Mesa/Boogie Titan V12 megathread!

[baxter_x]

So am I
If I remember correctly, you also own a Titan without the updates, and it has always worked flawlessly?

 

[Wasnex]

So am I
If I remember correctly, you also own a Titan without the updates, and it has always worked flawlessly?

You remembered correctly, my Titan amp is not updated. I did have some problems. It had a slight crackle that could only be heard intermittently in the decay of long notes. I was really afraid that the outputs were making the noise, but it turned out to be a bad preamp tube.

To be honest I feel pretty burned by the whole ordeal with the dealer. Apparently he represented the Titan as updated when he sold it to the original purchaser. I am the third owner and tracked the dealer down when I started noticing the distortion. The dealer confirmed the amp was eligible for warranty service but refused to provide written documentation.

I also have a bit of an attitude because this is the second Mesa amp I have that required a major technical update. Fortunately, I bought the M9 new so the update was done under warranty and my only expense was shipping. The downside is the update essentially replaced the original 900 watt M9 output section with the 600 watt output section from the M6. More power than I will ever need, but there is a principle at stake here...I paid for a 900 watt amp.

At some point I may send my Titan for the update, so I can have peace of mind, but I doubt I ever buy another new Mesa product. The M9 and Titan are awesome amps, but these combined experiences have left me feeling a bit ripped off. Caveat emptor.

 

[baxter_x]

At some point I may send my Titan for the update, so I can have peace of mind, but I doubt I ever buy another new Mesa product. The M9 and Titan are awesome amps, but these combined experiences have left me feeling a bit ripped off. Caveat emptor.

So I can still update my Titan?
I understand your point about Mesa. I have to say I've been a bit though the same feeling when my Titan fried onstage. I also owned a updated 600W version of the M9. Both great amps, but still slightly disappointed by their reliability.

 

[Wasnex]

So I can still update my Titan?

As long as the parts are still available, I am sure Mesa would do the work. @tds2277 said he called about 2 weeks ago and the updates are still possible.

 

[agedhorse]

You need to work with the authorized distributor in your country on this.

 

[KwinS]

FWIW:
I have owned 3 Titans, since pretty much the genesis of the line. The 1st one went down, so I sent it in for repair. While it was being repaired, I sold my 2nd one, because I didn’t want the headache of sending it in for servicing...at the time, I don’t think anyone considered the problem to be a “thing”...of course it WAS, and needed further steps to keep it updated.

It is STILL my favorite “big” rig, so I bought a 3rd one, to replace the 2nd one. THIS ONE also got sent almost automatically to the factory for whatever updating was needed. Now, I have 2 of them, updated to the hilt, that are amazing. I have no idea what wattage they output, after all the changes, to include the transformers...I just know that I LOVE them for all my big indoor gigs, or festivals. The year before last, when the band I was in played Rocklahoma, almost everyone that played the same stage on the days after us (the International Stage), asked if they could use my rig, rather than the provided back line! I would estimate that no fewer than a dozen bands from South America, France, Germany, Australia, Norway, and Finland used, and loved the dual Titan rig, run into 2 separate PH4x12’s, with a few bells and whistles here and there.
I adore my Subway d800 for most applications, but after that weekend at a festival that huge, where almost ALL the bassists from around the globe (on our stage) wanted to use MY rig speaks VOLUMES to me about how amazing the Titan can be.
It HAS TO BE SERVICED completely by the factory, though, and neither of my Titans appear to have identical mods when you take the covers off to compare...and I have no idea how much the wattage has dropped with the transformers swapped out. *I know I already typed that, I just wish I had a good answer for that!

...and I will STILL use them at every gig big enough for that much amp!

 

[baxter_x]

It HAS TO BE SERVICED

Damn..... Like you would not gig a non serviced one?
When I shot a mail a Mesa, they told me if the amp has never failed before it would most likely never fail in the future so the updates are not mandatory.

though, and neither of my Titans appear to have identical mods when you take the covers off to compare...and I have no idea how much the wattage has dropped with the transformers swapped out. *I know I already typed that, I just wish I had a good answer for that!

It's interesting to see that updates seem to be actually pretty different. I wish Mesa would clarify what they really mod on the amp.

I adore my Subway d800 for most applications

How would you compare the D800 against the Titan? I know it's two different animals, but I'm curious as I 'm really considering one. Is it as strong as the Titan?

 

[mikeswals]

I have no idea what wattage they output, after all the changes, to include the transformers...

...and I have no idea how much the wattage has dropped with the transformers swapped out.

The transformer is a power transformer, not an output tranny.
The mosfet section is your output.

If I remember right, the Titan uses the same power transformer as the MP600, probably the BB750 too?

 

[agedhorse]

I don't think so, the secondaries are different

 

[baxter_x]

I don't think so, the secondaries are different

Yes they are

 

[baxter_x]

I finally found a nice workaround, in case my Titan fails again on me (which I highly doubt)
Another Titan, with all the Mesa updates!! The amp has been used a several hours. It's like brand new!!

 

[baxter_x]

I'm trying to find the main differences between the non upgraded and the upgraded Titan. Not much appart than the added fan and the drilled chassis.
However, the transformer is written 1110VAC on the non upgraded and 980VAC on the upgraded. Also, I feel the taper of the updated Titan is slightly different from the non upgraded one. It feels a bit smoother and less aggressive. However, I might be wrong on this detail as I can't compare both side by side right now.

 

[Wasnex]

I'm trying to find the main differences between the non upgraded and the upgraded Titan. Not much appart than the added fan and the drilled chassis.
However, the transformer is written 1110VAC on the non upgraded and 980VAC on the upgraded. Also, I feel the taper of the updated Titan is slightly different from the non upgraded one. It feels a bit smoother and less aggressive. However, I might be wrong on this detail as I can't compare both side by side right now.

The difference in sound could possibly be attributed to tubes.

 

[baxter_x]

The sound is pretty much the same. But the amp hasn't been hardly played! It's brand new like out of the box. So it might explain too.
But I really feel it's not the tubes. I'll A/B against my other one to confirm that.

 

[baxter_x]

I have several questions about this slave output as I'd like to use just in case I need to slave one of my two Titans.
Is it possible to use it as a DI? If I understood correctly what is stated in the manual, it is pretty much the same as a DI but with the power section is also taken in account. Whereas the DI is only the preamp without going through the power section?
If I decide to slave the other Titan, I guess I should plug the slave out pf the master head inside the return of the slave one. I'm I correct?

 

[agedhorse]

If you use the slave out as a DI, be sure to use a passive transformer isolated direct box.

 

[baxter_x]

If you use the slave out as a DI, be sure to use a passive transformer isolated direct box.

Why a passive DI with the slave out and an active one with the DI? What's the main difference?
Am I right when I say the slave out uses the power section unlike the DI? What's the benefit?

 

[baxter_x]

There is are real differences between the updated (black) and non updated Titan (silver)!
The non update sounds stronger, tighter, cleaner in the highs and seems to push more air. That makes me think, the power section has probably been reduced by Mesa. Or it could be the tubes maybe?
Also, the non updated is way less noisy! Probably because the single fan and non drilled chassis.

I love both obviously but I guess I'll keep the non updated a my main amp. Which not something I expected.

 

[baxter_x]

I also have an older silver face and a newer black face. They sounded quite different before I had the silver serviced to the latest standards. My silver one became much chestier, beefier and with a lot more bounce when on a lot of overdrive, like the rectos for guitars, which I really like (and very much like the black face is already). You can get subtle overdrives from elsewhere, but the earthshaking ones are harder to find i think. There's plenty of earthquake on tap in both of my silver and black faces today. I still think my silver one has more kick than my black though, and only when on overdrive so I'm pretty sure the tubes might make a difference, old, worn out or different specs i don't know? I've never changed them and its mesas in both. Without overdrive they sound very much alike to me.

You seem to partially confirm what I stated above.

 

[agedhorse]

Why a passive DI with the slave out and an active one with the DI? What's the main difference?
Am I right when I say the slave out uses the power section unlike the DI? What's the benefit?

Because the slave out has a low enough impedance that a passive is a much better match that will result in a lower noise floor in the DI signal.