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1U Power Amp For Bass
- Thread starter DigitalMan
- Start date
I had an HBP1-800D. There is a Bass/Mid/Treble stack, a Presence Control, and a switchable, two band, fully parametric EQ section. The effects loop can also be switched in and out of the circuit, and send/return levels independently set. It's a very flexible layout, particularly if you want to pair it with another, contrasting preamp. I used mine in conjunction with a Monique pre (Tardis format -- would've been perfect if it was the rack version), run into the effects loop.
Now, running into the effects return bypasses all of the EQ except for the Presence control, which I found handy with Monique, since I wanted a bit more bite in the upper register with that preamp. I could be running into the Demeter front end, move the instrument cable to Monique, hit the effects loop switch and dial the Presence control up (left it dialed down with the Demeter) and switch, that way, from one pre to another in about three seconds, without having to touch anything on the back of the amp or mess with any cabling. Send/Return levels great for setting optimum gain for Monique and matching volume between the pres. Each pre has (apart from the Presence control) its own independent EQ, so I didn't have to mess up the settings of one to use the other.
Not cost-effective as a 1U poweramp, if that was all one wanted to use it for, but since you've got one coming, I thought I'd mention my experience with it in that regard.
The HBP can also be run into another poweramp, and I did that on occasion, too.
ADDENDUM: The amp has an (obviously small) fan. Mine had a switch in back to turn the fan on and off. If using it as a preamp with another poweramp or recording at low levels, you can leave it off. At any sort of gig (or any other environment where heat might be an issue), you want to be sure that the fan is on. I would make "on" my default setting.
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Nobody mention the Peavey Headliner 1000 yet?
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The same 1K power section as the Minimega with a different preamp in a 1U rack format...
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The same 1K power section as the Minimega with a different preamp in a 1U rack format...
Great info..many thanks. I plan to keep it racked with an empty space above capped by a front vent panel, and it'll be used mainly at lower volumes and 8 Ohms, but I will definitely keep the fan on.
I really wish I would have picked up an SWR Amplite when I had the chance. They were pretty expensive for what they were IMO though.
I really wanted to pick that one up, but I haven't had the funds for gear for a few months.
Nice. I just grabbed one of these.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,088
- 5
- 221,214
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
If you have to leave a space above, then what's the advantage of the smaller chassis?
I acquired it in trade, and don't care about the extra rack space
I'll add a power strip and tuner in a 4 space rack case. I actually prefer the 4 spaces to 3, since I currently have only 1 cab wide enough not to have the rack overhang badly on both sides (I HATE it when that happens); therefore it may spend some time on it's side, on the floor next to cab(s), and the added "height" will provide a wider, more secure base in those situations.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,088
- 5
- 221,214
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
I should have clarified that it was more of a rhetorical question, for all the folks who seem to think that 1u plus a space is somehow more favorable to 2u in this comparison.I acquired it in trade, and don't care about the extra rack space
I'll add a power strip and tuner in a 4 space rack case. I actually prefer the 4 spaces to 3, since I currently have only 1 cab wide enough not to have the rack overhang badly on both sides (I HATE it when that happens); therefore it may spend some time on it's side, on the floor next to cab(s), and the added "height" will provide a wider, more secure base in those situations.
Rhetorical questions seem to blend in very nicely to any thread that I start.
Here's another one that somebody else should try then post here if it's any good
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Cheap but it's only a 1 year warranty - so not pro quality
My biggest concern with 1ru is fans are too small and no room for a decent DSP
I just picked one of these up l a little over a week ago, and it works great for bass and my ADA MB-1 preamp. Compared to my Rocktron Velocity:
1. Much cleaner sound and lower bass frequencies than the Rocktron.
2. You have to crank this power amp all the way, and use your preamp level for volume. With the Rocktron, you can't crank the volume up all the way.
3. The Rocktron sounds more like a vintagy Solid State power amp, this one sounds more modern.
I have yet to gig with this rig, but I think the wattage is way over advertised, but I think I can pull off a gig with it. I would say the it is about half of the advertised RMS.
For $100, you can't beat it. Great for getting practice level volumes as well as gig level.
With the levels cranked all the way, it can get fairly loud with a preamp in front of it. I have to crank the preamp to get full volume, but it doesn't breakup like the Rocktron. I can only tell so much with what testing I have done, but it sounds like it would get loud enough for a gig with a 8ohm 210 Avatar. I will know in a couple of weeks. Either way, worth the money. I don't plan on gigging this rig much. I use it to practice at home in my music room.
I would say it is as loud as the fan in my small PA and other class D amps. I think if fan noise is an issue, this may not do the trick.
Great info. Thanks for posting.
I looked at the amp specs and it mentions:
Input Sensitivity (Limiter Off) 0.9 ~ 1.1V (±1 dBv)
Sometimes in the world of Bass pre-amps, they may only drive at .75V at full out. If one pre-amp can't quite drive 1.1v it should be apparent if the clip light on the amp can't be made flash at max settings. If it can be made to flash then you probably are driving it to max output.
I noticed it has a limiter defeat switch which is probably good since they call it a studio amp. Amps can "appear" to be louder if you turn off the limiter. Of course without the limiter it may appear to distort before you think it should.
Monoprice has been a great company for me. Better quality than I'd expect for the price. They seem eager to drive customer satisfaction.
