Mesa Subway D-350!

[Chuck M]

Thanks Andy & co. for releasing a small, powerful fan-free head!
Fan noise has been a deal-breaker for some otherwise good amp heads, esp. when recording/rehearsing with acoustic instruments.

So true. I will say, however, that the fan equipped Subway heads have fans that are much more quiet than most. I previously used Aguilar heads and my AG 700 had a fan that was easily audible in quiet situations. I live alone and in my very quiet home I can just barely hear the fan in my D-800 that I usually use in my practice room.

That said, I will likely pick up a D-350 to use with my upright.

I once on impulse bought a used SWR 750X head from Guitar Center's used ads. It was a bargain price that I paid. The amp sounded really good and had wonderful power. It also was big, heavy and had a fan loud enough that the amp was good only for very loud gigs. I don't play loud gigs these days so I returned it.

 

[Al Kraft]

Thanks Andy & co. for releasing a small, powerful fan-free head!
Fan noise has been a deal-breaker for some otherwise good amp heads, esp. when recording/rehearsing with acoustic instruments.

I find it interesting and instructive to listen to all kinds of players to see the world of needs and wants from their various perspectives. While something like the fan issue has never been a big deal for me, it's very clear that it's in the "deal breaker" category for many folks. This is just one example of where it is important to look at the total set of player requirements and not just follow one dimensional fads.

There are no right or wrong answers in this universe of requirements and no reason to make judgements on what is more or less valid. I really like that Mesa (an Andy in particular) has listened carefully to everyone's requirements and then packaged up designs that will appeal to the broadest range of musicians. We can almost all find something in the SW line that has the features and capabilities that matter most to us.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

I'll have one if these when it's available in the UK.... hopefully not too long!

 

[Zarcsby]

I find it interesting and instructive to listen to all kinds of players to see the world of needs and wants from their various perspectives. While something like the fan issue has never been a big deal for me, it's very clear that it's in the "deal breaker" category for many folks. This is just one example of where it is important to look at the total set of player requirements and not just follow one dimensional fads.

There are no right or wrong answers in this universe of requirements and no reason to make judgements on what is more or less valid. I really like that Mesa (an Andy in particular) has listened carefully to everyone's requirements and then packaged up designs that will appeal to the broadest range of musicians. We can almost all find something in the SW line that has the features and capabilities that matter most to us.

I enjoy reading this as well, but for a different reason, as it lets me know that I'm not the only weirdo out there who can't stand fan noise of any kind.

For context, I've avoided the Fender Rumble 500 combo because of the fan (justified reason or not to the people who love it anyways), I've been using two Rumble 100 combos connected together via the effects loop as they don't have any fans, and it's enough power/speakers for the sporadic smaller venue, backyard, and house parties I play.

Playing bass isn't my career, and I need to stay conservative with my spending. I'm currently looking to upgrade (for both more headroom and tones I suppose), and while the Ampeg RB115/210 combos have caught my eye as they're also fanless, I must say that I'm also now considering the D-350 if I can figure out which of the cheaper 2x10" or 1x15" (Fender/Ampeg?) cabinets out there will sound good with it as I can't spring for Mesa cabinets right now (as good as they are) alongside the D-350. The D-350 head alone would be approximately the same price as the Ampeg RB210 up here in Canadaland at L&M.

I suppose what I'm saying is that Mesa have now enticed more weekend warriors on a budget with fan-related OCD to consider paying for higher-quality gear if they can save a bit more cash lol.

 

[lermgalieu]

I enjoy reading this as well, but for a different reason, as it lets me know that I'm not the only weirdo out there who can't stand fan noise of any kind.

For context, I've avoided the Fender Rumble 500 combo because of the fan (justified reason or not to the people who love it anyways), I've been using two Rumble 100 combos connected together via the effects loop as they don't have any fans, and it's enough power/speakers for the sporadic smaller venue, backyard, and house parties I play.

Playing bass isn't my career, and I need to stay conservative with my spending. I'm currently looking to upgrade (for both more headroom and tones I suppose), and while the Ampeg RB115/210 combos have caught my eye as they're also fanless, I must say that I'm also now considering the D-350 if I can figure out which of the cheaper 2x10" or 1x15" (Fender/Ampeg?) cabinets out there will sound good with it as I can't spring for Mesa cabinets right now (as good as they are) alongside the D-350. The D-350 head alone would be approximately the same price as the Ampeg RB210 up here in Canadaland at L&M.

I suppose what I'm saying is that Mesa have now enticed more weekend warriors on a budget with fan-related OCD to consider paying for higher-quality gear if they can save a bit more cash lol.

I will say that the really tiny minor fan noise on the D800 never bugged me. I’ve recorded upright bass through a mic only 5 feet from it with no bleed. Yet I still like the no-fan D350. Any noise reduction at home or in the studio is a good thing.

 

[agedhorse]

No matter how quiet a fan may be, there are players who will complain that an amp has a fan (even if the fan is not running). It's the nature of perception.

 

[squish]

It must be my cymbal-damaged ears. But I can't hear the fan on my WD-800 (nor my past D-800+) more than two feet away from it. It is super quiet. But I can definitely hear the fan on my SVT-II. That's a FAN. Although I enjoy my D-350, don't let a good deal on a second-hand 800 watter turn you off because of its fan. Unless you lay your head on it, it is almost undetectable.

 

[Al Kraft]

It must be my cymbal-damaged ears. But I can't hear the fan on my WD-800 (nor my past D-800+) more than two feet away from it. It is super quiet. But I can definitely hear the fan on my SVT-II. That's a FAN. Although I enjoy my D-350, don't let a good deal on a second-hand 800 watter turn you off because of its fan. Unless you lay your head on it, it is almost undetectable.

+1...I've never really noticed the fan on my D-800 or WD or TT either. However, what impresses me most about the D-350 is not just that it operates without a fan, but that even at 4 Ohm loads and loud volume it doesn't even feel warm. I appreciate clever thermal management approaches as much as the next engineer, but Andy pulled off some real magic on that design, especially considering the component density in that little box.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

+1...I've never really noticed the fan on my D-800 or WD or TT either. However, what impresses me most about the D-350 is not just that it operates without a fan, but that even at 4 Ohm loads and loud volume it doesn't even feel warm. I appreciate clever thermal management approaches as much as the next engineer, but Andy pulled off some real magic on that design, especially considering the component density in that little box.

Some kind of old horse wizardry

 

[ColdEye]

Has anyone used the Aux in on theirs? I have to max out the Master Volume on mine to hear something, even then it is just way too quite. Playing from my iphone, I tried different cables and adapters.

 

[dave64o]

I sometimes hear the fan in my D-800+, but that’s really only at home. I can’t say I’ve ever noticed it after setting up for a gig, and that includes playing in 95+ degree at a festival a couple of weeks ago. It had to be running nonstop from playing for four hours in that kind of heat. But I never noticed it.

I can confirm that the fan in my G-K MB800 runs MUCH louder than the fan in my D-800+ and I can’t say I’ve ever noticed it running after setting up for a gig. That includes when we’re not playing, not just while our loud rock band is actually playing.

For the music we play and the places we tend to play, it’s a non-issue for me. But I get that for people playing playing at a lower volume level and/or playing in a quieter environment (maybe in a worship band, a jazz combo, a pit orchestra, a recording studio etc.) fan noise could be a concern. But, even when I’m practicing at home, which is much quieter situation than our gigs, I rarely even notice it, let alone find it bothersome. For a cooling fan in a bass amp, I find it to be quite quiet. YMMV, of course.

For the D-350 to be fanless and perform the way it apparently can is quite a feat.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Has anyone used the Aux in on theirs? I have to max out the Master Volume on mine to hear something, even then it is just way too quite. Playing from my iphone, I tried different cables and adapters.

Turn up volume on the source?

 

[ColdEye]

Already maxed out. Tried the line (iphone and laptop thru a Phil Jones big head) out into the aux in and nothing too. Also tried with just my laptop, with all the volume controls on the laptop and MV on the d350 its still just above whisper level.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Already maxed out. Tried the line (iphone and laptop thru a Phil Jones big head) out into the aux in and nothing too. Also tried with just my laptop, with all the volume controls on the laptop and MV on the d350 its still just above whisper level.

Try you cabling into the front end or into something else to see if its them?

What was the purpose of the PJ Big Head in the equation?

I had a cable once that did this. It was an attenuated cable made to step down the output of whatever it was plugged into.

 

[ColdEye]

Never thought of that. I'll try it.

I tried the PJBH just cause it was there. I need to dig out my small mixer and try that. But still, usually I just plug in my iphone or laptop straight to my old Fender rumble and had zero issues. Oh well.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Never thought of that. I'll try it.

I tried the PJBH just cause it was there. I need to dig out my small mixer and try that. But still, usually I just plug in my iphone or laptop straight to my old Fender rumble and had zero issues. Oh well.

Did you say it didn't work through the PJBH as well?

 

[agedhorse]

Has anyone used the Aux in on theirs? I have to max out the Master Volume on mine to hear something, even then it is just way too quite. Playing from my iphone, I tried different cables and adapters.

Check the volume on your phone, that’s your device volume.

what are you using as an interface between the phone and the amp (including the cable and connectors?)

On some versions of iPhone (OS), there are additional controls buried in one of the settings menus. Be sure there’s not something hiding causing this.

I tested the aux in using a few iPhones (both wired and lightning w/ interface. TRS (stereo) is how the levels are specified, if you use a mono plug, you will lose 1/2 the volume

 

[lermgalieu]

Check the volume on your phone, that’s your device volume.

what are you using as an interface between the phone and the amp (including the cable and connectors?)

On some versions of iPhone (OS), there are additional controls buried in one of the settings menus. Be sure there’s not something hiding causing this.

I tested the aux in using a few iPhones (both wired and lightning w/ interface. TRS (stereo) is how the levels are specified, if you use a mono plug, you will lose 1/2 the volume

Yep - volume has already been reliably loud for me with TRS stereo. As @agedhorse notes, there is a volume drop with a mono plug like an instrument cable.

 

[agedhorse]

Yep - volume has already been reliably loud for me with TRS stereo. As @agedhorse notes, there is a volume drop with a mono plug like an instrument cable.

This is also addressed in the manual.

 

[ColdEye]

Just tried it again, I don't know what I did differently now but it works! I have been using TRS cables since I first tried. Only reason I can think of was the adapter might not have been seated/inserted fully.