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

[smeet]

Yeah, not sure where these claims of no low end from the 7 Pro are coming from. I crank my bass knob (to around 3:00) and that thing thunders. Then I add just enough mids and highs to sit well in the mix. The amp practically demands sonic space in the band mix.

i can't imagine needing more low end than the 7pro has to offer, especially if you crank the bass control.

IMO, the 7pro has just as much low end as an SL900, it's just not as scooped in the mids.

I definitely hear what I'm describing, I just don't know how to describe it... The 7 Pro sounds HUGE and WIDE, but not SOLID. The Streamliner sounds deep, but focused and not huge, very very controlled sounding even with lots of bass boost. With the streamliner, I can cut all highs and mids on the bass, and I can still clearly hear the pitches of the lowest notes on my B string. With the 7 Pro, those low notes become hard to distinguish, and I feel like I'm hearing more harmonics than the fundamental. If I boost the bass on the 7 Pro, it gets very heavy and bassy sounding, but it's as if I'm hearing very heavy bassy harmonics.

what basses are you playing? Strings? Effects?
My Fender Jazz straight into the 7, into my bergantino hd410 is ridiculous. I was having a hard time dialing in super lows with my P, but the jazz with the active pre-amp blows doors...

My main bass is a Nordstrand NJ5 (34.5", Alder body, Cocobolo fingerboard) with Big Singles and the Nordstrand 3-band preamp, Circle K strings with a .136" B. It is a very fat and round sounding bass, with a touch of modern to the tone. For testing purposes I'm going straight into the amp, but I often play with a B3K on the "fat" setting, with the drive turned all the way down. The speaker is a 15/6/1, so the low frequencies are very present and obvious.

The SVT-7PRO manual says that the Bass control is +/- 12 dB centered at 40 Hz, which is fairly low/deep. Perhaps a bit more EQ sculpting is in order.... maybe try dialing back the mids/treble to find the appropriate balance with stronger lows (subtractive EQ often works better than boosting). Very few amps share the inherent massive bass which is present in the Streamliner, so it is easy to understand why most sound relatively thin in comparison.

I hear the low bass in the 7 Pro, but it has a "boomy" quality to it when boosted, rather than the "solid" quality I hear in the Streamliner. Again, what I'm hearing is as much of a difference in the quality of the bass as it is quantity. Also, don't want the 7 Pro to sound like a Streamliner, that would defeat its purpose. At a rehearsal I noticed that the supplied 1001RB sounded much heavier and lower than the 7 Pro, even if I cranked the bass on the 7 Pro.

I agree.. The taper on my SL900 seems very smooth to my ears... No real jumping out at you all of a sudden in the middle of the rotation or at the extremes. I like that...

One very interesting thing I learned in testing: the SL900 master gets most of its volume between 7:00 and noon, and you get very little change after that. The 7 Pro is quite linear all the way up, so noon is not terribly loud, but you can get almost twice as loud if you keep going.

The other thing I keep noticing is that the Streamliner preamp has lots of headroom. Almost anywhere I set the levels, I can hit very softly or very hard and get smooth changes in tone. On the 7 Pro, it's more of a balancing act between getting enough gain and having the note attack fuzz out. I don't know if that's a bad thing, is that how a tube SVT works?

 

[12bass]

Haven't spent enough time with a 7PRO to know, however, I do recall something similar when comparing my SVP-PRO with my modded Eden WT-500. With my Pedulla Rapture 5, the Eden sounds clearer/more defined on the lowest notes, while the SVP seems to lose a bit of definition and focus on those low fundamentals. The SVP also adds a significant amount of harmonic distortion, no matter how clean you set it... but it also has five tubes, so I'm not sure how useful a comparison this might be. Overall, I find that the SVP has a certain "roundness" to it.

 

[JimmyM]

The other thing I keep noticing is that the Streamliner preamp has lots of headroom. Almost anywhere I set the levels, I can hit very softly or very hard and get smooth changes in tone. On the 7 Pro, it's more of a balancing act between getting enough gain and having the note attack fuzz out. I don't know if that's a bad thing, is that how a tube SVT works?

If I'm understanding you right, when you set your gain higher, it'll get pretty distorted, yeah, but it'll also clean up very well by lower gain setting and giving the master a little more gas. That's actually regarded as a feature by most Ampeg users, and I thought that's how the Streamliner works, too. Does it not?

 

[smeet]

If I'm understanding you right, when you set your gain higher, it'll get pretty distorted, yeah, but it'll also clean up very well by lower gain setting and giving the master a little more gas. That's actually regarded as a feature by most Ampeg users, and I thought that's how the Streamliner works, too. Does it not?

On paper they act the same. But the Streamliner eases into the distortion a bit more gradually. The 7 Pro seems to be clean or fuzz, with little middle ground. I can't set it for a bit of overdrive on loud notes, it's more like when I hit hard I get fizz on the attack, almost like a digital overload. I always thought that the SVT feel moved smoothly from clean to fat to overdriven to fuzz as you gave it more gain. Having never played one, maybe that was my misconception?

I hope to get schooled by John K later this week, so maybe that will clear things up a bit for me.

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

On my Streamliner, I find the volume knob (not the master volume knob) has a huge effect on the output when used in conjunction with the gain and master controls, juggling the three of them gives a lot of variation in tone, am I correct in saying the volume controls the volume of the gain being applied before the master volume control ?
The gain switch is the most powerful feature IMO, you can be playing the 900 at extremely loud volume then engage the gain switch and it seems to be like hitting a nitrous oxide button, it boosts the amp to stupidly LOUD levels
The other feature I really like is the 3 position mid switch, on my PF500 the 5 way switch only really seems to be effective with the mid EQ boosted a lot, on the Streamliner it is effective at most mid EQ levels .

 

[JimmyM]

On paper they act the same. But the Streamliner eases into the distortion a bit more gradually. The 7 Pro seems to be clean or fuzz, with little middle ground. I can't set it for a bit of overdrive on loud notes, it's more like when I hit hard I get fizz on the attack, almost like a digital overload. I always thought that the SVT feel moved smoothly from clean to fat to overdriven to fuzz as you gave it more gain. Having never played one, maybe that was my misconception?

I do know that setting exists in the 7 Pro because I've heard it but I can't remember specifics about how much leeway there was in the knob.

 

[rodl2005]

Well I'm able to get a pretty smooth transition from clean to dirty on my 7.
12 o'clock abouts begins the dirt & gradually more as gain increases.
Depends on the bass of course, but all go gradually rather than clean/fuzz

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

I often wonder how much of this talk of bass amp EQ and differing tones from different amps etc etc is down to what we hear as individuals, I know my hearing is not that great because for some reason I cannot hear my wife very well when she talks at certain frequencies, this usually gets worse at higher volume and greater levels of gesticulation usually followed by door slamming ?? is this a fault in my amp

 

[johnk_10]

On paper they act the same. But the Streamliner eases into the distortion a bit more gradually. The 7 Pro seems to be clean or fuzz, with little middle ground. I can't set it for a bit of overdrive on loud notes, it's more like when I hit hard I get fizz on the attack, almost like a digital overload.....

IMO, it's because you're using an active bass that has a lower impedance. passive basses generally transition into clipping alot smoother.

 

[slade]

maybe the 7 doesn't react well with the 15/6/1. Your description of your issues with the 7 pro mimic my complaints with the STL 900. I find the 7 pro tight, thick, punchy, round, but defined and articulate. I find the streamliner to be boomy, loud, large, but inarticulate and lacking mid focus. Round and round we go!!

 

[rodl2005]

maybe the 7 doesn't react well with the 15/6/1. Your description of your issues with the 7 pro mimic my complaints with the STL 900. I find the 7 pro tight, thick, punchy, round, but defined and articulate. I find the streamliner to be boomy, loud, large, but inarticulate and lacking mid focus. Round and round we go!!

Mirror's my experience.
I think, that, thankfully, we all hear differently & no matter what, some amps will suit some & not others. Playing style, touch etc...etc.... all come into play of course.

 

[smeet]

Amazing how different these things work for different people. Sad to say, I'm returning the 7 Pro and buying a ShuttleMax 9.2, as I think it will suit me better.

The interesting thing to me is that if I heard you playing your 7 Pro, I'm sure it would sound great. It just wasn't working for me (with my equipment, hands, and ears) when I played it.

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

Nothing sad about that. If we all had to use the same amp things would get quite boring!

 

[smeet]

Arg, my inconsistent ears!!! I never hear things the same from day to day. Sometimes it takes me months to realize that I don't like something I thought I did. Or that I love the sound or feel of something I thought was meh.

I am currently awaiting delivery of a ShuttleMax 9.2. Today I pulled out the Streamliner, 7 Pro, fEARful, and GB Neo212t. So my initial reaction: both amps are VERY colored sounding. The Neox212 is also VERY colored (attenuated high mids, boosted low mids, attenuated lows).

The fEARful, having a pretty flat response, really shows the difference between the two amps. The difference in bass response is hidden by other cabinets that have the low mid bump and less true low end.

Surprisingly the Streamliner can imitate the 7 Pro somewhat, but not as much the other way around. The difference is largely in the mids, as you might expect. Boosting the high mids gives the Streamliner more of the 7 Pro sound, while cutting the high mids or boosting the low mids tilts the 7 Pro more toward the Streamliner sound. Of course, no matter what I do, the Streamliner has the more solid low end and note fundamental, and the Ampeg sounds bigger and meaner, with a nice singing quality to the high notes.

So now I'm really enjoying the sound of the Ampeg, maybe even more than my Streamliner... When I get the SM9.2 in, I'll play them all and try to figure out which one I should get rid of, since I can't afford to keep all three.

 

[12bass]

The quest for tone... it's a curse....

 

[Thijs V]

i can't imagine needing more low end than the 7pro has to offer, especially if you crank the bass control.

IMO, the 7pro has just as much low end as an SL900, it's just not as scooped in the mids.

here's an RTA of the SL900 with all of the tone controls at noon:

and here's the 7pro's RTA. the vilet is with all of the tone controls at noon, and the blue is with the ultralo switch kicked in. with the ultralo, it is closer to the SL900 at noon, although the mids are scooped a bit too much.

Is this pre amp RTA or power?
Soundmen reported to me that the lows from the DI were actually pretty low but the poweramp does not seem to translate that in my cabs. (410 Heritage or PN410HLF)
Too much mid low wich gets boomy in smaller venues.
I am selling my 7 because of lacking real low's.
Played over a 7 pro en PN410HLF.
Bought a Micro VR and found out that it puts out much deeper lows .
Bought also a 410HLF Heritage and that's my main rig by now.
For me the Micro sounds much better cuts better through the mix and has richer harmonics (Mosfet poweramp vs Class D?)
Played with a loud 18 piece band this weekend and had to put the volume of the Micro on 9:30 and gain on 2 o clock.
Never heard myself better
With the pro 7 and the neo i always had to put the volume to the max before cutting out, 3 piece or more piece bands does'nt matter so in real life the 7 pro does not work for me.
It proofs for me that a "smooth" sound in stores don't prove anything, it is the "real life" situation that matters.
I also compared the 7 Pro in a studio session (SSL and Genelecs) with the Micro VR a SVP Pro and the SVX Ampeg plug ins.
Guess what?
The Micro VR was the clear winner even over the SVP although not much.
So I'm in love now with the Micro.
Just for intrest, i played for 15 years over a SVTII-PRO and a PR410HLF Pro

 

[Not yet]

I often wonder how much of this talk of bass amp EQ and differing tones from different amps etc etc is down to what we hear as individuals, I know my hearing is not that great because for some reason I cannot hear my wife very well when she talks at certain frequencies, this usually gets worse at higher volume and greater levels of gesticulation usually followed by door slamming ?? is this a fault in my amp

While I never use the Gain button at gigs, it seemingly unrelated does have an incredible noise cancelling effect for the above mentioned scenarios.

Thank you for pointing out for all this unique feature

 

[JimmyM]

I also compared the 7 Pro in a studio session (SSL and Genelecs) with the Micro VR a SVP Pro and the SVX Ampeg plug ins.
Guess what?
The Micro VR was the clear winner even over the SVP although not much.
So I'm in love now with the Micro.
Just for intrest, i played for 15 years over a SVTII-PRO and a PR410HLF Pro

Gotta tell you, I went back to tube amps for the most part, but I really do like that Micro VR a lot. I like the PF350 too...same exact sound but with 150 more watts. I still think the 7 Pro's the king of Ampeg micros but there is a lot to love about the PF amps.

 

[Thijs V]

Gotta tell you, I went back to tube amps for the most part, but I really do like that Micro VR a lot. I like the PF350 too...same exact sound but with 150 more watts. I still think the 7 Pro's the king of Ampeg micros but there is a lot to love about the PF amps.

Hi JimmyM,
To start with,
Ampeg is the only brand i play.
It started about 20 years ago when i got a small endorsment in the Netherklands but that is long ago ;-)
But back on topic.
I also liked tube amps much more but i could not lift my SVT-II pro anymore (i'm 55 and my back says NO!)
So that's why i bought the SVT-7 pro and a PN-410HLF
But it is just not my cup of tea.
It is not that the 7-pro is bad, not at all, but the Micro VR suits my kind of playing better
The same for the the Pro Neo 410HLF vs the 410HLF Heritage
The weight difference between those two cabs. (10 lbs) is fortunately not too big for me, so i,m very happy with the rig i am playing now.
Another thing is, if you compare the Micro VR with the 7 Pro the price/quality difference is not that big either
The few hundred dollars you pay extra on the 7 Pro are all spend on extra's that i personally do not need.
Let's name a few.
More expensive casing
More power
A lot more eq possibilities
Compressor
Mixable send and return,Slave in,pre out,tuner out with mute by-pass,footswitch,one tube,xlr with pad and pre and post,speakons.
If you leave out all those options i guess the 7 pro would not be much more expensive then the Micro.
That is what i love about the Micro VR , just the things i really need.
Btw, i think the difference between 260w (4 ohms) on the Heritage 410HLF with the Micro VR vs barely 600w (8 ohms) on the PN410HLF with the 7 Pro is not much.
Just a bit more pressure which is nice for the audience if they want to hear bass from the stage, what they probably don't want with a PA, neither does the mixer in front.
Only want to mention: 2 times 10 watts is 100 w and two times 100w is 1000w.
What i want to say with this is, that the volume you need on stage is related to your loudest bandmember (if you want to play music together) and that is most of the time the drummer
So you will definitly have more than enough from a 260w Micro VR
Also if i want to hear myself on stage from my own backline i turn up the low frequencies because that is the range where nobody sits and what i am hired for, and not mid because than the wattage-battle starts (guitars,toms,vocals,keys etc.) and the music is killed.
Or if you can't hear yourself, you probably playing the wrong notes on the wrong moment ;-)
That are the reasons I chose the Micro VR and Heritage with more sub low over the 7 pro and the pro neo.
About the PF350 i played it, and i find it different from the Micro VR.
Maybe because i heard it over an Aquilar cab wich i did not like much but i don't think so,
There must be a difference because if i remember well the Micro is a mosfet poweramp and the PF350 is a class d like the 7 pro .
Sorry for this long monoloque but when i start talking bass i can not stop anymore because it is my life for 42 years by now.

 

[Road Bull]

How close do you think a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2 with a VT pedal gets to the SVT sound? There are a lot of E.Q. options on the 9.2 and I was wondering if anyone has any side by side experience with this. I found a good local deal for a SVT7 PRO and I am tempted. But if the 9.2 and VT are close, then I don't see the point.

Thanks