Double Bass EA iAmp Micro300

[Reefer]

The original iAMP 600 amps were made in the UK. Everything since has been made in the US, including the Micro 300, although various companies have done the supply and assembly work for them over the past several years. Just like speaker cab drivers, cabinets, crossovers, etc., various parts and components can come from different sources, coming together at the assembly location.

Actually only the original "iAmp" were made in the UK by Ashdown. All others that followed(beginning with the white face iAmp 500, then 600, and so on) were US made.

 

[macmrkt]

I sure used to think having the mic input and 2nd channel were deal breakers for me. But I found, even working all the way up to the AMT setup, I am back to only a Full Circle. That rid the need for a mic input. And the high pass filter - that used to be essential when I used AI combos or certain rigs. Once I got to my current rigs, feedback isn't an issue. Current DB rigs - PJB Flightcase, Wizzys and EA heads, Markbass LMII head maybe with a Berg cab here or there. I guess I'm just a single channel kind of guy.

 

[KJung]

The 600s were solid state, same as the current iAMP 500/800. They are very similar to the 600 except for the colors and minor placement differences.

The iAmp350's and 600's were class A/B designs (I know the 350's were, I'm 90% sure the 600's were). Much warmer, fatter and punchier sounding IMO and IME than the current, much different iAmps. There are a lot of variations of SS amps designs, and for whatever reason, the class D versus A/B differences seem to be real, and many have experienced them across manufactures (i.e., the Markbass class A/B versus class D products.).

 

[flatback]

I sure used to think having the mic input and 2nd channel were deal breakers for me. But I found, even working all the way up to the AMT setup, I am back to only a Full Circle. That rid the need for a mic input. And the high pass filter - that used to be essential when I used AI combos or certain rigs. Once I got to my current rigs, feedback isn't an issue. Current DB rigs - PJB Flightcase, Wizzys and EA heads, Markbass LMII head maybe with a Berg cab here or there. I guess I'm just a single channel kind of guy.

when you try a big phat dynamic as the mic send you might change your mind. Sometimes I just cant belive how good the Focus is because of that mic channel. If I had the Micro 300 I wouldn't hesitate to get a TRS terminated cable (those adaptors like above are amp breakers) and try out the amp with a mic...Has anybody done this?

 

[Ric Vice]

The iAmp350's and 600's were class A/B designs (I know the 350's were, I'm 90% sure the 600's were). Much warmer, fatter and punchier sounding IMO and IME than the current, much different iAmps. There are a lot of variations of SS amps designs, and for whatever reason, the class D versus A/B differences seem to be real, and many have experienced them across manufactures (i.e., the Markbass class A/B versus class D products.).

Since I'm lucky enough to have two different Walter Woods amplifiers I whole hartedly agree with Ken. My older 400 watt MI-400-8 sounds like a tube amplifier. I think that's because Walter designed them that way. You even set the power amp all the way up and adjust the volume from the preamp. The Ultra sounds wonderful ( better bass definition IMHO) but it dosen't have the warmth in the lower register that the earlier amps had. As Ken and Macmarkt have mentioned, the Little Mark II has that sound as well. I'm suprised that no one, at least to my knowledge, has mentioned a difference between the Acoustic Image Claris Series II and Clarius Series III. Since I believe they made a changeover from class A/B to D when they redesigned the amp. Perhaps they got it worked out before they went into production.

Ric

 

[KJung]

Since I'm lucky enough to have two different Walter Woods amplifiers I whole hartedly agree with Ken. My older 400 watt MI-400-8 is sounds like a tube amplifier. I think that's because Walter designed them that way. You even set the power amp all the way up and adjust the volume from the preamp. The Ultra sounds wonderful ( better bass definition IMHO) but it dosen't have the warmth on the lower register that the earlier amps had. As Ken and Macmarkt have mentioned, the Little Mark II has that sound as well. I'm suprised that no one, at least to my knowledge, has mentioned a difference between the Acoustic Image Claris Series II and Clarius Series III. Since I believe they made a changeover from class A/B to D when they redesigned the amp. Perhaps they got it worked out before they went into production.

Ric

Hey Ric,

All versions of the AI amps have always been class D. There is virtually no difference in tone between the Series II and III AI's that I can hear (at least after some pretty intense A/B ing with the Focus). A big +1 to your Markbass comments... the LMII sounds quite different from the Class D SD800/F1... I greatly prefer the LMII at this point.

 

[Wilbyman]

As far as the mic input option goes, try one of these:
Link Removed
the type that also has the internal transformer to covert low to high impedance. I've used one successfully for years.

There just isn't any more room inside that tiny Micro 300 chassis-- if you note, they had to use a TRS 1/4" jack for the DI out since there wasn't enough room for a XLR connector!

Hey guys....understand on the XLR-1/4" cable, but there is no phantom power available on either channel, correct?

I'm glad some of you have had such success with just a PU, but I gotta have that mic running!!!

W

 

[Barcza]

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.

The EQ section of the 300 is centered at about 100Hz, 600HZ, and 10KHz