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Mesa Subway Bass DI-Preamp

It's one of the features that those in the MI industry struggle to appreciate yet those in the pro audio industry demand because of the usefulness. I'm pretty big on interfaces, I like to include as many tools on-board as I possibly can so that when you are out in the field you have the ability to accommodate a variety of needs, expected and unexpected. Yeah, it costs a few dollars more, but when you really need the feature to bail yourself out of a bind, the value is priceless.

I will be using my DI today for a local town festival stage where I will run ampless. I'll most likely use both of the XLR, one for my ears and one for the general PA. I'm crossing my fingers for a stereo mix-minus that I can blend with the DI signal. If thats the way it gets hooked up I'll be turning the master knob with reckless abandon...just because I can.

I definitely appreciate all of the outputs, as I've used them all at various times. They are way more valuable to me in a pro environment than things like Aux In for practice.
 
Is anyone using this pre with a Power amp? I'm thinking to do that, but I really don't know wich One should I buy. Minimum Power required: 250/300 at 8 ohm...
It will work with virtually any power amp, but avoid the bottom of the barrel products as the value is not as good as something even one step higher on the food chain. Anything QSC, Crown, Crest, etc. will be fine, and if weight isn't a big deal, there are some real deals to be had on older, heavier technology.
 
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Is anyone using this pre with a Power amp? I'm thinking to do that, but I really don't know wich One should I buy. Minimum Power required: 250/300 at 8 ohm...

Just get a decent one, as agedhorse said. Weight might also be an issue, the new class-D poweramps are decent and light.
I use an EV q44-II with my subway DI. Works great, I also appreciate the symmetric line out; you can go from pedal board
(where the preamp is) to power amp with a symmetric line.
 
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Great preamp :)
IMG_20180521_165209.jpg
 
Just get a decent one, as agedhorse said. Weight might also be an issue, the new class-D poweramps are decent and light.
I use an EV q44-II with my subway DI. Works great, I also appreciate the symmetric line out; you can go from pedal board
(where the preamp is) to power amp with a symmetric line.
I think, with a preamp that light Weight, I can use even a no class D preamp... Maybe even used one. I don't need a lot of Power, like the Subway head. Thank everyone forum the replies :)
 
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I have a question about the "Deep" switch. On which exact frequency does it boost the lows?

I play on an GK 2001RB head. I play in a drop A# tuning (4 strings) and I have my 5 string bass switch on the GK engaged. That gives me an 11db boost on 20hz.
I want to get an preamp for those gigs were I can't take my GK. Even without it I'd like to have the option to get this deep, low push.
That's one off the reasons I'm rather going for the Subway DI then a Darkglass preamp, which have no "deep" switch and tend to have their lows around 100hz which I find "to high" for an drop A# tuning. That's why the "deep" switch might be a selling point for me, but to be that I have to know on which frequencies does the "deep" switch operate :p

Does anyone know the answer to that?
 
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The deep switch does 2 things simultaneously, it adds a mild boost of a few dB centered around 65-70Hz while lowering the HPF frequency by about 5Hz. It's an effective and controlled way to achieve this effect without excessive low frequency boost that might become unusable (pr risky to speakers) at higher volume levels.
 
It will work with virtually any power amp, but avoid the bottom of the barrel products as the value is not as good as something even one step higher on the food chain. Anything QSC, Crown, Crest, etc. will be fine, and if weight isn't a big deal, there are some real deals to be had on older, heavier technology.

Will it work well with a Crown XLS 1001? Or am I better off with the new Crown 1002 that has the adjustable input sensitivity.
 
This preamp is capable of full +4dBu line level with about 8-9dB of headroom on the preamp's balanced XLR output.

The DI output is not adjustable when in the pre mode, and all the controls except the master are functional when the DI is in post mode.
 
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Yeah I've got a peavey IPR1600, and I just run the power amp volume on full and use the master on the Subway to control volume (with the "Input" on the Subway at around halfway too).

Anything over a quarter and its plenty loud for a band practice that's for sure.
 
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Got mine Wednesday and was able to use it on a gig last night. Mesa pre, to Crown 1002, to Bergantino 12 inch cab. Unbelievable sound! Had been using a Markbass lm2 for the last 10 years til it broke down. Very happy, and my band mates thought it sounded great too. Question. I’ve read that it might be a good idea to engage the HPF on the poweramp when having this kind of set up but it looks like the preamp has one built it. Any advice on weather I need to engage the hpf on the poweramp?
 
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