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M-Pulse 600... EQ vs tone stack

Matt Dean

Matt Dean

Supporting Member
Jan 2, 2007
11,746
21,355
SF (North) Bay Area
#1
So... for the techies on TB: I have been playing around with and changing-up my settings on the m-pulse 600 since I received my new nordy vj4. The tone on the bass is just so good that I've been mostly playing the m-pulse relatively flat (e.g. bass 1:00, mid 9:00 and treble at 12:00). One of the things I've noticed when flipping EQ (everything set flat at 12:00) on and off is that when the EQ is off, the tone has a dry and present quality. When on, the tone has a wetter tone, with a bit of a sheen on top. I actually like both... so, who can tell me what happening to the signal as it's being processed by the EQ (set flat)?

Thanks, Matt
 
#4
RickenBoogie said:
Not sure I understand your question. You're saying that the amp sounds different with different eq settings?
Click to expand...

He's saying the amp sounds different with the semi-parametrics set 'flat' versus the semi-parametric section bypassed with the EQ bypass switch.

I never noticed that on mine, but didn't really focus in on it, since I left that EQ section in.
 
#5
I'll check mine out tonight and report back. I do use touch of the EQ section on mine, in my search to make the 600 sound like a "louder Walkabout" (after a lot of tweaking, I got it sorta-kinda right).

Are you using any compression ? also, is it possible you are hearing room effects ?
 
#6
Sorry if I'm not being clear... basically what I'm saying is that when everything is set flat, tone stack and EQ section, I notice a change in tone when the EQ is on (even though flat) and when the EQ is bypassed. When the EQ section is on, there is a subtle wetness or sheen that is a part of the tone as compared to when the EQ is bypassed, which results in a more pronounced dry tone.

I was just curious as to what the EQ section did to the signal to add sheen, even though it is set flat.

Maybe nobody cares...
 
#8
Since there are no center detents on the EQ, I'd suspect you've got a knob that isn't quite at "zero". This could even be due to the way the knob is mounted on the pot shaft. I also found that I couldn't really get the EQ "flat" and that switching it in always changed the sound. I really just used the tone stack for everything and left the EQ off.
 
#9
Ok, that makes some sense to me, sorry, it could be my dense brain, not your wording. When the parametric eq is engaged, the signal is passing through a bigger circuit than when it isn't. I don't have a 600, just a Walkabout, but it would make sense to me that you'd hear a different tone through, essentially, a different circuit. Wouldn't really matter how that eq is set, just the fact it's passing through. That make sense?
 
#10
pickles said:
Since there are no center detents on the EQ, I'd suspect you've got a knob that isn't quite at "zero". This could even be due to the way the knob is mounted on the pot shaft. I also found that I couldn't really get the EQ "flat" and that switching it in always changed the sound. I really just used the tone stack for everything and left the EQ off.
Click to expand...

That makes total sense. It's been a while and I forgot there weren't any detents on the semi-parametric volumes.
 
#11
Thanks guys... everything you've said makes sense. Obviously, the signal passing through another circuit would have some effect on the sonic output. I find myself using just the tone stack more and more and using the bass tone controls to modify tone characteristics. Although, I often do have the urge to tweak the EQ... possibly another form of GAS... TAS (Tone Acquisition Syndrome).
 
#12
pickles said:
Since there are no center detents on the EQ, I'd suspect you've got a knob that isn't quite at "zero".
Click to expand...

hmmm...pickles, not true on mine. All of the +/-15db sweep controls for the EQ section DO have center detents. So, even if you had the Q point set somewhere (which of course you have to), if you had the corresponding sweep at 0, it would essentially be "off" as in no cut no boost. No?
 
#13
pfschim said:
hmmm...pickles, not true on mine. All of the +/-15db sweep controls for the EQ section DO have center detents. So, even if you had the Q point set somewhere (which of course you have to), if you had the corresponding sweep at 0, it would essentially be "off" as in no cut no boost. No?
Click to expand...

I haven't had mine in a while, so I just can't remember!
 
#15
Matt Dean said:
BTW, pfschim what EQ settings did you to use get close to the Walkabout tonal characteristics?

Matt
Click to expand...

I'll try to get a pic. easier. too many knobs to describe it very well.

Basically I push the lows a little, cut the honk around 300hz, boost the upper mids and highs around 1k .. just a touch.

Tone stack reflects this too: Bass pushed a touch, Mids at 9 o'clock (that very interesting Mesa MPulse passive mid control), Highs pushed just a touch. So, way more of a slight grin than a smiley face. Slight use of compression.
This gets me close to my Walkabout tone. Considering that I use the Venture only for the largest stage volume gigs (rare), much of this tweaking really gets lost on stage.

The other major difference that I have decided just makes it impossible to make these two sound the same, is the difference between the passive radiators on the Walkabout and my Scout 15 and the clear, mid-focused growl of the PH 2x12.

Keep in mind, my 600 is in a Venture 2x12 combo (MPulse600 + PH 2x12), so it will be somewhat different than your 600 + PH2x12 config. even though they are very close in type.

in any event, they both sure sound great with my Lull MV4 leaning into the bridge p/u.
 

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