Genzler Amplification ! New Genz Benz ?

[popgadget]

Better having lots of Watts and not using them
than needing lots of Watts and not having some.

Count me in the multi-KW camp. My (current) micro is a Puma 900

 

[SteveC]

Better having lots of Watts and not using them
than needing lots of Watts and not having some.

I totally get it. I also get the headroom, and low notes and transients. It just seems like...I'll shut up now.


I'm anxious to see what he comes up with as I really like all the old stuff.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Wow, this turned into a high output head hating thread.. just use your 300 watts and be happy then..

 

[SteveC]

Not hating, just trying to understand. It just seems like overkill to me. That's fine. I'm done. Returning to original thread intent.

 

[Tunaman]

Genz will use the new ice models with higher power, I'm pretty sure the Streamliner 900 outsold the 600 in the 10 to 1 range? 7 to 1 range? Power sells

 

[BassikLee]

I'd buy a 1200.

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

High power feels nicer tbh. I never got the appeal until I tried it. In my experience, I like solid state a lot more now that I'm running ~1000 at 8 ohms as it just feels bigger and more authoritative in sound. I tried running my Crest Pro Lite 2.0 in mono bridged and stereo at similar volumes and found that I liked the feel of it more running bridged even if it is running with the attenuators way down. Unrelated to the thread topic, but just my 0.02.

 

[popgadget]

Yup. I love my Demeter / Crown rack, even with a little F110, but it's not as much fun to move. It weighs more than the cab and a bass combined, so the 900w micros often come out to play, but there is something that's just not quite the same.
Having said that I was very impressed how a borrowed MB200 did with the same cab, proving that I don't "need" that much power, but I did notice a big difference. I'm not sure anyone else did though......

 

[scotch]

Wow, this turned into a high output head hating thread.. just use your 300 watts and be happy then..

Did it?

I'm just questioning the trend in bass amplification design and marketing. I'm not a "hater", as I think I communicated well: if folks want a 10,000watt amp, great! More power to them.
I do question if as many folks are benefiting from all this power than buy said power! ;-)

It is totally just my experience as a player & admitted gear-head.

 

[wcriley]

Running 1KW or more into the new small "super cabs" (that can actually make use of that power) is attractive to some of us who prefer small/light but LOUD rigs...with or without PA support.

 

[pravus]

I do question if as many folks are benefiting from all this power than buy said power!

You obviously have a very specific goal-oriented experience-driven gig-based opinion on the matter. That's probably why you can't see any benefits. There are no benefits to you. You have already circumscribed your bass "problem" well within the confines of lower wattage so current solutions work very well for you. But others may want to explore other boundaries. And rather than question their need, why not just accept it?

I guess I have a problem with people approaching curiosity with "why are you doing that" rather than "i don't understand that, can you please answer some questions". And even then you still have to be open to the fact that some people may want to spend $3k on a Sadowsky SA200 just to have a nice looking aquarium bauble. People are people and things are things and people do weird stuff with things.

 

[scotch]

Hey, I'm all ears! What are folks actually doing with all those watts?

I've read stuff about 'feel' & 'clarity', which is of course subjectively valid! It's hard to compare these things apples to apples, so to speak, since every amp is different - even within the same product line.

Yes, I am very goal-driven with amplification. I also think I qualified where I was coming from in my original post without being condescending. Just asking questions here! I think "why" is always a good question, frankly.

 

[agedhorse]

Watts isn't just about volume. If you want to go very low with authority or capture all of your transients in crystal detail then you need a big amp. How big? That's for you to decide.

I am going to suggest that your choice of speaker is at least as important (if not more so) because if the speaker can not support the low end extension the distortion will go WAY up and will be susceptible to damage from overpowering. Unfortunately, I see this an awful lot from folks whose expectations do not match reality.

 

[wagdog]

I am going to suggest that your choice of speaker is at least as important (if not more so) because if the speaker can not support the low end extension the distortion will go WAY up and will be susceptible to damage from overpowering. Unfortunately, I see this an awful lot from folks whose expectations do not match reality.

Yes, that's right! In the '70's I destroyed numerous speakers trying to make them do what they were incapable of doing (loud and low). Today I get all the bass and volume I need from my Genz Benz and Phil Jones gear without any of the drama. We really are living in a golden age for bass. That's why I am so excited to see Jeff back in the game.

 

[wcriley]

It's probably presumptuous for someone like me to give advice to someone with Mr. Genzler's experience, but...
Based on the simple vs complex EQ preferences expressed in this thread, maybe a 2 channel preamp section...one with simple B/M/T EQ and the other with high/low shelving and 2 bands of full parametric.

 

[B-string]

I have to chuckle at the "headroom" buzz word. If you have a 750 watt capable cab and a 3000 watt amp you have 750 watts of headroom and 2,250 watts of waste. Wattage you can't use is not headroom, it is feel good, I have big numbers waste. If that makes you feel good that is okay so it is not a "put down". Just reality, if you use it wisely, no harm done.

 

[nutdog]

Watts of Waste killed at Bonaroo this year.

 

[Jim C]

I've found the same to be true with classic, 300w tube SVT's. At only 300 watts, an SVT and 8x10 produces more volume (and yes, even clean headroom) than I could possibly ever need. It is capable of just plain burying even a loud drummer!

Agreed; try it with a 3015 in a TL606 cabinet or a Berg 2x10 compared to a 800+ watt micro.
At the same reasonable output level, there isn't enough headroom for me assuming one plays with large dynamics.
The 8x10 needs very little power to make a lot of racket.

BTW, my all time favorite that I will never sell is my older SVT-CL.
I just am not playing jobs that justify carrying a huge cabinet or an 85 lb. amp.
It is my reference amp by which all others are judged.

 

[Chef]

"why all the silly headroom?"
Because I want big, clean, dynamic power.
If you want some of that "grit/grind/extra harmonics" or whatever you choose to label it that power sections make when they get pushed, that's fine.
I don't.
I mostly don't have to play Really Loud; but, when I need to, I want it to keep clean and still have the ability to be dynamic and responsive.
I have cabs capable of dealing with the 800 watts of my highest rated head, as long as I don't abuse that.

Honestly, you can "blow up a 1500 watt rated cab with a 500 watt rated head" if "you're doing it wrong," but, pretty much this whole post isn't what this thread started out about, so, I'll quit now.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Watts of Waste killed at Bonaroo this year.

They never should have scheduled Volume Within Reason to follow.