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clean power amp?

#21
RS66LB said:
If you can deal with 'extreme weight to extreme clean power' try a Crest CA-18 -the internal guts of this amp are layed out beautifully not to mention its ability to deliever full power well beyond human hearing (its 3db down point is at 150 khz). I've never seen a bassist use one in a rig however I'd imagine that would be a sight to behold, of course at nearly 80 lbs. it's not going to be an easy thing to lug around, nonetheless it does deliever its 1700 watts per channel (4 ohms) in perfect non distorted 'high fidelity' while doing 2400 watts of the same into 2 ohms.
Click to expand...

Haha, +10. you posted at the same time I did.

I was thinking a CA-6 or 9 for a bass rig. Only 60lbs and the 9 can still do 2000W bridged into 2 ohms without even getting warm. More like 1200W for the 6.

A CA-6 is on my wishlist for my stage rig rebuild.
 
#23
gurensan said:
I still dig Crest's CA series. Cannot kill them; clean, class-H. Can't really even get them warm without a lot of effort.

Heavy as Obituary with a side of Carcass, though.
Click to expand...

+1

Totally true. NEVER HAD AN ISSUE with my CA6. I got it used in 2006, and I think it was at least 4 years old. I took it on the road twice and gigged it like mad until 2011—it's a nuke. Then I got a Mesa M9 Carbine, but the CA6 has even more slam, and can run 2 ohms per side. Bridged into 4 ohms is nice, but rarely needed. Works well with cabs that need different power or have different impedance.

gurensan said:
Haha, +10. you posted at the same time I did.

I was thinking a CA-6 or 9 for a bass rig. Only 60lbs and the 9 can still do 2000W bridged into 2 ohms without even getting warm. More like 1200W for the 6. A CA-6 is on my wishlist for my stage rig rebuild.
Click to expand...

Actually a CA6 is only ~48 LBS unracked. CA6 has the following power specs for 1kHz, 0.01% THD+N:

8 ohms Stereo Power: 400W (per channel)
4 ohms Stereo Power: 600W (per channel)
2 ohms Stereo Power: 750W (per channel)
8 ohms Mono Power: 1200W (bridged)
4 ohms Mono Power: 1500W (bridged)

Never needed more...:cool:
 
#24
If I were buying new (it's on the wish list), I'd go for a Crest ProLITE 3.0. The CA series amps are awesome and a good deal on the used market if you don't mind the weight...those rack weights add up quick once you start stuffing gear in 'em :)

The Carvin DCM stuff looks pretty cool, and affordable. I've been running a QSC GX7, mostly because I got a good deal on it.

Pro's- Not too heavy or deep. Good clean power and dependable.

Cons- not the lightest either, can't bridge
 
#26
Downunderwonder said:
NECRO ALERT 3 year old thread!

OP is still active. Maybe he woiuld like to tell us what he ended up with!
Click to expand...

Oh drat!

Have you seen the zombies dance?
Eatting brains when they get a chance.
OOOOOOh, OOh OOh.
wouldn't it be better if they just ate pants?

—composed by my 3rd grade choir. :D
 
#31
To you Crest Prolite guys:
Is it as stout with plenty of girth like a big iron amp?
I know subjective, but thinking some of you had the lead sled and tried the Crest; is there much difference?
 
#33
Everyone has their opinions and experiences, and "lead sleds" vs "superlights" is an argument that has many old TB threads devoted to it. There seem to be two general schools of thought:

1. A Watt is a Watt and any type of power amp with comparable specs will reproduce exactly what is input....no more, no less. Differences in perceived loudness and/or depth are only reflections on how well matched the input sensitivity and impedance is. There is a TB member who works for QSC, who always makes this case, and I cannot say that he is wrong, since he knows oodles more than I do about EE.

2. That there are differences in the sound reproduced by power amps of different design, irrespective of, or in spite of, differences in input sensitivities. These differences are perceived differences, and not easily demonstrated by specs or bench tests. But, perception is reality. At least on an individual basis, it is.

So, I will tell you as a guy who has owned a Crest CA9 and a Stewart World 2.1, and also who has used a friend's rig that is powered by a QSC 2402, that there is, to my ears, a big difference. As far as the two lightweight amps go, I feel that the Stewart is better than the QSC in terms of both deeper clearer lows, and clean but not shrill highs. The Stewart just seemed more hi-fi, with a bit wider dynamic range.

But the Crest CA9, when used with a variety of preamps (RBI, ART Tube Channel, Ampeg SVP, and a Yamaha PB-1), absolutely outclasses the lightweights in every tonal way. The depth and punch of the lows is just another world better than the lightweights. It's no cleaner or hi-fi, but neither is it less so. It is just the enormous punch of the bass that sets it apart. I don't know how to properly put it into words, but it is just bass that you can feel in your chest as you play. It could be that Crest just rates their power more conservatively than the others, but with my Crest I get the feeling of unlimited headroom. Like really, I think my Bag End 4x10 would catch on fire before the amp would even begin to strain itself.

I deal with the weight by keeping the CA9 in a separate 2 space Gator case that I leave on the floor behind or next to the cabinet. Preamp, compressor and parametric EQ are in their own case and sit on top of the cab. It is slightly more work than if I had a micro-weight power amp. But it is much more than slightly better sound IME, so I stay with it.

The great thing is that power amp rigs are currently "out of vogue" and can be had for a song. I see all of the amps I mentioned here sell for around $400 give or take (CA9s usually go for a bit more, but CA6s are less and still powerful enough for most rigs of doom). That is tremendous bang for the buck.

For lightweight, find a used Stewart 2.1 or 1.6 They are 17 pounds and they sound good and look cool too.
 
#34
Boot Soul said:
Everyone has their opinions and experiences, and "lead sleds" vs "superlights" is an argument that has many old TB threads devoted to it. There seem to be two general schools of thought:

1. A Watt is a Watt and any type of power amp with comparable specs will reproduce exactly what is input....no more, no less. Differences in perceived loudness and/or depth are only reflections on how well matched the input sensitivity and impedance is. There is a TB member who works for QSC, who always makes this case, and I cannot say that he is wrong, since he knows oodles more than I do about EE.

2. That there are differences in the sound reproduced by power amps of different design, irrespective of, or in spite of, differences in input sensitivities. These differences are perceived differences, and not easily demonstrated by specs or bench tests. But, perception is reality. At least on an individual basis, it is.

So, I will tell you as a guy who has owned a Crest CA9 and a Stewart World 2.1, and also who has used a friend's rig that is powered by a QSC 2402, that there is, to my ears, a big difference. As far as the two lightweight amps go, I feel that the Stewart is better than the QSC in terms of both deeper clearer lows, and clean but not shrill highs. The Stewart just seemed more hi-fi, with a bit wider dynamic range.

But the Crest CA9, when used with a variety of preamps (RBI, ART Tube Channel, Ampeg SVP, and a Yamaha PB-1), absolutely outclasses the lightweights in every tonal way. The depth and punch of the lows is just another world better than the lightweights. It's no cleaner or hi-fi, but neither is it less so. It is just the enormous punch of the bass that sets it apart. I don't know how to properly put it into words, but it is just bass that you can feel in your chest as you play. It could be that Crest just rates their power more conservatively than the others, but with my Crest I get the feeling of unlimited headroom. Like really, I think my Bag End 4x10 would catch on fire before the amp would even begin to strain itself.

I deal with the weight by keeping the CA9 in a separate 2 space Gator case that I leave on the floor behind or next to the cabinet. Preamp, compressor and parametric EQ are in their own case and sit on top of the cab. It is slightly more work than if I had a micro-weight power amp. But it is much more than slightly better sound IME, so I stay with it.

The great thing is that power amp rigs are currently "out of vogue" and can be had for a song. I see all of the amps I mentioned here sell for around $400 give or take (CA9s usually go for a bit more, but CA6s are less and still powerful enough for most rigs of doom). That is tremendous bang for the buck.

For lightweight, find a used Stewart 2.1 or 1.6 They are 17 pounds and they sound good and look cool too.
Click to expand...

-Very well said, of course I guess I'm saying this because I totally agree...have a great day
 
#36
I have read all the threads but wanted to hear opinions from those that have had both.
I have an Ampeg SVP power amp; 1500 watts bridged mono and very heavy; it sounds great.
I'm looking for a free lunch.
Does anybody in this thread have a different opinion as that has owned both styles?
 
#37
In the case of having a free lunch, come to my place if you are in Germany. Be my guest. ;)

Only two years ago I purchased a quite cheap Poweramp from a big german web-shop with his own brand of poweramps. It was cheap, and had a lots of power - and good specifications. I needet something for my Ampeg SVP Pro.

So now I have a Class A/B-poweramp, called t-amp TA 1400 MK-X, 2 x 700 Watt @ 4 Ohm, 2 x 550 Watt @ 8 Ohm, 1.400 Watt mono bridged @ 8 Ohm. Fine, clear sound if wanted, distortion comes from the pre.

I was bare astonished, as I pluged in the poweramp, connected it with the pre and the cabs - fat, punchy, really loud, tons of headroom, nothing more to say.

A good poweramp just does one thing: It makes the sound louder. But my aquisition fell in a time, when Class-D - poweramps were discussed a lot: Not enough headroom, easy shut down when hot, not "the real" sound....

So I had to bite the green apple and houl about 40 lbs. But, as I say, you just carry the schlep up on stage and home again. You don't wear it around your neck like a bass.

On the other side I lately heard some Class-D - poweramps, that made me count my money. I could not say, what Class this amps had, I only saw a little poweramp about 1 HE in the racks of my fellow bassmen.

Mostly I saw the synq-audio 1k0, with 2 x 540 W @ 4 Ohm, 2 x 300 W @ 8 Ohm. 1080 W bridged @ Ohm. And: This power-modules are as cheap as my heavy one! I am talking about USD 320,--, give or take. And it is only 7 lbs.

Two weeks ago I played on a small festival, only 4 bands, and a friend of mine brought his rack, a Ampeg BSP pre and his synq-audio-poweramp, powering two 212'' + 6'', 4 Ohm - cabs. I brought my rack with the poweramp and pre, but asked to use my SVP Pro with that poweramp-cab combination. So I had a little time to A / B the two amps.

What can I say, this Class-D - poweramp has enough power, enough headroom, anything you need. And I felt no "syntetic" sound or anything. The poweramp is clear and punchy.

Lets say, mine is a bit faster in response, has more headroom. But mine has more power as well.

If you don't go for extreme volumes, a Class-D - Poweramp will be all right. The price is no longer a cause. You just will spare some serious weight.
 
#38
Boot Soul said:
Everyone has their opinions and experiences, and "lead sleds" vs "superlights" is an argument that has many old TB threads devoted to it. There seem to be two general schools of thought:

1. A Watt is a Watt and any type of power amp with comparable specs will reproduce exactly what is input....no more, no less. Differences in perceived loudness and/or depth are only reflections on how well matched the input sensitivity and impedance is. There is a TB member who works for QSC, who always makes this case, and I cannot say that he is wrong, since he knows oodles more than I do about EE.

2. That there are differences in the sound reproduced by power amps of different design, irrespective of, or in spite of, differences in input sensitivities. These differences are perceived differences, and not easily demonstrated by specs or bench tests. But, perception is reality. At least on an individual basis, it is.

So, I will tell you as a guy who has owned a Crest CA9 and a Stewart World 2.1, and also who has used a friend's rig that is powered by a QSC 2402, that there is, to my ears, a big difference. As far as the two lightweight amps go, I feel that the Stewart is better than the QSC in terms of both deeper clearer lows, and clean but not shrill highs. The Stewart just seemed more hi-fi, with a bit wider dynamic range.

But the Crest CA9, when used with a variety of preamps (RBI, ART Tube Channel, Ampeg SVP, and a Yamaha PB-1), absolutely outclasses the lightweights in every tonal way. The depth and punch of the lows is just another world better than the lightweights. It's no cleaner or hi-fi, but neither is it less so. It is just the enormous punch of the bass that sets it apart. I don't know how to properly put it into words, but it is just bass that you can feel in your chest as you play. It could be that Crest just rates their power more conservatively than the others, but with my Crest I get the feeling of unlimited headroom. Like really, I think my Bag End 4x10 would catch on fire before the amp would even begin to strain itself.

I deal with the weight by keeping the CA9 in a separate 2 space Gator case that I leave on the floor behind or next to the cabinet. Preamp, compressor and parametric EQ are in their own case and sit on top of the cab. It is slightly more work than if I had a micro-weight power amp. But it is much more than slightly better sound IME, so I stay with it.

The great thing is that power amp rigs are currently "out of vogue" and can be had for a song. I see all of the amps I mentioned here sell for around $400 give or take (CA9s usually go for a bit more, but CA6s are less and still powerful enough for most rigs of doom). That is tremendous bang for the buck.

For lightweight, find a used Stewart 2.1 or 1.6 They are 17 pounds and they sound good and look cool too.
Click to expand...

Well, call me crazy, but here it is.
 

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#39
My dollars have gone to a Crown XTi 4000 power amp that can put out 1200 watts at 4 ohms per side. My chain is Warwick Thumb NT 5 string -> Demeter HPB-1 -> Crown XTi -> Aguilar GS 410 4 ohm.
I like the way this rig sounds a lot! and I've never had any issues with any of the equipment except a blown speaker. Perhaps the Crest amp would be ballsier but i like my 20 pound rack rather than the 50 pound rack. I've never tried QSC power amps but they are loved by many.

My $.02
 

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