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Peavey MiniMega 1000

#982
There are a lot of micro amps out there. That was also the case when we debuted the mega. The thing is, pretty much all of them are powered by ice power modules. I have evaluated those modules and I've played a lot of the competitor amps. I think they are good, but they never gave me the performance I was used to. I know a lot of others feel the same way.

I know that many people have the opinion that a power amp is just a power amp. I don't agree with that. In my opinion, the power section of a bass amp is the most important part. Since we were late to the game, I knew the only thing that could give us an edge was the power amp. I don't think the world needs any more "me too" micro bass heads. If you're not going to offer something actually better or different, why bother? So anyway, I went for it. It was extremely difficult, but I was left with a great sense of satisfaction that I actually designed my entire amp.

Last year at NAMM, jhawk the cab builder came to see me to borrow an amp. He said that they tried everything else, but he and the performers he had didn't feel like the other amps could deliver the goods. When I visited his booth, I saw a stack of other borrowed amps. Some mainstream, some boutique. The common element was ice module. They chose to use the Mini Mega. They also asked to take it to a club that night for an artist showcase. To my knowledge, the artist preference was unanimous.

So anyway, yeah there's a lot of competition, but in reality most of it is the same, and I think people will instantly realize the difference when they try the mega.
 
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#983
Products that use the PV1000 module?

Mini Mega
Headliner 1000
Robert Randolph sig steel amp (used on tour for a while now)
RBN 215 sub
RBN 118 sub
RBN 112 pa cab
RBN 110 pa cab
XR-S powered mixer
XR-AT powered mixer
PXR 1000 powered mixer (international product...has been shipping for awhile)
SP-2p pa speaker
SP-4p pa speaker
SP 218 sub

It's slated for use in more.
 
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#984
BbbyBld said:
There are a lot of micro amps out there. That was also the case when we debuted the mega. The thing is, pretty much all of them are powered by ice power modules. I have evaluated those modules and I've played a lot of the competitor amps. I think they are good, but they never gave me the performance I was used to. I know a lot of others feel the same way.

I know that many people have the opinion that a power amp is just a power amp. I don't agree with that. In my opinion, the power section of a bass amp is the most important part. Since we were late to the game, I knew the only thing that could give us an edge was the power amp. I don't think the world needs any more "me too" micro bass heads. If you're not going to offer something actually better or different, why bother? So anyway, I went for it. It was extremely difficult, but I was left with a great sense of satisfaction that I actually designed my entire amp.

Last year at NAMM, jhawk the cab builder came to see me to borrow an amp. He said that they tried everything else, but he and the performers he had didn't feel like the other amps could deliver the goods. When I visited his booth, I saw a stack of other borrowed amps. Some mainstream, some boutique. The common element was ice module. They chose to use the Mini Mega. They also asked to take it to a club that night for an artist showcase. To my knowledge, the artist preference was unanimous.

So anyway, yeah there's a lot of competition, but in reality most of it is the same, and I think people will instantly realize the difference when they try the mega.
Click to expand...

Dang! I've always been interested in the Mega and also the Max. At one time, I thought that I was sure to wind up owning both. Could still happen, I guess but what you just posted sure has my ears perked up about the Mega. Thanks!
 
#986
Im one of those guys that DONT believe a power amp is just a power amp..
I think they sound different from maker to maker and class to class. The reason?? I don't
know why..
The ICE module amps are ok for lightweight, but they are not quite as big sounding in the similar amount of WATTS category as my older Crown MA1200 or Crown PSA2 amps .
To me it's not so much a hearing difference , as it is a FEEL difference.. It's a feel thing.
So , i am with you on this..And I am glad to see you creating and making your own PV module..


BbbyBld said:
There are a lot of micro amps out there. That was also the case when we debuted the mega. The thing is, pretty much all of them are powered by ice power modules. I have evaluated those modules and I've played a lot of the competitor amps. I think they are good, but they never gave me the performance I was used to. I know a lot of others feel the same way.

I know that many people have the opinion that a power amp is just a power amp. I don't agree with that. In my opinion, the power section of a bass amp is the most important part. Since we were late to the game, I knew the only thing that could give us an edge was the power amp. I don't think the world needs any more "me too" micro bass heads. If you're not going to offer something actually better or different, why bother? So anyway, I went for it. It was extremely difficult, but I was left with a great sense of satisfaction that I actually designed my entire amp.

Last year at NAMM, jhawk the cab builder came to see me to borrow an amp. He said that they tried everything else, but he and the performers he had didn't feel like the other amps could deliver the goods. When I visited his booth, I saw a stack of other borrowed amps. Some mainstream, some boutique. The common element was ice module. They chose to use the Mini Mega. They also asked to take it to a club that night for an artist showcase. To my knowledge, the artist preference was unanimous.

So anyway, yeah there's a lot of competition, but in reality most of it is the same, and I think people will instantly realize the difference when they try the mega.
Click to expand...
 
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#987
Another thing I'd like to point out is that since I learned so much with the pv1000, it helped me learn how to shrink things in the Mini Max. The Mini Max platform is capable of a lot more than 500w, but we stopped there on that amp for cost reasons. That exercise helped me learn how to shrink things a whole lot further still and increase efficiency. We will be unveiling more bass amps soon that take advantage of these developments. At the same time, we seem to have learned from our past mistakes of showing things too early, so when you see that stuff, it will actually be ready to ship! Imagine that.

Anyway, the amps that you have seen are just the beginning, so I feel certain we will remain competitive.
 
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#988
BbbyBld said:
We will be unveiling more bass amps soon that take advantage of these developments. At the same time, we seem to have learned from our past mistakes of showing things too early, so when you see that stuff, it will actually be ready to ship! Imagine that.

Anyway, the amps that you have seen are just the beginning, so I feel certain we will remain competitive.
Click to expand...

Just when you almost had me sold, you tempt me even more with the "more to come" info! :D
 
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#991
The Mega may very well be better than what I have but I have more of a need, if you can call it that, for an amp like the Max. Just chatted with an online vendor. Of course, I asked if there was any additional incentive to preorder. They politely told me no but did inform me that I would not be charged until the item was shipped. Kind of thinking about it..... Hard. Now, I need to go back and find the descriptions that Bobby provided a while back of all the new amps to refresh my memory and set the right expectations.
 
#992
Great. Now there's more awesome mystery amps coming in 2 years.

yudodispeavey.png
 
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#993
So, hopefully these amps ship soon, they sound like a big deal. I can't say I regret getting the pf500 instead of this amp, because now I can just get one when I'm back in Windsor, assuming it's shipped by July.

Had I the means, I'd get the address to a peavey factory and try to see if I could playtest and ship some to you guys myself. Aren't these units shipping from china?
 
#994
On paper this amp beats anything else out there right now for what I'm looking for. That initial reaction of the amp through Greenboy cabs is what got and continues to hold my attention.

I looked at the Mesa and I'm still curious about it, but the Peavey is more full featured, most importantly with EQ. I'll be taking a look at the latest Genzler also. But I don't see any other micros out there that can match what the MiniMega offers, again, at least on paper.
 
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#995
Deadsound said:
On paper this amp beats anything else out there right now for what I'm looking for. That initial reaction of the amp through Greenboy cabs is what got and continues to hold my attention.

I looked at the Mesa and I'm still curious about it, but the Peavey is more full featured, most importantly with EQ. I'll be taking a look at the latest Genzler also. But I don't see any other micros out there that can match what the MiniMega offers, again, at least on paper.
Click to expand...

Yeah, as someone who's using Dave's cabs too, this one looks like a great fit. I'd be all over this if I wasn't using one of Bobby's other amps already, the IPR2-3000-DSP. Although there could be one in the future just as an alternative or backup. I know that there's been general interest in these units from the GB/fF camp since announced for these. After moving to 'big power-no headroom ceiling' all other amps have left me underwhelmed, so this one could be gold.
 
#998
Bobby's comment about future amps was well-intentioned, I think, but carried some unfortunate overtones. If Bobby and Peavey Co. are already thinking about the design of future amps, that's a good thing - to turn the theme of delay on its head, this amp was designed two years ago. What kind of engineer would Bobby be if he hadn't had any new ideas or considered any refinements to the design since then? That said, if I bought a Minimega now, only to see it discontinued in a few months and replaced with a Son of Minimega, I'd likely be... miffed.

I'm glad to hear that the power section has gotten serious consideration - and I commend you, Bobby, for designing your own. This is where most micros, as impressive as they can be, have fallen short until now. I don't think that Peavey is the only company paying attention to that now - I can think of a few - but I still think that there's plenty of room for this amp, provided that it delivers and that Peavey Co. (which better have learned some lessons and taken them to heart) can manage the marketing, production, and distribution of the amp sensibly.
 
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#999
Bobby's comment about future amps was well-intentioned, I think, but carried some unfortunate overtones. If Bobby and Peavey Co. are already thinking about the design of future amps, that's a good thing - to turn the theme of delay on its head, this amp was designed two years ago. What kind of engineer would Bobby be if he hadn't had any new ideas or considered any refinements to the design since then? That said, if I bought a Minimega now, only to see it discontinued in a few months and replaced with a Son of Minimega, I'd likely be... miffed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can see where one might get that perception...guess that's why I'm not in sales, huh?:D The Mini Mega is not going to be replaced or short lived. There are other bass gear market segments that we will be targeting...I'll leave it at that, and I apologize in advance for the ambiguity.

I'm glad to hear that the power section has gotten serious consideration - and I commend you, Bobby, for designing your own. This is where most micros, as impressive as they can be, have fallen short until now. I don't think that Peavey is the only company paying attention to that now - I can think of a few - but I still think that there's plenty of room for this amp, provided that it delivers and that Peavey Co. (which better have learned some lessons and taken them to heart) can manage the marketing, production, and distribution of the amp sensibly.
Click to expand...

I know we're not the only company to "roll our own". I have a lot respect for the others that have gone that way. What I was getting at is that there is a steep learning curve working with these technologies, so I think the companies that have been in the trenches for a while will have a strong advantage over those still capitalizing on the whole slap a preamp in front of an ice module thing now that it's getting to be more about performance rather than simply small size.
 
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