Double Bass NEW Euphonic Audio iAMP Doubler

[drurb]

If this were true, then plugging your bass directly into a 1200 watt power amp would really be loud. However this is not case since a typical piezo pickup doesn't have a hot enough signal to drive a power amp to anywhere near full output. Generally speaking, an amplifier's gain has more to do with perceived loudness and power has everything to do with headroom before clipping. Usually an amplifier with more gain will seem louder than another amp with less gain, even if the amp with less gain has a little more headroom.

Uh-- you gotta make that measurement at the speaker. Massive gain feeding an inefficient speaker will get you nowhere fast-- but Rob, I know that you know this. What counts in the end for loudness is the SPL radiated into the room. There are some efficient and inefficient ways to get there as well as some expensive ways and reasonable ways.

 

[peterpalmieri]

If this were true, then plugging your bass directly into a 1200 watt power amp would really be loud. However this is not case since a typical piezo pickup doesn't have a hot enough signal to drive a power amp to anywhere near full output. Generally speaking, an amplifier's gain has more to do with perceived loudness and power has everything to do with headroom before clipping. Usually an amplifier with more gain will seem louder than another amp with less gain, even if the amp with less gain has a little more headroom.

Come on man give me a break

When I said "amp" I meant your regular run of the mill bass amp that has a preamp built into it and assuming we all know how to properly set the gain on it. My Glockenklang 750watts at 4 ohms is louder then my Epi UL502 600 watts, louder then my IAMP350 at 300 something watts vs. gK200mb at 100 something watts. The Focus is in there somewhere

 

[anonymous02282011]

Come on man give me a break

When I said "amp" I meant your regular run of the mill bass amp that has a preamp built into it and assuming we all know how to properly set the gain on it. My Glockenklang 750watts at 4 ohms is louder then my Epi UL502 600 watts, louder then my IAMP350 at 300 something watts vs. gK200mb at 100 something watts. The Focus is in there somewhere

wow, that's a lot of amps.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Straightforward enough? I hope so.

Absolutely, straight forward.

I agree it's good to know that 550 watts is not almost twice as loud as 300 watts (thinking simple math 550 is almost double 300). But you call it meager or a kiss louder, but that (2.6 db) somehow can make an absolutely terrible gig where you can't hear yourself into a wonderful gig where you didn't think about amps accept to turn it on and off.

 

[peterpalmieri]

wow, that's a lot of amps.

I sold most of them over years. Just holding onto the Glock and Focus at this point. For me taking 6 months to really learn how it works in different situations is a must.

The IAMP350 wasn't loud enough, loved the functionality though, the UL502 killed with EB and was terrible with DB, and the GK combo just died after years of good service.

The Glock is just a killer head it just weighs a ton, the Focus is useful with some good features but I'd be willing to go my seperate way with it when the right micro comes along.

Every EA I've played was fairly noisy I hope the doubler is different.

 

[seamonkey]

just came across this -

Invalid Link Removed

Interesting...

Very nice.
I've got to check this out.
I always need more than one channel.

 

[tombowlus]

Right there, we have, IMO, the total statement on EA amps in general. They sound great, but don't you feel a little funny with the master knob at 3:00 or 4:00 all night long? Ever get the feeling that there just isn't another gear there for you?

IME/IMHO, this is in part due to EA's approach to the front end on their amps as more like a mixing board channel strip. They do seem to work the best when you set them up with a strong input signal. This has the disadvantage, perhaps, of not seeming as loud as the amp that puts out 85% of its power with the knob 25% of the way "up."

Tom.

 

[Altitude]

IME/IMHO, this is in part due to EA's approach to the front end on their amps as more like a mixing board channel strip. They do seem to work the best when you set them up with a strong input signal. This has the disadvantage, perhaps, of not seeming as loud as the amp that puts out 85% of its power with the knob 25% of the way "up."

Tom.

I recognize and agree that the master volume pot on EA amps is much more linear than we normally find. For me, though, I always felt like the amp was barely keeping up. I was playing with a very loud drummer for the whole time I had mine.

As Ken Jung would agree if he were to find his way to a DB forum, EA made some voicing decisions that may have the result of "softening" the volume a bit. I am probably making too much of it. And, once again, mine sounded so nice that I used it as a preamp in some recording sessions.

 

[Mike Dimin]

I'm sure Les would be both more scientific and eloquent but I want to take a moment to address the difference between actual volume and perceived volume. Some might say that what one perceives is all that counts but it just does not work, especially if you are looking for really hi-fi sound.
A human's hearing is most acute between 1 and 4 kHz. Hence it takes less power in that range to be perceived as louder. By bumping that range or, in many cases, adding distortion to the signal you will be perceived as louder. You might even sound a bit "gritty" if you dig that kind of thing.

EA's amps are very flat with even power across the bandwidth. You will not get the kind of distortion you are finding in other amps or tunings that emphasize certain frequencies.

Often times, players using EA gear will be much louder than they think out in the room

Les?

Mike

Les,

BTW after Friday I will also have to call my wife, as you remember, the audiologist, "Doc"

 

[Keyser Soze]

BTW after Friday I will also have to call my wife, as you remember, the audiologist, "Doc"

My wife has a Ph.D in psychology, worked as a psychologist. Changed the channel, entered the police academy and became a cop. Rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Has received national and international acclaim and awards for her groundbreaking works.

People call her, "Trudy."

My uncle has advanced, "doctoral" engineering degrees out the a$$.

People address him as, "Ken."

If you can't tell me what this spot on my arm is, I ain't callin' you "Doctor."

A doctor is a doctor. A person who went to college for seven+ years and wrote a dissertation and wants to be called "Dr." needs to get a life.

That being said, congrats to your wife on her accomplishment.

Call her "Honey."

"Dr." is pretentious. IMHO. Sure, put Dr. on her letterhead but -- seriously? -- call her "Doctor?"

 

[drurb]

My wife has a Ph.D in psychology, worked as a psychologist. Changed the channel, entered the police academy and became a cop. Rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Has received national and international acclaim and awards for her groundbreaking works.

People call her, "Trudy."

My uncle has advanced, "doctoral" engineering degrees out the a$$.

People address him as, "Ken."

If you can't tell me what this spot on my arm is, I ain't callin' you "Doctor."

A doctor is a doctor. A person who went to college for seven+ years and wrote a dissertation and wants to be called "Dr." needs to get a life.

That being said, congrats to your wife on her accomplishment.

Call her "Honey."

"Dr." is pretentious. IMHO. Sure, put Dr. on her letterhead but -- seriously? -- call her "Doctor?"

It's obvious that Mike was celebrating his wife's accomplishment! Why be so literal, Rick? I doubt he's going to go around the house calling her "Doctor." C'mon! Hey, I went to school all those years, got a PhD, and have been publishing and teaching for decades. People call me "Les." In formal situations, whether in writing or conversation, "Dr." belongs before my name.

 

[drurb]

I'm sure Les would be both more scientific and eloquent but I want to take a moment to address the difference between actual volume and perceived volume. Some might say that what one perceives is all that counts but it just does not work, especially if you are looking for really hi-fi sound.
A human's hearing is most acute between 1 and 4 kHz. Hence it takes less power in that range to be perceived as louder. By bumping that range or, in many cases, adding distortion to the signal you will be perceived as louder. You might even sound a bit "gritty" if you dig that kind of thing...

BTW after Friday I will also have to call my wife, as you remember, the audiologist, "Doc"

Mike--

You raise very important and valid points! I'd like to point out that "volume" is actually a psychological term and refers to perception. So, keeping the language precise, you are pointing out that perceived loudness or volume is NOT simply a matter of physical intensity but depends very much on frequency content. Right you are! By the way, the growth of loudness being greatest in the mid frequency region actually stands apart from the fact that normal-hearing humans are most sensitive in that region.

Congrats on your wife's completion of what I assume is an AudD!

Les

 

[Jazzdogg]

I had a hand in helping with the design. Of many cool features, I really like the variable phase control. Phase switches are typically in phase or 180 degrees out of phase. This allows much more flexability in combining a piezo with a mic, or another piezo. I just did a month in Europe with the Micro and I was doubling on electric and upright. Granted , I had the Micro cranked at its limit, but it sounded great the whole time. I really MUCH prefer the sound of EA amps on electric over some of the amps mentioned. The new one should have just enough power that it might be hard for me to find a good enough reason to bring out the Iamp800 on a slab gig.

I wish I could say the same thing. As great as my iAmp800 sounds pushing my 8-ohm EA VL208 or Dr. Bass cabs, I only take the iAmp to relatively quiet slab gigs. I might be singing a different tune if I were using more sensitive cabinets. But on the majority of my slab gigs, I take my B1500 and leave the iAmp in the car even though I like the sound of my iAmp more.

 

[Mike Dimin]

Rick,

I did not say "Dr." - I said "Doc". I did not say that anyone other than myself would call her that. She would never have her patients call her "Dr" - it was and always will be Julie.

I addressed that comment to Les, because he knows that my wife had done some psycho-acoustic research in the past and we have talked about it on occasion. She has worked very hard to get her clinical doctorate at one of the most prestigious schools in the country and she deserves to be called anything she wants - including Julie.

In 2003 I performed at the San Francisco Bass Bash with the likes of Bill Dickens, Mike Manring, Dave Pomeroy, Norm Stockton, and Trip Walmsley. Bass Player Magazine did an article calling us "Celebrity Bass Players". I tried to get my wife to call me celebrity bass player around the house - she chose to just call me jacka$$

Peace
Mike

PS - I misspoke on the price of the Micro and Doubler. The Micro will retail for 675 and the Doubler at 750

My wife has a Ph.D in psychology, worked as a psychologist. Changed the channel, entered the police academy and became a cop. Rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Has received national and international acclaim and awards for her groundbreaking works.

People call her, "Trudy."

My uncle has advanced, "doctoral" engineering degrees out the a$$.

People address him as, "Ken."

If you can't tell me what this spot on my arm is, I ain't callin' you "Doctor."

A doctor is a doctor. A person who went to college for seven+ years and wrote a dissertation and wants to be called "Dr." needs to get a life.

That being said, congrats to your wife on her accomplishment.

Call her "Honey."

"Dr." is pretentious. IMHO. Sure, put Dr. on her letterhead but -- seriously? -- call her "Doctor?"

 

[Mike Arnopol]

Also, power ratings can be illusive. The reason I chose EA over some other amp companies was what I would call functional perceived power. Power ratings do not necessarily relate to the "envelope" of the note or the physical impact. The EA amps are one of only two amps that I know of with switching power supplies and output stages that have a visceral impact that approaches an amp with a big transformer and non-switching output stage. The best known switching amp that has been out for 30 some years always sounded to me like I was playing with a bow. And it puts out a lot of measurable power. EA structures their pots like top hifi amps. You get a linear gain across the full range of the pot. Most amps are at 80% at the 11 o'clock position.

 

[Jeremy Allen]

A doctor is a doctor. A person who went to college for seven+ years and wrote a dissertation and wants to be called "Dr." needs to get a life.

That being said, congrats to your wife on her accomplishment.

Call her "Honey."

"Dr." is pretentious. IMHO. Sure, put Dr. on her letterhead but -- seriously? -- call her "Doctor?"

Miles Davis once griped of Wynton Marsalis: "He always talks like he's answering a question. Well, no one asked him!"

 

[fdeck]

Nobody calls me "doctor" unless they are teasing me, or I am in trouble for doing something stupid.

 

[Psychicpet]

The increase in power is only one thing - the increase in headroom is quite another especially when you are dealing with the transient attacks of a DB.

exactly!

can not wait to hear this and the fact that the Micro's now bumped up. awesome.

 

[Psychicpet]

My wife has a Ph.D in psychology, worked as a psychologist. Changed the channel, entered the police academy and became a cop. Rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Has received national and international acclaim and awards for her groundbreaking works.

People call her, "Trudy."

My uncle has advanced, "doctoral" engineering degrees out the a$$.

People address him as, "Ken."

If you can't tell me what this spot on my arm is, I ain't callin' you "Doctor."

A doctor is a doctor. A person who went to college for seven+ years and wrote a dissertation and wants to be called "Dr." needs to get a life.

That being said, congrats to your wife on her accomplishment.

Call her "Honey."

"Dr." is pretentious. IMHO. Sure, put Dr. on her letterhead but -- seriously? -- call her "Doctor?"

Were you having a rough day when you posted this?

:scowl:

 

[peterpalmieri]

BTW after Friday I will also have to call my wife, as you remember, the audiologist, "Doc"

Congrats man that's great news! You should be proud and call her whatever you want!

Some of you guys are just way over the top, talk about off topic. I thought getting into a debate about db was far enough off when many people have not discussed any other function other this amp, input stage new features, tone controls etc. Then someone is proud of his wife's accomplishments and a debate breaks out over the use of a term.

Some of you guys could ruin a party in less then 5 minutes.