Cool! One of the things I'm wondering about is how this amp would play with my MAS cabs.
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Euphonic Audio iAmp Classic 1200 watt
- Thread starter Low Class
- Start date
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,953
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
The new iAMP Classic has gobs of power, it is incredibly dynamic, and it definitely one of the most beautifully clear and uncolored heads I have played. The more I play it, the more I am impressed.
I still have my pro and love it. Lots of power and uncolored if I want. Just a great head!The new iAMP Classic has gobs of power, it is incredibly dynamic, and it definitely one of the most beautifully clear and uncolored heads I have played. The more I play it, the more I am impressed.
The new iAMP Classic has gobs of power, it is incredibly dynamic, and it definitely one of the most beautifully clear and uncolored heads I have played. The more I play it, the more I am impressed.
I don't need a 1200w amp.
I don't need a 1200w amp.
I don't need a 1200w amp.
I will not pay attention to that Bowlus individual.
I will not pay attention to that Bowlus individual.
I will not pay attention to that Bowlus individual.
(Just breath....in through the nose, out through the mouth....inhale, exhale)
(Shut the laptop.....walk away.....just....walk...away)
The deep breathing is a good start.
Maybe try the following as a mantra (pick and choose what works best for you -- feel free to add to or modify these):
My amps don't define me.
I am more than my gear.
My tone makes me happy.
My tone makes people happy.
My playing makes people happy.
I am myself through any rig.
Do you have a garden? Now might be a good time to cultivate one.
Sounds like you like it!The new iAMP Classic has gobs of power, it is incredibly dynamic, and it definitely one of the most beautifully clear and uncolored heads I have played. The more I play it, the more I am impressed.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,953
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I do... a lot! I prefer a very uncolored tone, and I've been a big fan of EA for many years. This is the best head that they have made, IME/IMHO. I love my iAMP 800, still, but after doing a head to head, the iAMP Classic has the clear edge in speed, immediacy, dynamics, clarity and lack of coloration. Way to go, EA!
Just got mine. It's what I expected----and my expectations were very high. Best EA amp yet. One area where it's exceeded my expectations. They beefed up the power supply. Lots more capacitance. Comparable to the custom Pascal I'm using in my powered cabs. In a head-to-head, the Pascal had a little advantage in the power/slam department. The Ice had a small advantage in the fidelity department. With the beefed up power supply----not much difference in power and slam. I wish it were smaller---I'd use the Ice in my cabs. But they're both very close.
One area that was a disappointment. I was stoked that it had a HPF. It's not too useful. It's set at 20 hz and I think that it's 6db/octave. I want to stop calling what I'm talking about a HPF. It is, but a better name would be a subsonic filter. A subsonic filter is a HPF, but a HPF is not necessarily a subsonic filter. A subsonic filter needs to be 24db/octave and at least for 5 string bass---set no higher than 30hz and no lower than 27hz. With my speakers, my 28hz hpf gives me more than 3db more output in the low end. With no degradation in signal. In all pro-sound equipment that I know use 24db/octave. My Symetrix, Ashley, and Klark Technik Eq's all have variable 24db/octave HPF's. If someone wants variable--buy a pedal. If you want to effectively double your output---a fixed 28hz hpf will do it.
I think that the new Classic is a huge winner and a steal at that price. I wanted a neutral powerful amp that was not sterile--just the right bit of warmth. This amp kicks butt. BTW---I would be hesitant to run it at 2 ohms. I run mine at 2.67 all day with no problem, but I'm wary of 2. I very well might be wrong.
Edit---I am wrong. 2 ohms it is. So says EA and Ice.I believe 'em.
One area that was a disappointment. I was stoked that it had a HPF. It's not too useful. It's set at 20 hz and I think that it's 6db/octave. I want to stop calling what I'm talking about a HPF. It is, but a better name would be a subsonic filter. A subsonic filter is a HPF, but a HPF is not necessarily a subsonic filter. A subsonic filter needs to be 24db/octave and at least for 5 string bass---set no higher than 30hz and no lower than 27hz. With my speakers, my 28hz hpf gives me more than 3db more output in the low end. With no degradation in signal. In all pro-sound equipment that I know use 24db/octave. My Symetrix, Ashley, and Klark Technik Eq's all have variable 24db/octave HPF's. If someone wants variable--buy a pedal. If you want to effectively double your output---a fixed 28hz hpf will do it.
I think that the new Classic is a huge winner and a steal at that price. I wanted a neutral powerful amp that was not sterile--just the right bit of warmth. This amp kicks butt. BTW---I would be hesitant to run it at 2 ohms. I run mine at 2.67 all day with no problem, but I'm wary of 2. I very well might be wrong.
Edit---I am wrong. 2 ohms it is. So says EA and Ice.I believe 'em.
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Cool, Mike. Thanks for sharing your impressions of the amp -- since you made the majority of my cabs, I am particularly interested in them.
Re. the shallow HPF, is it possible that there's some additional filtering/low-end signal-shaping in the amp? A couple of conversations with makers of other amps/preamps seem to suggest that this is at least sometimes the case, and that it can take several different forms and pop up in different places. (This is beyond my expertise, though.)
More to the point, do the speakers seem well-behaved with the amp, or do you get the sense that they're being exposed to a fair amount of very-low-frequency content? If so -- and if you've tried it -- do you notice much of a difference when you run an external HPF with the amp?
Re. fidelity and detail (and anything else you care to comment on), how's it compare with your hot-rodded Doubler?
Thanks in advance (and thanks, too, to Tom and to everyone else who've shared their impressions of the amp so far).
I love this amp. I think that it's the best SS integrated amp. To get a high end tube amp that would compete would cost you another grand. It is a neutral sounding amp. But not thin or sterile. I talked to Larry at EA today and suggested that they put in a 30hz subsonic filter. It would put this amp in another category. Let EA know that this would be a great idea! I think they'll do it.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,953
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Basicly, Mike, it's a Rumble Filter (for those of us old enough to remember those on our vacuum tube stereos).
Hi Tom,The new iAMP Classic has gobs of power, it is incredibly dynamic, and it definitely one of the most beautifully clear and uncolored heads I have played. The more I play it, the more I am impressed.
I'm curious how you would compare the sound of it to the Berg B|Amp. Really enjoy reading your reviews of amps and blown away with your amp knowledge!
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,953
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Comparing the iAMP Classic to the forte HP, the Berg is more smooth at lower volumes and a tad more warm. At higher volumes, the Berg actually sounds a bit more voiced. The EA is more clear and defined and stays very uncolored, even when pushed. Both are very full and dynamic (the Berg is more full when compared to the iAMP Classic with the Deep not engaged). With the Deep engaged, the EA is bigger down low and more full than the HP, cut still somehow does not sound "colored."
Both are fantastic amps. Different flavors of unfreakingly awesome.
Both are fantastic amps. Different flavors of unfreakingly awesome.
How about the iAMP Classic compared to the B|Amp? Is the B|Amp similar enough to the forte HP that your comparison above also applies? I've been really digging the sound of my bass through my Yamaha 12 channel mixer through my old Mackie HR824s lately. Really wondering if it's possible to get that sound only louder for gigs. Thanks, Tom.Comparing the iAMP Classic to the forte HP, the Berg is more smooth at lower volumes and a tad more warm. At higher volumes, the Berg actually sounds a bit more voiced. The EA is more clear and defined and stays very uncolored, even when pushed. Both are very full and dynamic (the Berg is more full when compared to the iAMP Classic with the Deep not engaged). With the Deep engaged, the EA is bigger down low and more full than the HP, cut still somehow does not sound "colored."
Both are fantastic amps. Different flavors of unfreakingly awesome.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,953
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I have not done a direct A/B with the B|Amp and the Classic. The HP seemed the more logical choice, as it shares the same output module, but the B|Amp is in the same wheelhouse, tonally, to the HP. The feel is a bit different, though. I think I did a B|Amp vs forte HP comparison somewhere... I will have to look for it.
Cool, thx Tom. No worries about finding the B|Amp vs forte HP. I look around.
I think I got some useful info there.
