Amps: 600w-800w @ 8 Ohms?

[Keither]

So, I have an 800w, 8 ohm cabinet that I really like, a Phil Jones C8.

I've been using it with a Hartke lh1000.
Its was the only thing I could find with suitable power at the time 750w @ 8 ohms (bridged). Now after several years one of the power amps has blown a pair of diodes a few times. I'm finally ready to look for a reliable replacement.

I'm not dissatisfied with the sound but would like to find something a little more HiFi/studio monitor like for acoustic.

I play acoustic and electric.
Just looking for clean, clear and "flat". Don't need multiple pre amp channels, eq or fx loops maybe just a power amp will do.
Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Jeff Scott]

So, I have an 800w, 8 ohm cabinet that I really like, a Phil Jones C8.

I've been using it with a Hartke lh1000.
Its was the only thing I could find with suitable power at the time 750w @ 8 ohms (bridged). Now after several years one of the power amps has blown a pair of diodes a few times.

Are you sure it wasn't the dilithium crystals that died, instead?

 

[gtirard]

So, I have an 800w, 8 ohm cabinet that I really like, a Phil Jones C8.

I've been using it with a Hartke lh1000.
Its was the only thing I could find with suitable power at the time 750w @ 8 ohms (bridged). Now after several years one of the power amps has blown a pair of diodes a few times. I'm finally ready to look for a reliable replacement.

I'm not dissatisfied with the sound but would like to find something a little more HiFi/studio monitor like for acoustic.

I play acoustic and electric.
Just looking for clean, clear and "flat". Don't need multiple pre amp channels, eq or fx loops maybe just a power amp will do.
Any suggestions are welcome.

You don't need to max the power rating of the cab.

Any 800W class D amp will be rated around 450W @ 8 Ω, it should be perfect for the C8.

The Trickfish Bullhead 1K is rated 1000W @ 8 Ω, it should be OK if you don't max the volume, and it has the reputation of being super clean.

The Bergantino Forté HP 2X is rated 600W @ 8 Ω

 

[Wasnex]

Not a lot of current options unless you go with a stand-alone power amp.

The Trace Elliot TE1200 is rated 835W at 8 ohms and 1100W at 4 ohms.

 

[Nebadon2000]

not many Bass Heads rated at 6 to 800 watts at 8 ohms with basic controls but there may be a few seems more amps recently are 1000 to 1200 at 4 ohms

Markbass Little AG 1000, Trace Elliot TE-1200, Maybe GK Legacy 1200

More choices most likely with just Power Amps and preamp of your choice

 

[Passinwind]

So, I have an 800w, 8 ohm cabinet that I really like, a Phil Jones C8.

I've been using it with a Hartke lh1000.
Its was the only thing I could find with suitable power at the time 750w @ 8 ohms (bridged). Now after several years one of the power amps has blown a pair of diodes a few times. I'm finally ready to look for a reliable replacement.

I'm not dissatisfied with the sound but would like to find something a little more HiFi/studio monitor like for acoustic.

I play acoustic and electric.
Just looking for clean, clear and "flat". Don't need multiple pre amp channels, eq or fx loops maybe just a power amp will do.
Any suggestions are welcome.

I just clicked the ad directly below your post in my browser, for the Bergantino Forte HP Ultra, which is rated for 1000 watts RMS @ 8 ohms.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I also have that Bergantino amp ad.
Google answered it for us.

 

[agedhorse]

Start with the needed SPL, and calculate backwards with that speaker to see how much power is required to achieve it. You may find that it doesn't require as much power as you think.

 

[gtirard]

Start with the needed SPL, and calculate backwards with that speaker to see how much power is required to achieve it. You may find that it doesn't require as much power as you think.

I fully agree. Many TB members want to either find an amp to get the most from their cabs, or find cab(s) to get the most from their amp. I understand that the idea of optimizing a system is attractive, but when you play music, you don't need to play your gear as loud as possible - you just need to play at the required volume, with a great sound, and concentrate on your playing.

Any 800W amp would probably be more than enough with this cab, even if it's "only" rated 450W @ 8 Ω.

 

[agedhorse]

I fully agree. Many TB members want to either find an amp to get the most from their cabs, or find cab(s) to get the most from their amp. I understand that the idea of optimizing a system is attractive, but when you play music, you don't need to play your gear as loud as possible - you just need to play at the required volume, with a great sound, and concentrate on your playing.

Any 800W amp would probably be more than enough with this cab, even if it's "only" rated 450W @ 8 Ω.

It may be that when real world power compression is subtracted from the theoretical maximum SPL, the differences become insignificant.

 

[Aloe]

well, your tonal preferences say, you want to try a Phil Jones head as well. Eich would be my second guess.

while the BP800 is 'only' 500W into 8 ohms, it's a nice match. 800W isn't louder than 500 by more than a couple of decibels, so don't overthink it.

 

[Pep]

So, I have an 800w, 8 ohm cabinet that I really like, a Phil Jones C8.

I've been using it with a Hartke lh1000.
Its was the only thing I could find with suitable power at the time 750w @ 8 ohms (bridged). Now after several years one of the power amps has blown a pair of diodes a few times. I'm finally ready to look for a reliable replacement.

I'm not dissatisfied with the sound but would like to find something a little more HiFi/studio monitor like for acoustic.

I play acoustic and electric.
Just looking for clean, clear and "flat". Don't need multiple pre amp channels, eq or fx loops maybe just a power amp will do.
Any suggestions are welcome.

The Bergantino HP Ultra can handle that cab. Bergantino is one if the finest companies you will find and their products excel!

Here’s a link:

Forté HP Ultra Bass Amplifier

The Bergantino Forté HP Ultra Bass Amplifier is a hyper powered lightweight bass amp featuring cutting edge 2000 watts of power and re-imagined firmware and a custom-designed output transformer.

bergantino.com

 

[pholli00]

So, I have an 800w, 8 ohm cabinet that I really like, a Phil Jones C8.

I've been using it with a Hartke lh1000.
Its was the only thing I could find with suitable power at the time 750w @ 8 ohms (bridged). Now after several years one of the power amps has blown a pair of diodes a few times. I'm finally ready to look for a reliable replacement.

I'm not dissatisfied with the sound but would like to find something a little more HiFi/studio monitor like for acoustic.

I play acoustic and electric.
Just looking for clean, clear and "flat". Don't need multiple pre amp channels, eq or fx loops maybe just a power amp will do.
Any suggestions are welcome.

I'd try out the Mesa Boogie Subway line. I've been eyeing those things.

 

[MVE]

Not sure what your budget is, but the Demeter VTBP-M-800D checks all your boxes.
Hifi
Simple EQ
Clean and clear

 

[Keither]

I also have that Bergantino amp ad.
Google answered it for us.

I just clicked the ad directly below your post in my browser, for the Bergantino Forte HP Ultra, which is rated for 1000 watts RMS @ 8 ohms.

Dang thats creepy, I currently have an add for the Bergantino Forte ultra.

I just read about the Forte HP. It really does seem to check all of the boxes and then some!

 

[Passinwind]

Dang thats creepy, I currently have an add for the Bergantino Forte ultra.

I just read about the Forte HP. It really does seem to check all of the boxes and then some!

I was actually already familiar with that amp and Jim Bergantino’s other ones dating back to the IP powered cab series, but I thought it was kind of funny how that ad popped up just after your original post in this thread.

 

[gtirard]

I was actually already familiar with that amp and Jim Bergantino’s other ones dating back to the IP powered cab series, but I thought it was kind of funny how that ad popped up just after your original post in this thread.

No magic: this add is visible on all pages of Talkbass for several weeks, nothing related to this particular thread, just a coincidence.

 

[Keither]

I fully agree. Many TB members want to either find an amp to get the most from their cabs, or find cab(s) to get the most from their amp. I understand that the idea of optimizing a system is attractive, but when you play music, you don't need to play your gear as loud as possible - you just need to play at the required volume, with a great sound, and concentrate on your playing.

Any 800W amp would probably be more than enough with this cab, even if it's "only" rated 450W @ 8 Ω.

Thats really validating. I actually don't need any more volume than the remaining half of the old hartke provides in most situations.
My initial logic was optimize the system. Then keep the master volume turned way down and maybe everything will run cooler/more reliably?

It may be that when real world power compression is subtracted from the theoretical maximum SPL, the differences become insignificant.

This seems to be the case. I've been using just half of the hartke for a few weeks (225w/8ohm) and volume hasn't been an issue for mediocre jazz w/o horns.

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

If u just need clean power, there are hundreds of basic pre amps, coupled with a separate, quality, 2 channel power amp , that can be bridged, could easily give u 800, 1000w +, into an 8ohm load.

 

[gtirard]

Thats really validating. I actually don't need any more volume than the remaining half of the old hartke provides in most situations.
My initial logic was optimize the system. Then keep the master volume turned way down and maybe everything will run cooler/more reliably?

This seems to be the case. I've been using just half of the hartke for a few weeks (225w/8ohm) and volume hasn't been an issue for mediocre jazz w/o horns.

That's why you should not be looking for an amp that has 800W @ 8 Ω, you should be looking for an amp that lets you reach your tonal goals, that's my point. It could be any 800W amp.

Bergantino are certainly great amps but the Forté D would certainly suffice. Or any other 800W amp.

The Quilter Bass Blocks are great "clear, clean and flat" amps, a lot of people use them as power amps. The current model costs only arround $700, and it sounds great. And you can also look for previous models on the used market. They are also super reliable.

Or a Mesa Subway D800 (you don't need a tube preamp or an extended EQ section)