Any better (read: louder) heads out there within this price range?

What kind of cab are you running it through?

 

I almost always recommend checking out such a large purchase, first-hand and hearing/lifting/inspecting it as I think you're ears must be the ultimate judge before you buy. In this case, as Carvin does not, to my knowledge, have national/regional/local distributors for their gear, so you'll have to buy first. I see no reason why this unit won't be good. Or at least be loud. Carvin has made continual but gradual improvements in their products, and I see no reason why this unit wouldn't serve you well. I would also voice your volume concerns to your soundperson(s) whenever you have a gig, and see if he/she can add a touch of bass to the monitor mix in closest proximity to you. Even a touch coming through the monitor can make a big difference in your comfort level on stage. I'd try that first, but if you're ready to pull the trigger on this bad boy now, then good luck with it.

 

Well, with the avatar Neo212, you are handling about 600 watts, correct? Then with the new 4x10, you should be good with atleast another 400 watts. That should work quite well. Here is a clip I found on the net, you could hear some of the tone qualities. Not the same rig, but the head.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=NkzWLaxhJho

 

Watts for dollar on that looks pretty unbeatable. I have played Carvin in a backline or two - nothing amazing tonewise but serviceable. Might be good for you.

 

I'd be all over that head IF I had two 4-ohm cabs. As it is, all of my cabs are 8-ohm, and at 225W/channel, that ain't gonna cut it for me.

On the other hand, the B1500 gets rave reviews for build, tone and power. If your cabs are 8 ohms each (as long as you don't want to bi-amp), *that's* the one to get. Dig this: if you eventually have a third 8-ohm cab (say, if you kept your Hartke), you could drive all three at about 500W *each*!

HTH,

-jb

 

The two Avatar cabs you mentioned, coupled to the BX1200 should produce enough volume for nearly any club situation, PA reinforced or otherwise. Another head in the same price range you might want to audition is the Hartke LH1000-a no frills amplifier with a tube complment in the preamp. It is also capable ofproducing some serious volume. You could PM 'NorCalDog', he uses one a fair bit, if memory serves. If the Carvin brand really rings you bell, you might consider the B1500. It is heavy but it really brings the goods, in terms of power output. Simple EQ, ominous looking, etc. Good luck.

Edit-John beat me to it.

 

You could simply bridge the BX1200 at 8 ohms and daisy-chain your two cabinets, giving you an output of around 800 watts.

 

Luke, see my post above. And no, there isn't any way to convert an 8 ohm cabinet into a 4 ohm cabinet without swapping out the existing drivers for those with different impedances.

 

Carvin offers an input on the back of the BX1200 for bridging. You simply connect your speakon cable to that particular input.

 

You are correct about daisy chaning. The bridged input is standard on the back of the BX1200. Hope this helps.

 

Then you've lost the ability to bi-amp, which to me is the whole selling point for that head.

-jb

 

Gotcha. Didn't realize.