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Orange Amps

M0ses

M0ses

Sep 11, 2009
3,715
1,079
Los Angeles
#1
I've been browsing through Orange's amp selection and I have some questions.

First of all, why is the AD-200B so much more expensive than the Terror Bass 500? The Terror has 200 more watts and a direct line out. The AD-200B has...orange Tolex. From what I see on the internet, the Terror is around $860 retail and the Ad is somewhere above 2K?!?!

Secondly, while the Terror clearly says switchable 4 and 8 ohms, the AD-200B doesn't mention impedance on the Orange website, but it says "Speaker - 1 x 8 ohms, 2 x 4 ohms"

Now, that really doesn't make sense to me. It can run at either 8 or 2 ohms, but not 4? What exactly is going on there? On the back of the amp is three outputs, labeled 8 ohm, 4 ohm, and 4 ohm. I can't see any impedance switch.

So, there are my questions. Anyone have answers?
 
#2
The AD200b Mk3 is an all tube amplifier. It is massively loud...massive. Dont get me wrong, the Bass Terror is great, but the AD200 is one of the nicest all tube amps out at the moment.

Both amps have minimum 4 ohms...so 2 x 8 ohm cabs, or 1 x 4 ohm cab.
 
#4
Musicman20 said:
The AD200b Mk3 is an all tube amplifier. It is massively loud...massive. Dont get me wrong, the Bass Terror is great, but the AD200 is one of the nicest all tube amps out at the moment.

Both amps have minimum 4 ohms...so 2 x 8 ohm cabs, or 1 x 4 ohm cab.
Click to expand...

I'm not complaining about the AD's volume, I'm complaining about it's price. Is the Terror SS? I didn't realize that, and that's probably what's going on.

And as for impedance, like I said, the AD is backwards, with a jack for 1 8 ohm and two 4 ohm jacks.
 
#5
I OWN ONE OF THESE!!

I must say, with my stingray i get a clean sound live, with p bass i have to push it to distortion. this is with a 4x10

i have wondered the 1x8 2x4 thing too..

They dont sound like svts, orange has more of a mid thing going on.
 
#6
Basically, you use the 8 ohm output (1 of them) when you are using 1 8 ohm cab. If you are using 2 8 ohm cabs, or 1 4 ohm cab, you must use the 4 ohms slots.

Yep, the AD200b Mk3 is expensive, but not that bad in the UK...its one of the rare times we get gear cheaper!

IMO, the modern Ampeg tube amps dont even begin to compare...and I A/Bed them in the store. Orange won hands down.
 
#8
Musicman20 said:
Basically, you use the 8 ohm output (1 of them) when you are using 1 8 ohm cab. If you are using 2 8 ohm cabs, or 1 4 ohm cab, you must use the 4 ohms slots.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. I think that makes sense.

I'm just disappointed at the price of the AD-200B, because although I can dig hybrid amps, 500W is just too much for me. 200W is the perfect amount!
 
#11
Having owned two Orange 120 watt amps previously I signed out a brand new AD200B (they let me cause I'm old) I took it back within the hour, a one trick pony with very limited tone variations (especialy mid range) compared to my previous Orange amps. If I do move back into Valves/Tubes it'll be a real Orange made at Matamp

My most recent
25s8was.jpg


My 70s rig complete with 65 Jazz Bass
20itoj5.jpg
 
#12
Don't take this the wrong way... but i'd be hard pressed to buy a $2,000 Tube amp that is all PCB mounted.

It has nothing to do with "PCB mounted amps suck!" No no not at all!

For $2,000 it better be all american made, and point to point too. (turret boards are fine :D )

But, what is the real difference between a $2,000 Orange and a $500 Bugera?

Like I said, i'm NOT Bashing the Orange amp. But why is it so expensive?

;)
 
#13
KramerBassFan said:
Like I said, i'm NOT Bashing the Orange amp. But why is it so expensive?
;)
Click to expand...

Shipping costs.
Think about how much they weigh, and how much volume you'd be shipping. Small shipments have a much higher transport cost per unit.

Here is Australia we're hit for additional shipping on every all-tube bass head you care to name;
except homegrown ones, like the South Australian made WOOGIE.

Expect to pay $3500 AUD, that's over 3k US for an SVT, and a similar amount for the Orange.
Thats approx 1k more than in the USA........

You guys in the states have it better than anyone else in the world when it comes to value for your dollar.
There's at least two aussie made music companies that I have found that are cheaper to buy in the USA, than here in OZ, just cos they're trying to crack the US market!, so don't complain!

Bassman62 said:
Having owned two Orange 120 watt amps previously
25s8was.jpg
Click to expand...

Great amps.
They are a little dirty, but swapping one of the preamp tubes for a 12au7 helped to clean it up some.
They have an EQ that just works bass IMO.
 
#17
M0ses said:
First of all, why is the AD-200B so much more expensive than the Terror Bass 500? The Terror has 200 more watts and a direct line out. The AD-200B has...orange Tolex. From what I see on the internet, the Terror is around $860 retail and the Ad is somewhere above 2K?!?!
Click to expand...

That's kind of like asking why the Ampeg SVT-CL costs so much more than the Ampeg SVT-4 PRO since the 4 PRO has the graphic EQ, dual poweramps, 4x the wattage, etc.

Tubes make the price go way up and the tone as well, IMO.
 

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