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NAD! SVT7 Pro (also comparing it to my Streamliner 900)

#241
I too have noticed that preamps using one tube tend to have that tighter, more "hard" sound than one with multiple tubes. It's a nice compromise. Strangely, I find single tube setups sound closer to the old svt's. I always use the tube channel of my sm9.2 and was comparing it directly to my svt yesterday. I could get very similar tones though, the svt has a much bigger bottom end. Ashdown ABM series have a roughly 3db bump at around 50hz built into their amps and you get a similar effect. If those ABM's were brighter, they would be THE SVT replacement as, they really do that grind well.
 
#242
I've had very different results regarding the number of tubes:

SWR SM400 - 1 tube and it doesn't sound anything like a tube driven amp (to me)
TE with 1 tube - again sounds very SS
Ampeg 3 pro - something like 4 or 5 tubes - sounds tubey but not that close to an SVT
Mesa Walkabout - 2 tubes and sounds very SVT like to me
Alembic (had an old stereo unit) - 1 tube per channel; medium tubey, but nothing like an SVT
Presonus (blue face) - sent it back after 2 days; couldn't get the 3D tube vibe
Yamaha PB-1 - No tubes but sounded more tubey than some of the above
SVP-CL / power amp - when A/B'd with my SVT-CL, tone is similar but slightly tighter without the power tube compression

Of course, all IME/IMO
 
#243
I am half tempted to sell or trade my shuttle 9.0 for the 7-pro. The 9.0 is my practise/backup amp and I already have the 9.2max. Then again, the svt is also my practise/backup amp. :smug: Sometimes gas is it's own reward.
 
#244
Hmmm... wasn't wanting to suggest that there's some sort of direct linear relationship between the number of tubes and how "tubey" something sounds... although there may be some kind of loose connection there. Circuit design probably marks more of an overall difference, IMO.

Also, I get the impression that people's notions of what sounds "tubey" vary considerably. Some seem to think it means warm and rolled-off on top. Others seem to think it means added harmonic distortion. From what I gather, there is no single "tube sound". Some tube amps are very clean and clear. Others are fairly dirty, and only get dirtier. FWIW, a while ago I ran my SVP-PRO through RMAA and it adds a considerable amount of harmonic distortion, no matter how clean you set it. I think that might be part of what sort of "softens" the sound, as there's some slight rounding of the tops of the waveform going on.

I also have a PB-1, and while I think it sounds okay, I don't recall ever thinking that it was anything other than solid state. Maybe that impression has something to do with sharing the Fender tone stack with some tube amps?
 
#245
some of you wanted to hear some clips of the two amps at their max distortion setting so i just made some quick & dirty (literally) clips of both heads with my '59 RI Pbass (V&T full up) with both amp's gain dimed. please excuse the sloppy playing ;)


SVT7Pro MAX DISTORTION

Streamliner 900 MAX DISTORTION
 
#247
I concur with everyone else.. Thanks for all the info and sound clips JohnK..

I bought my 7 Pro back when they first came out (Rev. A00) and have been very happy with mine.. NO issues with cutting out or shutting down ever.. With that said, recently my direct out has a loud hum when plugged into the P.A. No hum through the speaker cabinet whatsoever... After all the tube discussions and the D.I. being a feed from the tube, I'm wondering if the hum could be a tube issue? I'm ordering tubes today for backup either way...

Appreciate any feedback... Thanks...
 
#248
johnk_10 said:
some of you wanted to hear some clips of the two amps at their max distortion setting so i just made some quick & dirty (literally) clips of both heads with my '59 RI Pbass (V&T full up) with both amp's gain dimed. please excuse the sloppy playing ;)

SVT7Pro MAX DISTORTION

Streamliner 900 MAX DISTORTION
Click to expand...

Awesome! I will make sure to check these out when I'm on a PC.
 
#249
johnk_10 said:
some of you wanted to hear some clips of the two amps at their max distortion setting so i just made some quick & dirty (literally) clips of both heads with my '59 RI Pbass (V&T full up) with both amp's gain dimed. please excuse the sloppy playing ;)


SVT7Pro MAX DISTORTION

Streamliner 900 MAX DISTORTION
Click to expand...
Heh, both sound like my hardest crunch setting on my VT Deluxe. Slightly favored the 7 Pro in those crunch clips, but both were excellent, I thought. Definitely the two best of the best micros.
 
#250
johnk_10 said:
some of you wanted to hear some clips of the two amps at their max distortion setting so i just made some quick & dirty (literally) clips of both heads with my '59 RI Pbass (V&T full up) with both amp's gain dimed. please excuse the sloppy playing ;)


SVT7Pro MAX DISTORTION

Streamliner 900 MAX DISTORTION
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for those clips.
To my ears and taste, the SVT 7 Pro is far better.
I find it much more precise in the low end, overall more balanced and edgy in the attack. Kind of like the comparison between the Mullard and the stock JJ in the 7 Pro.
 
#252
johnk_10 said:
some of you wanted to hear some clips of the two amps at their max distortion setting so i just made some quick & dirty (literally) clips of both heads with my '59 RI Pbass (V&T full up) with both amp's gain dimed. please excuse the sloppy playing ;)


SVT7Pro MAX DISTORTION

Streamliner 900 MAX DISTORTION
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clips. Besides both amps gain being dimed what were the others settings on the amps?
 
#255
The 7-pro sounds pretty good dirty. It reminds me of the old peavey tb raxx preamp and 2x15 cab that I used to play before I got a better paying job and found talkbass.:smug: I mean that I got a pretty good, growly tone before I was told that I had it all wrong.
 
#257
well, i can tell you this, for me, the 7Pro works better with all of my basses, whereas the STL900 works awesome with some of them, and not as well as others. for example, my custom ric style and rickenbackers sound absolutely great thru the 7pro, and a little dull and muddy thru the 900 no matter how i eq it. the 900 does sound really nice with my P and J basses though.
 
#258
Awesome topic, really! I'm not an Ampeg fan at all... liked some of their products but not all. I liked my SVT2 (non Pro) and their portable VR but disliked the SVT3.
Any idea of how the PF500 would compare to the 7Pro? Apart from being half the power, of course :D
Strange enough, I only see ONE used 7 on the local ads site. How can I check if it's from the series that COULD give troubles?
 
#259
johnk_10 said:
here's a clip of the ST900 with the same eq i used on my last gig, which was really nothing drastic (bass:11:00, Mids-600:2:00, treble:1:00). sorry for the clams.

STM900 w/eq/Faitals
Click to expand...

Of the first two takes I preferred the SVT7 Pro but when I heard this last STM900 w/eg/Faitals I lean toward the Streamliner because of the deeper low that was still clean and articulate (unlike the first clip you did of the 900 where it was sort of muddy).
Thank you for the very nice clips. I too appreciated the real (non slapping) bass lines. You have some seriously nice gear.
 
#260
Triad said:
Any idea of how the PF500 would compare to the 7Pro?
Click to expand...

From the mids on up, the PF-500 sounds a lot like the 7Pro. But the 7Pro is noticeably more full and meaty down low, and a bit more warm and smooth. The PF-500 is a tad brighter, and has a bit more hiss when you crank it up. It also seems to have a bit more grit/grind at the same Gain/Master settings (at least at the lower settings on both).
 

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