Ashdown Studio 15 better deal than Fender Rumble 200?

[freshbass]

I have the tweed version, and I've had the Ampeg RB115 @100 watts into its 15" ceramic speaker , GK MB200 @ 200 watts into it's 15" ceramic speaker, and the Rumble 115 @ 140 watts into it's ceramic speaker. Ashdown is lighter and louder than all, except the GK who seem to measure their power a little more conservatively, but it is lighter and the volume is equal. I've become a serious old man fan of class D amps and neo speakers because they are smooth power and the speakers respond quicker and stay clean when pushed. The Ashdown holds it own in a 100 seater club w/o PA support in a small band, pick a genre. I've also owned Aguilar which was nice but I'm tired of components. After decades of playing it's nice to finally have the option guitarists have who walk in w/ a guitar and a deluxe reverb.

 

[Lync]

How's the DI? I see it is post-only, but is it drastic to change when you change the volume? The best scenario would be that the pre gain/eq only affects the DI and not master volume.

I have the tweed version, and I've had the Ampeg RB115 @100 watts into its 15" ceramic speaker , GK MB200 @ 200 watts into it's 15" ceramic speaker, and the Rumble 115 @ 140 watts into it's ceramic speaker. Ashdown is lighter and louder than all, except the GK who seem to measure their power a little more conservatively, but it is lighter and the volume is equal. I've become a serious old man fan of class D amps and neo speakers because they are smooth power and the speakers respond quicker and stay clean when pushed. The Ashdown holds it own in a 100 seater club w/o PA support in a small band, pick a genre. I've also owned Aguilar which was nice but I'm tired of components. After decades of playing it's nice to finally have the option guitarists have who walk in w/ a guitar and a deluxe reverb.

 

[Marty Forrer]

This is my experience. I recently purchased a new Ashdown Studio15 and at the first gig I was quite underwhelmed by it. I liked the low volume tone and the lightness (I'm 75). Being an incorrigible tinkerer, I found there was no acoustic padding inside, so I lined it. Made a little difference, but the speaker was still not handling the power. I play a passive Jazz. So I pulled the speaker again and found it was an Ashdown branded neo and was labelled 150 watts @ 4 ohms. 150 watts seems like a disaster waiting to happen for a 300 watt amp. I replaced the speaker with an Eminence DeltaLite neo which is 300 watts at 8 ohms. The difference is night and day! Much louder, cleaner, great tone, only a few lbs heavier, and being 8ohms I have wired in an extension speaker socket, although I doubt I will ever need it. Still cheaper than a Rumble 500 here in NZ, and better tone (for me anyway). It's now a keeper.

 

[Lync]

Marty-thanks for the info and...inspiration brother! Keep on playing!

This is my experience. I recently purchased a new Ashdown Studio15 and at the first gig I was quite underwhelmed by it. I liked the low volume tone and the lightness (I'm 75). Being an incorrigible tinkerer, I found there was no acoustic padding inside, so I lined it. Made a little difference, but the speaker was still not handling the power. I play a passive Jazz. So I pulled the speaker again and found it was an Ashdown branded neo and was labelled 150 watts @ 4 ohms. 150 watts seems like a disaster waiting to happen for a 300 watt amp. I replaced the speaker with an Eminence DeltaLite neo which is 300 watts at 8 ohms. The difference is night and day! Much louder, cleaner, great tone, only a few lbs heavier, and being 8ohms I have wired in an extension speaker socket, although I doubt I will ever need it. Still cheaper than a Rumble 500 here in NZ, and better tone (for me anyway). It's now a keeper.
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[fourstringbliss]

So, does the Studio 15 really put out 300w through the 15" woofer? There isn't a speaker out, so is it a 4 ohm speaker? I don't see myself ever needing more than 300w or an extension cab with what I do, so if it really does pump out 300w it would work great.