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Genz Benz STM900 or TC Electronics RH750?

Johnny Fila

Johnny Fila

Formerly "The Crusader"
Nov 21, 2004
3,460
27
59
Macungie, PA
#1
I've been in the market for a micro amp for my cover band gig. So now I've got it down to either the TC Electronics RH750 or the Genz Benz STM900. Now just to be clear, I have ordered the TC amp from Sweetwater, but it's on back order, so I'm considering the Genz Benz instead, as GAS has set in.

So your thoughts and chime ins are appreciated.
 
#2
I have no experience with either but I do own a GB Shuttlemax 9.2, and it is a great amp. I don't even know if it's kosher to beat this dead horse in the amps forum anymore but the TC head you ordered is a 250 (?) watt amp with a novel compression circuit that makes it feel and sound much louder. Some owners love this amp and it's always best to decide with your ears but many on this forum, myself included, do not feel you should market a 250 watt amp as a 750 watt amp, even if it sounds like one. Just sayin...

That old thread was so epic my apologies if an edict against bringing it up again has been made by the mods somewhere, I don't spend alot of time in the amps forum...

fdh.jpg
 
#3
I did read something about that, I think it primarily referred to the RH450, but I imagine that the RH750 has a similar issue/non-issue. I do know that many people are very happy with the TC amp, 450 or 750. But, I'm inpatient and tired of lugging around an Aguilar combo.
 
#4
IMO its hard to beat the STM900. I finally made the move down from my SVTs to a micro and couldn't be happier...both my back and my ears! I have no experience with the RH750 but the Streamliner can go from pristine hifi clean to pissed off SVT with a few EQ and Gain changes. It has depth and tone and can cover a huge range of styles in stride. It also can get real loud! And at under 7 pounds that slides in a bag with a world class DI...hard to beat.
 
#9
I've been through many amps and spent a little time with the 750 but came away a bit disappointed...

I also spent quite some time with the STM-900 and loved it for its simplicity and awesome sound.

I just purchased a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2 and I've never been happier!!!
 
#10
The RH750 is a very versatile head IMO, and the features are simply amazing. Loudness is not an issue. The head has a baked in voice that you either like or don't like I suppose.

As far as the Streamliner goes, there is lots of love for it here, and even a mega thread or two. AFAIK, there's no 900w power module in the STM 900, so just like TC Genz Benz uses some clever magical dust, too. ;)
 
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#11
4-string said:
The RH750 is a very versatile head IMO, and the features are simply amazing. Loudness is not an issue. The head has a baked in voice that you either like or don't like I suppose.

As far as the Streamliner goes, there is lots of love for it here, and even a mega thread or two. AFAIK, there's no 900w power module in the STM 900, so just like TC Genz Benz uses some clever magical dust, too. ;)
Click to expand...
Huh, really? Interesting. The RH750 & RH450 are both something like 256 RMS @ 4 ohmns, iirc. So what is the true RMS 4-ohm wattage of the 900? Can anyone comment?
 
#12
4-string said:
The RH750 is a very versatile head IMO, and the features are simply amazing. Loudness is not an issue. The head has a baked in voice that you either like or don't like I suppose.

As far as the Streamliner goes, there is lots of love for it here, and even a mega thread or two. AFAIK, there's no 900w power module in the STM 900, so just like TC Genz Benz uses some clever magical dust, too. ;)
Click to expand...

The ICE power module in the 900 and 9.2 is rated at 500+ watts at 8ohms, and is not rated at 4ohms by B&O. The Genz 'magic', from what I understand, is to use their own heat reduction technology (which I believe is now patented) to allow that particular ICE module to safely run at 4ohms. Of course, that probably results in higher distortion levels when really pushed versus a module that was originally designed to run at 4ohms (like the B&O module used in the Puma900, for example, but I surely don't notice it when pushing this series of amps. They wump quite well, and that increase in THD that is managed and made 'musical' by their power management stuff seems to do a good job of kind of vibing a big, all tube amp, which kind of does the same thing.

Interestingly, the Aguilar TH500 uses the same module, but it seems they use a kind of 'mirror image' approach to getting that particular ICE module to safely run at 4ohms. It seems, given the 8ohm and 4ohm wattage they post, that they somehow limit the output of that module so that it doesn't generate its maximum wattage (and all that heat, etc.) when run at 4ohms, hence dropping the 8ohm wattage versus the pure ICE spec.

Just like the TC heads, which continue to sound very good to me given their design goals and tonal target, the performance of an amp seems to have as much to do with the power management system as it does with the particular class D/SMPS module used as a power system.
 
#13
To the OP, VERY different sounding heads, with the TC being VERY mid present, very warm (always a certain level of midrange warmth/distortion) and a very tight, somewhat compressed low end. That makes it a very punchy amp, and the features of course (four semiparametric mid bands, tuner, compressor, etc., etc.) are pretty amazing. I always describe the TC heads as kind of making it sound like you are playing out of a sealed one way cab, no matter what cab you are playing. So, it puts a sort of punchy, warm, somewhat compressed vibe on your tone. Pretty cool for that sort of 'classic rock' thing.

The Streamliner is wide open, can stay VERY clean, and is crystal clear up top. Not nearly as 'punchy' in the midrange, and much more extended both down low and up top (although the TC750 with the tweetertone allows you to extend the upper treble a bit).

Volume-wise, they are both very impressive, but the low end is much more open and, by definition, less compressed, than either of the TC amps. That isn't a 'good versus bad' thing, although I ended up moving away from the rather compressed tone of my TC450 in favor of the Streamliner900 for my 'old school' tonal needs.
 
#14
The Crusader said:
I've been in the market for a micro amp for my cover band gig. So now I've got it down to either the TC Electronics RH750 or the Genz Benz STM900. Now just to be clear, I have ordered the TC amp from Sweetwater, but it's on back order, so I'm considering the Genz Benz instead, as GAS has set in.

So your thoughts and chime ins are appreciated.
Click to expand...

What kind of cab will you running these through? This is just as important as the head or bass you are using, if not more.
 
#15
Yes, Kjung, our technology is patented. It was also reviewed and approved by ICE Power engineers.
 
#16
agedhorse said:
Yes, Kjung, our technology is patented. It was also reviewed and approved by ICE Power engineers.
Click to expand...

I'm sure my descriptions of the Aguilar and the 9/900 series were gross oversimplifications, but hopefully it is 'close enough' to communicate what seems to be going on with the very different power ratings of those two heads.
 
#18
PawleeP said:
Does anyone know if the GB 600 900 stl or sL series will work properly with either a 2 or 11.5 ohm speaker load(s) P
Click to expand...

2 Ohms is a no.

11.5 Ohms? what combination of cabinets do you have that you are getting 11.5 Ohms? I would be suspect of that combination before I was hooking my SL900 to it. If it was a single speaker at 11.5 Ohms the Genz would be fine, but since I suspect it is some combination I would recommend caution.
 
#20
Anything greater than 4 ohms is fine.

The Uber combination is fine. As with everything... common sense applies here as well.
 

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