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Does anyone make a small digital power amp ?.

6stringbassist

6stringbassist

Jul 9, 2007
351
0
UK.
#1
I'd like to put together a small pre/power amp rig, I've liked the sound of the Summit audio TD100.

I'd like to get a small digital power amp to go with it, when you see heads like the F1 and Benz Genz shuttle, the whole package is so tiny.

Someone must manufacturer a small power amp.

Any suggestions please ?.
 
#3
AI had their Focus power module in a small sized power amp only unit for a while, but they discontinued it.

My guess is, there would be so little demand for a small power amp that is not, as Bill mentions, in a rack form factor that it wouldn't be worth the manufacturer to put it in their product line.

It seems most who are interested in these micro amps are at least partially driven by simplicity and overall size. Once you start getting multiple pieces, the concept of a powerful, simple, micro size amp kind of loses its appeal for most IMO.

That being said, if you can find one of the AI units, it's a good one. I believe it was called the Focus SA or something like that.

Finally, there are a few powered cabs coming on the market now, so that might be an option for you, if you can find one that you dig. I believe Accugroove is introducing a few of their smaller cabs with class D amps built in, and of course, there are the Berg IP's, which some like with the preamp you are talking about.
 
#6
derrenleepoole said:
Do tell more... :eek:
Click to expand...

I'm not an Accurgroove fan (for a lot of different reasons). However, I believe they've shown the powered cabs and the Accugroove head at the last two NAMM's now, and still no sign of them. There is a thread up somewhere if you do a search. Who knows if any of it will ever see the light of day.

As I've posted many times, I always find that letting an expert EE design a preamp and amp that are properly gain matched and also a power amp that is optimized for bass guitar (i.e., with the optimal hi pass filtering, etc.) built in usually results in a much better system than trying to match a preamp not made specifically for bass with a PA type amp not really made specifically for bass (although some have the ability to apply hi pass filtering that helps).

IMO... contact Accugroove directly if their powered cabs seem interesting to you!
 
#8
Not a lot of choices but some:
vestax vda-1000
Bose packlite
Flying Mole

B&0 Icepower and other manufacturers aren't selling the amps to just bolt into a box and sell as a power amp.

If you want to bolt your own together, check out hypex.nl.
You'll have to add a limiter. They too sell some of their modules and power supplies only to companies, not individuals.
 
#15
I've had the same question as the OP for some time now. The conclusion I've come to is to plug my favourite pre-amp into the effects return of one of the lightweights mentioned and go with it. That way I've got a relatively inexpensive and readily available (and serviceable) unit and a back-up pre-amp to boot.
 
#17
fffreddy said:
I've had the same question as the OP for some time now. The conclusion I've come to is to plug my favourite pre-amp into the effects return of one of the lightweights mentioned and go with it. That way I've got a relatively inexpensive and readily available (and serviceable) unit and a back-up pre-amp to boot.
Click to expand...
Just a word of warning... this cannot be done with the markbass amps. Cant remember the technical reasons why. But yeah, thats what I would do to. The shuttle or gk micro should excel at this.
 

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