Best Class D Bass Amps???

[sedan_dad]

Like many of you guys, I own a lot of amps, and speaker cabinets. I have a wonderful and uber-rare Pearce B-2P bi-amp. I seldom use it, for a number of reasons. I love it. But at my supposed retirement age, I need small, light, powerful, and -THE MOST IMPORTANT thing for me- because I own a number of 4 ohm cabinets.. is an amp that can operate all night, every night at two ohms. I have a Genz-Benz Shuttle 9.0. I must choose my cabinets carefully with that amp, I've blown a few speakers with it, using 4 ohm cabs, or two 8 ohm cabs rated less than the amps output and pushing them too hard. That amp, is one of the most amazing amps ever made for bass. FOUR pounds, 900 watts at 4 ohms, and a SIMPLE to use front panel, that makes dialing tones on the fly easy. It is rated at 450 watts at 8 ohms, plenty of power to use with most of the current crop of light, high power neo driver cabs.
Here is what amazed me. After playing through a rig I was not expecting much out of, at a local blues jam, and being blown away, I bought a nice, mint Carvin BX500 head from a fellow TB'er. I think I paid $250.00 for it. A bargain! It's rated at 500 watts at either four or TWO ohms. So, I can use my two BRX 10.2 cabs with it. Even though it is rated at about half the total RMS power of the Shuttle 9.0, I'm not want for any volume at all. It is a little larger, and weighs a couple of pounds more... no big deal. There are people that speak less than glowingly of Carvin products. Not me. I'm a total convert. I liked the 500 so much, I bought a BX1500. That amp, is just killer with two cabs. The front panel on the 500, and the 1500, has parametric eq, and a graphic EQ, for VERY quick tonal changes. I do not care much for the overly sensitive compressor in either amp, but it is switchable. How much do I like these amps? My Shuttle 9.0 is my backup now.

I use a Carvin BX500 also. Lives in the truck for the past 4 years. Used every weekend. Never any problems. Never any want for more volume. $300 new. 5lbs.

Outstanding amp.

 

[AztecViking]

If price is truly no object take a look at this genuine stereo, class D 1000 watt preamp from Wayne Jones in Australia. Ask Tom Bowlus here about his if you need a personal, users opinion on it.

 

[MobileHolmes]

I own a GK MB500 and think it is great, but If I had it to do over again, I'd probably get a genzler magellan. Incredibly versatile, from crisp cleans to more of a grindy ampeg thing. Having only had the GK for a little while, I'm not ready to flip it, but the Genzler is great. I have spent a little time with the Bergatino and I thought it was nice too, but at least in the 20 mintues I spent with it, it seemed like kind of a lot of screwing around

 

[MobileHolmes]

When was the last time you compared specs when buying a toaster?

I don't know, but I haven't been satisfied with any of the last 3-4 toasters I've owned

 

[Jeff Scott]

If price is truly no object take a look at this genuine stereo, class D 1000 watt preamp from Wayne Jones in Australia.

A Class D preamp?!?!? And this preamp puts out 1000 watts?!?!?

 

[seamonkey]

Look for a 5 Year or more Transferable Warranty
You can sell it in two years and the new buyer isn't so worried about buying "as is", it still has three years on the warranty

 

[seang15]

Quilter Bass Block 800. Been gigging mine for around a dozen gears and I remain blown away by it. I'm not looking for distortion or overdrive or coloration in my amp. My basses sound great. The Quilter allows them to sound even better. Massive headroom in a sub 4 lb. package with intuitively simple controls. I've tried almost everything mentioned in this thread except the Darkglass and Mesa D800+. Again, my basses don't need any "help" from the amp.

The kicker with the BB800 was that it made basses I previously didn't care for sound great too. It's the real deal.

That looks killer ! Had to Google it, less than 4 pounds and 800 watts ! Very cool.

 

[AztecViking]

A Class D preamp?!?!? And this preamp puts out 1000 watts?!?!?

I think I got that right but check the specs yourself here... The price has gone down a lot recently!
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For what it seems to be it's not overall too hyper-expensive. But like I say. For some genuine TB user feedback on this one ask Tom Bowlus.

 

[fdeck]

Does anyone make a small class-D power amp only solution? The Crowns seem to be a really big form factor if all you want is the equivalent of what these micro amps are putting out. I really like my rack-mounted pre-amp but not so much the 30lb power amp that goes with it.

I asked the same question of one of the micro amp makers. He told me that a power amp would cost more than a complete head, because the sales volume would be much lower. The preamp doesn't really add all that much to the cost of a head.

Just feed your preamp into the FX return of a micro head.

My impression of the micro heads is that the power amp module determines the size of the box, and the size of the box determines the number of knobs. I've yet to use all of the knobs on any amp that I've owned.

[edited for accuracy]

 

[MobileHolmes]

Just feed your preamp into the FX return of a micro head.

.

It may depend on the head, what you're getting on the other end of the return. The GK MB500 manual describes the effects loop as coming between the EQ and boost section, so it seems like you aren't going straight to the power amp. I have no idea how that would play with another preamp. Probably fine, but I'm not positive

 

[felixxx]

Fender Rumble 500 is a good suggestion. Solid, simple, great sounding and not too expensive.

However, I got Darkglass Microtubes 900 last week, and I think I finally reached nirvana.

 

[Passinwind]

Does anyone make a small class-D power amp only solution?

Depends on your definition of small. Demeter and Jule Amps come to mind in any case. Prepare for sticker shock.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I think I got that right but check the specs yourself here... The price has gone down a lot recently!
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For what it seems to be it's not overall too hyper-expensive. But like I say. For some genuine TB user feedback on this one ask Tom Bowlus.

I can't seem to find the 1000 watt Class D power amp specs for the preamp. Am I missing something, here.

 

[AztecViking]

I can't seem to find the 1000 watt Class D power amp specs for the preamp. Am I missing something, here.

You're actually correct that the newest webpage and PDF descriptions of the amp don't seem to mention either the wattage or the term "D class".

They used to! I at least found this web reference for the product....

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[bdplaid]

You're actually correct that the newest webpage and PDF descriptions of the amp don't seem to mention either the wattage or the term "D class".

They used to! I at least found this web reference for the product....

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Gotta jump in cause i can't take it anymore - i think he's taking issue with the word "preamp." Preamps don't have power rated in watts.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Gotta jump in cause i can't take it anymore - i think he's taking issue with the word "preamp." Preamps don't have power rated in watts.

Plus, I haven't come across any Class D preamps, too.

 

[brotondo]

Why isn't there a poll?




Edit: surely there is enough information here already to put together an end all argument poll of the best class D

 

[MVE]

Why isn't there a poll?




Edit: surely there is enough information here already to put together an end all argument poll of the best class D

Because just about everyone has only a bit of experience with 2 or maybe 3 different models and they will envariably vote for whatever they own in order to bump the hype and keep the resale value high.
Seriously though, it seems like most people are pretty happy with what they have.
I guess that's a good thing.

 

[tombowlus]

I think I got that right but check the specs yourself here... The price has gone down a lot recently!
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For what it seems to be it's not overall too hyper-expensive. But like I say. For some genuine TB user feedback on this one ask Tom Bowlus.

I have the Wayne Jones preamp, and it is very impressive. Top o' the heap good, for sure. I have not tried the powered head version, but I have no doubt that it will be excellent, as well.

 

[bdplaid]

they will envariably vote for whatever they own in order to bump the hype and keep the resale value high.

If that's sarcasm, excuse me, but... I don't do that. Mr Honesty here. TB has been a real help to me over the years and I like to think of this place as a reliable source of information. Unlike pretty much everything else on the internet. I post what I honestly think; I may be wrong, but it's honest.