Peavey minimax 600

[Ambrose barton]

Hi fellow talkbassers, ive recently been looking for a new amp and come across this little beast
-https://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/659/119100/

looks like a new version of the minimax 500, i think its fairly new cause there is only 1 demo video on youtube and no customer reviews yet, heres the demo -

What do you guys think?

 

[Jim C]

Pretty sure 100 watts more power and cheaper than the old model
No idea if it sounds good

 

[Pocket4]

There's a lot of talk on the new model if you run the "Minimax" search to find the recent thread.

 

[murph7489]

I will say this I have the "older" version..and it is LOUD..I've never gigged with the master over 9:30..if I go to 10 I'm getting told to turn it down...lol..its not an Ampeg or an Eden, or a mesa 800 but it does the job very well..

 

[Ambrose barton]

I will say this I have the "older" version..and it is LOUD..I've never gigged with the master over 9:30..if I go to 10 I'm getting told to turn it down...lol..its not an Ampeg or an Eden, or a mesa 800 but it does the job very well..

Would you choose it over an ampeg portaflex 350? I watched demos on both and to my ears I liked the peavey more ‍

 

[murph7489]

never played thru one so don't know

 

[Rojd]

Hi fellow talkbassers, ive recently been looking for a new amp and come across this little beast
-https://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/659/119100/

looks like a new version of the minimax 500, i think its fairly new cause there is only 1 demo video on youtube and no customer reviews yet, heres the demo -

What do you guys think?

Sounds pretty good to me, wish it was longer.

I'm looking for a new amp head and am considering the Minimax 600 as well.

 

[b-b-b-bass]

I have both an Ampeg PF-350 and a Peavey MiniMax 500. The MiniMax is a beast, but it has a super loud fan, which I find annoying for any kind of indoor practice or gig. I can only deal with the fan noise on outdoor gigs, and they are few. I recall reading that the MiniMax 600 has the same loud fan. Purple Bass Club

The PF-350 is stout, compact, and reliable (I bought it when it first came out in 2011? and it keeps on going). For the small and diminishing size gigs that are available to me these days, the PF-350 is perfect. That and a single 112 cab.

 

[Ambrose barton]

I have both an Ampeg PF-350 and a Peavey MiniMax 500. The MiniMax is a beast, but it has a super loud fan, which I find annoying for any kind of indoor practice or gig. I can only deal with the fan noise on outdoor gigs, and they are few. I recall reading that the MiniMax 600 has the same loud fan. Purple Bass Club

The PF-350 is stout, compact, and reliable (I bought it when it first came out in 2011? and it keeps on going). For the small and diminishing size gigs that are available to me these days, the PF-350 is perfect. That and a single 112 cab.

Which do you prefer the tone of?

 

[b-b-b-bass]

Which do you prefer the tone of?

I like the Peavey better tonewise. It has more punch, and enhanced tone control options. But the loud fan noise is too annoying. I also like the ampeg tone, it is quite useable, just not as dial-able or beefy.

 

[Ambrose barton]

I like the Peavey better tonewise. It has more punch, and enhanced tone control options. But the loud fan noise is too annoying. I also like the ampeg tone, it is quite useable, just not as dial-able or beefy.

Thanks man, do you practice in a small space?b my practice space is huge so the fan might be less of an annoyance there?

 

[lug]

FNI (Fan Noise Irritation) syndrome effect different people at different levels. There is no known treatment. I personally have a high threshold for FNI and require no treatment at all.

 

[b-b-b-bass]

Thanks man, do you practice in a small space?b my practice space is huge so the fan might be less of an annoyance there?

My personal practice space/studio is <100 square feet. Band practice space is about 400 square feet... the band finds the fan to be too loud. We are not a loud band.

 

[jeff7bass]

Would you choose it over an ampeg portaflex 350? I watched demos on both and to my ears I liked the peavey more ‍

I have the PF-350 and it gives you the great Ampeg sound but the built-in limiter tends to squash things a lot in a band situation. Acoustic band, fine. I wonder if the new MiniMAX has dialed down the fan noise, but I don't mind some fan noise in a gigging head.

 

[faulkner1953]

The fan noise is very present in the minimax v2. I just got one. The amp is great, the fan is a bit annoying. Of course, you don't notice it while playing.
I tried replacing the 24v 60mm fan with a different one with the quietest db rating I could find, which was 23db. It made no difference at all. The fan is mounted right against the side of the case where the air inlet holes are drilled. That is part of what makes it so loud. When I ordered the replacement fan, They came in a 2 pack. They are 10mm deep vs the original at 15mm. I took one of the new fans and cut out the fan part, leaving the outer frame only. There is just enough room in the amp to get the 10mm frame next to the air inlet holes, and then the other 10mm fan stacked on top of it. This moves the blades away from the side of the amp case. I dropped 5db of noise measured at about 6 inches away with an app on my phone. It's not great, but it helps.
I noticed that running the amp with the top cover off makes it MUCH quieter. Makes me wonder if more or larger holes on the exit side might make it quieter. Also, why didn't they use a temp control to slow down the fan when it's not needing to move so much air? I also wonder if that is a possibility to add to the fan power wire?

 

[Rojd]

I've had my Minimax 600 for several months now and like it a lot. I play in a 12ft × 15ft room and the fan is audible but not really a big deal and doesn't bother me.

 

[CallMeAl]

The fan noise is very present in the minimax v2. I just got one. The amp is great, the fan is a bit annoying. Of course, you don't notice it while playing.
I tried replacing the 24v 60mm fan with a different one with the quietest db rating I could find, which was 23db. It made no difference at all. The fan is mounted right against the side of the case where the air inlet holes are drilled. That is part of what makes it so loud. When I ordered the replacement fan, They came in a 2 pack. They are 10mm deep vs the original at 15mm. I took one of the new fans and cut out the fan part, leaving the outer frame only. There is just enough room in the amp to get the 10mm frame next to the air inlet holes, and then the other 10mm fan stacked on top of it. This moves the blades away from the side of the amp case. I dropped 5db of noise measured at about 6 inches away with an app on my phone. It's not great, but it helps.
I noticed that running the amp with the top cover off makes it MUCH quieter. Makes me wonder if more or larger holes on the exit side might make it quieter. Also, why didn't they use a temp control to slow down the fan when it's not needing to move so much air? I also wonder if that is a possibility to add to the fan power wire?

I've had my Minimax 600 for several months now and like it a lot. I play in a 12ft × 15ft room and the fan is audible but not really a big deal and doesn't bother me.

Have y’all tried the line out ? I’ve heard the line out on the v1 was very noisy and pretty much unusable. Wondering if they improved that on the v2

 

[faulkner1953]

Have y’all tried the line out ? I’ve heard the line out on the v1 was very noisy and pretty much unusable. Wondering if they improved that on the v2

I have not tried the DI out on mine yet. They claim it has been improved. https://www.bassgearmag.com/new-peavey-minimax-v2-at-the-2019-summer-namm-show/

 

[CallMeAl]

I have not tried the DI out on mine yet. They claim it has been improved. New Peavey MiniMax V2 at the 2019 Summer NAMM Show | Bass Gear Magazine

Cool thanks. It’s on my short list for my “next” head. I know I could always get a DI box, but it would be a factor on deciding, depending on what kinda deal I find

EDIT “A little bit more better.”

 

[Orpheus55]

I've been using the old minimax for several years in really terrible outdoor FL conditions and it has never failed me. I don't notice the fan noise at all unless I am right on top of it in a quiet room. The line out sucks big time, but I always use a passive Radial Pro direct box whenever playing live. One tip I learned--leave the midrange punch button depressed; it's the only button I use and the overall tone is great.