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Any difference in sound between Mesa D-350 and D-800?

Peter - Oregon

Peter - Oregon

Nov 21, 2021
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#1
I did not find the answer to this question in the Mesa Subway forum, I apologize if it has been discussed previously. I spent a lot of time yesterday playing the D-800 with 115 cab. I loved it. The guys in the shop said they thought there was a significant difference between the 350 and 800 on the low end. I am guessing this would only be at very high volume? I am just a home player. Much of my practicing is at low volume. For that reason, I am attracted to the quieter 350. Do you think I would be missing out on anything? Is the voicing different? Thanks for you patience and opinion.
 
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#3
I own the D-350. If you're a home player, this amp will be more than plenty of power and low end for your needs. It would, IMHO, be a better choice for your application than the D-800. It's dead quiet as it is thermally cooled (no fan needed). Many find fans a distraction when playing at lower levels.
There are other very handy features making the D-350 an excellent choice for home practice as well as performance.
Highly recommended.
 
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#7
pcake said:
as a home player, i love my D-350, which sounds a-freaking-mazing through my phil jones C-2. lots of bottom end there if you want it. it's the best sounding amp at low, low volumes i've played - the rest of my amps lost some tone played at bedroom volumes, where the D-350 sounds just as good turned down.
Click to expand...

Great to hear pcake. I have an Ampeg 15" head that I bought along with my Ampeg PF-50t. I am also looking for a small cab like the C-2. It's good to hear that you really like it at low volume. I have had a hard time finding good feedback on the small cabs available. The C-2 would fit well in the space I have in mind. Would be interested in anything else you would like to share about it. I currently have a Sparkamp that I use, but don't love the bass tone. Wondering if the C-2 would be significantly better.
 
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#9
Peter - Oregon said:
Great to hear pcake. I have an Ampeg 15" head that I bought along with my Ampeg PF-50t. I am also looking for a small cab like the C-2. It's good to hear that you really like it at low volume. I have had a hard time finding good feedback on the small cabs available. The C-2 would fit well in the space I have in mind. Would be interested in anything else you would like to share about it. I currently have a Sparkamp that I use, but don't love the bass tone. Wondering if the C-2 would be significantly better.
Click to expand...

the C-2 doesn't deliver big booming bass because physics, but it's still got good bottom end, and honestly it's far and away the best sounding small rig i've had with the D-350. it's light, it's small, and it hasn't given me any problems. since i got the mesa and plugged it into the C-2, instead of playing unplugged in the middle of the night, i can play quiet enough not to wake anyone and still enjoy the sound of my bass. i didn't experience this with the carvin, TC, the hartke LH500 or the rumble 40, although the rumble came closest. this current combination is my fave for low volume play.
 
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#10
Peter - Oregon said:
Great to hear pcake. I have an Ampeg 15" head that I bought along with my Ampeg PF-50t. I am also looking for a small cab like the C-2. It's good to hear that you really like it at low volume. I have had a hard time finding good feedback on the small cabs available. The C-2 would fit well in the space I have in mind. Would be interested in anything else you would like to share about it. I currently have a Sparkamp that I use, but don't love the bass tone. Wondering if the C-2 would be significantly better.
Click to expand...

I like my C2 quite a bit in the right situation. It puts out more lows than you might expect at low to medium volumes. I've actually gigged with it by itself on occasion for jazz gigs and it was totally fine. I usually pair it with a C4 for gigs where I'll need more volume and low end.
 
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#11
SJan3 said:
I own the D-350. If you're a home player, this amp will be more than plenty of power and low end for your needs. It would, IMHO, be a better choice for your application than the D-800. It's dead quiet as it is thermally cooled (no fan needed). Many find fans a distraction when playing at lower levels.
There are other very handy features making the D-350 an excellent choice for home practice as well as performance.
Highly recommended.
Click to expand...

If I could ad a point. A 350 watt amp with a very efficient cab can cover a lot of live applications.

I use the WD-800 to power my 8 ohm Eden D-210-XST. By selecting the 2 ohm load setting on the Amp, the WD-800 only puts out 300 watts. I’ve just played a venue with a 600 seat capacity in a 12 piece horn band and it was way more than enough.
 
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#15
baxter_x said:
Even despite the difference of power?
If I remember correctly more power means deeper lows for bass amps.
Click to expand...
Yes, the amount of power only impacts how loud the amp/speaker can get at low frequencies, not the low frequency response itself.
 
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#18
It was different for me. I had the D800 and didnt like it. It didnt get brightness without sounding clacky cranking the high knobs.

The bright switch on the D350 gives the amp the top end sizzle I really prefer. It very musical. I gig alot, and even with 'only' 350 watts compared to its bigger brothers, I can play it all over town no problem.
 
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#19
pcake said:
the C-2 doesn't deliver big booming bass because physics, but it's still got good bottom end, and honestly it's far and away the best sounding small rig i've had with the D-350. it's light, it's small, and it hasn't given me any problems. since i got the mesa and plugged it into the C-2, instead of playing unplugged in the middle of the night, i can play quiet enough not to wake anyone and still enjoy the sound of my bass. i didn't experience this with the carvin, TC, the hartke LH500 or the rumble 40, although the rumble came closest. this current combination is my fave for low volume play.
Click to expand...
ole Jason said:
I like my C2 quite a bit in the right situation. It puts out more lows than you might expect at low to medium volumes. I've actually gigged with it by itself on occasion for jazz gigs and it was totally fine. I usually pair it with a C4 for gigs where I'll need more volume and low end.
Click to expand...

Great feedback on the PJB cabs from both of you, greatly appreciated! I am thinking of going with C-4 for more bottom end and power handling. Assume the difference with the C-2 on the bottom end at very low volume wouldn't be very noticeable, but would at moderate volume? Also, liking the red for something different. Any opinions on that vs the black?
 
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