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Bergantino B|Amp-Power and Versatility (and cost-efficiency!)

#82
Munjibunga said:
Here's a thought for those who are concerned of the cost efficiency of the B|Amp. I have B|Amp #00. The newest version of this amp now comes with control over frequency bandwidth (Q) and it has overdrive, distortion and fuzz built in. In a week or so, the newest batch of amps will come with a built-in compressor. How much would individual pedals for these features cost for another amp? There are other features in the works that will be included in the newest versions. I'm not sitting here complaining about being left behind, because ol' #00 has all those new features, too. I've heard that Jim is even working on making the amp able to control your TV.

So yes, you could buy a D800 and a D800+ for about the original price of the B|Amp, but you wouldn't have anywhere near the capabilities and versatility of the B|Amp. I get it that some want simplicity (I own several simpler amps), but you get a lot for your money ultimately. I like a lot of latitude in getting to the tone I require at a given time.

My point is that you don't have to worry about the next latest and greatest Bergantino amp coming out, because the latest and greatest version can be downloaded for free. Buy once, cry once.
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It makes me pause when I hear someone say the B|AMP is expensive. Price is only one part of the equation. Value is what's most important, IMO. And when you look at the feature set of the B|AMP, and see what it would take, not only in terms of cost, but in terms of space, equipment, and cables to only begin to tap its capabilities, not to mention the profiles and upgradability aspect of it, there isn't another bass amp on the market that can do what the B|AMP can do, at any price. I'm not trying to say that it's for everyone, but one would be hard pressed, IMO, to argue that it doesn't offer tremendous value.

And as Mike eluded to, his serial# "00" (and everyone else that currently owns a B|AMP) will have the new, studio grade VRC compressor upgrade, possibly as early as tomorrow, at N/C. One would have to pay over $200 to buy an analog compressor that still can not do what this one can do. So there will never be a B|AMP+ or B|AMP+++ because everyone will have the same B|AMP, no matter when they purchased it, and at no additional cost.

Jim
 
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#84
SteveC said:
One of the best out there. I have debated a new rig lately. I have been a Genz Benz guy for a long time and I love his stuff and it has served me well. I had a Bergantino cab a while back and loved it. This head was intriguing when it was announced. Even more so now. Many of my gigs these days are DI/IEM though so I'm not sure if this is the best use of funds right now.
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Easy, use the head alone as a pre-amp/di when the cab isn't necessary. Won't hurt a thing. ;)
 
#85
After almost two months of gigs with backline provided, I finally had an opportunity to play my BAmp with---I think---the latest distortion firmware. First of all -- the amp sounded great in a very large room with two CN112's (and FOH support). Nice and fat, with great articulation. I also had fun with the O/D and distortion AFTER figuring out how great it sounds when I mix in the neck pickup of my Sadowsky standard J5. (I tend to be a bridge-pickup-with-added-bass kinda guy.) We played the Evanescence song "Bring Me To Life," and the bass part really growled with the added distortion. I got RAVE REVIEWS from my guitar player and the song's lead vocalist!

And now I hear that we're about to have a compressor too?!? Jim, thanks for all the effort you're putting into this amp! Man, did I ever hitch my wagon to the right horse!! :smug:
 
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#86
Awww man, the Bamp just keeps on giving.

I bought a drive/distortion pedal, then I went and bought a Bamp. Thought I could add cream to the pie and bought meself a compressor. Sweet. Then one of the firmware updates seemed to add a little hiss, so I bought a noise gate. Now up comes the o/d distortion fuzz update, now a compressor. I suppose Jim's going to whack a noise gate in as well. I can tells ya the cost efficiency has cost me. Why have I been so impatient?

Now what does the future hold? Noise Gate, chorus, synth filters ????? What??? The more Jim adds the more buttons a footswitch is going to need.

Dismissing my facetious rant, the Bamp is D amp.
 
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#88
Please forgive me if this is a duplicate of a question that's been asked and answered...I've noticed that while using the headphone jack on my B|AMP I need to disconnect the speaker in order to run in "stealth mode". Is this normal and is it ok to run the amp without a speaker load (i.e. in recording situations)? Knowing Jim and the way he considers everything I'm assuming it's normal and OK. I just didn't see that mentioned in the manual.
 
#89
DLaunder said:
Please forgive me if this is a duplicate of a question that's been asked and answered...I've noticed that while using the headphone jack on my B|AMP I need to disconnect the speaker in order to run in "stealth mode". Is this normal and is it ok to run the amp without a speaker load (i.e. in recording situations)? Knowing Jim and the way he considers everything I'm assuming it's normal and OK. I just didn't see that mentioned in the manual.
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The headphone output is tapped off the speaker out, so you would want to disconnect the speaker(s) for silent operation. And no problem running the amp without a speaker load.

Jim
 
#95
I've just brought my B|Amp home from our Australian distributor, and after AB'ing it directly against the Glock SteamHammer, Magellan MG800, TecAmp (Puma 1000 and Black Jag) and the DNA 800, I came away convinced that the clarity of this amp put it in another class.

They are ALL great amps in my opinion, and it took a lot of to-ing and fro-ing to make my decision; for which I'm very grateful to George at Bass Gear Direct. The added bonus of the profile matching to my CN212 was the icing on the cake.

On my way home I stopped in at the workshop of a very good mate who happens to be a world-class audio engineer and bespoke studio-grade preamp manufacturer, and who has scant regard for Class D power stages. We had a spirited discussion about this, in which he chopped up diagrams of sine waves for me and showed just how digital power amps mess with the purity of the signal that a massive toroidal transformer would otherwise massage and push out in all its pristine intact form. I was trying to convince him that the latest wave of ICE power stages is a metric (or imperial, depending on country) sh**load better than the previous iterations. No way was he having a bar of it.

I love my mate dearly. I respect his opinions immensely. And I must confess I came back home with a little of the glow of my hard-earned acquisition a wee bit tarnished. He and I have had this conversation many times over the years, and I agree that there's inevitably a compromise between weight and practicality. To me, the practicality wins out as I haven't had the luxury of roadies to lug my gear around for over two decades.

Jim, if you see this message: I really appreciate your active participation in this forum. It's had a great influence in helping me make my purchasing decision. I'd dearly love to hear how you might respond to such a debate. Or are we still comparing apples and oranges?
 
#96
Juan Lauda said:
I've just brought my B|Amp home from our Australian distributor, and after AB'ing it directly against the Glock SteamHammer, Magellan MG800, TecAmp (Puma 1000 and Black Jag) and the DNA 800, I came away convinced that the clarity of this amp put it in another class.

They are ALL great amps in my opinion, and it took a lot of to-ing and fro-ing to make my decision; for which I'm very grateful to George at Bass Gear Direct. The added bonus of the profile matching to my CN212 was the icing on the cake.

On my way home I stopped in at the workshop of a very good mate who happens to be a world-class audio engineer and bespoke studio-grade preamp manufacturer, and who has scant regard for Class D power stages. We had a spirited discussion about this, in which he chopped up diagrams of sine waves for me and showed just how digital power amps mess with the purity of the signal that a massive toroidal transformer would otherwise massage and push out in all its pristine intact form. I was trying to convince him that the latest wave of ICE power stages is a metric (or imperial, depending on country) sh**load better than the previous iterations. No way was he having a bar of it.

I love my mate dearly. I respect his opinions immensely. And I must confess I came back home with a little of the glow of my hard-earned acquisition a wee bit tarnished. He and I have had this conversation many times over the years, and I agree that there's inevitably a compromise between weight and practicality. To me, the practicality wins out as I haven't had the luxury of roadies to lug my gear around for over two decades.

Jim, if you see this message: I really appreciate your active participation in this forum. It's had a great influence in helping me make my purchasing decision. I'd dearly love to hear how you might respond to such a debate. Or are we still comparing apples and oranges?
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I would say don't let anyone's opinion overshadow your own ears. I would suggest that a tube amp / SS amp test with setups blinded by a curtain that bass players, engineers, and audiophiles can not statistically determine which is which.
Bottom line is if someone likes a bass amp then they like it. No specifications or tech talk can overcome a fact of enjoyment. And I agree with your side of the argument with your friend. I see his point, but it is a dated view IMO.
 
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#99
I went through several of the first generation Class D heads, but never really cared for any of them. I always gravitated back to my lead sled systems (Alembic preamp/Crest power amp or later the Aguilar DB-751).

It wasn't until this latest generation of amps with the new ICE module that I finally let go of my heavy electronics for good. The B|Amp stacks up just fine against that older (and MUCH heavier) technology.

I still use my trusty ceramic magnet speakers... but maybe time will tell on that front, too. :)
 
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#100
he chopped up diagrams of sine waves for me and showed just how digital power amps mess with the purity of the signal that a massive toroidal transformer would otherwise massage and push out in all its pristine intact form. I was trying to convince him that the latest wave of ICE power stages is a metric (or imperial, depending on country) sh**load better than the previous itérations.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's bullcrap. The distorsion still exists in newer modules, it's a consequence of how class D works. It's a feature, not a flaw.

However, the scale at which it occurs is orders of magnitude beyond what the human ear can hear and is absolutely transparent to the listener. It's like looking at a picture and discussing the quality of the carbon used in the pencil lead instead of focusing on the accuracy of the drawing itself.

Your friend would have nightmares if he realised how all audio recordings, digital and analogic alike simplify entire complex soundscapes to 2 single composite signals that nowhere accurately represent reality but only how we perceive it.
 
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