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Darkglass Microtubes 900 Class D Amp

#1,461
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The amp is linear and by not "breathing" I presume you mean not distorting. At low volumes you could try using the "A" contour to boost the lows and highs to compensate for how your hearing responds. Try adding a bit of B3K distortion too.

Switching to 2 Ohm mode will limit the maximum available power but will not affect how anything sounds below that point.
 
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#1,462
@Nic. If it's just rehearsal, less fun as it is, then quieter play is for getting the thing tight.
Is it just an instrumental band or is there a singer?
If so I am sure there will be a PA in the rehearsal room.
Why not go straight DI out from the DG amp to the PA and control the volume there, you can have it pre or post amp so the microtubes engine is involved or not.

You don't need a speaker load for this amp.
In fact for my silent home play I plug straight into a behringer xenys 502 mixer and headphones from this.
I can then directly record, add an MP3, vocals etc.
 
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#1,463
dBerriff said:
Invalid Link Removed

The amp is linear and by not "breathing" I presume you mean not distorting. At low volumes you could try using the "A" contour to boost the lows and highs to compensate for how your hearing responds. Try adding a bit of B3K distortion too.

Switching to 2 Ohm mode will limit the maximum available power but will not affect how anything sounds below that point.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Good to know about the 2 ohm thing. I can try adjusting the curves for lower volume and see how that goes. That said, wouldn't it affect the overall mix...?

Cuzzie said:
@Nic. If it's just rehearsal, less fun as it is, then quieter play is for getting the thing tight.
Is it just an instrumental band or is there a singer?
If so I am sure there will be a PA in the rehearsal room.
Why not go straight DI out from the DG amp to the PA and control the volume there, you can have it pre or post amp so the microtubes engine is involved or not.

You don't need a speaker load for this amp.
In fact for my silent home play I plug straight into a behringer xenys 502 mixer and headphones from this.
I can then directly record, add an MP3, vocals etc.
Click to expand...
Definitely trying to keep volumes low. I actually like how it sounds through a bass cab. At home I'd gladly go direct but there's something about plugging it into a cab that sounds better. I'm not sure why.

On that note, I'm actually looking for a nice cab sim software to use at home.
 
#1,464
@Nic. Completely agree, through a cab is soooooo much better, but just trying to think of ways around it for rehearsal purposes.

I haven't seen any load boxes handle that much juice, think they are mainly designed for tube amps.

For can sim software, from the little I know Two Notes are pretty much at the fore
 
#1,466
Maureen M said:
Here's a clip from our last show - Darkglass into an ampeg fridge (not mine, space was tight so we backlined).
All the grit is coming from the amp. I only have swishy stuff - phasers, wah etc. - on my pedalboard.
Click to expand...


Killer tone and I really like the band/song!
 
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#1,469
Dave W said:
You could also run the amp in 2 ohm mode to get less wattage into a 4 or 8 ohm load.

Finding an attenuator that can handle that much power is going to be hard, heavy, and expensive...if you can find one at all.
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I use either an Ampeg 410hlf or Bergantino NV610, both cabs are 4 ohms and I am always running the amp in 2 ohm mode.

I barely crack the 4 o'clock position if at all, I am usually about 3:30 on that master and that is plenty loud for every club I have played thus far...but that also has a lot to do with how the rest of the knobs are set tbh. Try backing off some of the level, drive & gain if you are blowing the roof off before you get to 3 o'clock on the master in 2 ohm mode.
 
#1,471
Mike Arnopol said:
haven't read through the thread--sorry--but I thought I'd chime in. Just tried one and I think it's by far the best little amp using the Ice 700 module. I liked it A LOT better than the Magellan and the Subway. Better fidelity and low end oomph and control.
Click to expand...

Thank you! The preamp design has a lot to do with the sound. These new ICE modules are very impressive; flat and linear enough to give us designers a lot of freedom to color the whole amplifier through good and precise preamp design.

Bigwan said:
Does anyone know if the function of the tone control in the drive section of the M900 can be replicated on the Vintage Ultra pedal? Continued hearing issues are forcing me to go to an in-ear rig and I'd like that sort of control on a pedalboard...
Click to expand...

Hey, unfortunately the Tone knob on the amp is on a very different position than any knob on the Microtubes pedals.
The Treble knob could however achieve some of the same things.

Are you looking for giving the overdrive more presence or keeping the high end under control?
 
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#1,472
Darkglass said:
Thank you! The preamp design has a lot to do with the sound. Hey, unfortunately the Tone knob on the amp is on a very different position than any knob on the Microtubes pedals.
The Treble knob could however achieve some of the same things.

Are you looking for giving the overdrive more presence or keeping the high end under control?
Click to expand...

Hi Doug @Darkglass it's more for keeping the high end under control. I ran the tone control no higher then 12 o'clock, sometimes a little lower.
 
#1,475
So to you folks who have tried this baby with different cabs, what does it seem to jive with the best. I'm on the fence between a Barefaced SIX10 or something like an Audiokinesis TC212 or Barefaced Big Baby Twin. My concern is how does it do with the Microtubes engine engaged on the full range hi-fi 12" cabs? Is the overdrive too brittle/harsh sounding as can be the tendency through a tweeter or does the more sophisticated crossover and high frequency driver in that type of cab handle it much better?

I'm looking to retool my rig and am looking to pick one of these babys up, I'm just not quite sure which cab to pair it with. I'm sure any of the above mentioned cabs would kill, just seeking some insight from those with experience.
 
#1,476
JeffLieby said:
So to you folks who have tried this baby with different cabs, what does it seem to jive with the best. I'm on the fence between a Barefaced SIX10 or something like an Audiokinesis TC212 or Barefaced Big Baby Twin. My concern is how does it do with the Microtubes engine engaged on the full range hi-fi 12" cabs? Is the overdrive too brittle/harsh sounding as can be the tendency through a tweeter or does the more sophisticated crossover and high frequency driver in that type of cab handle it much better?

I'm looking to retool my rig and am looking to pick one of these babys up, I'm just not quite sure which cab to pair it with. I'm sure any of the above mentioned cabs would kill, just seeking some insight from those with experience.
Click to expand...

The tone control in the drive section takes care of taming the high end. It's the genius stroke on the amp in my opinion. I think it would kill with any of those cabs you've mentioned.
 
#1,478
Echo the above

You will find to get a bad sound out of it and the dials allow you to tinker the sound to your own wishes.
I use it through a supertwin and it kills.

I also have a mate who uses it through a Barefaced One10 and a pair of them and that also is killer.

Options are endless
 
#1,480
DavetheDude said:
Hey guys, is there any specific info about the release of the Microtubes 700? Will there also be another model with say 500 watts?
Click to expand...

Was there an announcement of an M700?

The original was targeted for 700w but it turned into the M900 instead. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense in my mind to go back and release a 700w model when there won't be all that much difference from the current M900.
 

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