NAD- Bergantino Forte D

[Feel_my_bottom]

Hi,

I just purchased a Bergantino Forte D. My first head in over 30 years. Also my first class D head (my GK 800rb was stolen). I figured I'd try one of these as they seem to be getting accolades all over the place.

I play a Sandberg VM4/ Spector NS2, and MM SR.

I'm currently monitoring through my studio headphones AKG, Sony, and Beyerdynamic DT880.


What I like:
The head is fairly easy to sculpt and really articulates playing which is great. Its light and there is no fan noise, which is great. The 'Drive' control is really cool! Subtle... but adds a pretty nice edge to the sound (I really, really like this feature of the amp).


What I don't like:
Does anyone else notice the tones sounds like its on a subtle compressed flanger? I think its the automatic built in compression circuit or something, but when you hit any note you get that: (NOTE)..yeeeeeeoooowwwww.... This cannot be controlled or altered (on the Forte D, it may be different on the B|amp and the HP). Also it has a consistent quiet hiss (I'm on dedicated circuit, power conditioned). I've set the gain 3/4 (as Jim has suggested) and boost with the master, and of course have tried a billion combinations as well.


I'll have to try it through a few cabinet configurations 4x10 or 8x10 Paper and aluminum to see if the speakers translate the sounds differently which could be a really good thing.


I was super excited to try one. Is this what I am to expect from Class D amps (Not just Bergantino? So far I'm not a really a fan.

This is an old thread now but I’ve been using the Forte D for about three months now and wanted to comment. I use it a lot with headphones to quietly learn new material while playing songs with the iPhone and aux in. There is no noise and the bass sounds great. (This is not an amplifier that will cover your mistakes, poor technique or set up issues with your instrument). I just had a bass with flat wounds and I was not happy with what I was hearing…I went through my set up procedure and problem solved! Action was a little too low and pickup height needed to be lowered. I have also noticed that the drive is more accentuated listening with headphones then it is through a cabinet. There is definitely some compression noticeable with higher drive settings listening through the headphones so you need to keep the drive lower then when using a cabinet. This is my first class D head and I have been very impressed with the sound through an HDN 212 cabinet. (All settings flat). Its the not same as my old SWR 4x10 and 1x18 rig but it gets very loud and I’ve had nothing but compliments on my sound.

 

[Pep]

I don't think the unifiying problem of headphone hiss in Class D amps can be attributed to the power section. I didn't get any with my BH250.

My personal biggest complaint is that they didn't hit as hard as a lead sled but that was awhile ago and many of them are very good these days.

If you are looking for an alternative and the Berg was in your range, maybe take a look at the Mesa D-800. Their owners LOVE them and they seem to be the king of the Class D amps right now.

If I had a choice between the Forte D & the D-800 it would be the Berg. No problems with it and love it.

 

[MachMike]

If I had a choice between the Forte D & the D-800 it would be the Berg. No problems with it and love it.

I wound up going away from my attempts at liking Class D amps and back to a GK800RB and a Classic Aguilar. Much happier. When I checked them all out - I wound up trying :Berg Forte-D, GK Legacy 800 (Sucks sound nothing like GK800RB), Trickfish (Awesome), DarkGlass (Just buy a pedal), MesaD800, Aguilar Tone Hammer 750 (Very good, missing features) and an Ashdown.

The Bergentino Forte-D, TrickFish, and Tone Hammer the best. The Trickfish, and Aguilar were missing features but sounded pretty good. The Forte-D was in my opinion the best of the Class D overall, had a distinct signature sound (nice). I couldn't get one that didn't make noise using headphones, I practice 4 hours daily so this was driving me bonkers. Also a non user adjustable (its built in) compression curve ruined it for me. The Higher level one is the one to get 100%. I'lll revisit them in a few years after I get sick of hauling the GK and Aguilar old school heads around.

 

[funkyjudge]

I wound up going away from my attempts at liking Class D amps and back to a GK800RB and a Classic Aguilar. Much happier. When I checked them all out - I wound up trying :Berg Forte-D, GK Legacy 800 (Sucks sound nothing like GK800RB), Trickfish (Awesome), DarkGlass (Just buy a pedal), MesaD800, Aguilar Tone Hammer 750 (Very good, missing features) and an Ashdown.

The Bergentino Forte-D, TrickFish, and Tone Hammer the best. The Trickfish, and Aguilar were missing features but sounded pretty good. The Forte-D was in my opinion the best of the Class D overall, had a distinct signature sound (nice). I couldn't get one that didn't make noise using headphones, I practice 4 hours daily so this was driving me bonkers. Also a non user adjustable (its built in) compression curve ruined it for me. The Higher level one is the one to get 100%. I'lll revisit them in a few years after I get sick of hauling the GK and Aguilar old school heads around.

I’m nearly 100% in agreement with your synopsis of each of these modern Class D amps. Other than the Phil Jones Bass D-Series and some Mesa Class D amps, I cannot stand any of the current lightweight switch mode amps, although I find Bergantino, Trickfish and Epifani models to be generally “acceptable” for stage use (maybe I should say “almost acceptable”).

It saddens me that Phil Jones has decided to pull out of the U.S. market, although his reasons are completely understandable. I really like Jim Bergantino, and his amps are very nice in most respects, but it’s some of the small details (control and connection locations being at the top of that list) that have always prevented me from buying one.

Man, did you hit the nail directly on the head regarding Darkglass bass amps (“just buy a pedal”). I had one to try out for about three or four days, and that was the exact impression that I got!

 

[MachMike]

I’m nearly 100% in agreement with your synopsis of each of these modern Class D amps. Other than the Phil Jones Bass D-Series and some Mesa Class D amps, I cannot stand any of the current lightweight switch mode amps, although I find Bergantino, Trickfish and Epifani models to be generally “acceptable” for stage use (maybe I should say “almost acceptable”).

It saddens me that Phil Jones has decided to pull out of the U.S. market, although his reasons are completely understandable. I really like Jim Bergantino, and his amps are very nice in most respects, but it’s some of the small details (control and connection locations being at the top of that list) that have always prevented me from buying one.

Man, did you hit the nail directly on the head regarding Darkglass bass amps (“just buy a pedal”). I had one to try out for about three or four days, and that was the exact impression that I got!

Thanks! I am going to be embracing amp and cabinet modeling here in the next year.
It is finally to the level that really give users flexibility. I still am horribly disappointed whenever I hear the new Class D GK stuff. Still awful. It is heartbreaking because I believe they made the best head of the late 80s and 90s in the 800RB.

Its stupid But i've been waiting for Line6 to update the Helix Stomp. I'm beginning to give up hope.