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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

I measured a slightly rising frequency response when set "flat". See the attached graph.
 

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I measured a slightly rising frequency response when set "flat". See the attached graph.

Yep, that's it.

From Passinwind:

Howdy,

Thought you might like a look at the response measurements I took on my BX500. Dunno if the BX1500 is substantially different, since I haven't seen the schematic for one yet. I dig the BX500 a lot though -- made a trade for a broken one and fixed it right quick.

The measurements were done with the Drive and Contour controls full left, except as noted, and the graphic EQ off.

all the best,

----Charlie

Link Removed
__________________
-- Charlie Escher
 
Yep, that's it.

Howdy,

Thought you might like a look at the response measurements I took on my BX500. Dunno if the BX1500 is substantially different, since I haven't seen the schematic for one yet. I dig the BX500 a lot though -- made a trade for a broken one and fixed it right quick.

The measurements were done with the Drive and Contour controls full left, except as noted, and the graphic EQ off.

all the best,

----Charlie

Link Removed
__________________
-- Charlie Escher

Well, how bout that... I was wondering why boosting the Bass knob didn't fill it up enough for me -- your purple plot seems to peak at 300 Hz! Wonder why Carvin would do that. Good thing they put the semiparametrics and the graphic on there!
 
Well, how bout that... I was wondering why boosting the Bass knob didn't fill it up enough for me -- your purple plot seems to peak at 300 Hz! Wonder why Carvin would do that. Good thing they put the semiparametrics and the graphic on there!

Yep, that's it.

From Passinwind :

Howdy,

Thought you might like a look at the response measurements I took on my BX500. Dunno if the BX1500 is substantially different, since I haven't seen the schematic for one yet. I dig the BX500 a lot though -- made a trade for a broken one and fixed it right quick.

The measurements were done with the Drive and Contour controls full left, except as noted, and the graphic EQ off.

all the best,

----Charlie

Link Removed
__________________
-- Charlie Escher

Thank Charlie Escher AKA Passinwind for that!

I think what he's showing is different ways to flattening the amp response since 12 noon is not it.
So, the different plots with different knob settings shows what can bring that amp closer to "flat"
 
I have been using a BX500 that is mounted in an old PB100-10 combo cabinet, with the stock PB10 replaced with an Eminence CH2010 neo. I may be the only person in the world with this combination! I'm playing a theatre show with this amp. I'm running a DI line out to the house, and just doing low-volume stage monitoring with it. I'm not getting above 9 or 10 o'clock on the master, and generally running the gain around noon or 1 o'clock. I'm playing the show with an SX short scale jazz with D'Addario Chromes and Bart pickups.

The amp is very loud, present, and punchy. Definitely the sound I need for this show. Thanks, Carvin, for the BX500!
 
I have been using a BX500 that is mounted in an old PB110 combo cabinet, with the stock PB10 replaced with an Eminence CH2010 neo. I may be the only person in the world with this combination! I'm playing a theatre show with this amp. I'm running a DI line out to the house, and just doing low-volume stage monitoring with it. I'm not getting above 9 or 10 o'clock on the master, and generally running the gain around noon or 1 o'clock. I'm playing the show with an SX short scale jazz with D'Addario Chromes and Bart pickups.

The amp is very loud, present, and punchy. Definitely the sound I need for this show. Thanks, Carvin, for the BX500!

I thought about doing that with my PB100-10 :)
 
Cool! Thanks for doing measurements. It would be very interesting to see what the knobs are set at to get a flat frequency response, with and without te graphic eq. If you find yourself bored with nothing else to do ;)

Liam

You mean like the attached? This is with the bass at +3 and the contour at 11 o'clock.
 

Attachments

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The fact that the BX500 is the same shell as the older PB amp heads makes for many interesting possibilities! Mine was in a PB-200 cab with a 4ohm 600W Carvin Neo spk. The cab couldn't push the full 500 watts, but it worked great for rehearsals and not-huge gigs.

Not that way now (several surgeries have intervened for various reasons) but will likely return to that config soon as I am using neither component for anything at the moment, and I have a new band in whose rehearsal space I would like to install an amp.
 
Set flat it seems kinda thin if you do try cranking the bass for a bit. With the bass up to say 3pm, it is superfat and and you can really feel it. Not the best mix for a band maybe, but sweet none the less.

I guess it is all relative and that is the main reason why it is recommended to cut before you boost.
 
No one?

I did a search before my first post and found some questions about reliability, but didn't really see any good answers from personal experience about 2 ohm operation. Maybe I missed some?

I ran mine at 2.67 ohms for a full gig (3 sets cover band) with no PA support. I used my BX500 combo (BR515N) amp which is 8 ohms, and then a :hiding: Dr. Bass 115LF 4 ohm cab below. I didn't notice any issues at all. So, I can vouch for 2.67 ohms. :bassist: