I hope you had hearing protection when everybody else tried to match. LOL I have the 2 ohm capable Mesa head now for MAS combos and it slays.
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Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia
- Thread starter kesslari
- Start date
I recently got my first 5 string late last year. With all the live gigs gone, it’s mostly studio monitor time for the basses. Finally getting some time with the B28 and the new B string. My son yells across the house: Dad you’re shaking the whole house!! 
Nothing I've heard does justice to a low B -- not just big, but clear and responsive -- like the MAS stuff. The 8" based MAS cabs I've heard have been particularly good for that.I recently got my first 5 string late last year. With all the live gigs gone, it’s mostly studio monitor time for the basses. Finally getting some time with the B28 and the new B string. My son yells across the house: Dad you’re shaking the whole house!!
Hi all,
Recently acquired two Mas26 cabs
... haven’t had chance to rehearse with them yet however I am using them in vertical position as home hifi with great results.
Steve from Big E recommended 250w each (thanks for all your info Steve) .. just wanted to ask you guys for some additional advice about driving these great cabs.
I just got a used Lab Gruppen FP2600 which has a ‘mls impedance switch) & can drive these in two different settings at 8 Ohm either 240w or 430w ... what do you suggest ?
thanks
Si
Recently acquired two Mas26 cabs
... haven’t had chance to rehearse with them yet however I am using them in vertical position as home hifi with great results.Steve from Big E recommended 250w each (thanks for all your info Steve) .. just wanted to ask you guys for some additional advice about driving these great cabs.
I just got a used Lab Gruppen FP2600 which has a ‘mls impedance switch) & can drive these in two different settings at 8 Ohm either 240w or 430w ... what do you suggest ?
thanks
Si
Had a quick look at the manual for the fp 2600.Hi all,
Recently acquired two Mas26 cabs
Steve from Big E recommended 250w each (thanks for all your info Steve) .. just wanted to ask you guys for some additional advice about driving these great cabs.
I just got a used Lab Gruppen FP2600 which has a ‘mls impedance switch) & can drive these in two different settings at 8 Ohm either 240w or 430w ... what do you suggest ?
thanks
Si
The MLS (Minimum Load Select) Switch appears to function sort-of like the "2/4 Ohm" switches on some bass amps, limiting their power so that they can run safely into a 2 Ohm load but also reducing the available power at 4 and 8 Ohms.
I guess I'd try it at the 240 Watt setting, first, and see how it feels. If the amp appears to be running out of juice while the cabs are still within their happy-place, you could try the higher power setting and see if it appreciably improves the feel -- you'll want to use care, of course, and pay attention to the cabs -- are they compressing/not getting louder as you turn up/feeling congested/showing other signs of strain?
A lot will depend on the type of signal you're feeding the cabs -- depending on your settings, play style, and what you're using for a preamp, you might benefit a little or a lot from using an external HPF with those cabs, particularly if you're pushing them (fDeck HPF3, Broughton, and sfx micro-thumpinator are examples). It will free up a little power at the amp, too, which might help in the 240 Watt setting.
Thanks MarkA for your input .. hopefully I’ll get chance to crank em a bit if a rehearsal goes ahead in a couple of weeks .. I think the MLS thing is more of a power output limiter as it doesn’t affect the impedance as such .. as far as HPF, well I’m actually driving the power amp with a sfxsound mD:3 preamp which has the latest Thumpinator
Guess I sometimes read kinda conflicting info .. some say to have a css as b that can handle twice the amp wattage & others mention the MAS cabs to be quite power hungry hence the need for ‘headroom’ .. I will keep an eye (ear) out when turning up to gig volume lol ...
.. I think the MLS thing is more of a power output limiter as it doesn’t affect the impedance as such .. as far as HPF, well I’m actually driving the power amp with a sfxsound mD:3 preamp which has the latest Thumpinator Guess I sometimes read kinda conflicting info .. some say to have a css as b that can handle twice the amp wattage & others mention the MAS cabs to be quite power hungry hence the need for ‘headroom’ .. I will keep an eye (ear) out when turning up to gig volume lol ...
Yep, limits the available power (though I'm not sure by what mechanism, in the case of this amp) so that it can safely run at 2 Ohms. My GBE 1200 and a several of the 2.7 and 2 Ohm capable micros do similar. Doesn't actually affect the impedance, though.Thanks MarkA for your input .. hopefully I’ll get chance to crank em a bit if a rehearsal goes ahead in a couple of weeks
Guess I sometimes read kinda conflicting info .. some say to have a css as b that can handle twice the amp wattage & others mention the MAS cabs to be quite power hungry hence the need for ‘headroom’ .. I will keep an eye (ear) out when turning up to gig volume lol ...
I'm not sure what you mean by "some say to have a css as b..." [processing]. Okay, Some say to have a cab that can handle twice the amp wattage... Yeah, that debate has gone on in general -- not just with regard to the MAS cabs -- for awhile. I've read, from reputable sources, everything from cabs rated for double amp wattage to the reverse -- amps rated for double cab wattage. A few things to keep in mind with regard to all that:
- Cabs are rated differently -- some thermally, some mechanically, and, even then, you don't know if those ratings are derived over a wide frequency range, at 1 KHz, or what.
- Bass cabs are, in most cases, more likely to suffer from mechanical damage than overheating (though the latter is possible) and that most often in the lowest frequencies. Some cabs (sometimes-but-not-always those that are best at reproducing those low frequencies) are more prone to this than others. This is why you can damage a 500 Watt cab with a 200 Watt amp if it's putting out a bunch of energy at 10-30 Hz.
- "Headroom" is, IMO, best thought of not just with regard to what the amp can do vs. what the cab can handle, but in terms of what your rig can do as a whole vs. what you're asking of it.
Some of the MAS cabs are more power-hungry than others -- I believe the 8s like a good bit of juice (and benefit markedly from a low, steep HPF) while certain of the 112s (Eminence driver versions) were quite efficient. I remember my 46 being decently efficient -- not crazy, but not power-hungry, either, IMO.
I do think that the MAS cabs reveal weaknesses in a power section (and other things) more readily than some other cabs. On the one hand, my old Flex Mod made my Kustom KXB500 sound better than it ever had. On the other, differences between amps become more apparent -- maybe more with some cabs than others.
Whatever you do, listen to the cabs, pay attention to the feel -- the whole argument behind "headroom" isn't to go louder, but to keep better feel/dynamics throughout the available range. With more power, you can damage things more easily, but it's not like 240 Watts on tap is absolutely safe and 260 is suddenly danger territory -- with any cab. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
It's good that you have an HPF in place. I also didn't know that sFx made a pre -- might have to give it a look.
Mark A to the rescue! He knows his MAS stuff and since Mike can't reply you have also found Steve who is Da man from BigE. I have played medium sized clubs at medium volume with just a 46 although SRV and Hendrix content. I think you will like those cabs once you dial in your gear.
Thanks for all your input MarkA .. all good to know, also kinda reinforces some of what I thought.
I’m planning on perhaps running both Mas26 cabs thru one side & the other side driving a diy basslite 110 for synth duties (will definitely have to watch the volume knob on this channel)
thanks again .....
Si
I’m planning on perhaps running both Mas26 cabs thru one side & the other side driving a diy basslite 110 for synth duties (will definitely have to watch the volume knob on this channel
)thanks again
.....Si
De nada -- just pay attention to your cabs and you'll start to get to know where they're happy and where they're less so. Mike's cabs do like to be hit with some power to "wake up" a bit and get vortexing -- and they compress less toward the top of their range than most conventional cabs (so, in that sense, they might give you less warning before you're in trouble, but that varies with the drivers used, too -- not sure how the sixes are in that regard), but, if you listen, you'll hear/feel when they're uncomfortable. I don't like to push my cabs hard, so I avoid that place whenever possible.Thanks for all your input MarkA .. all good to know, also kinda reinforces some of what I thought.
I’m planning on perhaps running both Mas26 cabs thru one side & the other side driving a diy basslite 110 for synth duties (will definitely have to watch the volume knob on this channel
thanks again
Si
Enjoy the cabs -- happy (and safe) playing!
Hi all. Selling my MAS 110. Here's the link:
For Sale - 2019 MAS 110 Bass Cab – Faital Woofer – Great Condition
For Sale - 2019 MAS 110 Bass Cab – Faital Woofer – Great Condition
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Hey guys just a heads up that I am unfortunately forced to sell my brand new Arnopol 1200 W class D power amp. This one has all the bells and whistle‘s with Mike’s proprietary high pass filter and preamp/gain staging. It is absolutely amazing, easily the cream of the crop of the small class D power amps.
For Sale - Mike Arnopol 1200w Class D Power Amp
For Sale - Mike Arnopol 1200w Class D Power Amp
Not a good sign for me when jake is selling his....I have the same prototype at home...paid full in march...still had thermal compression problems at 2.7 ohm load...Mike said he was sending replacement redesign....that was two months ago with no response to messages....I'll never learn huh lol
....btw i've been gigging with a bb800 and a gk single 15 cab all summer...my b28 has something loose in it and that control panel wont come off...feeling like when I started this process I should've went conventional route...
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,232
- 45,106
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I understand Jake's move back to a "head" rather than components - I did the same thing when I replaced my 2di4 and (damn, not enough coffee yet, forget the userid) amazing slam power amp. The WD-800 was plenty close enough and was lighter, smaller, and a way easier carry.
Bummer about your b28. I know how much you were loving it earlier.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
To be clear, I have NO ISSUES with mine, I am just moving to a different setup. I've had a few of these 1200w amps from Mike, since he started making them. This is the best one in terms of build quality, noise floor and perfomance. Please dont take my having to let mine go as any indication of the performance of the unit.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
...the simplistic setup has been working well for me lately also...I'm glad your unit has no issues....I'm sure someone will dig it for sure
I really miss the simplicity (and cost) of just using a combo amp. One power chord, one cable from bass (or pedalboard) into the amp, tune up and play. BUT, no one makes speaker boxes nearly as good as MAS or Audiokinesis (maybe a handful of other botique makers, but these are the two I've tried), and the flexibility of mixing and matching heads and cabs is super valuable for us doublers who might play anything from a loud rock band to a quiet jazz trio. The thought of adding another layer of complexity to my signal chain, though, by separating preamp and power amp, is not appealing to me. I'm sure Mike's power amps are top-notch, and more power to anyone else who might go that route. Personally, i don't think the gap between the mass-produced heads and the botique heads is anywhere near as big as the gap between mass-produced cabs and botique cabs....just my 2¢.
My two MAS-1,6s are doing great, and my MAS26 was always great and reliable.
