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Epifani 902UL....Finally
- Thread starter MacGroove
- Start date
workin' on it...
+1
It's in on the back burner of "frivalous gear" but after hearing the Epi stuff again at Bass Specialties, i've got SERIOUS GAS for them (along with an MTD, a Sadowsky, and an Elrick
). I'm seeing a UL310 + UL902C combo in my future for the places I play that can handle the footprint.
omg,
the 902 is a freakin' beast. i've played it sooo often at the shop now, it practically haunts me every other rig i use/own/mash, etc.
stays soooooooo clean up the master volume, and the punch is just fantastic w/ a pair of UL112's. it makes me realize how inarticulate, grunty, midrangey, and messy other rigs can be.
the 902 is a freakin' beast. i've played it sooo often at the shop now, it practically haunts me every other rig i use/own/mash, etc.
stays soooooooo clean up the master volume, and the punch is just fantastic w/ a pair of UL112's. it makes me realize how inarticulate, grunty, midrangey, and messy other rigs can be.
hmm... cant say for sure,
but make no mistake, from what i do notice, there's nary a buzz or lowline growl anywhere. again, this amp actually makes me realize and appreciate how messy other amps can sound, cause this guy stays so tight and clean.
its simple killer punchtastic fun. few other amps come close to the horsepower i feel when using it. again, made my UL112 sound just massive.
if you want a growly ampeg or aguilar 750 like sound, THIS IS NOT YOUR AMP. but if you like the cleanest of the squeaky clean, this amp is a must.
I'd be interested in knowing this also. To me, playing in the shop through those little 80hm 112UL's would not uncover any of the low end punch problems (IMO) that other 'switching power supply' amps like the Walter Woods seem to have (i.e., the Walter is plenty loud and has lot's of low end... but when pushed in a mix at high volumes, it doesn't seem to have any 'punch you in the chest' low mid/deep low end response. I found the same thing with the Focus amp). However, as Jae mentions, I bet that little stack sounds great!
We need to find someone who has pushed the amp into a large, 4ohm cab on a gig and can directly compare to other high power amps with traditional power supplies like the Glock Heart Rock or the big Eden's, the iAmp800, the Epi502, etc.
If the 902 has a similar response as the Walter Woods Ultra, I would go with the Walter myself... about the same cost, much smaller and much lighter, more power into a single 40hm cab or two 8ohm cabs, etc.
oh, make no mistake.
i've tried the 902 into most if not all the cabs, large and small, at the shop. thought that was a given. most striking were two particular setups: w/ a PS410 on one side w/ a PS115 on the other (8 ohms each cab); as well as a prototype UL610 on one side w/ a prototype UL215 on the other (4 ohms each cab).
with 900 watts per side, the volume this thing achieves is pretty freakin' ridiculous, yet amazingly everything stays so clean. its a sensation i've only felt until this amp head. the words "clarity", "hifi" and "precision" all spring to mind. enough so for me to notice how incredible clean it is compared to most other amps i've owned and used before it, which again, i thought was a given. "punch you in the chest low mid/deep low end response" seems more like something anyone can achieve on most any amp with a nice EQ section, which thankfully, the epifani is most capable.
the only thing it wont top, IME, is the combination of punch and horsepower from a CA9. NOTHING remotely even touches the goodness from that power section.
and i have used the prototype on a few rehearsals and gigs, and again, the feeling of horsepower is pretty darn impressive.
once i get my production 902, i'll put up a tidy review compared to the other high power options i've used.
Very cool! If it's even in the same universe as the CA9, then they might have a winner on their hands, given the specs and weight. I am still hoping for a revised 502 that would be one of the power amps of the 902 with the 502 front end. That's 'almost' what the PS600 is... but not quite. If they did a 502c at 900 watts into 4ohm and about 10 pounds with the dual channel pre... I'd be all over that in about a second!
K
I figure if I keep repeating it, it might happen
Also, as long as I'm wishing, I would keep the size the same or smaller than the 502 so that it could be 'bagged'. The 502 seems a little heavy for a bag, but is the right size.... a 10-12 pound, 900 watt dual channel 502c with a nice Epifani carrying bag would be the cat's meow to me, given that I like the Epi cabs so much!
I figure if I keep repeating it, it might happen
Also, as long as I'm wishing, I would keep the size the same or smaller than the 502 so that it could be 'bagged'. The 502 seems a little heavy for a bag, but is the right size.... a 10-12 pound, 900 watt dual channel 502c with a nice Epifani carrying bag would be the cat's meow to me, given that I like the Epi cabs so much!
This really is my "dream amp". This amp with either a UL112 x2 set up or a UL210 + UL115 and I'd be done!
+1. As a new products and marketing oriented person in my day job, I can't quite figure our the logic of that massive, unbridgeable two amp 902. I'm sure it is just awesome, but having an amp designed to optimally run with two large cabs seems to limit the product to extremely low volume niche status (like a high powered tube amp, etc.).
I assume Nick knows something I don't.... on the other hand, with all the product failures in this business... maybe not!
K
A little off topic, but do any of you Epifaniophiles know if the Quest II pre is the same pre Nick uses in the 502/902?
Much appreciated.
Much appreciated.
A little off topic, but do any of you Epifaniophiles know if the Quest II pre is the same pre Nick uses in the 502/902?
Much appreciated.
essential, yes.
the only real change has been the "mute" switch, which has now finally muted the DI out as well for truly silent tuning. i learned this the hard way a few months back.
anybody (other than oteil) have real world gig experience with the 902? wondering how it holds up under the demands of 'on the job' use/abuse?
the 502 is tried and tested and seems to pass with flying colors. I'm guessing the 902 will as well since oteil has been touring with it, but looking for others' confirmation.
the 502 is tried and tested and seems to pass with flying colors. I'm guessing the 902 will as well since oteil has been touring with it, but looking for others' confirmation.
vision
It's all about the groove!
- Feb 25, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: MTD Basses, La Bella Strings, and 64 Audio IEMs
I believe Joker used the 902C prototype on a few actual gigs...I'm sure he can fill you in on how close the prototype would be to the production model.
so far, so good! no issues to speak of.
a little OT, but actually, if you open up the 902, you'll notice that unlike alot of amps, the PC board that the front knobs are connected to are mounted and supported inside the amp w/ brass risers and spacers. very smart. also, i'm a huge stickler for a neat and tidy interior, and the 902 looks gorgeous. on the whole, the amp just feels solid and well crafted like a nice instrument.
still, i'm a little surprised that more guys havent talked up the 902. cmon someone else has to have one, no?
no issues to speak of. a little OT, but actually, if you open up the 902, you'll notice that unlike alot of amps, the PC board that the front knobs are connected to are mounted and supported inside the amp w/ brass risers and spacers. very smart. also, i'm a huge stickler for a neat and tidy interior, and the 902 looks gorgeous. on the whole, the amp just feels solid and well crafted like a nice instrument.
still, i'm a little surprised that more guys havent talked up the 902. cmon someone else has to have one, no?
so far, so good!
a little OT, but actually, if you open up the 902, you'll notice that unlike alot of amps, the PC board that the front knobs are connected to are mounted and supported inside the amp w/ brass risers and spacers. very smart. also, i'm a huge stickler for a neat and tidy interior, and the 902 looks gorgeous. on the whole, the amp just feels solid and well crafted like a nice instrument.
still, i'm a little surprised that more guys havent talked up the 902. cmon someone else has to have one, no?
i agree.....they are so alluring....anyone
