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Iamp 800...noisy?

Matt Morgan

Matt Morgan

Dilettante and Inveterate ne'er-do-well
Supporting Member
Oct 21, 2001
2,393
2,315
Leesburg, VA
#1
As someone who is very interested in the Iamp 800, I've read virtually every post here on TB mentioning this amp.
I've come across a few posts where users have commented that it's a little "noisy", a "noisy little bugger" or that they were looking for an amp that had a lower noise floor than the Iamp 800.
Could any current/former owners please elaborate?
I'm seriously considering selling off the big rack system and going with the Iamp or going with a lighter weight power amp such as the Crest ST2000.
 
#2
mjmorgan said:
As someone who is very interested in the Iamp 800, I've read virtually every post here on TB mentioning this amp.
I've come across a few posts where users have commented that it's a little "noisy", a "noisy little bugger" or that they were looking for an amp that had a lower noise floor than the Iamp 800.
Could any current/former owners please elaborate?
I'm seriously considering selling off the big rack system and going with the Iamp or going with a lighter weight power amp such as the Crest ST2000.
Click to expand...
Mine has the teeniest, tiniest bit of hum but only when the horn is really cranked up on my cabs... Nothing to harp about. I've owned things that were much noisier. :cool:
 
#3
I'm no expert - but compared to SWR and Eden gear I've used - the iAmp is dead quiet. I attribute that to the quality of the design/components, and because it's solid state.

Check one out for yourself...that's the only way you'll be able to be satisfied.


Red
 
#5
I have the iAMP 500. It is noisier than I expected, then again I expected it to be dead quiet. Like Balor said, you'll notice it in a quiet room. When I practice in the basement, I notice it when I first start then it blends into the background. It is quieter than say a Yorkville but not dead quiet like my Peavey TNT was.
 
#7
I do appreciate all of the feedback. All the comments lead me to believe that the Iamp isn't nearly as noisy as I suspected.
I honestly get a good bit of hiss and hum (in a very quiet room) from my rack set up and I think that's to be expected when you have a signal that's going through several pieces of gear.
My Demeter preamp seems to be the main suspect in the hiss/hum investigation. When I turn it on, there is a few seconds of delay as the tubes warm up but then there is an audible increase in the hiss/hum coming out of my cabs.
The Iamp sounds like it will be quieter than my current set up.
Thanks for the comments and I hope more more people chime in!
 
#8
jokerjkny said:
my 800's a bit hissy with acme cabs, but nothing too distracting.

i will say however, that the DI and headphone outs are a little too hissy for my tastes.
Click to expand...
I second that. I have not tried the DI, but the headphones are too noisey to use. While the hiss dosen't bother me when playing through the cab, it is very irritating with the headphones. I was hoping that the DI did not have the problem though :(

jokerjkny, do you have the Jensen option on the DI? And is the DI hissy even in "pre" mode?
 
#9
Really didn't use the DI, but I didn't think it to be too noisy. Listen to Vanselus's recording of the Iamp on the basstasters site, you really have to listen for the hiss to hear it. I even think I'm imagining it in those .mp3s. As for the headphone amp, it really isn't such a big deal if you practice with a CD playing ibn the stereo in.

take care
PL
 
#13
My iAMP 800 seems to be pretty darn quiet, but then again, I have not tried the headphone output, yet. One thought, though. Those of you who have heard some hiss, try turning the aux input either all the way off, or all the way on (presuming that there isn't anything plugged into it). For whatever reason, I had some hiss issues with my Eden Navigator, and Eden tech support gave me some similar advice, which nipped the problem right in the bud.

Tom.
 
#17
I appreciate all the replies. I'm still debating, but I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on a new Iamp 800. I do like my Demeter/Crest set up but that 19lbs and clean tone is looking mighty attractive.
 
#18
mjmorgan said:
I appreciate all the replies. I'm still debating, but I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on a new Iamp 800. I do like my Demeter/Crest set up but that 19lbs and clean tone is looking mighty attractive.
Click to expand...

If you do pull the trigger, please post a review...is it louder, quieter, or about what you expected. I'm really liking 19lbs, and 1000watts@2ohms myself.
 
#19
I just got off the phone from putting in the order. It will hopefully be here by Saturday or maybe Monday.
I'll let everyone know how it compares to the Demeter/Crest set up driving two CXL112s.
It'll be the big tone showdown.

"In this corner, in the light heavy weight division, wearing the dark SKB 6 space rack" - The gang of five! Furious Furman power conditioner, Killer Korg DTR-2, Lucky Lexicon MPX 200, Dangerous Demeter VTBP 201s and the Crazy Crest LT1500.

"In this corner, in the junior welter weight division, wearing a power cord and a smile" - Euphonic Audio's bad boy from New Jersy - the "I ain't gonna take it anymore" Iamp 800!

I want a clean fight: keep your gains up, your EQ's flat, and no effects. Go back to your corners and come out at the bell!
 
#20
I own an iAMP 800 for about a month now.

I would say it is very quiet with my CXL112, but in a totally quiet room you can hear some hiss and some buzzing. The fan in my computer completely drowns the noise out. That means, when the computer is running it is impossible to hear if the amp is on or off.
It is very much quieter than my GK200 MB.
The headphone output is a little noisy, but much better than the GK200 or the SWR Grand Prix preamp (and both have the reputation of being top-notch studio amps). I work around that with a little volume control from radio shack that I put in series with the headphone.
 

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