Mesa Subway D-350!

[Rich Fiscus]

26548055[/URL], member: 68399"]With reasonable expectations and a larger cabinet, it should be fine. We tested it with all of the Subway cabinets, and it was surprisingly big sounding with the 115, 210 and especially the 215, 212 and 410.

I imagine I could bathe a small bar in bass with 175 Watts and a single 12 or 15 inch cab with a sensitivity of 96dB or better. Two of them, plus the extra power at 4 Ohms, would probably cover a good sized club or ballroom without PA support, or cover a moderate size outdoor stage for monitoring.

Obviously that’s not true for everyone. The more low end you push, the more likely a bigger amp matters, regardless of cabinet sensitivity. Even then, I suspect 350 Watts would still handle most indoor gigs.

If you think in terms of available power, after accounting for headroom, the difference between 350W and 800W don’t seem quite as impressive anyway. If you cut those numbers in half, for 3dB of headroom, it’s 175W vs 400W. It’s still a significant difference, but it’s not 450W different.

Given the sensitivity of Subway cabs, and many other brands actually, it seems to me that if I needed much more from them than a 350W amp could deliver, I’d be more concerned about whether I needed the capability to add 1 or 2 more cabs. At that point it only makes sense to move up to 800W anyway.

In fact, the more I think about it, the less sense 2 Ohm or 2.67 Ohm operation makes unless you’re using cabs with fairly limited power handling. Since 350W is probably the sweet spot for 3-4 of my 210AVs, I just happen to be one of those outliers. OTOH Mesa doesn’t make cabs like that. Considering the performance you can get at 350W from your existing cabs, there really doesn’t seem to be a compelling reason to start now.

 

[Al Kraft]

I want a subway 15 to pair with it but man its almost impossible to find those.

It sounds very nice with the SW115 and can easily fill a room with big, full bass sound.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

Unfortunately I have a 4ohm 2x10 and a 4 ohm 1x12 and would have been nice to be able to run both, but I understand the compromises. 350 would have been a backup to my d800...not ruled out yet, and not available in the UK just now anyway.

 

[Chuck M]

Unfortunately I have a 4ohm 2x10 and a 4 ohm 1x12 and would have been nice to be able to run both, but I understand the compromises. 350 would have been a backup to my d800...not ruled out yet, and not available in the UK just now anyway.

This would be no difficulty if someone offered a cable that would connect the cabinets in series. Then the impedance would be 8 ohms.

 

[Al Kraft]

Unfortunately I have a 4ohm 2x10 and a 4 ohm 1x12 and would have been nice to be able to run both, but I understand the compromises. 350 would have been a backup to my d800...not ruled out yet, and not available in the UK just now anyway.

As a potential work-around/back-up solution if you do go the D-350 route, your 210 at 4 Ohms (plus the studio quality DI out to the PA could if needed) could probably save a gig that you're able to cover with the 112/210 combination. Just a thought based on my own experience with the head...

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

As a potential work-around/back-up solution if you do go the D-350 route, your 210 at 4 Ohms (plus the studio quality DI out to the PA could if needed) could probably save a gig that you're able to cover with the 112/210 combination. Just a thought based on my own experience with the head...

Yes Al, I agree, at the moment my backup is a Baby Sumo power amp with my d800+ di pre....Baby Sumo is also fanless and 4 ohm min, so can only use with one cab. Long legacy story why I ended up with 2 x 4 ohm cabs. 90% of time I only need one cab, it would just have been nice to be able to use both...350 watts would also be fine. On the other hand, with town centre parking getting worse all the time, the light weight of the d350 would be good for any public transport traveling...park and ride. My 112 cab is only 18lbs. Time to consider this while we wait for Mesa to be available in the UK again.

 

[Al Kraft]

Yes Al, I agree, at the moment my backup is a Baby Sumo power amp with my d800+ di pre....Baby Sumo is also fanless and 4 ohm min, so can only use with one cab. Long legacy story why I ended up with 2 x 4 ohm cabs. 90% of time I only need one cab, it would just have been nice to be able to use both...350 watts would also be fine. On the other hand, with town centre parking getting worse all the time, the light weight of the d350 would be good for any public transport traveling...park and ride. My 112 cab is only 18lbs. Time to consider this while we wait for Mesa to be available in the UK again.

So many of us who live in the US and almost always travel by personal vehicle often forget how important that portability factor is for people who frequently use public transportation...both in cities like New york for example as well as in other countries. I recall discussions with Andy and Alan about this very aspect during the D-350 conceptual design stage. We all believed a head like this would be very attractive to folks who rely on public transportation where size and weight count as much as performance.

 

[mikeswals]

Another night with the D350. I dialed in a hair more gain and played with the contour. Yes this definitely sounds brighter than the D800 I had.

 

[scottm]

Another night with the D350. I dialed in a hair more gain and played with the contour. Yes this definitely sounds brighter than the D800 I had.

View attachment 4724207

Very cool!

-ScottM

 

[soitainly]

I went to try out some Subway cabs to pair with my D-350. Played through a SW115 and a SW112. I really liked the sound of the SW115, both sounded awesome, but I settled on the SW112 because of size and weight. I can always add a SW115 later if need arises, but the SW112 should get me through anything in the foreseeable future.
FYI, Guitar Sanctuary has a few SW115s and SW112s in stock, they will probably go fast.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

So many of us who live in the US and almost always travel by personal vehicle often forget how important that portability factor is for people who frequently use public transportation...both in cities like New york for example as well as in other countries. I recall discussions with Andy and Alan about this very aspect during the D-350 conceptual design stage. We all believed a head like this would be very attractive to folks who rely on public transportation where size and weight count as much as performance.

This why I have GR Bass AT cabs...weight and size/performance are so important, especially when you are the wrong side of 60...lol

 

[agedhorse]

Unfortunately I have a 4ohm 2x10 and a 4 ohm 1x12 and would have been nice to be able to run both, but I understand the compromises. 350 would have been a backup to my d800...not ruled out yet, and not available in the UK just now anyway.

Very few companies are making 4 ohm 112's and 210's, they are just too vulnerable to the catastrophic effects of larger and more common amps. A single speaker capable of handling 800 watts RMS (the 4 ohm rating of many amps) would be a poor choice for bass given the trade-offs and likely reduction in sensitivity.

This would be no difficulty if someone offered a cable that would connect the cabinets in series. Then the impedance would be 8 ohms.

Running non-identical cabinets in series is not a good solution most of the time.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

Very few companies are making 4 ohm 112's and 210's, they are just too vulnerable to the catastrophic effects of larger and more common amps. A single speaker capable of handling 800 watts RMS (the 4 ohm rating of many amps) would be a poor choice for bass given the trade-offs and likely reduction in sensitivity.


Running non-identical cabinets in series is not a good solution most of the time.

The 210 is 600 watts, I use the d800 with 2 ohm setting....The 112 is only used on its own at quieter low level gigs. Both cabs fine with d800 on 2 ohms

 

[DJ Bebop]

New Gear: MESA/Boogie Subway D-350 Bass Amp

 

[agedhorse]

The 210 is 600 watts, I use the d800 with 2 ohm setting....The 112 is only used on its own at quieter low level gigs. Both cabs fine with d800 on 2 ohms

My experience is that few 210 cabinets are good for 600 watts mechanical, so far outside the norm as to be a tiny share of the 210 marketplace.

If 350 watts at 4 ohm isn't enough for your needs, then a 350 watt amp isn't the right choice for you. It is the right choice for a lot of players however.

 

[Texican]

It has been emphasized here by many vocal members that built here in the US was VERY important. We addressed this by doing exactly this, but it does cost a little bit more.

Doesn’t the D350 come with a bag as well? The Magellan 350 is about a hundred dollars less, however, it does not come with a bag. That’s something to think about as well if one feels inclined to compare dollar for dollar value. Being USA made is also always going to be more expensive, as you previously stated.

I love my Magellan 350, and I already had a bag that would fit perfectly, so I’m glad that Jeff kept the price lower by excluding a bag. That might not be the *case* for everyone though… pun absolutely intended

 

[Al Kraft]

I played an outside gig last night (huge backyard neighborhood deal in Arlington VA) and decided I would take the D-350 and my two GK Neo 112 II's. I used my Warwick Corvette Standard 4 string (German made, passive) with medium Dunlop nickel-plated rounds (45-105). I went straight from the bass to the head, no effects. We had an electric guitarist/vocalist using an amp, a drummer, acoustic guitarist/vocalist, and vocalist. We did a little bit of everything from old to new country and rock. The drummer, electric guitar and I were not in the PA or monitors.

The bottom line is that the D-350 was more than enough amp. Even the Arlington County Police thought so when they stopped by for a noise complaint at 9:30 PM from the only neighbor not at the party. I had the gain set at around 1 o'clock and the master was in the 10 o'clock range. The head never even got warm to the touch - which is typical IMO.

Someone had asked about GK 12" loaded cabs in an earlier post and while I had used them before with the D-350, this was the first time using them outside. I figured it might be a helpful data point for folks who don't have SW cabs but are considering the head. IMO any of the modern, higher efficiency cabs will get you plenty of sound with the D-350...and Arlington County's finest would agree.

 

[musicman556]

I played an outside gig last night (huge backyard neighborhood deal in Arlington VA) and decided I would take the D-350 and my two GK Neo 112 II's. I used my Warwick Corvette Standard 4 string (German made, passive) with medium Dunlop nickel-plated rounds (45-105). I went straight from the bass to the head, no effects. We had an electric guitarist/vocalist using an amp, a drummer, acoustic guitarist/vocalist, and vocalist. We did a little bit of everything from old to new country and rock. The drummer, electric guitar and I were not in the PA or monitors.

The bottom line is that the D-350 was more than enough amp. Even the Arlington County Police thought so when they stopped by for a noise complaint at 9:30 PM from the only neighbor not at the party. I had the gain set at around 1 o'clock and the master was in the 10 o'clock range. The head never even got warm to the touch - which is typical IMO.

Someone had asked about GK 12" loaded cabs in an earlier post and while I had used them before with the D-350, this was the first time using them outside. I figured it might be a helpful data point for folks who don't have SW cabs but are considering the head. IMO any of the modern, higher efficiency cabs will get you plenty of sound with the D-350...and Arlington County's finest would agree.

NICE! I also have a pair of the GK Neo II 112 cabs (in addition to a Subway 115/210 stack) and I gotta be honest.... I friggin love those lil GKs. I stack them on their sides so I have a taller, narrower profile stack than the Subways. These cabs are punchy as all get out, with plenty of low-end girth when paired. Individually, a little lacking in bottom, but killer when played together.

I'm selling my Gnome iPro to a neighbor Monday. I will probably get a D350 to replace it. This was a perfect real-world review for me, Al. Thank you!

 

[Al Kraft]

These cabs are punchy as all get out, with plenty of low-end girth when paired. Individually, a little lacking in bottom, but killer when played together.

Best description I can imagine for how I feel about those two cabs as well!

 

[ColdEye]

Gonna try it later with a new to me schroeder 1212L.