New Mesa 800D (not D800) vs Genzler Kinetix

[Texican]

I’m almost ready to pull the trigger on one of these two amp.
My history: I’ve owned the Magellan 350 (twice), a Mesa D800+, and the regular Mesa D800. All solid state preamps. I don’t get precious about gear, so I bought and sold them all according to whether I found a great deal, needed cash at the time, or had projects going on that required gigging amps (as a lot of my work is direct/ampless).

I never had a problem with how any of them sounded, but I did often wish that I could get a little more warmth and a slightly heftier and “spongier” response like a tube amp. Enter the Kinetix and the 800D. I’ve played a Kinetix in a shop and thought it was great. Haven’t played or heard the 800D in person, but there is a Talkbasser that posts videos of Sublime covers with his 800D and the tone is incredible!

I know YouTube can be misleading sonically, but the 800D sounds a little better to me than the Kinetix on YouTube, despite the Kinetix sounding incredible in person.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[BrianVengeance]

FWIW I went the 800D route after having a D-800+ and having played a Kinetix in store. No regrets, but also can’t speak extensively about the Genzler.

May want to check out this thread: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ne...-boogie-bass-800d-800w-bass-amp-head.1677232/

 

[Moonskunk]

I wouldn't judge anything by what you heard on Utube, the only way would be to have both amps on hand playing through the same gear and then decide for yourself. I have the Kinetix but am also curious on how the Mesa would compare if I had them both at the same time. The Mesa has 1 tube whereas the Kinetix has 3, but the Mesa is quite a bit less expensive.

 

[Goatrope]

"Spongier?" Maybe you should look to the WD800. The damping control can go from tight to spongie, and then there's that parametric EQ.

Sorry, no experience with the Kinetix.

 

[Jugghaid]

I have not played the Genzler, but I'm sure it's excellent. Jeff designs fantastic amps. But I did buy the 800D. It is quite simply the best new amp that I have played in years and years. The only other new amp I have played that I would put in the same conversation is the Bergantino Forte series. Also excellent, and a bit more $ as well.

It's all personal preference though. I would suggest playing before you buy (even though I completely ignored that advice ). Maybe a fellow TBer has one that you can test drive?

 

[Mastermold]

I’m almost ready to pull the trigger on one of these two amp.
My history: I’ve owned the Magellan 350 (twice), a Mesa D800+, and the regular Mesa D800. All solid state preamps. I don’t get precious about gear, so I bought and sold them all according to whether I found a great deal, needed cash at the time, or had projects going on that required gigging amps (as a lot of my work is direct/ampless).

I never had a problem with how any of them sounded, but I did often wish that I could get a little more warmth and a slightly heftier and “spongier” response like a tube amp. Enter the Kinetix and the 800D. I’ve played a Kinetix in a shop and thought it was great. Haven’t played or heard the 800D in person, but there is a Talkbasser that posts videos of Sublime covers with his 800D and the tone is incredible!

I know YouTube can be misleading sonically, but the 800D sounds a little better to me than the Kinetix on YouTube, despite the Kinetix sounding incredible in person.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

I’ve had a Genz-Benz Streamliner some 15 years now, which has been the best amp I’ve found to approximate what I like about my SVTs. The Kinetix is essentially an updated Streamliner as I understand it, so while I don’t own one, I can suggest indirectly you’ll be very happy with it. It’s what I’ll buy if my Streamliner ever gives up the ghost.

 

[Michael Vee]

Genz-Benz people being split into Genzler and Mesa is making amp decisions even harder for all of us then they were back in the Genz-Benz days. I was buying every new thing Genz brought out (not quite, but close) and now we are all trying to decide things like BD-800 (?) vs. Kinetix.

I think it's important for all of us who are in this quandary, like I am, to relax and not keep buying the latest thing that both companies are bringing to the market. I speak as someone who bought the BD-800 (If that's the right name) and didn't need it. It's a seriously nice head, sure is, but I will probably wind up selling most of the Mesa and Genz heads I own. That's not the most popular tack to take, but I bet a lot of you guys are looking at it too. The latest, greatest, right? Everything those guys brought to the bass market are all terrific in their own ways.

I recently corresponded with (not "reached out to", I hate that expression!) to a fellow player here on TB who is a serious collector of gear, ala Bowlus. He is hanging onto old Genz gear he bought used in 2018, as a collector. Those people who can continually buy, house, and collect gear are in the minority. Most of us can't do that. We do have to try to sell off perfectly good gear that we bought ten years ago for a big discount. Achieving balance in life is really difficult when guys like Andy and Jeff keep bringing out even better iterations of their companies' gear. Sigh. Those guys are geniuses, but they do have to design new gear that will sell in 2026. The real world is that most of us have to figure out what to do that makes sense, playing live and having a need for gear that meets our dreams, vs. churning gear to keep up with these guys' output. They are very gifted amplifier designers and marketers.

 

[Mr. Business]

I generally prefer Genzler tone over Mesa, but I’ve been contemplating these 2 as well.

 

[Mastermold]

Genz-Benz people being split into Genzler and Mesa is making amp decisions even harder for all of us then they were back in the Genz-Benz days. I was buying every new thing Genz brought out (not quite, but close) and now we are all trying to decide things like BD-800 (?) vs. Kinetix.

I think it's important for all of us who are in this quandary, like I am, to relax and not keep buying the latest thing that both companies are bringing to the market. I speak as someone who bought the BD-800 (If that's the right name) and didn't need it. It's a seriously nice head, sure is, but I will probably wind up selling most of the Mesa and Genz heads I own. That's not the most popular tack to take, but I bet a lot of you guys are looking at it too. The latest, greatest, right? Everything those guys brought to the bass market are all terrific in their own ways.

I recently corresponded with (not "reached out to", I hate that expression!) to a fellow player here on TB who is a serious collector of gear, ala Bowlus. He is hanging onto old Genz gear he bought used in 2018, as a collector. Those people who can continually buy, house, and collect gear are in the minority. Most of us can't do that. We do have to try to sell off perfectly good gear that we bought ten years ago for a big discount. Achieving balance in life is really difficult when guys like Andy and Jeff keep bringing out even better iterations of their companies' gear. Sigh. Those guys are geniuses, but they do have to design new gear that will sell in 2026. The real world is that most of us have to figure out what to do that makes sense, playing live and having a need for gear that meets our dreams, vs. churning gear to keep up with these guys' output. They are very gifted amplifier designers and marketers.

I have a two car garage. It houses zero cars. My amp collection is only part of the problem. I’d share the rest but I’m married, and hope to stay that way!

 

[Saetia]

Last year I took a trip out to PA and NY to pick up a Status Neck from @Rumblefisher as well as a Baer ML212 from @Mediocrity Man and while at Gary’s house trying the Baer I got to give his Genzler MG-800 a spin and wow it was something special. It will be my next amp for sure… I just tell myself I MUST move a majority of my GK RBII cache (I have 6 in total). Haven’t gotten to try a Kinnetix but I have resolved that I will also gather an 800-D and be done with it for good haha (I always loved the 400+).

 

[esoxhntr]

There is no substitute for trying in person. You playing your bass, with your cabinet, and listening to the result is everything. YouTube is a nice tool for getting an initial impression, but it doesn't replace having the gear on hand.

 

[logdrum]

Not having played both but from my experience owning and playing the Bass 4000 and currently owning the Genz Benz Streamliner, I will go with the KInetix which is an evolution of the Streamliner. The Streamliner is a fantastic amplifier and something that Andy and Jeff are proud of as well. I like multi tube preamps and that's what the Kinetix and Streamliner have. I am definitely interested in the voicing controls that Genzler has but the 800D has a variable HPF rather than the discrete values of the Kinetix. I am guessing HPF is not all these switches do

The gain , volume + boost in the front end is something I've really learned to use on the Streamliner and how they affect the playing response and also how they initially shape the tone. I am guessing this was carried over to the Kinetix And then there are 5 EQ controls as well and I can't imagine not being able to sculpt a tone that you need.

One thing that I see missing in the 800D is the dual volume control, so it will be interesting how the gain + high pass and the switches will impact the feel and tone

I guess get both, If it was me and van only get one, I'll probably get the Kinetix, because I love the amp it has evolved from and the 800D will need more time to experiment as it is not as close to the Bass 400. as I would like. I am sure both will serve 90% of bass players quiet well


One last thing it you need 2 ohm support, the Mesa is your only choice. They also write the better manual. Something lacking in the Kinetix

 

[John D Harris]

Tagging along just to see who chimes in that has definite experience with both amps.

I've read most of the main thread on the 800D and most of the Genz Benz and Genzler threads.

From what I've read there is a fair amount of difference between both the 400(+) and the 800D; as well as between the Streamliner and the Kinetix.

Similarities, yes, but definite differences as well, as the result of wider range of audiences that the 800D and the Kinetix were designed to target.

It is a great time to be a bass player!

 

[BaltBass5]

I've owned and played both. They are both great amps. IMO the Kinetix gets a LOT more "tubey" sounding and produces a warmer and more lush bottom end. For reference,

• I played the Mesa D800+ for about 8 years before switching to the TT800.
• On the TT800 I was mainly just using the Boogie side and I loved it.
• I picked up the Kinetix when they came out and logged about 20 gigs with it and loved it but Ultimately went back to my TT800.
• When the 800D came out I figured it was basically the Boogie channel of the TT800 so I could scale down a bit. I didn't find it to be like the Boogie side at all and never gel'ed with it. It was a great head but was lacking something for me. I sent it back.
• I still own the TT800 and the D800+ but these days my primary head is the Jad Freer Sisma which sounds like the voice of Zeus.

 

[Mr. Business]

Cool to see the Streamliner still gettin some love. It’s still my all time fav amp and I won’t be parting with either of mine anytime soon.

 

[jnewmark]

There is no substitute for trying in person. You playing your bass, with your cabinet, and listening to the result is everything. YouTube is a nice tool for getting an initial impression, but it doesn't replace having the gear on hand.

Yup, and I'll take it a step further. Find a store where the return policy is generous, get them both, and return the one you like less. Even then, you will still not be 100% sure until you get them on a few gigs. Back in the day, you used to be able to rent amps from music stores; not sure if that's even a thing anymore. Still, playing them out of your own cabs is a lot better than YouTube demos.

 

[Balog]

Cool to see the Streamliner still gettin some love. It’s still my all time fav amp and I won’t be parting with either of mine anytime soon.View attachment 7403494

I got a Streamliner 900 and Shuttle 9.2 around the same time last year and really prefer the Streamliner. The 800D is tempting especially for the price but I’m holding out so far.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I’m almost ready to pull the trigger on one of these two amp.
My history: I’ve owned the Magellan 350 (twice), a Mesa D800+, and the regular Mesa D800. All solid state preamps. I don’t get precious about gear, so I bought and sold them all according to whether I found a great deal, needed cash at the time, or had projects going on that required gigging amps (as a lot of my work is direct/ampless).

I never had a problem with how any of them sounded, but I did often wish that I could get a little more warmth and a slightly heftier and “spongier” response like a tube amp. Enter the Kinetix and the 800D. I’ve played a Kinetix in a shop and thought it was great. Haven’t played or heard the 800D in person, but there is a Talkbasser that posts videos of Sublime covers with his 800D and the tone is incredible!

I know YouTube can be misleading sonically, but the 800D sounds a little better to me than the Kinetix on YouTube, despite the Kinetix sounding incredible in person.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

That TBer would be @gustobassman

 

[Wicked G]

Not having played both but from my experience owning and playing the Bass 4000 and currently owning the Genz Benz Streamliner, I will go with the KInetix which is an evolution of the Streamliner. The Streamliner is a fantastic amplifier and something that Andy and Jeff are proud of as well. I like multi tube preamps and that's what the Kinetix and Streamliner have. I am definitely interested in the voicing controls that Genzler has but the 800D has a variable HPF rather than the discrete values of the Kinetix. I am guessing HPF is not all these switches do

The gain , volume + boost in the front end is something I've really learned to use on the Streamliner and how they affect the playing response and also how they initially shape the tone. I am guessing this was carried over to the Kinetix And then there are 5 EQ controls as well and I can't imagine not being able to sculpt a tone that you need.

One thing that I see missing in the 800D is the dual volume control, so it will be interesting how the gain + high pass and the switches will impact the feel and tone

I guess get both, If it was me and van only get one, I'll probably get the Kinetix, because I love the amp it has evolved from and the 800D will need more time to experiment as it is not as close to the Bass 400. as I would like. I am sure both will serve 90% of bass players quiet well


One last thing it you need 2 ohm support, the Mesa is your only choice. They also write the better manual. Something lacking in the Kinetix

IMHO the Bass 800D doesn't need the dual volume control. It gets a great tube tone already without it.

 

[Jim C]

So let me ask, which gets closest to an SVT in both tone and feel: Streamliner, Kinetix, or Mesa 800D?
PS - I use my SVT head through a GB 2x12 Neo or a Bergantino HT322 so no 8x10 voicing.