TC Electronic RH450, RS210, RS212 Review Thread (Part V)

Akami · #1 08-02-2010, 04:34 AM

Here's the new thread and a link to the last one!

MIJ-VI · #2 08-02-2010, 04:47 AM

::::BASSIST:::: · #3 08-02-2010, 05:03 AM

subscribed

KJung · #4 08-02-2010, 05:04 AM

Cool. I'm in. Still totally digging the RH450 and RS210 rig... warm, tight, articulate... perfect for that sort of 'new school meets old school' type tone.

J Bass

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/u/15/VVo4OC-exB4

Piezo loaded semi-acoustic Rob Allen

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/u/6/jpB4P5HllVY

Papersen · #5 08-02-2010, 05:53 AM

Subscribed.
Still GASing for your combo Kjung and eventually adding a RS112. Unfortunately I`m broke right now

KJung · #6 08-02-2010, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papersen

Subscribed.
Still GASing for your combo Kjung and eventually adding a RS112. Unfortunately I`m broke right now

That RS210 is a real sleeper in the industry. IMO, one of the best sounding 210's on the market (at any price), and a small fraction of the price of many others. Yes, the finish is a bit touchy (you need the padded cover if you gig it regularly), but it just sounds great, and the footprint and in-line vertical design with the very nice sounding coax tweeter is perfect for small stages. REALLY nice sounding 210 IMO.

scowboy · #7 08-02-2010, 08:06 AM

Agree!

Loving my RS210's. My RS112 is supposed to show up today. I will be interested to see what it really adds.

I also just spun up some Jimi Hendrix stuff I have been working up and the headphone output of the RH450 is stereo from the RCA connectors. Jimi's voice was hard panned to one side on One Rainy Wish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

That RS210 is a real sleeper in the industry. IMO, one of the best sounding 210's on the market (at any price), and a small fraction of the price of many others. Yes, the finish is a bit touchy (you need the padded cover if you gig it regularly), but it just sounds great, and the footprint and in-line vertical design with the very nice sounding coax tweeter is perfect for small stages. REALLY nice sounding 210 IMO.

Musicman20 · #8 08-02-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

That RS210 is a real sleeper in the industry. IMO, one of the best sounding 210's on the market (at any price), and a small fraction of the price of many others. Yes, the finish is a bit touchy (you need the padded cover if you gig it regularly), but it just sounds great, and the footprint and in-line vertical design with the very nice sounding coax tweeter is perfect for small stages. REALLY nice sounding 210 IMO.

Very good point, it is yet to be given full recognition for how nice it sounds especially considering its low-ish price point.

IMO, covers are essential on virtually all spray on finishes; I wouldnt gig the RS210/212 without a cover.

KJung · #9 08-02-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Very good point, it is yet to be given full recognition for how nice it sounds especially considering its low-ish price point.

IMO, covers are essential on virtually all spray on finishes; I wouldnt gig the RS210/212 without a cover.

The truck bed liner finishes like Schroeder uses are rock hard and thick. However, +1, the more 'refined' spray on finishes like TC and Bergantino use need to be protected by a padded cover. Not unique to TC.

Vic · #10 08-02-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

That RS210 is a real sleeper in the industry. IMO, one of the best sounding 210's on the market (at any price), and a small fraction of the price of many others. Yes, the finish is a bit touchy (you need the padded cover if you gig it regularly)...

This is still true even with the newer finish?

KJung · #11 08-02-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic

This is still true even with the newer finish?

The new finish is very similar to the Berg AE finish, so yes. These water based 'roll on' finishes are not the heavy duty truck bed liner finishes, like on the Schroeder cabs, the optional LDS truck bed finish, etc., etc. Any cabs with these sort of smooth, thin, water based shiny finishes need to be babied a touch. Not an issue with a padded cover though.

MIJ-VI · #12 08-02-2010, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scowboy

Agree!

Loving my RS210's. My RS112 is supposed to show up today. I will be interested to see what it really adds.

I also just spun up some Jimi Hendrix stuff I have been working up and the headphone output of the RH450 is stereo from the RCA connectors. Jimi's voice was hard panned to one side on One Rainy Wish.

Bingo!

KJung · #13 08-02-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

Bingo!

The only downside is that, since it is a stereo circuit, you can't use the RCA input to play an MP3 through a cab.... it is headphone only.

Vic · #14 08-02-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The only downside is that, since it is a stereo circuit, you can't use the RCA input to play an MP3 through a cab.... it is headphone only.

I don't think that's "since it's a stereo circuit" (or at least there's no real technical reason why that should be a problem).

As I recall, it was simply a TC design choice to not sum that signal and feed it to the power section and speaker outs. Someone asked about that a while back regarding using the rig to simply playback music from an mp3 player.

MIJ-VI · #15 08-02-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The only downside is that, since it is a stereo circuit, you can't use the RCA input to play an MP3 through a cab.... it is headphone only.

I could live with (and would expect) that. I thinking about neighbours, and about home recording with playback into the RCA ins while I hear as much of the bass guitar as I want in the phones.

Speaking of which, Mike mentioned (near the end of the previous thread) that he was hearing a bit of hiss in the headphones he's using with his newly acquired RH450. Has anyone here noticed a similar hiss from their RH450's when using 'phones?

KJung · #16 08-02-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic

I don't think that's "since it's a stereo circuit" (or at least there's no real technical reason why that should be a problem).

As I recall, it was simply a TC design choice to not sum that signal and feed it to the power section and speaker outs. Someone asked about that a while back regarding using the rig to simply playback music from an mp3 player.

For whatever reason, it won't play through the speakers. This may or may not be a negative for some.

Ur2funky · #17 08-02-2010, 10:26 AM

Color me subscribed!

DonovanBankhead · #18 08-02-2010, 10:39 AM

So, I know there is not enough love for the S51. Many people feel the amp is just too boomy and muddy. I got with Uffe, the TC Bass Products manager, to get his suggestions on how to make the S51 sound more like the RH450. Of course, it won't sound EXACTLY the same, but watch this video and I think you'll be impressed with how close it gets. I got it to get pretty close, but still with a bit fuller lower end and a touch more highs - a sound I REALLY dug all night long...

Granted, some of the knobs are tweaked to the extreme, but if you are someone that wants an amp that is lives more in the crisp/bright/full spectrum than the warm mids of the RH450, the S51 may be right up your alley.

The audio quality of the speaking is a bit soft, so you'll have to ride your volume control on your speakers when you watch it. I had a few minutes before my gig last Saturday so it's recorded on stage. Oh, and it of course features my trademark mediocre playing.

Enough preamble - here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kPkKzKkUOA

Vic · #19 08-02-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonovanBankhead

So, I know there is not enough love for the S51...

Great vid!

Yeah, this is kinda' what I did when I had both of them, and outside the fact that I did like the extra sheen I was able to get out of the top of the S51, I still felt like if I kept the S51 I was buying a square only to try and make it behave like a circle most of the time.

It just depends on what kind of sound you want to use most.

If you want the S51 kind of sound, get the S51, and just know you can tighten it up from time to time if you want that. If you want a more mainstream sound, something that's more focused by default nature, you're better off getting the RH450. For me, the perfect amp would be the RH450 with the low pass filter adjustable, or at least set much higher. I've just never ever needed the extra low end the S51 is specifically designed to produce.

Personal prefs as always tho.

IMHO anyway.

KJung · #20 08-02-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic

Great vid!

Yeah, this is kinda' what I did when I had both of them, and outside the fact that I did like the extra sheen I was able to get out of the top of the S51, I still felt like if I kept the S51 I was buying a square only to try and make it behave like a circle most of the time.

It just depends on what kind of sound you want to use most.

If you want the S51 kind of sound, get the S51, and just know you can tighten it up from time to time if you want that. If you want a more mainstream sound, something that's more focused by default nature, you're better off getting the RH450. For me, the perfect amp would be the RH450 with the low pass filter adjustable, or at least set much higher. I've just never ever needed the extra low end the S51 is specifically designed to produce.

Personal prefs as always tho.

IMHO anyway.

+1 My guess is, the update of the RH450 (whenever that happens... I assume Winter NAMM) will have the tweetertone knob (variable lo pass filter combined with boost) like the new combo's. That is really the only thing the Staccato does that the RH450 doesn't. And, even for me (one who likes nice treble extension), a little bit of boost around 3K on the RH450 treble shelving, and it would be enough treble response and sheen for all but the Marcus Miller clones IMO and IME.