Best Class D Bass Amps???

[Whippet]

Glockenklang is always a good choice, but I'd go for this (but I'm prejudiced):

This is pretty much the same as the Tecamp Puma900. I believe the man who started the Tecamp got into a bitter fight with the stockholder or owner and started Eich.

Personally I like the look of this better than my Puma900.

 

[foothilla]

I MADE PURCHASE #1

First of all, I want to thank everyone! You are all good people. Taking your time to help a stranger out says volumes about this community. I should have joined this forum years ago. The only negative is the amount of GAS you guys have given me!

So, at the repeated advice of "get out there and play as much as you can", I went down to gear row in Hollywood today. I did Guitar Center, Sam Ash, and the Mesa store. Sadly, between those 3 places, they only had a small fraction of the amps mentioned in this thread. I would have loved to play more.

First was Guitar Center. They had class D Markbass, Ampeg, GK (used), Acoustic, and Fender. Played them all, and they all had things I liked, but I wanted to play more.

So, I walked across the street to Sam Ash. For a huge store I was disappoint that all they had in class D was Fender (which I played at GC) and the Tonehammer. The Tonehammer was weird. First I ran it through an Aguilar 4x10 cab, and no matter how I adjusted it, it was distorted. But, it was kind of a weird distortion. The guy at Sam Ash was convinced that the cab had a blown speaker, so we hooked it into another Aguilar 4x10, and it gave the same exact response. No matter how it was adjusted, it was distorted. Then we plugged it into an Aguilar 1x15, and it sounded completely different. It sounded really good through the 1x15, and I was able to dial in a nice clean tone. But, the anomaly in response (relative to the cabinet it was paired with) was deal breaker for me. It was baffling to both me and the Sam Ash salesman that the head responded so differently to the different cabs.

Then from Sam Ash I walked up the block to the Mesa/Boogie store. I played the Mesa D-800, I loved it, and bought it. For $699 and it's tiny footprint, the thing just blew me away. It was my favorite of the day, by far.

My bank account wishes that my class D story would end here, but it won't. I am still dying to play many of the other amps that you guys suggested, and I have a feeling that there will be at least one more class D coming my way. I figure I can buy at least two or three of these for the price of one high end tube amp. I am totally fascinated by what these little heads can pull off. My GAS is raging in the key of class D!

 

[Clouz]

if you're looking for something you can plug in, set all the controls to noon and sound fantastic then i would seriously consider trying a Mesa Subway D-800+. Hands down the best class D amp I have owned in my 35 years of playing bass. edit...i see you agree with me

 

[foothilla]

if you're looking for something you can plug in, set all the controls to noon and sound fantastic then i would seriously consider trying a Mesa Subway D-800+. Hands down the best class D amp I have owned in my 35 years of playing bass. edit...i see you agree with me

I couldn't agree more. It sounds great with the controls totally flat. Have been playing it for hours, and am loving it!

 

[foothilla]

OK,....dumb question here.

Being that these class D amps are so small and so incredibly light, do I need to worry about this little head vibrating off the top of a cranked cabinet? When I crank the volume I am finding myself obsessively looking back at the head to make sure it hasn't vibrated it's way to the edge of the cabinet. Obviously this isn't a concern that I've ever had with the big old heavy tube amps and class A/B amps that I am used to.

 

[Gaolee]

My head is exploding. I use a Carvin MB12 combo and MBE15 extension sometimes when I can't use the big ol' Acoustic folded horn. The little Carvin is class D, and it takes an fDeck HPF and a Tonehammer to get the upright to sound right. It works OK with the Thunderbird, but that complex (for me) signal path work better. The Acoustics don't need anything to sound good. My 56 year old back can handle it if the stage is big enough.

 

[Matt23]

Glockenklang is always a good choice, but I'd go for this (but I'm prejudiced):

I also have Puma 900. fantastic amps. the Glock edges it for me personally, I've not tried the EICH but I love the Puma. scary that so much sound could come from such a tiny amp!
They're great plug and play amps for sure. Plus it'll do Markbass/Aguilar sounds with the taste knob.

 

[chris_b]

OK,....dumb question here. Being that these class D amps are so small and so incredibly light, do I need to worry about this little head vibrating off the top of a cranked cabinet?

If your amp can vibrate off the cab then you need a better cab.

Any vibrations you're getting through the wood is tone and volume you're not putting out the front of your cab.

I have never had a vibrating amps problem with either Bergs or Barefaced.

 

[Clouz]

OK,....dumb question here.

Being that these class D amps are so small and so incredibly light, do I need to worry about this little head vibrating off the top of a cranked cabinet? When I crank the volume I am finding myself obsessively looking back at the head to make sure it hasn't vibrated it's way to the edge of the cabinet. Obviously this isn't a concern that I've ever had with the big old heavy tube amps and class A/B amps that I am used to.

I see some people are using a piece of foam to set their amps on but I have always used a piece of thin dense foam like you would find in a tool box drawer. very tough and will stand the test of time. most hardware stores should have this in stock. Husky 18 in. x 100 in. Premium Solid Drawer Liner, Black-DTC130001 - The Home Depot

to be honest I am more worried about pulling it off the top of the amp by tripping over the cord or doing my 6 foot leaps into the air, so I bought a wireless

 

[mmbongo]

Congrats on your Mesa purchase! I knew the Mesa was the amp for you when I read your first post.

Been there, done that. Bought a Mesa amp. Done.

 

[Robroy]

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.

The crown is pretty light. I have them both in a four rack space rack. It's pretty easy to throw around because of the light weight.

 

[bdplaid]

First of all, I want to thank everyone! You are all good people. Taking your time to help a stranger out says volumes about this community. I should have joined this forum years ago.

Thanks back! This place is the shizz, is it not?

The only negative is the amount of GAS you guys have given me!

I couldn't agree more.

The Tonehammer was weird. First I ran it through an Aguilar 4x10 cab, and no matter how I adjusted it, it was distorted. But, it was kind of a weird distortion. The guy at Sam Ash was convinced that the cab had a blown speaker, so we hooked it into another Aguilar 4x10, and it gave the same exact response. No matter how it was adjusted, it was distorted. Then we plugged it into an Aguilar 1x15, and it sounded completely different. It sounded really good through the 1x15, and I was able to dial in a nice clean tone. But, the anomaly in response (relative to the cabinet it was paired with) was deal breaker for me. It was baffling to both me and the Sam Ash salesman that the head responded so differently to the different cabs.

Not to gloat, but I told you so. The only thing that has me stymied is that you actually got a clean sound out of that head into anything. Tonehammers are the most overrated amps ever. IMO.

I played the Mesa D-800, I loved it, and bought it. For $699 and it's tiny footprint, the thing just blew me away. It was my favorite of the day, by far.

Not to gloat, but WE told you so! It's killer. And made in the USA!

My bank account wishes that my class D story would end here, but it won't. I am still dying to play many of the other amps that you guys suggested, and I have a feeling that there will be at least one more class D coming my way. I figure I can buy at least two or three of these for the price of one high end tube amp. I am totally fascinated by what these little heads can pull off. My GAS is raging in the key of class D!

Yeah. TB does GAS really, really bad. But about more class D: what I do is that, because they are so lightweight, I usually take two of them to gigs with me. The only downside to this is if I get bored, I might change amps in the middle of a gig.
But a suggestion might be to look for a "backup" that is a different size than the D800; I have a MarkBass F500 that's half-height, and it fits nicely into a bass bag pocket.

Being that these class D amps are so small and so incredibly light, do I need to worry about this little head vibrating off the top of a cranked cabinet? When I crank the volume I am finding myself obsessively looking back at the head to make sure it hasn't vibrated it's way to the edge of the cabinet.

You might. I do the same thing, and occasionally I have been rewarded with seeing that my amp has moved on the cab top.

And since you have your wallet open, you should also check out the Subway cabs. They're even better than the heads, IMO.

And, the Acoustic B1000HD at GC is also a really nice sounding head - very transparent, to my ears. Not sure of its roadworthiness or longevity, but I like mine.

Congrats, and good luck!

 

[jsbarber]

The Tonehammer was weird. First I ran it through an Aguilar 4x10 cab, and no matter how I adjusted it, it was distorted. But, it was kind of a weird distortion. The guy at Sam Ash was convinced that the cab had a blown speaker, so we hooked it into another Aguilar 4x10, and it gave the same exact response. No matter how it was adjusted, it was distorted. Then we plugged it into an Aguilar 1x15, and it sounded completely different. It sounded really good through the 1x15, and I was able to dial in a nice clean tone.

...

My bank account wishes that my class D story would end here, but it won't. I am still dying to play many of the other amps that you guys suggested, and I have a feeling that there will be at least one more class D coming my way. I figure I can buy at least two or three of these for the price of one high end tube amp. I am totally fascinated by what these little heads can pull off. My GAS is raging in the key of class D!

I don't own the Tonehammer but it is a popular head and I don't recall any such observations from others here on the board. It seems likely to me that the unit you tested was defective...

Take a drive down to Bass San Diego and try out the B|Amp and the Demeter 800.

 

[bdplaid]

I don't own the Tonehammer but it is a popular head and I don't recall any such observations from others here on the board. It seems likely to me that the unit you tested was defective...

What he described was exactly what I also experienced, through all of my cabs, including single 15 Mesa and GK.

I think a lot of guys just like a little distortion in their sound, which the TH has. That makes it a good head for them.

 

[jsbarber]

What he described was exactly what I also experienced, through all of my cabs, including single 15 Mesa and GK.

I think a lot of guys just like a little distortion in their sound, which the TH has. That makes it a good head for them.

You may be right, but he said "First I ran it through an Aguilar 4x10 cab, and no matter how I adjusted it, it was distorted. But, it was kind of a weird distortion." And then he said that he got a nice clean tone with the Aguilar 1X15. Anyway, no worries, he found something he likes...

 

[Lepparda]

You may be right, but he said "First I ran it through an Aguilar 4x10 cab, and no matter how I adjusted it, it was distorted. But, it was kind of a weird distortion." And then he said that he got a nice clean tone with the Aguilar 1X15. Anyway, no worries, he found something he likes...

I have found that the key thing for a cleaner sound with the TN500 is to have the 'Drive' set on zero.

 

[bdplaid]

You may be right, but he said "First I ran it through an Aguilar 4x10 cab, and no matter how I adjusted it, it was distorted. But, it was kind of a weird distortion." And then he said that he got a nice clean tone with the Aguilar 1X15. Anyway, no worries, he found something he likes...

Very true. In my case I would call the sound overdriven, and more overdriven; my TH just had that sound throughout. Not denigrating anyone for using or liking it, I bet the tube head lovers do backflips over the TH. but it's the totally wrong head for me. Hey, remember when the Streamliner was the flavor of the week? I had one and came to really despise the sound because it was wasn't just dark, it was a black hole!
To each his own.

 

[bdplaid]

I have found that the key thing for a cleaner sound with the TN500 is to have the 'Drive' set on zero.

I did that and it was still dirty. But no prob, just not the head for me. The Subway on the other hand... wow, what a sound!

 

[Dug2]

EBS if you're truly looking for the best

 

[chris_b]

Neither of my TH500's distort.