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Carvin's BX1500 and B2000

#141
We just heard these amps and they really kicked! The BX1500 is indeed the same front end as the BX1200. The B2000 has the same front end as the B1500, but with a tube placed as an additional driver for the output section (which can be switched out, just like the BX500 and BX1500). The voicing on the B2000 has been slightly tweaked relative to the B1500, but it's pretty minor.

Interestingly, the B2000 uses a class-AB output section, but a SMPS, whereas the BX1500 is class-D and SMPS.
 
#142
tombowlus said:
We just heard these amps and they really kicked! The BX1500 is indeed the same front end as the BX1200. The B2000 has the same front end as the B1500, but with a tube placed as an additional driver for the output section (which can be switched out, just like the BX500 and BX1500). The voicing on the B2000 has been slightly tweaked relative to the B1500, but it's pretty minor.

Interestingly, the B2000 uses a class-AB output section, but a SMPS, whereas the BX1500 is class-D and SMPS.
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could you describe the voicing tweak between the b2000 and the old b1500?

thanks!
 
#143
()smoke() said:
could you describe the voicing tweak between the b2000 and the old b1500?

thanks!
Click to expand...

I believe that the Bass control was tuned so that the "noon" setting is a little backed down. George said that if you set the Bass control to"7" is is abou dead on to the B1500.
 
#145
()smoke() said:
and, depending on how the new models sound, the b1500 might start to fetch more rather than less, since it's no longer available new...
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This my thinking as well. The new models will be desirable but the B1500 with it's huge transformer @ 35lbs will still be very hard to beat tonewise.

I think they'll go up in value actually.
 
#148
Blues Cat said:
This my thinking as well. The new models will be desirable but the B1500 with it's huge transformer @ 35lbs will still be very hard to beat tonewise.

I think they'll go up in value actually.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware that a large iron output trasnformer was that advantageous for a SS amp but I think that if they sound similar more power and lighter weight will make the 1500 much less desireable.
 
#149
Jim C said:
I wasn't aware that a large iron output trasnformer was that advantageous for a SS amp but I think that if they sound similar more power and lighter weight will make the 1500 much less desireable.
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The power difference is a non-issue.

The B1500 actually puts out 1900 watts, so the only real difference is going from 3 rack spaces to 2 spaces, and the loss of weight.

If the tone suffers due to the modifications, then the B1500 could very well become sought after.
 
#152
Bass_Pounder said:
The power difference is a non-issue.

The B1500 actually puts out 1900 watts, so the only real difference is going from 3 rack spaces to 2 spaces, and the loss of weight.

If the tone suffers due to the modifications, then the B1500 could very well become sought after.
Click to expand...

+1

Here's a very cool thing about the B2000 that I saw in the Bass Gear Magazine interview with Carvin at NAMM (posted on their site).

The B2000 has the tube at the 'last stage' of the preamp (I guess kind of like the Mesa MPulse 'tube driven MOSFET' sort of thing. Here's the cool thing... there is a switch on the back of the amp for totally bypassing that tube. So, you can have what seems to be the B1500 tone with the tube bypassed (seems like pretty much the same pre and power amp, with the addition of the SMPS to reduce size and weight) or I assume a slightly warmer, fatter tone with the tube driver engaged. Nice!

Edit: I didn't see Tom's post above prior to posting. Again, seems like a very cool design... a lightweight B1500 with some tube flavoring... nice!
 
#156
+1
Sounds like the guys at Carvin are really interested in building what players want
Guess I'll have to get away from the dinasour thinking that I have to play it in person before buying and just let the UPS man do his thing
 
#157
In the interview, unless my ears are deceiving me, the Carvin rep says the BX1500 weighs 12 lbs? I thought it was 10 lbs. Also, as far as bi amping goes, this head would be all that is necessary to bi amp the LS 1503, right?
 
#158
Thanks for posting that link.

I cannot wait for my B2000 to arrive.

I've never had an amp that would physically destroy my speakers in an instant. :bassist:

The "safest" speaker configuration using my current speakers will be an 8 Ohm 210 + 8 Ohm 210 + 8 Ohm 115 + 8 Ohm 115 = 2 Ohms at 2050W, for 500W per cabinet. That greatly exceeds each cabinet's power rating, but by far less than any other configuration.

Of course I'm going to do it. I need to get more speaker cables, though.
 
#160
Limeman said:
Agreed. Between the new SB4000/5000s and the B2000, Carvin really has me looking hard in their direction. Now all they need is a 112, 212 and 412 BRX series of speakers... :D
Click to expand...

The SB's did KILL, for sure. I was very impressed with their playability and tone, and some of the esthetic combinations are to die for!

As for 12" Carvin cabs, I couldn't get them to commit to anything, but it was discussed... :smug:
 

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