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Double Bass New EA VL208?

#42
Got the VL208 today, as "Indiana Jones" Mike Dimin discovered. This is an NOS cabinet - never sold from the store, but hidden "under a pile of gear" for who knows how many years. The "bass guy" who ran the department left a while back and the cabinet was forgotten about. Paid $799 - the price that was on the old EA price sheet!

I've only had an hour with it in a small room but...it's what everyone said it is. The closest I've come to "your bass plus volume". From what I can remember, it makes every other cabinet seem colored, and not in a pleasing way for DB. I'll do more testing over the next weeks.

Ironically, within an hour of FedEx dropping the VL208, I received my factury refurb VL110! Once again, the EA experts on TB seem to have these cabinet's sound pinned. The VL110 seems to have a bit more low end, and with a bit of dialing in and placement, is close and definately cut from the same cloth. BUT...the 208 gets more of the wood of the bass, delivers more definition, responds to your every inflection, has a velvety smooth tone and is pleasingly darker. It let's your bass really sing. Add my name to the fan club: the 208 is special.

By the way, I tried both the Focus and the iAmp500. While the Focus seemed richer and more pleasing in the midrange than the iAmp on an Accugroove Tri208 and LDS 1x8, the reverse seems true on the EA cabinets. I guess since the LDS was designed using Acoustic Image heads, and the EA cabinets were likely voiced to work best with their own heads, I shouldn't be surprised...
 
#43
macmrkt said:
By the way, I tried both the Focus and the iAmp500. While the Focus seemed richer and more pleasing in the midrange than the iAmp on an Accugroove Tri208 and LDS 1x8, the reverse seems true on the EA cabinets. I guess since the LDS was designed using Acoustic Image heads, and the EA cabinets were likely voiced to work best with their own heads, I shouldn't be surprised...
Click to expand...

The iAMP, however, has such great tonal flexibility, if you are willing to take the time to really get into it.

Mike
 
#44
macmrkt said:
Got the VL208 today, as "Indiana Jones" Mike Dimin discovered. This is an NOS cabinet - never sold from the store, but hidden "under a pile of gear" for who knows how many years. The "bass guy" who ran the department left a while back and the cabinet was forgotten about. Paid $799 - the price that was on the old EA price sheet!

I've only had an hour with it in a small room but...it's what everyone said it is. The closest I've come to "your bass plus volume". From what I can remember, it makes every other cabinet seem colored, and not in a pleasing way for DB. I'll do more testing over the next weeks.

Ironically, within an hour of FedEx dropping the VL208, I received my factury refurb VL110! Once again, the EA experts on TB seem to have these cabinet's sound pinned. The VL110 seems to have a bit more low end, and with a bit of dialing in and placement, is close and definately cut from the same cloth. BUT...the 208 gets more of the wood of the bass, delivers more definition, responds to your every inflection, has a velvety smooth tone and is pleasingly darker. It let's your bass really sing. Add my name to the fan club: the 208 is special.

By the way, I tried both the Focus and the iAmp500. While the Focus seemed richer and more pleasing in the midrange than the iAmp on an Accugroove Tri208 and LDS 1x8, the reverse seems true on the EA cabinets. I guess since the LDS was designed using Acoustic Image heads, and the EA cabinets were likely voiced to work best with their own heads, I shouldn't be surprised...
Click to expand...

Glad you like it! That was a special day, receiving your first two VL-series cabs! Have you tried them together?
 
#45
No...I'm such a low volume guy, I barely had the gain up in this room. I toyed with the idea, seeing how the VL110 sounds better about a foot off the floor, and the VL208 was fine on the floor with its tilt. Nice stack...

Just curious: most Class D or switch mode amps I know of don't have much of a traditonal transformer. The iAmp 500 packs a nice big toroid. I guess its some sort of hybrid layout?
 
#46
macmrkt said:
Just curious: most Class D or switch mode amps I know of don't have much of a traditonal transformer. The iAmp 500 packs a nice big toroid. I guess its some sort of hybrid layout?
Click to expand...

The amplifier section of the iamp is Class D but the power supply is toroidal. The reason is that class D power sections just don't provide the current reserve that the transformer does. With the extreme transients inherent in bass playing, you really need the current reserve. It's all about the headroom. We've toyed with some class d power supply's, but until one comes along that is significantly better than what is currently available AND is not exorbantly expensive, we'll stick with the current design.

Mike
 
#47
Vaaaaaairrrry eeeennntereztink. My reference for switch mode amps is the Linn Klimax audiophile amp, but at $10K, I can see your point.

By the way Mike, how are we doing on the reissue VL/new VM 208 count, in your estimation? And thanks again for allowing my entry in the VL club...everyone at "Let's Jam" was very helpful.
 
#48
macmrkt said:
Got the VL208 today, as "Indiana Jones" Mike Dimin discovered. This is an NOS cabinet - never sold from the store, but hidden "under a pile of gear" for who knows how many years. The "bass guy" who ran the department left a while back and the cabinet was forgotten about. Paid $799 - the price that was on the old EA price sheet!
Click to expand...
How cool is that?! I'd call that buried treasure!
 
#49
macmrkt said:
By the way Mike, how are we doing on the reissue VL/new VM 208 count, in your estimation? And thanks again for allowing my entry in the VL club...everyone at "Let's Jam" was very helpful.
Click to expand...

many can talk the talk but can they walk the walk? I would estimate that for every 8-10 who say they will only 1 or 2 actually will.

To recreate a 208 is a major undertaking. I would say that if there is really true interest and I can guartentee EA 50 units, we might be able to get somewhere. Maybe, those who are really serious should PM me. I will keep a list and present it to EA at an appropriate time

MIke
 
#50
Mike Dimin said:
many can talk the talk but can they walk the walk? I would estimate that for every 8-10 who say they will only 1 or 2 actually will.

To recreate a 208 is a major undertaking. I would say that if there is really true interest and I can guartentee EA 50 units, we might be able to get somewhere. Maybe, those who are really serious should PM me. I will keep a list and present it to EA at an appropriate time

MIke
Click to expand...

PM sent! ;)
 
#53
Mike Dimin said:
many can talk the talk but can they walk the walk? I would estimate that for every 8-10 who say they will only 1 or 2 actually will.

To recreate a 208 is a major undertaking. I would say that if there is really true interest and I can guartentee EA 50 units, we might be able to get somewhere. Maybe, those who are really serious should PM me. I will keep a list and present it to EA at an appropriate time

MIke
Click to expand...

Being new to this forum and having not heard of the VL208 prior to joining this forum, I would be interested however, what is the ballpark price going to be? (If you can even guesstimate that).
 

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