• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Crest CA9 or Stewart 2.1

#21
If weight is your primary concern, get the Stewart.

If tone/performance is your primary concern, get the CA9.

I must commend you on your selections! Those are my top two picks, amp-wise. I prefer the sound of the CA9, and I don't mind the weight, so that's my amp of choice. But for someone for whom weight is a big factor, the Stewart is my favorite of the "light" amps.

Tom.
 
#23
I have a CA9. Lately I've been using my DB750 since it's one package and lighter and shallower than my CA9 rig. The CA9 is just whoopin' though! I have no plans of selling it. Man that sucker can get heavy though.

When I do use it my solution (for right now) is it's in a lone 4 space skb (centered) and I just stand it up behind the cab or along side and have a couple favorite preamps in a small Gator shallow rack case on top of the cab. Works out pretty good. Still most of the time I just bring the DB750.

I had the older PLX amps and they always clipped on me.
 
#25
JSCHRO7376 said:
Since you are considering one of the above power amps you might want to check out the new QSC PLX 2 series; pretty light and cleaner sounding than the Stewart.
Click to expand...

Interesting- I have also read the opposite opinion here on TB, a couple of times, so I wasn't considering the new PLX2's any more. I guess we all hear with different ears, so I'll have to borrow one and draw my own conclusions.
 
#26
I am not sure how much the audience in a typical bar will be able to tell the difference. I think in those terms because that is where I normally play.

Having said that, I have the Stewart 2.1 and have not been disappointed. I decided to go light, but YMMV.

It is indeed a good problem to have two great choices.
 
#28
fast slapper said:
It's a Peavey with a Crest badge.
Click to expand...

not only is it a peavey with a crest badge, it's peavey's lowest line, the PV series. the original intention was to have "crest performance" be something of a separate brand from crest.

if you're looking for crest quality on the cheap, look into the CC 2800. seriously sweet amp. it's the same output topology as the pro 200 series amps, but it uses a low-frequency transformer instead of a switching supply. it's also made in china instead of in the USA.

robb.
 
#29
robb. said:
not only is it a peavey with a crest badge, it's peavey's lowest line, the PV series. the original intention was to have "crest performance" be something of a separate brand from crest.

if you're looking for crest quality on the cheap, look into the CC 2800. seriously sweet amp. it's the same output topology as the pro 200 series amps, but it uses a low-frequency transformer instead of a switching supply. it's also made in china instead of in the USA.

robb.
Click to expand...

Do you mean the Crest Audio CPX 2600 is made by Peavey? :ninja:
 
#30
Jim Carr said:
Do you mean the Crest Audio CPX 2600 is made by Peavey? :ninja:
Click to expand...

hmm...

technically, everything crest is made by peavey. this particular amp is a rebadged PV series amplifier. everything in the crest performance sub-brand is like that.

every other crest product is designed from the beginning to be a crest product, with no stealing from peavey or intentions of rebranding as a peavey.

as a former amplifier design engineer there, i can say with certainty that while the personnel is the same, the approach is different.

robb.
 
#31
robb. said:
as a former amplifier design engineer there, i can say with certainty that while the personnel is the same, the approach is different.

robb.
Click to expand...


I'd say the personnel are different from what Crest had in New Jersey, though, aside from J.D. Bennett.
 
#35
robb. said:
if you're looking for crest quality on the cheap, look into the CC 2800.
seriously sweet amp.
it's the same output topology as the pro 200 series amps,
but it uses a low-frequency transformer instead of a switching supply.
.it's also made in china instead of in the USA.

robb.
Click to expand...
i just switched from the Stewart 2.1 to a brand new Crest CC2800 ...
lovin' it so far .
Crest-11.gif

at about 18 lbs. heavier than the Stewart , it provides much more power in stereo mode ,
and it seems punchier for some reason ...
maybe it's just louder !:D

595 watts @ 8 ohm stereo for my Bergantino HT115
965 watts @ 4 ohm stereo for my Bergantino HT310
{ 2800 watts @ 4 ohm bridged }
Crest.gif
 
#36
david meissner said:
i just switched from the Stewart 2.1 to a brand new Crest CC2800 ...
lovin' it so far .
Crest-11.gif

at about 18 lbs. heavier than the Stewart , it provides much more power in stereo mode ,
and it seems punchier for some reason ...
maybe it's just louder !:D

595 watts @ 8 ohm stereo for my Bergantino HT115
965 watts @ 4 ohm stereo for my Bergantino HT310
{ 2800 watts @ 4 ohm bridged }
Crest.gif
Click to expand...

Nice rig!!! :D
 
#38
Dr. PhunkyPants said:
Twenty more pounds and a little something special in the air, or twenty pounds less for only a marginal sacrifice in tone.

Either way you're optimizing something--it's up to the player which is the most important...
Click to expand...

well said, i think that about sums it up!

JR
 
#39
JSCHRO7376 said:
Since you are considering one of the above power amps you might want to check out the new QSC PLX 2 series; pretty light and cleaner sounding than the Stewart.
Click to expand...
Wow, Jorg, I'm surprised to hear this... I was really less than impressed with the PLX (albeit it wasn't a PLX2)...

I compared a CA9 to a PLX 2402, and a Stewart 2.1. Here's a summary of what I felt about them...

The CA9: This is THE definitive bass rig power amp IMHO. Seemingly endless headroom and boundless tone. However, every time I picked it up, I literally couldn't believe how heavy it felt. This ended up being a deal killer for me. Other than the weight, the perfect amp. These are known to be practically indestructable from a construction quality standpoint, and are one of the most road-worthy amps out there. Worry-free and incredibly powerful.

The Stewart 2.1: IMHO, very similar to the CA9 in as far as it has a very "alive" sound to it, very broad tone, great power, and incredible portability due to the weight (tho I wish it would fit a shallow rack). My one niggle: the A/C power cycle time. If A/C power goes out to the amp, you'll wait up to a minute for it to come back on, and they don't like to be plugged into line filters. It all has to do with the switching power supply design. That said, however, I've gigged with this thing MANY times and LOVED it. Works with my TFB and my Edens used as preamps... had a BBE BMax-T preamp and it sounded fantastic with that, as well. If you want a lightweight power amp, IMHO, this is the one to get.

PLX-2402: GREAT feature set, but "lifeless" to my ears. Maybe this means it's actually more "accurate", but IMHO, it's way better suited for PA than a bass rig. I really wanted to like this amp due to the price I got, the features, the weight, and the fact that it also fits a shallow rack. However, A/B'd with the Stewart, the Stewart mopped the floor with it somehow. It went back.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back