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Carvin's BX1500 and B2000

#701
In regards to the B2000 it has a two speed thermostatically controlled fan at roughly 12 volts on low and 24 volts on high. Carvin was gracious enough to send me a replacement B2000 and a call tag immediately when I complained of the fan noise. Fact is in the replacement the fan sounded just the same, so I sent it right back with the call tag. I have just resolved myself to the fact it's a terrific sounding 2000 watt amp, and for crying out loud, it requires the air flow. Carvin's customer service was stellar.
Perhaps they are being mentored by the guys at Genz Benz? :D
 
#702
So you gave up on a terrific sounding amp because of a loud fan? I wonder why there aren't as many complaints about the BX1500 fan? My first on was very quiet, we'll see on Monday how the second one is. I'll report back after I get all giggity giggity on it.
 
#703
silky smoove said:
Glad I'm not the only one :smug:

It's all relative though. If you're only ever going to use this head in a live, full-band, loud setting it's a complete non-issue.

If you're going to use it in a more "sound-controlled" environment and don't mind the fan noise, or don't consider it loud it's a non-issue.

I couldn't handle the fan noise and that, combined with the other issues I had with this head, was the reason it went back to Carvin. A great head, but not without faults.

For the sake of clarifying my stance on this head, which typically sounds very negative: Despite the flaws, if I hadn't picked up a Tecamp Puma1000 I'd still be rocking a B2000.
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Forgive me for not searching all your posts, but have you tried the BX1500?
 
#705
My first one was quiet enough to not even think about it. I should be getting my second one on Monday, so I'll let you all know about the fan on that on as soon as I get some quality time with it.
 
#706
lo-freq said:
Forgive me for not searching all your posts, but have you tried the BX1500?
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No I haven't. I did play an older BX1200 (I think that's the model number) and what I talked to one of the guys from Carvin on the phone he told me that the BX1500 sounded more similar to the 1200 than different. I wasn't a huge fan of that tone, so I went with the B2000.
 
#708
Ok, I just got my replacement BX1500 in the mail today. I called them last Tuesday about the tube bypass switch not working and they shipped a replacement that day, even though I didn't ship back the old one until Thursday. THAT IS SERVICE!!!

Anyways, I plugged her in before mounting it in the rack and the fan IS audible. I don't think its loud, but it can be heard if you're listening for it. Once I bolted her into her shallow rack, the back of the head is flush w/ the back of the rack, I couldn't hear it anymore. So yes, the fan makes noise. But it is also pushing alot of air....... just like my speakers! :)
 
#709
RNV said:
Ok, I just got my replacement BX1500 in the mail today. I called them last Tuesday about the tube bypass switch not working and they shipped a replacement that day, even though I didn't ship back the old one until Thursday. THAT IS SERVICE!!!

Anyways, I plugged her in before mounting it in the rack and the fan IS audible. I don't think its loud, but it can be heard if you're listening for it. Once I bolted her into her shallow rack, the back of the head is flush w/ the back of the rack, I couldn't hear it anymore. So yes, the fan makes noise. But it is also pushing alot of air....... just like my speakers! :)
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You know what you should do now... you should go and get your video camera or some recording equipment, record/do a video demo of your BX1500 and post it on youtube.And i will be forever in debt to you.
 
#710
If anyone out there has a Markbass F1 or F500 and a Carvin B2000, I'd appreciate it if you could use the Markbass as the preamp running into the power amp section of the B2000 and let us all know how it sounds.
I think you might have to use the effects send of the Mb into the effects return of the B2k.

Don't know if anyone has both amps at this time -- maybe two bassists could collaborate.

I'm thinking that an F500 would make a great general-purpose gig amp and for those festival gigs where you want to flap some pant's legs, run it into the B2k power section driving an extra cab or two.

I bet it would sound killer as long as the interconnecting worked OK.
 
#713
lo-freq said:
If anyone out there has a Markbass F1 or F500 and a Carvin B2000, I'd appreciate it if you could use the Markbass as the preamp running into the power amp section of the B2000 and let us all know how it sounds.
I think you might have to use the effects send of the Mb into the effects return of the B2k.

Don't know if anyone has both amps at this time -- maybe two bassists could collaborate.

I'm thinking that an F500 would make a great general-purpose gig amp and for those festival gigs where you want to flap some pant's legs, run it into the B2k power section driving an extra cab or two.

I bet it would sound killer as long as the interconnecting worked OK.
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This does'nt answer your question specifically, but I did use an F1 as a preamp into the Carvin 1540L power amp at a rehearsal, and it was quite " in your face " to the point of overkill. I think ( not sure ) that the power amps in the 2000 and the 1500 are based on Carvin's lightweight power amps, so take it for what it's worth. Actually, having used the F1 for sometime now, I have never felt the need for more volume ( in a 4 ohm load ). However, I am thinking about using the F1 in a rack with the 1500, just as a spare amp. Still a very lightweight rig, and two great bass amps.
 
#714
jnewmark said:
This does'nt answer your question specifically, but I did use an F1 as a preamp into the Carvin 1540L power amp at a rehearsal, and it was quite " in your face " to the point of overkill. I think ( not sure ) that the power amps in the 2000 and the 1500 are based on Carvin's lightweight power amps, so take it for what it's worth. Actually, having used the F1 for sometime now, I have never felt the need for more volume ( in a 4 ohm load ). However, I am thinking about using the F1 in a rack with the 1500, just as a spare amp. Still a very lightweight rig, and two great bass amps.
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Thanks. Not very auspicious, eh?
The B2000 and some of the more powerful Carvin power amps are class AB with switch-mode power supplies.
The BX1500 and some of the medium to lower power amps are class D w/S-W PS.
Don't know how much that affects the resultant sound though.
 
#715
lo-freq said:
Thanks. Not very auspicious, eh?
The B2000 and some of the more powerful Carvin power amps are class AB with switch-mode power supplies.
The BX1500 and some of the medium to lower power amps are class D w/S-W PS.
Don't know how much that affects the resultant sound though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, somewhere, perhaps in this thread or another, someone posted that the two new Carvin bass amps had the lightweight power amps ( the " L " designation ) as their power source. I would'nt rule out using the F1 as a pre though, it was just too much power for my needs and I really did'nt have alot of time to mess with it. There was some knob twisting involved to find my tone, as opposed to leaving the dials where I usually do, and they are both class D, I believe. But if you desire more volume, ( for the F1 ) I would check it out.
 
#717
BassmanPaul said:
I can hear mine in my rehearsal room at home but I don't find it objectionable. Truthfully I'm more concerned with getting my lines right than obsessing about a fan. :)

Paul
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+1 - I had 2-BX1200's at different points in time. Both had louder fans than a Mark I briefly owned, and a couple other amps I've owned. Like Paul - I have mo' impotent things to occupy my concerns...like hitting the right notes and getting the right overall sound :p
 

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