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Ampeg PF-350 vs SVT Micro VR

#62
DaveDeVille said:
... wow , has anyone else had this experience ??!?
:help:
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Early production units would hard clip (distort) when driving a 4 ohm load at high output. Ampeg recognised the problem and released a soft clipper modification to their service centres. I had the mod performed on both my Micro VR heads and the problem went away. They never shut down in a self protect mode but as a class AB they do run hotter than the much more efficient class D PF350 when driven hard.
 
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#63
I did a comparison with a V4B through an 810 and the Micro VR was definitely more powerful. The all tube V4B did sound a bit nicer as you would expect but the Micro VR does a great job through the fridge and has SVT DNA.
20210114_231348.jpg
 
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#67
Sparky Mark said:
I did a comparison with a V4B through an 810 and the Micro VR was definitely more powerful. The all tube V4B did sound a bit nicer as you would expect but the Micro VR does a great job through the fridge and has SVT DNA.
View attachment 4128190
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Curious, did you go as far to try both heads into the cab? ie - at 8 ohms run the V4 into the top four speakers, and at 8 ohms run the VR into the bottom four speakers?
 
#68
I have a REV A MicroVR and have rune it with a 4 ohm load 90% of the time and have not experienced any strangeness. I bought it used years ago so I don't know the service/release records on it. I did ask the guy who runs the authorized service center who takes care of our rehearsal facility's Ampeg gear about it and he said he hasn't ever had one in for that. Maybe I am a lucky one as well? Dunno.
 
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#69
G On Bass said:
I have a REV A MicroVR and have rune it with a 4 ohm load 90% of the time and have not experienced any strangeness.
I bought it used years ago so I don't know the service/release records on it.
I did ask the guy who runs the authorized service center who takes care of our rehearsal facility's Ampeg gear about it and he said he hasn't ever had one in for that.
Maybe I am a lucky one as well? Dunno.
Click to expand...
... yeah , i've been running mine pretty hard with a 450watt 4 ohm single 15" cab load , no problems at all ...
guess maybe we're the lucky ones after all !!
:thumbsup::cool:
 
#72
So I think I’ve decided to just send everything back. :facepalm:

After some soul searching and more comparisons, I’ve decided I’m pretty happy with my BDDI. No added expense, no fan, no volume concerns, doesn’t take up any space...

I did just find a pretty good deal on a beat up used SansAmp VT that I couldn’t resist. So hopefully I’ll be able to compare them all and be happy with the cheapest option. :)

Thanks,

Gary
 
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#76
Back to my soap opera: I have decided to send the Micro VR back several times and it’s still here. Apparently I just can’t do it...

I am actually really happy with the sound of the Sansamp VT, but it’s just not the same. Playing my Höfner, it feels like the VR retains more of that woody sound and with more clarity. A lot of it is probably just the cab...my monitors (JBL 305’s) get really boomy on the low notes, even when the amp is much louder. Again, the VR really just seems to make the sound I’m searching for right out of the box, and with everything else I have to do my best to chase it. That doesn’t make much sense.

Even though the fan drives me crazy, I think I’m gonna end up “stuck” with it. Not the worst thing that could happen...

Thanks,

Gary
 
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#77
Gary Bratton said:
Back to my soap opera: I have decided to send the Micro VR back several times and it’s still here. Apparently I just can’t do it...

I am actually really happy with the sound of the Sansamp VT, but it’s just not the same. Playing my Höfner, it feels like the VR retains more of that woody sound and with more clarity. A lot of it is probably just the cab...my monitors (JBL 305’s) get really boomy on the low notes, even when the amp is much louder. Again, the VR really just seems to make the sound I’m searching for right out of the box, and with everything else I have to do my best to chase it. That doesn’t make much sense.

Even though the fan drives me crazy, I think I’m gonna end up “stuck” with it. Not the worst thing that could happen...

Thanks,

Gary
Click to expand...

Glad you kept it!
Was about to feel betrayed after 4 pages.;)

Had you sent it back; was going to buy one, plug it in to make the fan run and never play it:bassist::roflmao:
 
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#80
...and, just to throw one more wrench in the works before accepting my fate and getting on with my life (riiiight...):

Does anyone have any experience directly comparing a Micro VR and a PF-20T, ideally through an SVT-210AV?

If it’s truly a worthwhile upgrade, I could potentially spring for it. I’m intrigued by the toobz(!!!), lack of fan, and lower output (I’m assuming). I think the PF-50T would be out of reach and overkill.

Just curious. Every once in a while I’m also tempted to just chuck it all in and order a Rumble 100 and use my VT pedal into the effects loop...but ultimately I think that would be too much of a compromise.

Just continuing to drive myself crazy and play it out here in public. :)

Thanks,

Gary
 

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