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*** EA iAMP Pro *** GOTTA SEE THIS!!!
- Thread starter Psychicpet
- Start date
Another one looking at the pro to go with my AE212
I have a EA micro which I'm trying out due to a generous loan from EA's distributor here in Aus, and tone is beautiful for what I like (which is a bit too "clean" for some) but slightly underpowered for my louder applications.
The pro would fit nicely, although have to be careful with where you set the master for those who are thinking about it.
I have a EA micro which I'm trying out due to a generous loan from EA's distributor here in Aus, and tone is beautiful for what I like (which is a bit too "clean" for some) but slightly underpowered for my louder applications.
The pro would fit nicely, although have to be careful with where you set the master for those who are thinking about it.
While you could of course be careful with the volume control, I would not recommend it (makes very little sense to put 1000 watts into a little 112, no matter how amazing that 112 is). I guess if you were going to use two of them, it might be OK, given that the Pro can run at 2ohms.
Also, if the low end voicing is similar to the iAmp800, they allow that low end to extend VERY deeply (similar to the TecAmp heads), and well below the tuning frequency of the Thunderchild (and most cabs). It is hard to control IMO (i.e., even with the lowest shelving start point on the variable bass control, it is hard to dial out those sub harmonics without thinning the tone of the amp), and you will get that massive speaker pistoning without really getting a lot of punch and volume in return.
The beauty of the TC112 is that it is 4ohms, and tuned a touch higher than the stock 12/6's, which means you can use a nice, small 500 watt or so micro head and it will wump. If you dig the EA thing, I'd suggest one of their micro's with the TC112. They don't have that sub harmonic thing going that can just be heck on drivers if you aren't careful.
Sorry, Ken you're incorrect. The iAMP Pro has a built in HPF. "you will get that massive speaker pistoning without really getting a lot of punch and volume in return" is another great way to push your anti EA bias. I know and actually respect the fact that you do not like EA gear. You should, however make both your negative and positive biases clear. At least if you are going to set yourself up a some kind of expert.
That is a nice improvement over the iAmp800, if that is really the case.
And yes, I am not a fan of EA design, performance or quality myself.
You should also make it clear that you used to work for the company, and promote the brand more than provide unbiased info
This is an old topic.
Again, back on topic, one of the EA Micro's would be a better fit for the little TC112 than the Pro if you were considering an EA amp, given the 4ohm impedance of that little cab and its voicing/tuning.
The pro does have some significant improvements over the old 800 without a doubt. To date I don't know of any quality issues with the pro, micro or doubler.
With that all being said I prefer the tone of the micro or doubler over the pro and with a 4 ohm 112 cabinet the smaller amp would be an easier choice unless of course the pro will also be used with a larger rig and really isn't that big to lug to smaller gigs.
I should elaborate, I love the tone of the doubler just about flat. The pro can cop those tones as well if you want to but when I owned both I always seemed to want to tweak the pro to sound more like the doubler and really don't need the added volume of the pro. Hence my choice.
With that all being said I prefer the tone of the micro or doubler over the pro and with a 4 ohm 112 cabinet the smaller amp would be an easier choice unless of course the pro will also be used with a larger rig and really isn't that big to lug to smaller gigs.
I should elaborate, I love the tone of the doubler just about flat. The pro can cop those tones as well if you want to but when I owned both I always seemed to want to tweak the pro to sound more like the doubler and really don't need the added volume of the pro. Hence my choice.
+1 I would think the Micro would work pretty well with the TC112.
And, good to hear about the HPF on the Pro... that was an issue with the older models IMO and IME.
That is a nice improvement over the iAmp800, if that is really the case.
And yes, I am not a fan of EA design, performance or quality myself.
You should also make it clear that you used to work for the company, and promote the brand more than provide unbiased info
This is an old topic.
I have NEVER hidden the fact that I used to work for the company. It also CLEARLY states under my name that I am an EA endorser. The fact that you are not a fan is not scientific method to design performance, design and quality. You have, in the past, quoted failure rates that were absolutely wrong. You base most of what you say on the anecdotal evidence of a rare few. You use that to further your cause. If the products that you "endorse" cannot measure up on their own accord without you having to try and take others out, maybe you should talk to them about building a better product. If, however, you companies TC, Markbass, etc build great stuff than perhaps you should spend time extolling the virtues of those companies.
You are correct about one thing - this is getting old. Yet even with your biases you continue to post negative comments about EA. You should be ashamed.
Mike Dimin
For upright and jazz stuff I would totally agree with your assessment of the Micro/Doubler vs. the Pro. In a loud rock/blues context I usually pick up the Pro for the added headroom and the warmth that it provides
The value of TB is to have those NOT ALIGNED WITH ANY COMPANIES IN ANY WAY providing honest opinions and reports based on their own experience. It is VERY easy to determine if someone's negative or positive experiences are outliers or not by just reviewing the threads and posts on the products
When TB becomes a place where only positive comments are allowed, and negative comments are censured by employees or endorsers, then this just becomes a forum for marketing hype and selling, versus the free, honest exchange of information, which of course will always be a mix of fact, experience, opinion, etc.
The value of TB is to have those NOT ALIGNED WITH ANY COMPANIES IN ANY WAY providing honest opinions and reports based on their own experience. It is VERY easy to determine if someone's negative or positive experiences are outliers or not by just reviewing the threads and posts on the products
When TB becomes a place where only positive comments are allowed, and negative comments are censured by employees or endorsers, then this just becomes a forum for marketing hype and selling, versus the free, honest exchange of information, which of course will always be a mix of fact, experience, opinion, etc.
Having other people besides those that work for companies comment is a valuable tool, but having people like yourself constantly making comments about products they have never used and constantly trash a great comapny like EA is where you bring down the value of TB. I own the Pro and it is nothing like the 800(which I happen to love btw). I also have owned TONS of EA gear over the years and have a ton of it now and have NEVER had a peice of their gear break down. Great company!!
Actually, I used EA gear for years, and was one of their first customers, getting one of the first VL210's off the line... never had a problem with it.
I had huge problems with their 10" loaded cabs (as has been reported by many.. starting with the CXL210, the iAmp350combo and the NL210), their heads (my iamp800 had to go back three times and my iamp500 was never able to even be repaired to my satisfaction... hissed like a snake).
The reason I commented on this thread is that I use the TC112 as one of my main gigging cabs and am quite familiar with the current EA line (although not the iampPro, and another user quickly clarified the low end response... that's the way TB is supposed to work!).
Getting back on topic, I would in NO way recommend the very powerful iAmp Pro be matched with a 4ohm 112 (regardless of the HPF setting). I would also not recommend the Genz Shuttle 9 for the same reason, or any other larger, super powerful head... doesn't really make sense. I recommended one of the EA micro's with this cab instead, for those who are looking for an EA power solution with this particular cab.
Amazing how that is seen as being negative
Actually, I used EA gear for years, and was one of their first customers, getting one of the first VL210's off the line... never had a problem with it.
I had huge problems with their 10" loaded cabs (as has been reported by many.. starting with the CXL210, the iAmp350combo and the NL210), their heads (my iamp800 had to go back three times and my iamp500 was never able to even be repaired to my satisfaction... hissed like a snake).
The reason I commented on this thread is that I use the TC112 as one of my main gigging cabs and am quite familiar with the current EA line (although not the iampPro, and another user quickly clarified the low end response... that's the way TB is supposed to work!).
Getting back on topic, I would in NO way recommend the very powerful iAmp Pro be matched with a 4ohm 112 (regardless of the HPF setting). I would also not recommend the Genz Shuttle 9 for the same reason, or any other larger, super powerful head... doesn't really make sense. I recommended one of the EA micro's with this cab instead, for those who are looking for an EA power solution with this particular cab.
Amazing how that is seen as being negative
I use my Pro and my 800 with my 4 ohm M Line Wizzy, works fine. I'd recommend it. I've also owned the same gear you had, never a problem.
Can anyone explain how this HPF is operated in the iAmp Pro? I don't see a button labeled HPF. Thanks.
I high pass filter is typically not user controlled, and is used by the designer to roll out the sub bass that just kind of sucks power and puts strain on the driver. There are various designs to control the low end of an amp (that is a bit over my head), but they all result in 'limiting' the absolute low end response of an amp so that those sub harmonics don't come through.
The original SWR SM400, the iAmp800 (glad to hear the Pro has a more controlled low end!) and some of the TecAmp models, to my ear, seem to allow a TON of sound to come through at a level far below the tuning of most cabs. This, IMO and IME, is not necessarily a good thing, although I guess if you play at relatively low volume in a very sparse mix, that uber low end can sound really nice.
There are amps, like some of the TC executions and the Markbass heads, that have variable low pass filters, which basically do the same thing for the treble response of the amp as the hi passes do for the bass response. The variable hi pass filters are very nice in 'vintaging up' a more modern cab with a tweeter, and work a bit like the passive tone control on a bass.
Just to finish up that part of the discussion, reliability is not measured by those who have not had problems, but by the percentage that did. Even the worst products probably only have a 20%-25% failure rate (versus the typical 'under 1%' that most manufacturers hope for). That means that even with gear with big problems (design, production issues, component quality, etc.), the vast majority of owners will not have had an issue.
It is all about the 'probability of failure' on a gig over time.
Well 100% of my EA has never failed me, yet it sounds like 100% of yours did. Maybe it's not the gear?
Dude... come on now. This is getting silly
There are SO many posts back 3 or 4 years ago on these issues that it makes your head spin. Again, with the new line of amps (and the fixes they put in over time with the micro's, which had a quite ugly introduction... it happens), and now that those 10's are off the market, things seem to have settled down a bit and are improving. That's a good thing.
Dude... come on now. This is getting silly
.
The silly started a long time with your constant trashing of EA. I'm done!
No problem, Ken had issues with his gear, I bought a nl210 just after him and never had an issue. I owned an iamp 350 and it did hiss but I lived with it. Since then I have had a lot of EA gear beat it up pretty good and had no problems. Love the company and the guys behind it.
With that being said when you are gigging regularly gear problems is simply not a viable option. I have had problems with my share of gear over the years. Immediately sold it and am ultra sensitive to going back to it. I don't blame Ken for having a sour taste in his mouth and a bad feeling about EA.
Again I think what EA is offering today is great stuff and very reliable.
There is absolutely no problem using a Pro or other 1000 watt head with a 4 ohm 112 but it is overkill and not necessary I think everyone is saying the same thing in different ways about this issue.
Let's move on.
With that being said when you are gigging regularly gear problems is simply not a viable option. I have had problems with my share of gear over the years. Immediately sold it and am ultra sensitive to going back to it. I don't blame Ken for having a sour taste in his mouth and a bad feeling about EA.
Again I think what EA is offering today is great stuff and very reliable.
There is absolutely no problem using a Pro or other 1000 watt head with a 4 ohm 112 but it is overkill and not necessary I think everyone is saying the same thing in different ways about this issue.
Let's move on.
