it, 50hz is too high for my tastes.

[bassplayer7770]

Of those preamps, I'd probably prefer the RPM simply due to the adjustable Mids. IIRC, those Sansamp preamps have the same output as my BBE BMAX, and I'm using a Crown XLS 1500 power amp bridged into an 8 ohm LDS 15/6.5 cab. I can't fathom needing more volume than this rig gives me.

[warnergt]

I use the Crown XLS1500 with a 215. That is one great amp.
It is clean, powerful, affordable, reliable and light.