As far as underpowering, one of my rehearsal rigs is presently an Ashdown CTM-30 (30 watts) into an 800w rated 8x10. How long before that cab goes nuclear on me? LOL
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Power Amp Recommendations
- Thread starter Stranger Danger
- Start date
This is correct, but the power amps we're talking about are not class A. Your Strategy is decidedly class AB and so is my SVT. Crossover distortion can be a problem in both of those if they're not biased properly.
I'm not arguing against tube amps, far from it. I love tubes. What I'm arguing against is misinformation. There are very real reasons why tube amps can sound a lot different than SS ones but there's also a lot of BS surrounding the issue.
Now we're getting somewhere.
In terms of open loop behaviour, lower gain devices are inherently more linear than higher gain ones and as a rule tubes are much lower gain devices than transistors. So without negative feedback typical tubes are indeed more linear than typical solid state devices. However, when you start introducing feedback this changes. Any open loop tube gain stage will have some non-linearity below clipping and you can observe this from the plate curves. Without feedback that distortion is mostly low order and in the case of a single ended gain stage mostly 2nd order. Start adding feedback and as the gain drops, operation becomes more linear below clipping. It's no secret that tube amps use less overall feedback than solid state ones and a big part of the tube amp sound is wrapped up in that.
the Mesa Strategy/Prodigy use NO feedback.. This is directly from Randal Smith.
I believe that the Ashdown CTM-30 I have also has no negative feedback - but not sure as they won't give me a peek at the bloody schematic 
. And even with bipolar transistors it's pretty easy to lower their gain with the proper circuitry and make them more "tube/MOSFET-like". There's just no reason to when you can just use MOSFETS 
. And it's super easy to just do your "tubelike" stuff in the preamp and use a cheap class "D" power amp like the OP wants.
. And even with bipolar transistors it's pretty easy to lower their gain with the proper circuitry and make them more "tube/MOSFET-like". There's just no reason to when you can just use MOSFETS . And it's super easy to just do your "tubelike" stuff in the preamp and use a cheap class "D" power amp like the OP wants.
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Wow. 5 pages of hijacked bickering back and forth with little to no help for the OP. Can you guys put your egos aside and either take your crap private, start another thread, or just answer the OPs request. Really. OP was just looking for some help finding a reliable power amp that meets his power needs and USA made.
I vote for the Crest ProLite 2.0. 540w per channel at 4ohms is quite enough. You don't need anymore than that.
I genuinely feel bad about that... however
a) The OP got what he came for
b) I didn't begin the process of calling people out casing them to want to defend their point.
c) This is clearly a topic that has a lot of gray area and disagreement, and SOME will benefit from this debate.
d) you can always opt out.
And to answer OP, QSC's previous generation of PLX amps meet your qualifications. They are USA made, 2U spaces, and relatively light. They come in several power confirmations. The amp you should be looking for is the PLX2402.
Whereas every pro level SS power amp uses a lot of feedback.
And your post helps how, exactly? If the OP objects, I'm sure he can speak for himself.
Assuming proper bias, of course.
For me I would go with the 3.0 so I could get away with not bridging. Leaves the other channel open for PA use.
If you actually read the thread there have been plenty of on-topic recommendations
.
If you actually read the thread there have been plenty of on-topic recommendations
There have been about 7-8 actual reccomendations in this thread of nearly 100 posts.
I highly suspect the OP would be fine with 7-8 power amps LOL. Truth is just about any would do. I personally own one of the "original" shallow power amps bass players bought a lot of (the Carvin DCM1000) and now there are plenty of other shallow amps available. I also have Peavey IPR's and a Behringer NU, all just fine on bass. If anybody wants a stoopid big, stoopid heavy RMX850 or two let me knowThere have been about 7-8 actual reccomendations in this thread of nearly 100 posts.
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I too agree with the Carvin recommendation. Currently I own a DCM1204L, A DCM1000L and an HD2000. all Class D and very light. I'll soon be ordering the HD3000 for my PA.
The HD2000 powers my gig rig. The DCM1000L my rehearsal system and the DCM1204L my PA monitors. I also own a DCM1000 and a DCM2004 from their heavier series.
The HD2000 powers my gig rig. The DCM1000L my rehearsal system and the DCM1204L my PA monitors. I also own a DCM1000 and a DCM2004 from their heavier series.
OP answered in post #46. He is going with QSC. @StrangerDanger Enjoy your new amp. Do not forget to do a "New Amp Day" Thread to let us know how it works for you.
Why do so many power amp threads end up in discussions around what happens at extreme power output from an amp when today a few thousand watts is very affordable and reliable? And actually very efficient today. They don't draw huge amounts of power when they don't need to supply it like amps of yesteryear. The old endless arguments about what happens at clipping are useless. Amp makers know what happens and design for it.
It doesn't really matter what's inside the box or how it's done as long as the actual output is what you need. I'd say too many are influenced by looking inside the box and their bias then affects what they think they hear.
Myself, it's going to be a power amps developed in the last few decades. They are clean and transparent. Music in, music out. It sounds good in, it sound good out. Has to be efficient, has to be reliable.
Can't really go wrong with any of the major brands these days. It's just little added value features that differentiate power amps these days.
It doesn't really matter what's inside the box or how it's done as long as the actual output is what you need. I'd say too many are influenced by looking inside the box and their bias then affects what they think they hear.
Myself, it's going to be a power amps developed in the last few decades. They are clean and transparent. Music in, music out. It sounds good in, it sound good out. Has to be efficient, has to be reliable.
Can't really go wrong with any of the major brands these days. It's just little added value features that differentiate power amps these days.
