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Anyone still prefer Class A/B amps over Class D?

#161
DigitalMan said:
If you were going for some sort of prize for insensitive comment of the day, I would say you win.
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And how is that insensitive?

That is the truth, I really don't.

Do you have anything against people with muscular dystrophy, since you don't think it is ok to mention it in public and seems to think it's an epithets, or did I hurt your feelings because I don't happen to like your choice of amp?

Personally I suffer from paranoid schizophrenia, and I'd rather prefer people joking about it than being awkward and squeamish about it.
 
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#162
FingerDub said:
I just noticed that when I go to Sweetwater, the most expensive bass amps are still Class A/B and seem to be highly desired here on TB. High end tube amps followed by solid state amps such as an Aguilar DB751, GK 2001RB, Mesa Carbine, TC Blacksmith, SVT 3/4, GK Fusion etc. Only after those, do Class D heads come up.

Does anyone one still prefer the tone or some other aspect of a class A/B amp over a class D head?

Personally, I have 2 amps, one of each. A TC BH250 and a Hartke HA4000 which I recently bought to have a good solid amp at my rehearsal space and for gigs, which allows my TC to be a backup, which I needed. I'm questioning my purchase however. Not because of the tone or the amp it's self, which are both great, but why did I buy a heavier class A/B amp instead of a class D? I got the Hartke for reliability, tone and power, and it delivers in all 3 categories.

But, it is also hard for me to question class D tone, power or reliability. I guess it seems class D is now preferred, but if you still prefer Class A/B/ amps, why?
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I am a tech, and I have played, and serviced all the brands, except for class D, you typically replace the complete SMPS when there are issues, anyways, I went through most all Cass D amps, from DNA, GK, AG, Mesa, SWR, they all sound great, but I believe there is a level of "umph" how's that for a technical term, that you get from. ClassAB, that you don't get from a Class D, so I am back to Class AB, just for that reason. It's a trade off, if I played out a lot, Class D would be tempting. I do have a SWR, class D for back up.
 
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#163
After reading the entire thread I believe I am now entitled to post my opinion, lol. I first picked up a bass back in the late 70's (showing my age) and started playing in the 80's. In that time I have owned or played a multitude of backlined rigs including many various Ampegs, Fenders, Hartke, Crate, Peavey, Acoustic, Mesa and Carvin all the way up to more recent Class D amps. The reason I am posting this information is because I don't believe in Class A/B is better than Class D or vice versa.

IMO and IME it is more about certain amps sounding better than others based on their design goals rather than topology. I've played Class A/B Ampegs that sounded great and other Ampegs that didn't. Same goes for Fender and Mesa as well as other manufacturers. I've also played many Class D amps that I really liked while others, not so much. At this stage of my life I somehow ended up owning several Class D amps, and a GB NEO PAK which is not, and it has nothing to do with weight. I lift weights so that is not an issue. It has to do with me liking the tone and the feel that they produce.

However if a nice Genz Benz GBE 750, Thunderfunk TFB550 or GK 700rb II came my way at a great price, I would definitely jump on it. Not because I think they are better than my Class D amps but because they are great amps on their own, regardless of topology. I'm done now. Time to go read some other threads, play my bass and watch WrestleMania.

Have a nice day.
 
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#164
Speaking of manufacturer who's marketing and made up white papers dismiss the technology they haven't caught up to.

Orange is the only company I know that made some Class-D, dropped them and are now trashing Class-D in their marketing.
They're using SMPS with Class-AB
Their marketing seems to make it foolish if you bought a Class-D from them in the past. Which is probably true for Orange as not every company who does or did class-d actually do it well.

I can't wait to see how they try to wiggle out of this when they go back to Class-D. And they will have to go back to class-d
 
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#165
NoiseNinja said:
And how is that insensitive?

That is the truth, I really don't.

Do you have anything against people with muscular dystrophy, since you don't think it is ok to mention it in public and seems to think it's an epithets, or did I hurt your feelings because I don't happen to like your choice of amp?
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and for just the second time since I joined TB 10 years ago, I will use the ignore button for you.
I mean, if you were actually contributing here it might be different, but you just seem to want to be a d-bag.
Kvajpande!
 
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#166
bucephylus said:
OOC, which are the Class D amps you are referring to, which were unable to match your GK?
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I won't bore you with the list of micros if owned. Most were ok, just not my thing.
The 700rb2 has a boost knob (which can totally chance the amp's character) and the GK biamp feature, which I utilize with my 2 GK Neo cabinets. I really line the front panel DI with level. And a mute switch. It literally checks all the boxes for me. Give me a micro that'll do all that and I'll take it.
 
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#168
pfschim said:
and for just the second time since I joined TB 10 years ago, I will use the ignore button for you.
I mean, if you were actually contributing here it might be different, but you just seem to want to be a d-bag.
Kvajpande!
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I guess you only see what you want to see then!

Just for your information you are the one being judgemental here.

Hykler!
 
#170
I thought class D sucked when the first class D amps came out. But they've gotten better and better. I think the class type really doesn't matter so much. I think people often compare apples to oranges. Like "my all tube SVT ($1600) kills the Trace Elliot elf ($300) We'll damn I hope it does, it certainty should since it cost over five times as much. Some of my favorite bass players are using class D stuff these days. The Aguilar tonehammer 500, the Darkglass 900. as always some are better than others. I mean does anyone really want to compare the tonehammer 500 or Darkglass 900 to a crate bx-220h and try to tell me the crate sounds better because it's not class D? Not that it's that big of a deal anyways. Go to any high end studio and they are recording bass with avalons, neve, noble, Reddi and so on anyways not bass amps.
 
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#173
fdeck said:
This is the one question that can't be asked. In all the years since I've followed bass gear, I've never seen a case where a question about tone quality (differences, or lack thereof), was settled to everybody's satisfaction by a technical answer.

Instead, all we have is anecdotal evidence, and an unspoken rule of civility, that we take each bassist's personal experience at face value. Despite my own preference for being guided by a technical understanding of bass gear, I don't object to this rule because it creates space for more interesting discussions and a variety of approaches.
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certainly it can be asked, although in this case it was somewhat rhetorical. they're still on the market because companies make sales, meaning there are people who prefer them for any number of reasons.
 
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#175
eyeballkid said:
Having played a number of class D and having found them ALL lacking, my question is: besides either portability or simple laziness, why the hell does anyone like them?!
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You are wrong!

You are probably one of those odd people who still prefer LP's too I guess, cause you obviously have a lesser sense of hearing, that makes you incapable of of grasping the finer nuances in supreme 16 bit resolution at mind boggling 44Khz sample rate.
 
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#176
NoiseNinja said:
You are wrong!

You are probably one of those odd people who still prefer LP's too I guess, cause you obviously have a lesser sense of hearing, that makes you incapable of of grasping the finer nuances in supreme 16 bit resolution at mind boggling 44Khz sample rate.
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how is it possible for an individual's assessment, honestly stated, to be wrong? not in line with the "norm", unexpected, or disagreeable- sure. wrong?
 
#177
the yeti said:
how is it possible for an individual's assessment, honestly stated, to be wrong? not in line with the "norm", unexpected, or disagreeable- sure. wrong?
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Humor is an odd thing.

And apparently I often over estimate my fellow human beings sense of humor.

Sorry for trying to put a smile on peoples lips, I feel ashamed of my self for ever making that effort!

I have sinned and in indulged my self in the sin of joy.

Just do me a favor and kill me so we all have something serious to cry about!
 
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