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Double Bass EA iAmp Micro300

klocwerk

klocwerk

May 19, 2005
1,644
14
Somerville, MA
www.lordgoogle.com
#1
So they're officially in production, should be hitting the streets shortly.
In a post over on the BG side of TB it was stated that it'll actually put out 325w @2 ohms. It's looking like a really sweet little amp.
Sure the AI Focus puts out a lot more power, but it's also about double the price of the Micro300. In my current quest for a great but frugal rig to take on the subway, I just keep coming back to this guy and bouncing anxiously waiting for it to appear.

I for one am really psyched to see some reviews of this little box.
325 quality watts, 2ohms stable, and around 3lbs!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#2
Actually closer to 2 pounds - 2.2 lbs. according to the recent ads in BP. Durn cool all right. Some folks have already placed pre-orders I believe, so they should be the first in line when it comes out the chute.

Comparing it to the AI heads, what does stand out as a key difference is the feature set, esp. the notch filter w/ phase reversal -or- high pass filter on the AI heads.

The existing EA and AI heads do have different "sonic signatures" too. I haven't had my Focus 2R for very long, but at this point I still actually slightly prefer the sound of my iAMP 200 head in some ways, both for DB and slab, at low to modest volumes anyway. Kind of a matter of personal preference though - both sound excellent.

Can't beat the schlep factor of the AI stuff and the EA Micro. I've probably got bottles of booze that weigh more.
 
#6
ctxbass said:
Would you please compare these? There was something about the AI sound that I found lacking, but the prospect of a small amp still interests me a great deal.
Click to expand...
I'll try, FWIW.

Background - I have owned the Focus 2R for a few months. I have used the iAMP 200 on most of my gigs for the last 3 years or so. I am a part-time local gigger as outlined in my profile. All my gear is also listed there. I run the EQs flat on both units.

At low to medium volumes (where the 200 watt iAMP can compete effectively), both heads sound really great in their own way, and not strikingly different, at least to me. That said, to my ears, think maybe like a real rich, deep flat paint for the AI vs. a real, real subtle semi-gloss for the EA.

By that I mean - My new AI Focus and the Series I Contra that I owned for 7 years sound flat as a ruler. The iAMP 200 is just as accurate, but has what I would describe as a little more sheen to the overall sound. It has a little more life and dimension to it. I struggle in my own mind about which is more "natural" to the sound of the DB unamped. In that regard, probably the AI. But in a live setting, the EA has a special something that is arguably a little less "natural" and ever so slightly hyped for DB, but somehow very effective sitting in the mix and is quite appealing to me. Kind of ironic, 'cuz I definitely think of myself as an old school type tone guy, high action and all.

For slab, I prefer the EA, for much the same reasons. Put a SansAmp BDDI in front, and the race becomes too close to call.

Here is another set of viewpoints, although they are talking about the iAMP 800 which weighs in at 19 lbs.
 
#7
Thank you. "Dimensionality" could very well be what I found missing with the AI amp. I'm old school as well, and pretty accustomed to tubes in my amp chain. I have read great things about the extensive tone shaping of the EA amps, but the little guy doesn't have it. Hmmmm.
 
#8
You're right. Although I don't use the EQ on the iAMP, the four band parametric is a real ear opener. Remarkable if you ask me. And the presets on the iAMP are all very musical sounding too. I've used one or two of them w/ slab at times, esp. if I don't have the SansAmp w/ me.

On the AI head, I am trying to dial in the HPF, and experimenting with the notch filter too.

All these fall into the "feature set" variances that I alluded to earlier. All good, just different. And like you said, either missing or stripped down on the Micro. [ Edit - Then again, that is reflected in the price. ]

At 2.2 pounds, that's one feature of the Micro that is remarkable all by itself. Plus two channels.

Anxious to hear some field reports myself, esp. paired w/ a Wizzy 10.
 
#9
When I played Ken's Focus and compared it to the Walter Woods it lacked the midrange presence that Walter's amplifiers have and that's, at least for me, the essential difference. I haven't been able to use a Focus III, so I can't make a comparison there.

The really big difference maker is what the bass sounds like. The basic tone of a particular amp definitely has a baring on how well it will match with different instruments. So, in some cases at least, complementary tone quality is more important than feedback control at reasonable volumes.

Both EA and AI claim that they are designing amplifiers that "don't color" the sound of the instrument they are reproducing, but there are a lot of other factors that weigh in here. I'm looking foward getting my hands on a Micro and a Whizzy 10", but I'm wating until one of you guys takes the plunge. Talkbass is the best way to get a handle on the new gear.
 
#10
Ric, I agree, there's gotta be accuracy and a little magic in those mids for a happenin' sound. Since I am accustomed to the mids of the EA amp and Wizzys, I really kind of miss it when I use something else, even the Focus to a slight extent. But I am slowly getting used to the capabilities of the Focus, and I like it more each time I use it. The clean sound and headroom of that lil' 5 lb. box are amazing.

Ric Vice said:
Flat Only Works If Your Bass Has Tons Of Tone ... The really big difference maker is what the bass sounds like.
Click to expand...
I would add that a lot depends too on how well your pickup (or mic) capture the tone of your bass.
 
#11
I noticed a picture of the "backpack" for the Micro and Wizzy 10 on Bob G's site. I don't know about the shoulder straps, but it looks like the backpack itself is very similar in style and construction to the padded cover that I just got (from Bob G.) for my M-line.

If that's the case, I can assure you that the backpack is deee-luxe. I have owned two custom-made padded Tuki covers in the past and they were great, but the EA cover is nicer in several ways. The red piping and big red "EA" logo is kinda garish (IMO) ... but it is the nicest amp cover I've ever seen.
 
#12
Ric Vice said:
I'm looking foward getting my hands on a Micro and a Whizzy 10", but I'm wating until one of you guys takes the plunge. Talkbass is the best way to get a handle on the new gear.
Click to expand...

Hi Ric;
I've pre ordered a wizzy 10 and the backpack and a TB friend
near me ordered the Micro 300. The idea being if either is unhappy
or has 'buyers remorse' the other would have first 'dibs' on a buy out,
as well as to save on the initial investment. We both are Focus 2R lll users
and I've got the newer synthetic contra ex lll cab so we are planning
an informal EA-AI mini combo shoot out (trying all head/cab combinations)
and I promise to post our findings here for you.
Randy
 
#13
Randy Ward said:
Hi Ric;
I've pre ordered a wizzy 10 and the backpack and a TB friend
near me ordered the Micro 300. The idea being if either is unhappy
or has 'buyers remorse' the other would have first 'dibs' on a buy out,
as well as to save on the initial investment. We both are Focus 2R lll users
and I've got the newer synthetic contra ex lll cab so we are planning
an informal EA-AI mini combo shoot out (trying all head/cab combinations)
and I promise to post our findings here for you.
Randy
Click to expand...

sweet, I'm holding you to that. :D
 
#14
Randy Ward said:
Hi Ric;
I've pre ordered a wizzy 10 and the backpack and a TB friend
near me ordered the Micro 300. The idea being if either is unhappy
or has 'buyers remorse' the other would have first 'dibs' on a buy out,
as well as to save on the initial investment. We both are Focus 2R lll users and I've got the newer synthetic contra ex lll cab so we are planning an informal EA-AI mini combo shoot out (trying all head/cab combinations) and I promise to post our findings here for you.
Randy
Click to expand...


Randy,
I looking forward to reading what you think. EA gear isn't readily available in St. Louis. All my EA cabinets were purchased on line, based on word of mouth. It would be nice to have something even lighter than the VL 108.

Ric
 
#17
Adrian Cho said:
I am so tempted by the Micro 300 but the lack of a high-pass filter is the one thing that is stopping me.
Click to expand...

FYI, I spoke with EA about that yesterday since I figure that the size, portability, two channels, tone, etc. could make the head, as well as Wizzy 10 cab, a real URB favorite. They tell me that while the iAMP series of amps could produce down to 5hz., the power amp in the Micro has a higher cut-off (he didn't have the number), so we'll have to wait and see if it becomes somewhat of a moot point.
 
#18
Bob Gollihur said:
FYI, I spoke with EA about that yesterday since I figure that the size, portability, two channels, tone, etc. could make the head, as well as Wizzy 10 cab, a real URB favorite. They tell me that while the iAMP series of amps could produce down to 5hz., the power amp in the Micro has a higher cut-off (he didn't have the number), so we'll have to wait and see if it becomes somewhat of a moot point.
Click to expand...

Could someone help me to understand what this is all about? :eyebrow:
 
#20
stockbass said:
Could someone help me to understand what this is all about? :eyebrow:
Click to expand...

Hi stock bass,

Read this:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308419&highlight=high-pass+filter

I think Bob Gollihur is saying the micro won't reproduce the sub frequencies that require a high pass at higher volumes
with an amplified double bass. Therefore the lack of one would make it unnecessary.

kscbass,
Thanks for the offer. We are going to keep it simple. Although my friend used to own a pair of the EA single 10s. (I forget which version). At one point we did consider borrowing one of them to compare to the wizzy 10. But let’s leave that up to Bowl-us! It’s going to be crowed in his recording studio because I have to have my Cleveland there because of the full circle. He has a Kay with a magnetic and a BP100 as well as a carved with the B Band system. Plus he has some vintage fenders to test for doubling. We probably are going to have too many options!
 

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