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Carvin B1500 vs Mesa M9/M6

#3
Subscribed!

A B1500 has been my big-gig amp for several years (iAmp800 for small-to-medium gigs), and I've been very encouraged by all of the positive M6/M9 reviews I've read.

From all the reviews I've read so far, Mesa and TC Electronic both seem like contenders. The Mesa gear isn't exactly lightweight, and I'm worried the RH450 won't have enough power to replace my B1500.

Still looking for lead sled girth, warmth, punch, and focus in a lightweight package... :help: :)
 
#4
Jazzdogg said:
Still looking for lead sled girth, warmth, punch, and focus in a lightweight package... :help: :)
Click to expand...

Speaking of which, I for one will be most interested to read some reviews of the new Carvin B2000 once it hits the street - especially comparative reviews vis-a-vis the B1500. (Q. Can an SMPS amp be regarded as a "lead sled" - if it puts out more than 2,000 watts of power?) :hmm:

MM
 
#5
Well, let me tell ya. I just sold a brand new Mesa Carbine 600 and purchased a new B1500, so how do you like that?
:rolleyes:

I have owned many Mesa amps/cabs over the years, but now I am done with them. They are going in a different direction and I don't like it.

I should have realized that when Mesa discontinued the 400+ they are no longer my kind of amp!!!
 
#8
JerryD said:
I am looking to buy one of these but can only try out the Mesa and Wow!!! Just wondering if anyone has done any compairsons between the Mesa M9 / M6 and the Carvin B1500. I would like to hear your opinion.

Thanks
JerryD
Click to expand...

The B1500 is soon to be discontinued. They have replaced it with the B2000.... smaller and lighter than the M6, and at LEAST as powerful as the M9, if it is similar to the B1500 (haven't tried one yet, they just started shipping). The B2000 also adds a driver tube that can be switched in and out of the circuit. It costs about half of what the M6 costs (which is a great sounding head also).

EQ, power, cost, weight (13 pounds!)... it would be the B2000 for me. Carvin has a 10 day return policy.... order one and try it out, then you will know.
 
#9
One thing is I want to see the new Carvins proven on the battlefield, so to speak. I had a BX500 that shut down due to sketchy power in one of the dives I regularly play. My GK 700RB and the B1500 had no problems. Several others have also reported the BX500 going into protect mode under "dive" conditions. I really want to see if this is isolated to the BX500, or if it applies to all their new SMPS models.

Cheers,
Liam
 
#10
I understand the B2000 will be a replacement for the B1500, but as far as I know it still is not shipping, but the B1500 has been in the field for some time now. That is why I am compairing the B1500 to M6/M9. I know that everybody is different and has different taste and like, but what I am most interested in the sound you get from the amp. How are the different. I do like the sound of the Mesa, but what I do not like the the way they do there DI in post mode. The master volumne effects the level on the DI and if you are using FOH support and 98% of my gigs are FOH support, if I change the master it does effect FOH.

Thanks
JerryD
 
#11
I reviewed the M6 in issue #1 of BGM, and the B1500 was definitely one of the heads that I compared it to while crafting my notes. The B1500 (reviewed in issue #2, btw) is along the lines of a "studio flat" kind of reference tone. It has a little bit of coloration (pretty much everything does), but it does not stray far from center, and it does an exceptionally good job of being well-balanced (and exceptionally powerful!).

The M6/M9 are not designed to be "flat," but rather, the voice is intentionally shaped to deliver what Mesa/Boogie considers to be a musical presentation. It certainly has more harmonic content, and you can hear the "tubey goodness," though not in a slow, overly fat plodding fashion. The M6/M9 are very fast, with a quick, clear delivery.

If you look at the frequency charts we measured for both amps you might get a better feel for the inherent tone of each. I like them both a great bit, and neither route will leave you lacking for power. This is definitely a call of personal preference as to which will work the best for you.

Tom.
 
#14
I've had both. Kept the B1500. To me, there is a fullness and over all roundess to the tone of the B1500 that was missing with the M6. I found it real tough to control the glassiness of the M6. In general, I find it easier to EQ-up a room with the B1500 as compared with the M6 which I felt I was fiddling with all night at a gig.
 
#15
mrpackerguy said:
I've had both. Kept the B1500. To me, there is a fullness and over all roundess to the tone of the B1500 that was missing with the M6. I found it real tough to control the glassiness of the M6. In general, I find it easier to EQ-up a room with the B1500 as compared with the M6 which I felt I was fiddling with all night at a gig.
Click to expand...

FWIW if you're using your old Fathom as the M6 comparison, I bought that from you and didn't like it. It hissed a lot and I flipped it, but in retrospect I honestly think it was an early unit and not up to par. My M9 is far superior to it in terms of tone, and does not hiss significantly. I've never tried a current M6 or the B1500 though.
 

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