Ampeg Micro VR issues poll with new video

[AlexanderB]

A perfectly stable amp will add another 6dB when speakers are doubled and impedance cut in half (twice the power).

The Micro gains little extra power and will only gain 3 dB (from the doubling the speaker area).
That "dual speaker maximum volume" will be reached when you turn DOWN volume or gain 3 dB. Keeping the volume at the regular maximum clean sound position will generate distortion.

 

[fenderhutz]

I see what you are trying to say regarding the noise and it makes sense, however this amps behavior doesn't mimic what you are explaining.

 

[fenderhutz]

Anyone who reported it via email get a response yet?

 

[GaryLC]

Allen,
Ampeg sent me a reply last night, basically letting me know what they told you.....nothing more.

 

[Exploiter8]

I'm very interested in the outcome of this. I was ready to buy the head and two cabs, but not so much now!

Good luck in your ongoing process.

X8

 

[fenderhutz]

Allen,
Ampeg sent me a reply last night, basically letting me know what they told you.....nothing more.

Yeah. Don't know what much else they can say really until they figure out what a fix is.

 

[tombowlus]

Yeah. Don't know what much else they can say really until they figure out what a fix is.

You know, it may very well be that there is no real "fix" to this situation. It might just be that you are hitting the operational limits of that head with two of those cabs. Yes, it'd be great to have more volume, and yes, compared to other Ampeg heads, the gain settings are fairly low. But it might just be that we've found the limits of what this head will do with two SVT-210AVs.

If there were to be an actual "fix," my guess is that it would involve increasing the headroom on the input gain, or possibly going with a softer limiter. But please note, I am not an engineer...

 

[jallenbass]

Just to clarify - This problem does NOT happen when you use the 2 cabinets with a different head?

 

[tombowlus]

Just to clarify - This problem does NOT happen when you use the 2 cabinets with a different head?

I have been able to get the PF-500 to clip out (not quite as harshly, though) with these cabs, as well, but it definitely drives them louder before this happens.

 

[cataract]

Quick question, then back on topic- is it okay for the peak light to be going crazy while playing or should the volume be adjusted to where it never lights up?

 

[fenderhutz]

I have been able to get the PF-500 to clip out (not quite as harshly, though) with these cabs, as well, but it definitely drives them louder before this happens.

Here is a point to ponder. What if the same "issue" happens with these two heads? I heard another TB'er bought a PF500 and ran it with an Ampeg 215 cab at 4 ohm and the same exact thing happened. He ran it with another cab with similar wattage and it didn't. These amps have the same engineer?

If you can only run this head a little over 50% gain or volume with these two cabs but higher with one cab or with another head or cabs that isn't an intended feature. There is a design flaw somewhere. Just my .02

 

[tombowlus]

Here is a point to ponder. What if the same "issue" happens with these two heads? I heard another TB'er bought a PF500 and ran it with an Ampeg 215 cab at 4 ohm and the same exact thing happened. He ran it with another cab with similar wattage and it didn't. These amps have the same engineer?

If you can only run this head a little over 50% gain or volume with these two cabs but higher with one cab or with another head or cabs that isn't an intended feature. There is a design flaw somewhere. Just my .02

Or it could be that the gain & volume pots have tapers that differ from what the user suspects. You have to forgive me (at least a little bit, maybe), as my day job involves me playing Devil's advocate a good bit of the time.

 

[fenderhutz]

Or it could be that the gain & volume pots have tapers that differ from what the user suspects. You have to forgive me (at least a little bit, maybe), as my day job involves me playing Devil's advocate a good bit of the time.

lol

I have never had an amp I had to dial back 15-20% after adding a second cab. Can't be intentional

 

[tombowlus]

lol

I have never had an amp I had to dial back 15-20% after adding a second cab. Can't be intentional

Good point, and I doubt it's intentional. But it might not be the blatant design/engineering flaw that some folks think it is, either.

 

[AmpegUSA]

Hey everyone,

Sorry for jumping in so late in the game. Had a big contest going and just got my head out of the clouds and heard from support about this thread. I am glad that you have been working with tech support to figure this out. Obviously there a more than a couple of you that are having issues and, like tech support said, we are working on a resolution. Engineering has isolated the problem and are working on a fix as we speak. Once they do, we will know more about how this affects owners. Unfortunately, things can take some time at a bigger company. We can't engage our engineering forces without sufficient field numbers. After all, we are pulling them away from working on other new Ampeg stuff. But, of course, when there is something happening, we will work to fix it. And that is what is happening now. I know it’s hard, but hold tight. Once we get our ducks in a row, we will let you know how this will be handled. I hope that's enough to assuage any fears for the short term. We want them to work as well as you do!

 

[Selta]

Go Ampeg! I don't have a dog in this fight, but I'm keeping an eye on it as I'm a pretty avid Ampeg user overall, and I like to see just how they treat customers when things like this come up.

 

[fenderhutz]

Thank you AmpegUSA for taking time to reply in this thread. I have said repeatedly in this thread, even though the amp has issues, support has been top notch. I would give shout outs but don't want to embarrass anyone.

Edit: Now as a retort to "significant field numbers". Every head you sold has this potential issue. It's just limited to those that own and use both 210AV cabs which is a much smaller user base.

 

[Selta]

Hutz: I believe what AmpegUSA was saying was that field numbers need to be significant before it can be pushed to engineering. Sure, every unit they sold may have this issue, but if only say three people (You, JimmyM, Tom for example) report it out of tens/hundreds of thousands sold, it's hard to go back to the engineers and say "fix this". I believe they basically just needed to hear enough reports of the same, reproducable issue before they could do that. Now they have though, so hopefully they have in fact narrowed down the issue and will take care of everyone under warranty and make a new product revision for future.

 

[AmpegUSA]

Thank you AmpegUSA for taking time to reply in this thread. I have said repeatedly in this thread, even though the amp has issues, support has been top notch. I would give shout outs but don't want to embarrass anyone.

Edit: Now as a retort to "significant field numbers". Every head you sold has this potential issue. It's just limited to those that own and use both 210AV cabs which is a much smaller user base.

You can embarrass SCOTT PATERSON all you want!

I will agree that the potential is there, but it must be use-case specific or at least people who push it hard. There are a handful of our Ampeg artists using a dual cab setup that have been fine. But, hopefully, this is a moot subject and we can take care of your issue soon.

 

[cataract]

So is the PEAK light supposed to be going crazy or am I doing it wrong?