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Carvin dcm2004L

4Mal

4Mal

Gold Supporting Member
Jun 2, 2002
15,713
10,197
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Columbia River Gorge
#1
Anyone have experience with this amp ? I'm thinking about picking one up for monitors... It would be replacing 2 EV/Dynacord amps that are led sled, 350 a side into 8 (@ .1% thd). Those amps are pretty strong and have really great sound quality but they aren't being pushed.

There is an older, very short thread on the amp. Wondering if my one else has used it.

The old EV's would go to my spares inventory just in case....
 
#2
I bought one about 2.5yrs ago. 10lbs, 300w @ 8, it's an absolute workhorse! I use it for 4 mon mixes in a rack w 4ch of 31 band eq. It's a great grab and go mon amp rack.

It got stolen a while back and I bought the earlier version the DCM1204. 200w at 8 ohms per channel. Ballsy little amp! The input sensitivity is .77 volts so you need to know this if all your other amps are 1.4v to full power (why is this so loud and clipping easier?). The DCM2004L was returned to me 8 months later and I have both as well as 2 Alto d4 4 channel amps. All are excellent, the carvin is the lightest though the Altos have more power.
 
#3
theStink said:
I bought one about 2.5yrs ago. 10lbs, 300w @ 8, it's an absolute workhorse! I use it for 4 mon mixes in a rack w 4ch of 31 band eq. It's a great grab and go mon amp rack. It got stolen a while back and I bought the earlier version the DCM1204. 200w at 8 ohms per channel. Ballsy little amp! The input sensitivity is .77 volts so you need to know this if all your other amps are 1.4v to full power (why is this so loud and clipping easier?). The DCM2004L was returned to me 8 months later and I have both as well as 2 Alto d4 4 channel amps. All are excellent, the carvin is the lightest though the Altos have more power.
Click to expand...
Kinda funny, my monitor amps are presently a pair of Peavey IPR1600's and I bought a DCM2004L to replae them but haven't got around to doing it yet. Previously I had a pair of stoopid heavy RMX850's. I also bought an Alto D2 four channel amp but never really used it as it is too deep to fit in my shallow racks that I use these days. I have someone willing to swap the D2 for a DCM1204 if I pay shipping but I haven't got round to that either LOL.
 
#4
My old Dynacord stuff makes those RMX's seem light... like the RMX series stuff, they are brutally strong in every possible dimension... I'm a little concerned about the 300 watts into 8 at 1% and 1k. The EV's are 350 at .1 full range so they carry considerably more power. Question is how much of that am I really using for monitors ? I am pretty sure that I have considerable headroom left.
 
#5
4Mal said:
My old Dynacord stuff makes those RMX's seem light... like the RMX series stuff, they are brutally strong in every possible dimension... I'm a little concerned about the 300 watts into 8 at 1% and 1k. The EV's are 350 at .1 full range so they carry considerably more power. Question is how much of that am I really using for monitors ? I am pretty sure that I have considerable headroom left.
Click to expand...
IMO about 75 watts per somewhat efficient monitor keeps you mostly out of the amp's limiters for a reasonable stage volume. So 300w gives you 6db of headroom. Unfortunately many bands you'll run into at the "little league" level have already damaged their hearing and really seem to want to finish the process - so stoopid loud is needed. But efficient monitors can still make them ears bleed even with "only" 250-300w assuming a small stage with the monitors snug up against the mic stands (AKA about 6 feet from their ears) - the limit lights might flash a bit but that's what the limiters are for, no? BTW 250w into a 97db 1W/1M monitor calculates out at 116db at the ears - how deaf do you want to be? ;)
 
#6
Hey RoadRanger, it's Pete (Unalaska) from HC.

If you ever want to trade the D2 for a 1204 I'm up for it! The 1204 is about the same depth as the 2004l but the weight is about double.

I'm replacing 2 qsc CX502s (plx1602 contractor version) with the D4. I'd rather replace them with ipr3000s or even 1600s but the deal came along and I couldn't pass it up.
 
#7
My old Renkus 12 and a horn wedges are pretty efficient so maybe I can get by. Probably the best way to tell is bring in an amp and give it a shot. My next big one is a 3 day Fest the weekend after this so I guess I should get on the stick...

I had 3 systems out last weekend doing a large in terms of area outdoor sports event and the band got a last minute booking. All my active stuff was engaged with the event so I used my drum monitors as mains (PAS TOC 15" coax's) and 3 of the Renkus wedges. Dang but that old heavy passive stuff sounds good... Glad I don't have to move it that often though... I gotta find me a young stud back...

Well, DCM2004L in bound. Hopefully this will go smooth!
 
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