Mesa Boogie Subway D800+ Is it LOUD?

[Jason Z Chicago]

Anybody use this to play very heavy/loud music?

So far I havent heard a bad thing about the D800 and Im about to pull the trigger. Im concerned about its ability to be loud as I need it to be.

Im weary of the light-weight amps for perhaps silly reasons. It just seems like something this light wont push decibels like I would want it to. I would be competing with two fully cranked half stacks and a drummer who hits like a beast.

I know I could just return it if it doesnt work out. I am just looking to the community for reassurance. If you know there is a deficit with this head getting loud as fxxk, please share.

Thanks!!!

 

[dazmond]

What kind of cabs do you have? The D800 can kick for sure. As long as you have reasonably sensitive cabs, you'll be smiling! I love the tone!

 

[mmbongo]

What kind of cabs do you have? The D800 can kick for sure. As long as you have reasonably sensitive cabs, you'll be smiling! I love the tone!

This. It's all about your cabs, as the Mesa will deliver the power with ease.

 

[Jason Z Chicago]

couple choices: 4x12 (custom made bass cab with eminence BP122's), 1x18 (old PA sub with a peavy scorpion in it)

 

[saltydude]

Yup. I've got my Barefaced cabs rockin at 4ohms here. If I cranked it to 11 my The nails holding my house together would shiver the neighborhood.

 

[Quackhead]

Although I'm sure there are others with more technical knowledge that could put this in "sci-fi" tech language, the power rating matters less than the amount of speaker surface area you are using and the sensitivity of the speakers (cabinets). At 2 ohms, you could be running four 8 ohm cabinets or two 4 ohm cabinets. If you need more stage volume than that, God help your ears.

 

[joel406]

Anybody use this to play very heavy/loud music?

So far I havent heard a bad thing about the D800 and Im about to pull the trigger. Im concerned about its ability to be loud as I need it to be.

Im weary of the light-weight amps for perhaps silly reasons. It just seems like something this light wont push decibels like I would want it to. I would be competing with two fully cranked half stacks and a drummer who hits like a beast.

I know I could just return it if it doesnt work out. I am just looking to the community for reassurance. If you know there is a deficit with this head getting loud as fxxk, please share.

Thanks!!!

I have had a D-800+ since the 1st of this month(March 2017). Yes it's loud. I use either a 410 or if needed I have a second 410.

Oh yeah....

It's loud.

 

[agedhorse]

couple choices: 4x12 (custom made bass cab with eminence BP122's), 1x18 (old PA sub with a peavy scorpion in it)

Since Peavey never made a Scorpion 18" driver, I would suggest seeing what you really have because the Subway has enough power to damage some drivers. For example, if it's really a black widow 18" and the 4 ohm version (common), you could easily destroy that driver unknowingly with 800 watts, and even 400 watts depending on the verson of the driver.

 

[Goatrope]

I have a plain old D800, and I guess it's the same power output as the +.

Plenty loud for a loud rock trio. Usually just using one CN212. Very loud drummer and guitarist with a 212 Mesa of some sort that is cranked.

I've used two CN212s a couple times, but way overkill unless I'm outside with no FOH.

 

[mpdd]

in all seriousness i believe that you could easily drown out a non mic'ed drummer with the d800 and two 410 cabs

 

[Quackhead]

Remember that even though Mesa Boogie is renowned for its guitar amps, they originally started out as a bass amp manufacturer and I believe most of their clientele were rock bassists. In that vein, the 400 and 400+ amps are some of the best led sleds ever produced. So I don't think they would put out a product that would fail in the volume department.

 

[Jason Z Chicago]

Ah thats right... its the Black Widow. No idea where I got Scorpion (similar scary critters? ha). Thanks for that.

Thank you guys so much for the loads of actual trustworthy, hands-on positive feedback! What a nice forum

 

[ubernator]

Ah thats right... its the Black Widow. No idea where I got Scorpion (similar scary critters? ha). Thanks for that.

Thank you guys so much for the loads of actual trustworthy, hands-on positive feedback! What a nice forum

Scorpions have a very apparent metal frame around the front of the speaker, I have had peavey combos and cabs with 15" and 10" scorpions. They are actually pretty good speakers.

A nest of venom is to be had in the 1810/1820 cabs, 18" widow and 2 10" scorpions.

Use caution with high power heads.

What you really want is an old heavy swr Goliath III made in sylmar or sun valley (not corona or ensenada), or an eden d410xlt preferably USA made not UK made. Basically pre fender swr/pre Marshall Eden. Almost 100# cabs so people sell them for $200-400 often. Other than the off axis clarity issues that plague all non staggered 4x cabs, you can't go wrong with those cabs

 

[joel406]

Anybody use this to play very heavy/loud music?

So far I havent heard a bad thing about the D800 and Im about to pull the trigger. Im concerned about its ability to be loud as I need it to be.

Im weary of the light-weight amps for perhaps silly reasons. It just seems like something this light wont push decibels like I would want it to. I would be competing with two fully cranked half stacks and a drummer who hits like a beast.

I know I could just return it if it doesnt work out. I am just looking to the community for reassurance. If you know there is a deficit with this head getting loud as fxxk, please share.

Thanks!!!

I have had a D-800+ since the 1st of this month(March 2017). Yes it's loud. I use either a 410 or if needed I have a second 410.

Oh yeah....

It's loud.

By the way I can even add 2 more 410's but why I would......

 

[chris_b]

. . . So far I havent heard a bad thing about the D800 and Im about to pull the trigger. Im concerned about its ability to be loud as I need it to be. . .

What do you currently use?

The D800 is loud and will drive up to 4 8 ohm cabs, which makes it even louder, but we'll only know if you tell us what it's being compared to.

 

[bass40hz]

Had a D800 going through a Markbass 210 and 115...it NEVER got loud enough and always clipped. Promptly traded it for a second GK MB Fusion 800 which is ridiculously loud.

 

[Jason Z Chicago]

May I change the direction of this thread and ask about the subway cabs? I love the idea of a 40lb cabinet but again Im iffy on the sonic power this cab could produce.

Again, thanks so much guys!

 

[Jason Z Chicago]

Had a D800 going through a Markbass 210 and 115...it NEVER got loud enough and always clipped. Promptly traded it for a second GK MB Fusion 800 which is ridiculously loud.

Ive heard this as well about the Fusion 800. Now Im wondering if I should pick up both and do a shootout. Thanks!!

 

[ubernator]

Had a D800 going through a Markbass 210 and 115...it NEVER got loud enough and always clipped. Promptly traded it for a second GK MB Fusion 800 which is ridiculously loud.

Mesa installed a circuit which detected mixed driver rigs from brands with yellow,.gold or silver speakers, and it especially kicked in with g&l basses. Sometimes a P with flats and tort would cancel out that circuit, but only real tort and flats which cost more than some basses. A set of chromes wouldnt cut it. Once that circuit is triggered, the amp functions at 65w RMS with 175w peaks.

It is the talkbass MDP+ circuit, which I believe was deleted from the 800+ to make room for the added features, and to prevent future episodes of negative reviews. It would have helped had they put it in the manual, but they just figured most mesa users didn't mix different sizes of yellow speakers while playing anything other than a P with tort strung with TI flats.

I think it would probably be a massive sounding rig with black/Grey coned speakers, and all the same size unless swr/eden/mesa and from the same series (ie son of bertha + Goliath III is known to work well)

 

[bherman]

May I change the direction of this thread and ask about the subway cabs? I love the idea of a 40lb cabinet but again Im iffy on the sonic power this cab could produce.

Again, thanks so much guys!

If you look through the Mesa Subway thread you'll see tons of posts from people using the Subway cabs with the D800 head. There are so many great cabs nowadays that are lightweight and can handle tons of power (and put out lots of volume). To get the most out of the D800 you'll need at least two of the Subway cabs and more would be better. You're in Chicago, there should be plenty of places to go try them for yourself.