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Double Bass Amp for Crazy8 + Crazy88 Stack

#41
Jazzdogg said:
The wattage would probably be OK for a Crazy8 and a Crazy88. But, there's no way I'd buy one without playing through it first, especially since it cost more than either the Doubler or the Clarus; then again, I don't remember seeing anything sold by PJB at prices I consider reasonable or competitive.
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Jazz Dog,
Just from my perspective, I think some of the new Class D micro amp power ratings are a little deceptive. When they rate the power output, they are using a 4 ohm load vs a 8 ohm load. So, until you look under the hood, unless you are using a 4 ohm cabinet, it appears that you have more oomph than you actually do. 500 watts should perfectly adequate, for most needs regardless of whether it's a 4 or 8 ohm load, but unless it goes down to a 2 ohm load you're going to be using a single cabinet. Somewhere along the way the power ratings slid to 4 ohms vs 8 ohms.
Just as an example Walter Woods Amps run at either 4 or 8 ohms, but their output power is rated at 8 ohms, so the power output rises as you lower the load. That's why they cost more. I'm not suggesting that folks should all go out and spend the huge chunk of change that a Woods amp costs, but there are differences. That PJB-600 is using the 2 ohm rating for it's "600" watt output power. In my mind that's a little wonky. Just my opinion though. Currently, if wanted to run two 4 ohm cabinets, I'd have to add a power amplifier to do it. So, their are always trade offs.

Ric
 
#43
Ric Vice said:
Jazz Dog,
Just from my perspective, I think some of the new Class D micro amp power ratings are a little deceptive. When they rate the power output, they are using a 4 ohm load vs a 8 ohm load. So, until you look under the hood, unless you are using a 4 ohm cabinet, it appears that you have more oomph than you actually do. 500 watts should perfectly adequate, for most needs regardless of whether it's a 4 or 8 ohm load, but unless it goes down to a 2 ohm load you're going to be using a single cabinet. Somewhere along the way the power ratings slid to 4 ohms vs 8 ohms.
Just as an example Walter Woods Amps run at either 4 or 8 ohms, but their output power is rated at 8 ohms, so the power output rises as you lower the load. That's why they cost more. I'm not suggesting that folks should all go out and spend the huge chunk of change that a Woods amp costs, but there are differences. That PJB-600 is using the 2 ohm rating for it's "600" watt output power. In my mind that's a little wonky. Just my opinion though. Currently, if wanted to run two 4 ohm cabinets, I'd have to add a power amplifier to do it. So, their are always trade offs.

Ric
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That's a pet peeve of mine, too, Ric; it's hard not to feel as though an amp maker is trying to pull the wool over your eyes when they make a wattage claim without specifying the impedance at which it is delivered.
 
#45
I don't pretend to understand all the ways amp makers come up with their specs. What I do know is that both my Clarus and GK MB200 are rated at 200W into 4 ohms. The GK is rated at 140 into 8 but the Clarus doesn't specify an 8 ohm rating. It's 200 into 4 and 300 into 2. The Clarus sounds like a much bigger amp into both the 8 ohm Crazy 8 and the 4 ohm Acme B1. I look at specifications as an indication as to how an amp might sound but ultimately I trust my ears.
 
#46
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
I don't pretend to understand all the ways amp makers come up with their specs. What I do know is that both my Clarus and GK MB200 are rated at 200W into 4 ohms. The GK is rated at 140 into 8 but the Clarus doesn't specify an 8 ohm rating. It's 200 into 4 and 300 into 2. The Clarus sounds like a much bigger amp into both the 8 ohm Crazy 8 and the 4 ohm Acme B1. I look at specifications as an indication as to how an amp might sound but ultimately I trust my ears.
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Thanks for your perspective, Greg. I've been playing through an iAmp800 or several years, which I like. Before that, I had a GB Shuttle 6.0 that I found utterly anemic; neither enough power nor enough bass. I bought a GK MB200 last month and ended up giving it to my nephew because, to my ears, it sounded strident and unrefined. The quest continues.
 
#48
Jazzdogg said:
Thanks for your perspective, Greg. I've been playing through an iAmp800 or several years, which I like. Before that, I had a GB Shuttle 6.0 that I found utterly anemic; neither enough power nor enough bass. I bought a GK MB200 last month and ended up giving it to my nephew because, to my ears, it sounded strident and unrefined. The quest continues.
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Jazz Dog,
Interestingly enough I noticed a big difference between my original Walter Woods MI-100-8 and the Woods MI-400-8 that I still own. The increase in power IMHO improves the overall sound, especially the clarity of the attack and definition of the lowest notes on the E and A string.
The only difference between those two amps was the power section, the pre amps were virtually identical.
I know there were three versions of the iAMP a 200, 350, and 800. Did you try the other ones on for size? My guess is that the lower wattage versions sounded a little different. Maybe not though, this could all be in my head.


Ric
 
#50
Last time I tried the Doubler I took my DB. This time I took my P-bass. I was unable to EQ either instrument to my liking using the built-in EQ (guess that means I'm totally spoiled by the surgically precise semi-parametric EQ on the iAmp).

Looks like my choices are (1) use an external parametric EQ; (2) lower my expectations and learn to live with it :(; (3) plug into my FDeck HPF/Pre, thence into an A/B switch, and keep using my iAmp800.

Any news on the new & improved iAmp Pro that's supposed to be available this autumn?
 
#51
Jazzdogg said:
Last time I tried the Doubler I took my DB. This time I took my P-bass. I was unable to EQ either instrument to my liking using the built-in EQ (guess that means I'm totally spoiled by the surgically precise semi-parametric EQ on the iAmp).

Looks like my choices are (1) use an external parametric EQ; (2) lower my expectations and learn to live with it :(; (3) plug into my FDeck HPF/Pre, thence into an A/B switch, and keep using my iAmp800.

Any news on the new & improved iAmp Pro that's supposed to be available this autumn?
Click to expand...

I used to have an iAmp Pro. Fantastic tone, endless power and ever-flexible EQ. But.... way more power than I needed, it was 10 pounds and quite big compared to the iAMP Micro I now use along with an Empress ParaEQ and Fdeck Pre. The Empress is only fractionally less flexible than the Pro's onboard EQ, particularly Q factors. On the other hand, the Empress has never failed to deliver what I need. And the whole new package is a lot lighter and more compact. To my ears, the intrinsic tone of the Pro and Micro is the same.

With that said, I prefer the iAmp Micro for my Rob Allen Deep 4, and use the Genz Benz Streamliner 900 for my Fender Jazz bass (usually played only with the P pickups). Both through the Crazy8. Both sound amazing in those configurations. The SL900 only goes to 4ohms.
 
#53
I helped design the Doubler. I'm an eq nut---and I know what I'm doing. I told them that the ultimate amp would have 5 fully parametric bands and they laughed and said that no one would buy it. And they're probably right. Problem with the mini amps is front panel real estate. Which is why the Iamp 800 has all of that eq and the minis have 3 bands.
Try to find a Fishman Dual Parametric DI. Two fully parametric bands.Really sounds great but it hasn't been made for a while.

I'm toying with designing an amp. I've got the power section but I'm trying to find a good preamp designer. I want 3 bands of normal eq and 2 fully parametric bands. We'll see if anything happens.
 
#55
Mike Arnopol said:
I helped design the Doubler. I'm an eq nut---and I know what I'm doing. I told them that the ultimate amp would have 5 fully parametric bands and they laughed and said that no one would buy it. And they're probably right. Problem with the mini amps is front panel real estate. Which is why the Iamp 800 has all of that eq and the minis have 3 bands.
Try to find a Fishman Dual Parametric DI. Two fully parametric bands.Really sounds great but it hasn't been made for a while.

I'm toying with designing an amp. I've got the power section but I'm trying to find a good preamp designer. I want 3 bands of normal eq and 2 fully parametric bands. We'll see if anything happens.
Click to expand...

Mike,
Go for it. Two Channel

Ric
 

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