New lt weight amps vs old heavies

[KJung]

Technically, there is likely to be little difference between the types apart from packaging. The designs used inside MI specific products will not be different in any sort of fundamental way than the PA designs. Specific details such as size, power, voicing etc will differ.

It's still two discussions. I am again addressing the original poster's question about lightweight amps... integrated bass heads that use a variety of technologies to stay small and light... class D amps, SMPS power supplies, and various combinations of power amp and power supply designs along with integrated preamps specifically voiced for a certain tones, etc.

Since integrated bass amps with similar spec's on paper sound VERY different due to a lot of different issues, it's a totally different discussion to me, and both are interesting in their own right.

Whether a 500 watt class D integrated bass amps with an SMPS techically can sound the same as a 500 watt class A/B amp with a toroidal power supply is a moot point to me... all I know is the Markbass F1 sounds TOTALLY different than the AG500, and that's what I'm attempting to address for the OP! While one is class D/SMPS, and the other is class A/B toroidal is interesting to me, it's secondary to the different voicings and tone these amps have.

I do very much enjoy learing about the technical issues involved in these discussions though... so let's all keep at it!

 

[grooveway]

I'll second what KJung said, I too enjoy learning the technical stuff here. You all have offered up some great information I would not have found in one place anywhere else.

I am interested in either the integrated bass heads or the stand alone power amps. Bottom line, I've operated with one rig since '94 - without a backup. Now, it's time to update and lighten the main rig (whatever that turns out to be). One will eventually end up as the main rig with the other being a backup/smaller show rig.

I want to replace my Crest FA800 with a lightweight power amp fro the Trace pre-amp. But I think I want the other rig to be an integrated deal.

So far, I've gathered: Stand alone power amps, I should be fine with a lighter weight replacement as they probably don't color the pre-amp/bass sound much.
Integrated amps - A tougher choice as obviously each one will affect the tone and sound.

Since I'm not that familiar with some of the deep tech stuff (but I like learning), does the great punch I'm getting now partially come from the separate components? I run the FA800 at about 90% on the dials in the back, the pre-amp never really goes past 4 or 5 (input gain about 20% due to active pickups). Never drive either into clipping. Bass guitar volume knob stays around 95%.

Any thoughts on that and/or how do the integrated amps work with their internal pre-amp output going into the main amp and does it make a difference? In otherwords do they run the amp section roughly full tilt and the front volume knob varies the pre-amp output or is it the other way around. Again, does that really make a difference?

Thanks again to all for being so helpful and patient with me.