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Carvin BX500: Part II

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#241
g0dswilll said:
lindseyp,

can you share a little about each of your class d amps and what you like & don't like about each? i think you have one from carvin, gk, & one or two more...?

thanks
Click to expand...
LONG REPLY ALERT!

Interestingly, both amps suffered initially from similar problems addressed on this and the G-K thread. Once that was fixed, both amps jumped out of the starting gate neck and neck. Sonically they are different, with the G-K appearing to enhance the bass and lower midrange more, while the Carvin seems to emphasize the lower and upper midranges. The Carvin is a nice match with my Warwick $$, a bass that seems to explode on the fundamental; The G-K is a perfect match for my MTD Artist's single pickup position; the MTD sounds slightly lacking with the Carvin, but sounds "in the pocket" with G-K. I leave the MTD bass's tone controls in the neutral (flat) position and just move my hand around to change tones. MTD and G-K every Sunday.
I can't tell any difference on the Carvin with the tube engaged or disengaged, but this may be due to the Warwick $$'s strident voice (or, I should say, the voicing of the Warwick's MEC preamp). I have more basses I'll be returning to in a month and can't wait to hear how they sound through the Carvin. I think my Lakland 55-02 was made for this amp.
So there you have it, two different amps that sound great, the Carvin has more features, and both seem to be bass instrument dependent IMO. FWIW, the Carvin makes an excellent addition to the effects loop of my Kustom KBA65 combo. With all of the Carvin's controls set flat and the graphic EQ turned off, the Kustom goes from decent sounding, loud apartment combo to great sounding combo, period. Try it.
This photo below is one reason why the G-K comes out on top--I really can carry everything, to include amp, plus power, speaker and bass cables, in one gig bag:
G-KandCarvinDSC_3378.jpg

BTW, the G-K actually fits all the way in the bag's pocket, I just have it sticking out to prove it's there :). The Carvin BRX10.2 NEO is my traveling speaker.
 
#242
The two different porting scenarios bass4worship describes - namely two 2" ports, 3" deep; and a single 4" port 2" deep - will give significantly different tuning frequencies.

In order to have the same tuning frequency as two 2" ports that are 3" deep, a single 4" port would need to be about 7.2" deep.
 
#244
lindseyp said:
I think the other two amps you're referring to are my Ashdown LG1000s which I haven't played much; I got them for outdoor/much larger venues, but right now, the Carvin and the G-K are holding it down, baby! Also, I play through two 1X15 8 Ohm amps with the Carvin and G-K, 4 Ohm load total.
Click to expand...

yes, i was, and thanks for your post above. i know the downside to the ashdown's are having to have the 4ohm load and the amps not being bridgeable. that said they are in theory, much more powerful. can you comment on the ashdown as they relate to the other two. so far no one matches the ashdown's power except tecamp unless carvin does come out with an MX1000...

also, would you mind posting a picture with the three amps all sitting side by side, or stacked, or something.

thanks!

will
 
#245
I know there has been some speculation and some side comments from Carvin about a BX1000. I wonder if part of the reason for the footprint of the BX500 being larger than similar lightweight bass heads (LMII, Shuttle, MB2-500) is that the intent was to have sufficient room to add a second power amp in the same chassis to save on manufacturing costs of having a whole different design. I'm wondering if there are any tell tale signs of this inside the amp, i.e. has anyone "popped the hood" to see if it looks like it could easily accomodate a second power amp module? Tom Bowlus, have you guys done this perchance during your review? Could give another clue about the possibility of this happening.

I've been vacillating about a BX500, but the flexibility of the BX1200 with the extra power and bridging capability is very enticing except for the weight. I'd like to have more than 300 watts on tap into a single 8 ohm cab (e.g BFM Omni15 Tallboy or Greenboy's fEarful cabs). If a BX1000 becomes reality, I'd be all over it.
 
#246
gerryjazzman said:
I know there has been some speculation and some side comments from Carvin about a BX1000. I wonder if part of the reason for the footprint of the BX500 being larger than similar lightweight bass heads (LMII, Shuttle, MB2-500) is that the intent was to have sufficient room to add a second power amp in the same chassis to save on manufacturing costs of having a whole different design. I'm wondering if there are any tell tale signs of this inside the amp, i.e. has anyone "popped the hood" to see if it looks like it could easily accomodate a second power amp module? Tom Bowlus, have you guys done this perchance during your review? Could give another clue about the possibility of this happening.

I've been vacillating about a BX500, but the flexibility of the BX1200 with the extra power and bridging capability is very enticing except for the weight. I'd like to have more than 300 watts on tap into a single 8 ohm cab (e.g BFM Omni15 Tallboy or Greenboy's fEarful cabs). If a BX1000 becomes reality, I'd be all over it.
Click to expand...

I'm interested in a BX 1000, too, but I'm wondering if it will be a two channel amp that won't be bridgeable?
 
#247
I don't mind the Ashdown's design. I like 4 Ohm speakers, and the LG1000 is rated to independently handle a 4 Ohm speaker in each input at 500 watts each. That means when the time comes I can stack my two BRX10.2NEOs end over end, or use one as a monitor and the other for the venue, both as monitors, etc. Plenty of options. Here's a shot of one of the LG1000s and my Carvin BX500:
LG100__BX5002DSC_2807.jpg

[EDIT]
The Ashdown is Chinese made, I think designed in Britain or here in their U.S. office, don't know who supplies their parts since I know very good knockoff parts are made in that region; the Carvin is U.S. made in Corvina, CA., as I recall all the parts are U.S. made as well (someone pop yours open to be sure, please).
Closeup of the Carvin, very nice job:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v410/lindseyp/Bottom_Dwelling/?action=view&current=BX500guts.jpg
 
#248
lindseyp said:
I don't mind the Ashdown's design. I like 4 Ohm speakers, and the LG1000 is rated to independently handle a 4 Ohm speaker in each input at 500 watts each. That means when the time comes I can stack my two BRX10.2NEOs end over end, or use one as a monitor and the other for the venue, both as monitors, etc. Plenty of options. Here's a shot of one of the LG1000s and my Carvin BX500
Click to expand...

would you mind throwing your GK down there too for a shot to see just how much smaller it is?

thanks for the trouble!
 
#250
gerryjazzman said:
Tom Bowlus, have you guys done this perchance during your review? Could give another clue about the possibility of this happening.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, we have not done the review yet, and I have no firsthand information regarding the possibility of stuffing a second (or a larger) output section in that box. You may be onto something, though... :hiding:
 
#251
Hmm... Doesn't look obvious from the pics that Carvin preplanned the layout for another power amp. If a BX1000 becomes a reality it looks like it would need to be a somewhat different design if indeed it would be based on the BX500. I really hope a BX1000 would be bridgeable (even just into 8 ohms, that's where the real benefit would be). That would make it one kick a$$ amp in my book.
 
#252
gerryjazzman said:
Hmm... Doesn't look obvious from the pics that Carvin preplanned the layout for another power amp. If a BX1000 becomes a reality it looks like it would need to be a somewhat different design if indeed it would be based on the BX500. I really hope a BX1000 would be bridgeable (even just into 8 ohms, that's where the real benefit would be). That would make it one kick a$$ amp in my book.
Click to expand...

If there's room in the case for another mainboard and the front and/or back panels need only slight revision, then it really doesn't matter if the PCB layout resembles the BX500. That still pays off.
 
#255
How much does your rack weigh? The head is so light I'm convinced it's going to break if I even gently knock it into a door frame or something, so I'm thinking a rack may be in order... but at the same time, I don't want to lug something that weighs as much as my OLD head around either...
 
#259
rasthedoctor said:
How much does your rack weigh? The head is so light I'm convinced it's going to break if I even gently knock it into a door frame or something, so I'm thinking a rack may be in order... but at the same time, I don't want to lug something that weighs as much as my OLD head around either...
Click to expand...
The whole setup is very light. I attached a power strip in the back for AC outlets. It is a 4 space skb style rack. I also have a metal rack shelf for my sans amp and wirless. I carry the speaker cables in the back and I have an 8' snake in the back which is an XLR cable for my DI out and IEM in. Saves all the setup. I even setup a patch box in thack so when I do use my effects I just plug the cables into the patch box.

Chris
 
#260
musicman7722 said:
The whole setup is very light. I attached a power strip in the back for AC outlets. It is a 4 space skb style rack. I also have a metal rack shelf for my sans amp and wirless. I carry the speaker cables in the back and I have an 8' snake in the back which is an XLR cable for my DI out and IEM in. Saves all the setup. I even setup a patch box in thack so when I do use my effects I just plug the cables into the patch box.

Chris
Click to expand...

Very cool - thanks for the info!
 
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