Double Bass Mesa WD-800 for DB?

[brianrost]

Are the fans on units like this an always-on feature, or are they intermittent or variable depending on the internal temperature?

Most are always on although the speed of the fan usually changes depending on temperature.

How the heck did Rick Jones make 400-800 watt class D amps with no fans or external heat sinks???

 

[Jeff Kissell]

Fwiw, the Subway D-350 doesn’t have a fan (almost identical form factor as the Clarus SL.) It does, however, have fewer features that all Subway 800 variants.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Most are always on although the speed of the fan usually changes depending on temperature.

How the heck did Rick Jones make 400-800 watt class D amps with no fans or external heat sinks???

It’s a great question. My PJB combo has an external heat sink, but no fan. The Mesa unit has a tube, but the Noble has two with no heat sink. This stuff is a mystery to me.

 

[b1644]

That’s a really great point. Most DB amps don’t have a fan. The last time I encountered a cooling fan was a student who had one of the little Elf combos, and while it sounded good, the fan noise even at low volumes would have driven me nuts.

Are the fans on units like this an always-on feature, or are they intermittent or variable depending on the internal temperature?

That’s a really great point. Most DB amps don’t have a fan. The last time I encountered a cooling fan was a student who had one of the little Elf combos, and while it sounded good, the fan noise even at low volumes would have driven me nuts.

Are the fans on units like this an always-on feature, or are they intermittent or variable depending on the internal temperature?

In the Ag TH700 (older "V1" version) they are thermally controlled so they come on after playing a couple of minutes and will shut down if the amp is idle and muted (if it is left in "Operate" mode, they will run continuously, at least they have in mine).

This point is kind of important because of another minor flaw with these amps... there is a tiny power-on transient "pop" when the fans start up! It is not loud but it's definitely there (confirmed by an email from Korg USA, the parent company of Aguilar, if y'all weren't aware).

The scuttlebutt on the newer "V2" Aguilar amps (identifiable by the cab sims switch at the back) is that the fans run all of the time but I don't know for sure. If that is true then the fan start-up noise would not be an issue.

Anyway, I've made my peace with that little problem and otherwise, I really like the amp... the semi-parametric mid control is very useful for anyone that doubles on electric and upright and the power is more than enough for my needs. But if the day ever comes when I need a replacement the Mesa would be of interest.

- Martin V.

 

[b1644]

It’s a great question. My PJB combo has an external heat sink, but no fan. The Mesa unit has a tube, but the Noble has two with no heat sink. This stuff is a mystery to me.

I find there to be a distinct, baked-in sound to the WD-800, kind of a high mid “gank” to the tone. It strikes as something designed to cut through a heavy rock mix, not what I’d want to amplify a DB with. The EQ is extensive enough that I could dial out the aforementioned gankiness, but I personally prefer an amp that is clean and clear when set flat.

It generally felt like a quality piece of gear, though, and I found the power amp damping feature to be really fun to play with as w

Most are always on although the speed of the fan usually changes depending on temperature.

How the heck did Rick Jones make 400-800 watt class D amps with no fans or external heat sinks???

I was wondering the same thing... amps like the old Acoustic Image Coda had gobs of power and no fans so the case could get pretty hot but it was dead-quiet. I still have mine but it stays at our rehearsal space because a switch in it has gone a bit funky and the amp will sometimes cut out if I don't cycle the switch a few times (yes, I have tried Deoxit on it... prob comes back a few months later).

 

[Guyfi]

I’ve been using an 800+ for upright for roughly 5 years now, I think it sounds great and I get a lot of compliments on my tone. I don’t think that it’s as transparent as an Acousitic Image; Boogie has a little bit of baked in sound, but it’s a long way from an Ashdown or SVT or something that colored. I play a ‘41 American Standard with a Full Circle into an EA VL-110. Sometimes I use a KnK blender premamp, I blend in a little neck transducer for high end articulation (and infrequent slapping).

 

[Ric Vice]

Most are always on although the speed of the fan usually changes depending on temperature.

How the heck did Rick Jones make 400-800 watt class D amps with no fans or external heat sinks???

As I recall you own/owned a Walter Woods Electroacoustic (Ultra?) Walter put a massive external heat sink on the rear and vents in the top to wick heat off of his. Rick’s designs used off the shelf IcE Power Modules which run cooler. I believe Focus and the Clarius 4+ 455 watts @8 ohms were the highest powered amps they built. They were rated at 4 ohms as I recall so you have to reduce their output by 1/3 to get the 8 ohm power rating most cabinets are rated at ( I realize their are some exceptions to this) (although there was a 2 ohm rating for one of their amps) Fans are just more commonly used. In MESA designs they add extra protection. Just my take however.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Just curious if anyone has used one of these for DB? Yes, it's large, but other than that it has the usual features we would want: 1 MOhm input impedance, sweepable HP filter, parametric and caveman EQ (dealer's choice), and power amp damping, which is a great feature to play with. It also has a tube preamp section, which is basically like what I am running now with a Noble in front of a class D power amp.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...EhcXs6bKczS-45YOCuJcpIKRGs-LOtWhoCQvUQAvD_BwE

I'm perfectly happy with my current amp and will keep using it as long as it lasts, but it's a discontinued model and I'm less in love with the current lineup of products from the same company. Just curious on a lunch break and thought I'd ask.

I’ve not played a DB through my WD-800. I’m fairly confident it would work fine as it’s one of the most versatile amps I’ve ever used. Not sure if you would need all 800 watts, but with an 8ohm cab you can throttle it down to 300 watts by selecting the 2ohm setting.

 

[Ric Vice]

I used a Walter Woods Electroacoustic Ultra or. ( 800 watts RMS @ 8 ohms) or a M700 for several years with a Euphonic Audio VL 208 or a MAS 4x5
either amp provided exceptional clarity and headroom. Granted I didn’t “dime” the the Master Volume..so although you definitely don’t need 800 watts
an amp with that much power in reserve it “coasting” at normal volume levels. The woods ultra was and is the most powerful, the lightest and smallest at 7.5 lbs. unless something new is out their I’m not aware of. Amps are rated for 4 ohms nowadays while most cabinets are rated at 8. Just my take.

 

[Jens Telemark]

with an 8ohm cab you can throttle it down to 300 watts by selecting the 2ohm setting.

Ha! I’d forget it was set on 2ohms, get to a loud horn band job with a P bass and think my amp was broken.

Been using a D-350 I like a whole lot with a Gage Lifeline but it’s working too hard on louder electric gigs. Just demoed the new 800D and the tube preamp/HPF only added to everything I like about the 350. Preferred it over the other more expensive bells and whistles 800w Mesa heads. Brought a big pedalboard but surprisingly the Union compressor was all I really missed out of all that crap. Cautiously optimistic this holds up in the real world.

The one at the store was spoken for but mine should arrive in a week or so. Hoping to get out with it a few times before the January lull.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Ha! I’d forget it was set on 2ohms, get to a loud horn band job with a P bass and think my amp was broken.

Been using a D-350 I like a whole lot with a Gage Lifeline but it’s working too hard on louder electric gigs. Just demoed the new 800D and the tube preamp/HPF only added to everything I like about the 350. Preferred it over the other more expensive bells and whistles 800w Mesa heads. Brought a big pedalboard but surprisingly the Union compressor was all I really missed out of all that crap. Cautiously optimistic this holds up in the real world.

The one at the store was spoken for but mine should arrive in a week or so. Hoping to get out with it a few times before the January lull.

There is a blue pilot light on the front panel when set for two ohms. I find the two ohm setting useful for using smaller lighter cabs with lower power ratings. No knock on the D-800 as it’s is a very popular. For those of us that know how to find settings using amps with parametric mid range controls, like the one on the WD-800, EQs are a very useful tool but I understand where you are coming from.

BEs

 

[Jens Telemark]

There is a blue pilot light on the front panel when set for two ohms. I find the two ohm setting useful for using smaller lighter cabs with lower power ratings. No knock on the D-800 as it’s is a very popular. For those of us that know how to find settings using amps with parametric mid range controls, like the one on the WD-800, EQs are a very useful tool but I understand where you are coming from.

BEs

The D-350 isn’t switchable and doesn’t have this light. Looking at the manual the 800D doesn’t appear to have it either. The old school minimalist vibe is part of its charm though (and no doubt the lower price). Thanks for the clarification, it makes more sense now.