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Epifani 902UL....Finally

#181
el_Kabong said:
So Joker, ignoring other considerations, which amp sounds better to you, the 502 or the 902? Come on, make your call! Any difference in the feel? No, I mean when you play it, I don't have a steel fetish. Say, they don't have an optional rubber case do they, oooohhh rubber.... :D

The apparent difference in the output stages of those amps is interesting. I wouldn't want to spring for a 902 and then find that the 502 has more wallop.
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after hearing the crazy epifani stack, 902 does make me drunk with power. more power is sooo good. and i'd be willing to bet the tech in the 902 is a variant of class H. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. but my 502 is quite the fun little box as well, and plenty for my needs. how's that for a politically neutral answer? ;)
 
#182
jokerjkny said:
after hearing the crazy epifani stack, 902 does make me drunk with power. more power is sooo good. and i'd be willing to bet the tech in the 902 is a variant of class H. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. but my 502 is quite the fun little box as well, and plenty for my needs. how's that for a politically neutral answer? ;)
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Interesting on the class H... I believe EBS uses a class H power section (I think it's also called 'rail switching' or something like that), but with a traditional power supply. So, this might be class H with a switching power supply. I guess if it sound good... who cares:D

Edit: Actually, the website lists 'class D' as the power amp design.... so my previous post seems correct... Class D with switching... just like Walter Woods, Acoustic Image, and Markbass as far as I know.
 
#183
+1 for the mono version...

A 900watt mono head would serve me for the rest of my life!!

I love the specs on the new performance line but they look kinda cheapy with the blue face and graphics on the cabs. I think the UL series is just pure class :cool:

Geez, looks like I'll be taking a trip to Jive soon (just 2 miles from my apt) Gettin unbearable GAS :D
 
#185
Groovin said:
(...)

I love the specs on the new performance line but they look kinda cheapy with the blue face and graphics on the cabs. I think the UL series is just pure class :cool:

Geez, looks like I'll be taking a trip to Jive soon (just 2 miles from my apt) Gettin unbearable GAS :D
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really?

you gotta see the performance amps in person. the brushed blue faceplate is really sweet.
 
#186
jokerjkny said:
really? where?

on the QSC site, i saw:

Output Circuitry 2-Tier Class H
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I was quoting the Epifani site regarding the 902c's power section, which is listed as 'proprietary class D'. Given the weight, it almost certainly is a 'switching' power supply.

Not sure how the QSC amp relates to the 902., though.



K
 
#187
KJung said:
I was quoting the Epifani site regarding the 902c's power section, which is listed as 'proprietary class D'. Given the weight, it almost certainly is a 'switching' power supply.

Not sure how the QSC amp relates to the 902., though.



K
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gotcha... well, i think that has more to do w/ the 502 than the 902, whose conspicuous specs are pretty similar to the QSC. but again, just shooting in the dark.
 
#188
jokerjkny said:
gotcha... well, i think that has more to do w/ the 502 than the 902, whose conspicuous specs are pretty similar to the QSC. but again, just shooting in the dark.
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Ah... that makes sense.... we are doing a 'who's on first' routine here, with me talking about the 902 and you talking about the 502:)

That class H thing is pretty cool. From what I understand from the blurb on the EBS site, I guess the thing with class H is similar to those GM car engines that turn off some cylinders when not needed. I think that's correct... that the class H keeps the heat down and efficiency up by only using part of the amps power capability most of the time, and then it 'switches rails' (whatever that means) to a higher power state when needed. Pretty cool!

I sure do wish someone in Detroit had one of those 502's. With my love of all things Epifani, I have a feeling I would totally dig it!

Looks like you guys had an wonderful hang at the NYC GTG... man, some nice basses at that one!
 
#190
Groovin said:
yeah gotta ck it out in person..

BTW how does the Epi 502 stack up to your Aggie 500?
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i love the overdrive channel on the aguilar, but i'm still a semi-parametric guy at heart, and love using it on the epifani. also, i like the richer, glossier upper end and the two voicings of the highs knob of the epifani. funny enough, i think the low mids on the aguilar is perfectly suited for my UL112 cabs. and yet, the aguilar's my choice backup, while the epifani gets first call.
 
#192
vision said:
+1...I'm suprised LDS hasn't had one in at some point.
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I believe they had one in a while ago. They have not reordered. I believe their logic has to do with price value. Compared to other similarly spec'd heads (Eden500, TF550, Ashdown500, etc.), the Epifani is at a much higher price point. I have a feeling that's also why you dont' see many around, since most of the tone and performance reviews have been positive.
 
#193
KJung said:
I believe they had one in a while ago. They have not reordered. I believe their logic has to do with price value. Compared to other similarly spec'd heads (Eden500, TF550, Ashdown500, etc.), the Epifani is at a much higher price point. I have a feeling that's also why you dont' see many around, since most of the tone and performance reviews have been positive.
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That makes sense. It also brings up another question about the new 902 and the Performance 600...if they are using the same technology in the power amp section (which is defferent from the current model 502) then the new technology is not only more lightweight, but also has a much lower price per watt ratio. Soooooooooo...if and when Nick "upgrades" the 502 to this technology, using half the power section of the 902, he may be able to offer it at around the same price as the current model. I can't see him selling a whole lot of the current 502's when you can in theory get the same amp minus the second channel for almost half the price in the Performance 600. Or going the other way, add a little $$$ and get 2x900 watts in the 902.
 
#194
vision said:
That makes sense. It also brings up another question about the new 902 and the Performance 600...if they are using the same technology in the power amp section (which is defferent from the current model 502) then the new technology is not only more lightweight, but also has a much lower price per watt ratio. Soooooooooo...if and when Nick "upgrades" the 502 to this technology, using half the power section of the 902, he may be able to offer it at around the same price as the current model. I can't see him selling a whole lot of the current 502's when you can in theory get the same amp minus the second channel for almost half the price in the Performance 600. Or going the other way, add a little $$$ and get 2x900 watts in the 902.
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+1 I'm actually going to keep my eye out for a Musician's Friend blowout on the 502... it might be coming!
 
#196
UL502...........Class D power with modulation
UL 902C........Class D with switchable power supply
PS600...........Class D with switchable power supply

At NAMM I had the chance to play through the PS600 and later was fortunate enough to play through the prototype
UL902C. The switchable power supply Nick is using, well let's say it's industrial grade. Nick IMO will be setting a new standard for switchable power supply. I hope that the Joker will confirm and support the oooomph, backbone of the PS600 and UL902C he had a chance to play through at a recent GTG that Nick's new switchable power supply should not be compared to previous ones on the market.
 
#199
MacGroove said:
UL502...........Class D power with modulation
UL 902C........Class D with switchable power supply
PS600...........Class D with switchable power supply

At NAMM I had the chance to play through the PS600 and later was fortunate enough to play through the prototype
UL902C. The switchable power supply Nick is using, well let's say it's industrial grade. Nick IMO will be setting a new standard for switchable power supply. I hope that the Joker will confirm and support the oooomph, backbone of the PS600 and UL902C he had a chance to play through at a recent GTG that Nick's new switchable power supply should not be compared to previous ones on the market.
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good info, mac,

yea, compared to my old 502, the performance feels faster and oddly, a touch more open and less compressed. hard to describe their exact differences, cause we're talking so closely within a single brand and its models, but bottom line, its definitely NOT a step backwards. also, the fact that unit is ridiculously lighter is always a nice step forward.
 

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