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Carvin BX500 and class "D" questions

G

Gaffpro

Jun 12, 2012
3
0
#1
I just received a Carvin BX500 head and am amazed at how underpowered it is considering the claim is 500 watts. It's being returned....there is no way I can seriously gig with this in a band situation.

Are most of the class D micro amps out there the same way? I'm old school and remember playing out of 100 watt tube bass amps in the 70's that wpould clearly blow these new guys out of the water, I just want something light and go with a manufacturer that isn't giving bs on the actual wattage. Thanks!
 
#2
Gaffpro said:
I just received a Carvin BX500 head and am amazed at how underpowered it is considering the claim is 500 watts. It's being returned....there is no way I can seriously gig with this in a band situation.

Are most of the class D micro amps out there the same way? I'm old school and remember playing out of 100 watt tube bass amps in the 70's that wpould clearly blow these new guys out of the water, I just want something light and go with a manufacturer that isn't giving bs on the actual wattage. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Just curious, what cab are you pairing it with?
 
#3
Gaffpro said:
I just received a Carvin BX500 head and am amazed at how underpowered it is considering the claim is 500 watts. It's being returned....there is no way I can seriously gig with this in a band situation.

Are most of the class D micro amps out there the same way? I'm old school and remember playing out of 100 watt tube bass amps in the 70's that wpould clearly blow these new guys out of the water, I just want something light and go with a manufacturer that isn't giving bs on the actual wattage. Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you search TB more info about the BX500, you are about exactly the first person to say this, give or take. Personally, I have to ride the volume at 10 o' clock if indoors, 11 o' clock if outdoors. when in 2 ohms, it about knocks me over. (2 2x10 Carvin 4 ohm cabs.)

Are you running in series or parallel? Presuming more than one cab. If one cab, is it 8 ohm? Or even 16 ohm? Not common, just asking.

Also, the Eq's are very sensitive on this amp. Tweak the eq to the room, you'll be surprised. But if you've been playing since the 70's you're well aware of such things!!

Sean
 
#4
the class of the amp doesn't matter.

The amp delivering on what the manufacturer advertises it as is what matters.
It matters that amps are measured to standards.
And cabinets have clear measurements.
There's not controls on the bass gear market.
At least you can try it an return it.

Given all that, Carvin is actually very honest with their ratings. It may be you had the 2-ohm switch pushed, or some other problem. Did you contact their support?
 
#5
Gaffpro said:
I just received a Carvin BX500 head and am amazed at how underpowered it is considering the claim is 500 watts. It's being returned....there is no way I can seriously gig with this in a band situation.

Are most of the class D micro amps out there the same way? I'm old school and remember playing out of 100 watt tube bass amps in the 70's that wpould clearly blow these new guys out of the water, I just want something light and go with a manufacturer that isn't giving bs on the actual wattage. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Bare in mind that distortion (cranked 100 watt tube amp) sounds a lot louder than undistorted power.......till you try to talk over it or step out a couple hundred feet. ;)
 
#7
Wow...I'm currently running 2 hartke vx 115 cabs and 2 hartke xl410 cabs out the back of this little beast via daisy chain at 2 ohms and, well, I've had several visits from the local five-0 regarding noise complaints! I've ran just 2 cabs with my old metal cover band that was insanely loud and never went past 5 on the master! Carvin may very well send u a replacement if u call...their customer service is top notch! Best of luck!:cool:
 
#8
Jaimie jamerson said:
Wow...I'm currently running 2 hartke vx 115 cabs and 2 hartke xl410 cabs out the back of this little beast via daisy chain at 2 ohms and, well, I've had several visits from the local five-0 regarding noise complaints! I've ran just 2 cabs with my old metal cover band that was insanely loud and never went past 5 on the master! Carvin may very well send u a replacement if u call...their customer service is top notch! Best of luck!:cool:
Click to expand...

If u want treble and midrange...buy a guitar!!
 
#10
I believe he was using a BRX10.2 cab, which is 4 ohms and in my experience, cranks up very loud as a standalone cab with the BX500. He sent the head back for another one, but maybe the cab has the problem and not the head.

Now the friend of mine who gigs with this setup has the previous NEO version of the cab, so I believe he has different speakers. It would be a shame if the cab isn't as efficient as it used to be. It would also seem odd that the previous version would be much louder than the new version, although I'm not discounting it.

I would take the head to GC and try some other cabs with it. If the salesman gets pissy, try out another head and tell him you want to compare heads for a possible sale.
 
#11
Jeff7: Thanks for making a sensible suggestion.......I've had a prior relationship with Carvin artist relations and I've put a call into Richard. Sometimes they have a different slant on what the issue could be. The BRX 10.2 NEO specs looked great and I was told that it was more efficient than the previous line (the specs clearly pointed this out anyway)

Hopefully by tomorrow I can rectify this.....thanks
 
#12
Gaffpro said:
Jeff7: Thanks for making a sensible suggestion.......I've had a prior relationship with Carvin artist relations and I've put a call into Richard. Sometimes they have a different slant on what the issue could be. The BRX 10.2 NEO specs looked great and I was told that it was more efficient than the previous line (the specs clearly pointed this out anyway)

Hopefully by tomorrow I can rectify this.....thanks
Click to expand...

Update?
 
#13
OP...If you aren't getting enough volume from a BX500 that you are either:

1) Scooping your mids and using a mid-scooped bass
2) Using your compression knob incorrectly
3) Have your bass turned down
4) Playing with the amp turned off

Into an Avatar 2x10 neo cab, I have NEVER had to go past 3 or 4 playing against a 6'4" drummer and a guitarist with a 100w VHT tube half stack. Something must be wrong with your cab, because through my 2x15's, my bx500 makes people go deaf. Try it through some other cabs, I guarantee you that you will crap bricks once you get it rolling lol
 

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