Sansamp RBI and Power amp Volume ?

Stinger2k · #1 12-26-2011, 05:22 PM

Trying a new set up. Playing through my sansamp RBI with a Crown power amp. Getting great tone but had a ? regarding overall volume. Better to set the Crown volume control close to max and control the level with the RBI level knob, or just the opposite?
Thanks

Mike · #2 12-26-2011, 05:29 PM

When I ran an RBI with a power amp I always ran the power near max and controlled the level with the RBI as you mentioned. Someone more technically inclined will probably chime in but, I don't see how you could get any significant volume if doing the opposite.

lowendgenerator · #3 12-26-2011, 05:44 PM

I've run my RBI into the power section of my 1001RB for the hell of it. I left the volume and boost at noon, and used the RBI to control actual volume. Plenty of dBs.

Foamy · #4 12-26-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinger2k

Trying a new set up. Playing through my sansamp RBI with a Crown power amp. Getting great tone but had a ? regarding overall volume. Better to set the Crown volume control close to max and control the level with the RBI level knob, or just the opposite?
Thanks

More the opposite. You need enough output from the RBI to drive the input of the Crown.
I don't think this is any different than how you'd adjust your bass amps gain -to he point where you are not clipping. Then, control the volume from that point.
You can/should(?) make very small changes with the Sansamp's volume from that point.

Note that you can very easily blow your cab when the crown is set at max output if a number of things happen. But you are not going to blow a cab with the RBI volume alone.

TylerDurdenPSSC · #5 12-26-2011, 06:40 PM

I always max'd my RBI and tweak'd volume with my SVP1600... Had a bit of problem with clipping, but got it figured out and under control after a while.

Growly Lytes · #6 12-26-2011, 06:51 PM

Ive never ran my Poweramp at full.Always set it at noon & use the RBI for the actual level.If more is needed or there is clipping then i will turn the poweramp up a little more.

iamoldschool · #7 12-26-2011, 06:56 PM

I run the same type setup. RBI into a Crown XS500(1400 Watts @ 8 ohms bridged). I keep the Crown maxed and control volume on the RBI. As I understand, the controls on the amp are there more to control signal to noise ratio than anything else. So, as long as there is no hiss, no problem running it at max. Provides much more volume than I'll ever need. As always, your experience may differ but that's what works for me.

walterw · #8 12-26-2011, 09:03 PM

i use the BDDI version into power amps, and i find i never need to run either volume even close to max for full output from a power amp.

set the sansamp to a good strong level, say, halfway up, then adjust your power amp from zero, bringing it up until the stage volume is where you want it; this way, the amp's level knob becomes your master volume, and the sansamp stays put, so the FOH signal it's also sending out doesn't change.

it's also easier to tweak that big amp level knob up at face level on top of the cabs than it is to bend down and mess with the pedal's level knob.

(with the RBI these aren't issues, since the XLR level control is separate and it's likely sitting right on top of the power amp in the rack anyway. still, no need to dime either volume control.)

Stinger2k · #9 12-27-2011, 07:09 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys!!

Downunderwonder · #10 12-27-2011, 11:04 AM

If I set the RBI too hot the clipping in the amp isn't nice.

xring · #11 12-27-2011, 11:15 AM

I've run several different pres into my Drivercore 1500. I get the worst S/N ratio when maxing the power amp. It's much quieter with more gain on the pre, less cranking on the amp.

Fuzzbass · #12 12-28-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xring

I've run several different pres into my Drivercore 1500. I get the worst S/N ratio when maxing the power amp. It's much quieter with more gain on the pre, less cranking on the amp.

Exactly.

The big question is, how powerful is your power amp? A lot of us run 1000+ watts (better to have power in reserve when we need it). If you only need a fraction of your available headroom, it's a bad idea to max the power amp volume because you'll be boosting the noise floor as noted by xring.

In short: use your amp's volume control as master volume, not the RBI's volume.

aaronhutson · #13 12-28-2011, 04:20 PM

I have a similar question regarding my RBI. I normally use the back 1/4" output into my crown power amp. And then leave my XLRs for my DI. But would it be better to do the opposite? Use my affected XLR to the amp then run a 1/4" to XLR there for my DI?

aaronhutson · #14 12-28-2011, 04:22 PM

With that being said, I run my amp at less than half and my RBI level less than half. Thats through 810s too.. Ha.

walterw · #15 12-28-2011, 08:29 PM

nah, stick with the "sansamp" 1/4" to the amp, and use the XLR out for the PA like it's meant for.

(it would probably work fine the other way, but now you have to introduce another DI box into the equation for utterly no reason.)

iamoldschool · #16 12-28-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronhutson

I have a similar question regarding my RBI. I normally use the back 1/4" output into my crown power amp. And then leave my XLRs for my DI. But would it be better to do the opposite? Use my affected XLR to the amp then run a 1/4" to XLR there for my DI?

RBI has both effected and uneffected XLR outs. I send the effected to my power amp and the dry signal to the house.

walterw · #17 12-28-2011, 09:51 PM

screw that! the "effected", grindy sansamp tone is what the house gets, too! if they don't like it, i say too bad

tech21nyc · #18 12-29-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinger2k

Trying a new set up. Playing through my sansamp RBI with a Crown power amp. Getting great tone but had a ? regarding overall volume. Better to set the Crown volume control close to max and control the level with the RBI level knob, or just the opposite?
Thanks

I'm not sure which Crown you have but we get a number of questions regarding using our products with their Drivecore series amps. Those amps have a 1.4Vrms input sensitivity with the gains maxed for full rated output at 4ohms. The RBI can put out over 3Vrms.

In general we would recommend running the power amp up full and using the master on the RBI. The gain controls on the Crown are really attenuating the input source.This is the way an integrated bass or guitar amp is designed. The power amp is running full out and the preamp or master volume is simply reducing the level "before" the power section. Of course if you think you might be inclined to adjust the level during a performance and wish to maintain the same signal level to the board if using the SansAmp out it may be to your advantage to adjust the overall level from the power amp instead. This will depend on the amount of power you are running and how it interacts with your speaker system.

Stinger2k · #19 12-29-2011, 08:40 AM

Thanks to all for your input.
I am running a XLS1000 in Bridge Mode.

iamoldschool · #20 12-29-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech21nyc

I'm not sure which Crown you have but we get a number of questions regarding using our products with their Drivecore series amps. Those amps have a 1.4Vrms input sensitivity with the gains maxed for full rated output at 4ohms. The RBI can put out over 3Vrms.

In general we would recommend running the power amp up full and using the master on the RBI. The gain controls on the Crown are really attenuating the input source.This is the way an integrated bass or guitar amp is designed. The power amp is running full out and the preamp or master volume is simply reducing the level "before" the power section. Of course if you think you might be inclined to adjust the level during a performance and wish to maintain the same signal level to the board if using the SansAmp out it may be to your advantage to adjust the overall level from the power amp instead. This will depend on the amount of power you are running and how it interacts with your speaker system.

Impressive to have Tech21 responding to a product question on an internet board. But after all, it is TALKBASS!

Love my RBI.