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Micro/mini amp question...

JumboJack

JumboJack

Dec 31, 2007
1,515
18
59
Lakewood,CA.
#1
With all the "micro" amps out now (Most genz benz,bx500,
th500 ect..) it got me thinking...

Is there a draw back to using this type of amp over a "normal" sized/weight amp.Like when it comes to powering an 810 or 2 410's?

Discuss.....:hyper:
 
#4
It depends on your application. There are some great micro/mini amps that will do the job but in others, they can't compete with the big guys. Wattage ratings are inflated by pretty much all manufacturers, so unfortunately it can be hard to judge.

And...watts don't tell you the whole story. Just like a 13W CFL can be as bright as a 60W incandescent light bulb. Sensitivity of the speakers, air volume displaced, etc. all have much more of a determining factor on "loudness".
 
#5
I'll list some of the characteristics I've run into while shopping for micro amps with a disclaimer: there are lots of satisfied micro-amp owners who are pleased with their rigs, folks to whom these "shortcomings" are inconsequential.

1. Some of the new solid state and hybrid micro amps reach full power very gracefully, like a tube amp, because of the power control and limiting systems used (Genz Benz and others), while others reach the limits of their power delivery systems rather abruptly, shifting from a good sound to a bad sound without a graceful transition (Markbass and others).

2. Some designs can be very sensitive to line voltage, self-protecting if a narrowly defined threshold is crossed, while others seem to have been designed to withstand real-world line voltages without flinching.

3. There are several otherwise excellent micro amps that can't handle a 2 0hm load, which, while a deal breaker for me, is inconsequential to many.

4. Several have somewhat limited EQ and lack an EQ bypass button/switch; features are often limited; controls are often squeezed into a small/tight area; concentric/stacked knobs are sometimes used to save space.

5. Most deliver 500 Watts or less into a 4 Ohm load; thankfully, this is changing.


Strangely, in the midst of this micro deluge, there are very few companion power amps of the same size and weight; several of us would love to be able to buy half-rack-width power amplifiers, but it's too small of a market niche to gain much traction.
 
#6
I have a Genz ShuttleMax 12.0 and have used it on at least 75 gigs in many different rooms across the country for both upright and electric. I have yet to discover any 'shortcomings,' compared to all my trusty sleds. It doesn't have quite the headroom of my Fender TB1200, for example, but it also has tons of features the Fender doesn't. A two channel amp with amazing eq, tons of options, sounds great for doubling upright and electric...I just can't find anything not to love about this thing. I bought it for it's sound, two ohm capability, and features in general. The fact that it weighs under 7lbs was just an added bonus. On upstairs load ins and outs, the weight bonus becomes a pretty awesome thing :)
 
#7
I think the only concern I've dealt with is my personal perception that smaller = more fragile. I think the Genz Benz method of bolting the micro head to the top of the cab is a solution which you could recreate by strapping the micro head to the cab its on with bungees. I could see this being a concern if your got several cables coming out of the back of the micro amp and you are worried about this pulling the amp off the back of the cab while playing. Not sure that would happen, but I can see the concern. Also, and again this is my perception, smaller = more likely to get banged around while setting up, tearing down, or transporting. A modicum of care and a travel case or passed bag should properly address this.
 
#10
cchorney said:
I think the only concern I've dealt with is my personal perception that smaller = more fragile. I think the Genz Benz method of bolting the micro head to the top of the cab is a solution which you could recreate by strapping the micro head to the cab its on with bungees. I could see this being a concern if your got several cables coming out of the back of the micro amp and you are worried about this pulling the amp off the back of the cab while playing. Not sure that would happen, but I can see the concern. Also, and again this is my perception, smaller = more likely to get banged around while setting up, tearing down, or transporting. A modicum of care and a travel case or passed bag should properly address this.
Click to expand...

Ya, these things should be well-engineered, bugs worked out, etc. these are the only real problems I can see as well. That and being easier to get stolen being so small. With my 15, 20, 40, 60 year old amps, in my book, none of these have been around long enough to know if they'll hold up long-term or not. Other stuff would be the tiny little components being hard to work on/repair, or knobs all scrunched in a tiny area for folks like me with big sausage fingers like me. Using small mixing board type knobs makes it easier because there's some space in between them.
 

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