Jule Amps Monique

[bongomania]

The Crest CA9 has a "standard" 0.775 input sensitivity. Same as the IP Bergantinos.

"Standard" is a bit of a misleading term to use. That sensitivity is somewhat standard for the power sections of integrated amp heads, but is exceedingly rare among free-standing power amps. The Crest is one of only a very small handful of instances.

 

[SactoBass]

The Crest is one of only a very small handful of instances.

And DAT is why me likey da CA9 wif da Monique! Yaa maan!

 

[JGR]

This is exactly why I'm grabbing a CA6/CA9 to power a Barefaced Big Twin T, or an Aguilar 412. Can't seems to settle on one yet.

You want a CA9 - mine specifically. Come and get it!

 

[chadds]

"Standard" is a bit of a misleading term to use. That sensitivity is somewhat standard for the power sections of integrated amp heads, but is exceedingly rare among free-standing power amps. The Crest is one of only a very small handful of instances.

When last we covered this there seemed to be three "standards". The available power amps want are distributed across those three. The "lowest" sensitivity was the rarest. I have no time to search for it but it was in the last year.

What did come out of it was there's no blame to pass around unless it's that there is no agreed upon standard.

Live & Recording engineers select their components with these considerations.

Also there is an impedance requirement not just voltage which makes for compatibility.

 

[Baird6869]

So here's a dumb question (I have never been a power amp guy)....

I am considering a CA-9 or maybe a lighter Crest to run with my soon to be here Monique (on a Fedex truck currently)....... What will be the potential difference in sound, electricity, reliability, etc. between a high end Crest (or QSC or Crown) and a much less expensive Carvin as an example? Same or similar wattage, of course.

 

[Fretless5verfan]

You want a CA9 - mine specifically. Come and get it!

I will hold you to that!

 

[SCT1422]

If theres a cab to use with a Crest CA-9, it's the Bergantino HT-322.. Hands down the best rig I ever owned was a Kern preamp into CA-9 into the HT-322...
I have a Monique in the rackmount version on it's way to me, should be here just in time for my birthday/Friday night gig... I have a IP-112ER/HT-112ER setup now and can't wait for the Monique !!

 

[bongomania]

The "lowest" sensitivity was the rarest.

That's all I was saying.

I could argue the rest of your points, but I don't wish to sound unfriendly to Monique or her fans. It's just that I would not want to see people making rather expensive choices without first understanding exactly what will be required.

 

[SactoBass]

I have a Monique in the rackmount version on it's way to me, should be here just in time for my birthday/Friday night gig... I have a IP-112ER/HT-112ER setup now and can't wait for the Monique !!

That otta sound flippin saWEEEEET!

 

[donnercruz]

Now that I have a Monique in the works, I'm wondering what everyone is using for an amp to run it through.

I tested it using my Walter Woods. I also have a Mackie and a QSC in my PA rig I can try it with. Always looking for the lightest weight/best sounding solution (aren't we all!).

 

[chadds]

That's all I was saying.

I could argue the rest of your points, but I don't wish to sound unfriendly to Monique or her fans. It's just that I would not want to see people making rather expensive choices without first understanding exactly what will be required.

No arguments please. We could discuss this on that power amp thread. I misspoke. The rarest power amps have the "highest" sensitivity.
The points I made I learned from the amplifier makers and engineers on that thread.

I appreciate your respect here.
I don't pretend to know everything.
What I do know that's pertinent is I talk to makers now to be assured of good matches.
Twice now the makers talked with each other to assure good matches. From what I've gleaned more than voltage guarantees effective joining.

I so agree. Get the specs and see if they match. Learn all you can. None of this gear can't be returned so there aren't risks if you miss something.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

Now that I have a Monique in the works, I'm wondering what everyone is using for an amp to run it through.

I tested it using my Walter Woods. I also have a Mackie and a QSC in my PA rig I can try it with. Always looking for the lightest weight/best sounding solution (aren't we all!).

I run it through the effects return of my EA Micro (600 watts @ 4 ohms, 2.2 lbs.) and it sounds incredible. Same exact footprint too. EA IAmp Pro for really big gigs.

 

[Baird6869]

So Monique landed this morning right on schedule and all I can say is wow.

I have the dove cage model and it is perfectly constructed and looks damn cool.

I am heading out on vacation later this morning but of course had to give it a whirl before I left.

I only had 20-30 min to play around with it, but my first impression is that I have never played thru an amp or pre that gave me such warm tube tone but such clear note seperation. The Sensitivity knob allows for a great range of tones, but I was able to get Ampeg tube tone with amazing clarity. Too cool!

I initially plugged the Monique directly into my Mesa M9's main input and I was not able to dial in much of a clean tone. I was using a 18V Modulus bass, so likely too hot going into the Mesa's pre. Again, played around with this configuration only briefly.... need to spend more time playing around with my options.

But.... bypassing the M9's pre is just amazing. I was toying with the idea of buying a seperate power amp (Crest CA-6 or CA-9), but for now the Mesa will do just fine.... and much lighter than a Crest.

I need to get Monique on a gig or full volume rehersal obviously, but I am expecting great things.

P.S. Jule and Marsha are great people to deal with and were amazing during the whole process.

 

[Fretless5verfan]

So Monique landed this morning right on schedule and all I can say is wow.

I have the dove cage model and it is perfectly constructed and looks damn cool.

I am heading out on vacation later this morning but of course had to give it a whirl before I left.

I only had 20-30 min to play around with it, but my first impression is that I have never played thru an amp or pre that gave me such warm tube tone but such clear note seperation. The Sensitivity knob allows for a great range of tones, but I was able to get Ampeg tube tone with amazing clarity. Too cool!

I initially plugged the Monique directly into my Mesa M9's main input and I was not able to dial in much of a clean tone. I was using a 18V Modulus bass, so likely too hot going into the Mesa's pre. Again, played around with this configuration only briefly.... need to spend more time playing around with my options.

But.... bypassing the M9's pre is just amazing. I was toying with the idea of buying a seperate power amp (Crest CA-6 or CA-9), but for now the Mesa will do just fine.... and much lighter than a Crest.

I need to get Monique on a gig or full volume rehersal obviously, but I am expecting great things.

P.S. Jule and Marsha are great people to deal with and were amazing during the whole process.

I can't tell you how happy I am that everyone is sharing the same awesome experience I had. So glad I started this thread

 

[Baird6869]

So glad I started this thread

Jule owes you a bunch of finder fees for sure.... or maybe at least a Jule sticker.

 

[AmazingMumford]

I initially plugged the Monique directly into my Mesa M9's main input and I was not able to dial in much of a clean tone. I was using a 18V Modulus bass, so likely too hot going into the Mesa's pre. Again, played around with this configuration only briefly.... need to spend more time playing around with my options.

But.... bypassing the M9's pre is just amazing. I was toying with the idea of buying a seperate power amp (Crest CA-6 or CA-9), but for now the Mesa will do just fine.... and much lighter than a Crest.

Were you using the -14dB DI from Monique or the 0dB line out when going through the M9's main input? Using the latter might have helped contribute to the excess drive. Monique's line out should match up well with the EFX return, of course, which looks like the setup you ended up with. Conversely, I would expect that plugging the DI into the EFX return would result in an overly boosted noise floor. Just guessing, of course. Jule?

 

[SCT1422]

My rackmount Monique arrived today and can't wait to fire this puppy up !!!

 

[SactoBass]

My rackmount Monique arrived today and can't wait to fire this puppy up !!!

Well??? How 'bout a tone report from tone-a-wanda?

And please specify what amp and cab you are playing it through!

 

[JimmyM]

I initially plugged the Monique directly into my Mesa M9's main input and I was not able to dial in much of a clean tone. I was using a 18V Modulus bass, so likely too hot going into the Mesa's pre. Again, played around with this configuration only briefly.... need to spend more time playing around with my options.

But.... bypassing the M9's pre is just amazing. I was toying with the idea of buying a seperate power amp (Crest CA-6 or CA-9), but for now the Mesa will do just fine.... and much lighter than a Crest.

I wouldn't sweat getting the M9 pre involved. It will sound better than the M9 by itself but it won't sound as good as having the Monique in the power amp by itself IMHO.

 

[foderaman]

I have found out that there are some basses that put out a very strong signal such as a Sadowsky Will Lee I have.Luckily there is a trimpot to adjust the amount of gain the bass puts out so it was not too hot for the input of Monique.If you have a bass with a hot signal and overdrive Monique a little too soon try cutting back on the volume knob on the bass and intern raise the volume in the Line Level of Monique to get the desired volume you need.

So Monique landed this morning right on schedule and all I can say is wow.

I have the dove cage model and it is perfectly constructed and looks damn cool.

I am heading out on vacation later this morning but of course had to give it a whirl before I left.

I only had 20-30 min to play around with it, but my first impression is that I have never played thru an amp or pre that gave me such warm tube tone but such clear note seperation. The Sensitivity knob allows for a great range of tones, but I was able to get Ampeg tube tone with amazing clarity. Too cool!

I initially plugged the Monique directly into my Mesa M9's main input and I was not able to dial in much of a clean tone. I was using a 18V Modulus bass, so likely too hot going into the Mesa's pre. Again, played around with this configuration only briefly.... need to spend more time playing around with my options.

But.... bypassing the M9's pre is just amazing. I was toying with the idea of buying a seperate power amp (Crest CA-6 or CA-9), but for now the Mesa will do just fine.... and much lighter than a Crest.

I need to get Monique on a gig or full volume rehersal obviously, but I am expecting great things.

P.S. Jule and Marsha are great people to deal with and were amazing during the whole process.