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Power amp suggestions for Demeter Pre and Barefaced cab

Cremette

Cremette

Aug 5, 2015
11
18
Berthierville, Québec, Canada
#1
Hi everybody!

It's my first post, but I'm a long time reader. You guys made me spend a lot of money ! :bag:

So I'm looking for a rack mountable power amp that I'll use with my Demeter VTBP-201s pre amp. I just ordered a Big Baby 2 cab from Barefaced to complete my rig.

The cab is 8 ohms and they say to use a amp between 150 Watts and 800 Watts, so I'm looking for a power amp that could push around those 800 Watts on a single channel. I may add a second cab in the future if I need more volume, but for now a single one will be more than enough.

What I'm looking for :
- Good sound quality
- Good built quality
- Reliable
- Relatively light weight - around 20 pounds or less
- I don't want to sell a kidney
- I'm in Canada, so maybe some brands are not available in the North.

I would like to know what are your recommendations and why. Is the DSP functionalities on some of them are really usefull for bass player ? Does it add some sort of lag/latency ?

For now, I'm looking at the QSC PLX2 series, probably the PLX3102. But for the price I think I'll go with the QSC GX7 which seems powerfull enough for me, it doesn't have bridge mode and so, but I don't think I'll use it anyway.

What about the Crest, Peavy, Crown and so on ?

Thank you all!
 
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#2
I used to own Crown Microtech, Peavey PV1200, Behringer EP, and still own QSC RMX1450 and PLX2 3102. Never had a single issue with any of them. I mostly use the PLX2, but prefer the RMX. The PLX2 provides more power, but I like the feel of the A/B amps. I would say this: Buy once, cry once. Get one that bridges and goes down to 2 Ohms in stereo/parallel. The added flexibility is worth it because you never know what you'll need it for later.
 
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#3
I settled on Carvin for my power amp needs. I’ve used them for many years. i recently started the exercise of switching to Class D amplifiers to lighten my load. The following are the units I currently own.

HD2000 my bass amp driven by a tube pre-amp I designed and built.
HD3000 PA Mains
DCM 2004L PA Monitors it’s a four channel x 500W unit.
DCM1000L not in use at this time

They all weigh something like 10 pounds.

I also have an older DCM1204 which is powering my second PA rack. Two channels for Mains and two for monitors.

The HD2000 is no longer available but the DCM2000L is $379 on sale.
The HD3000 is $279 on sale.
 
#4
If we made you spend a lot of money then we've achieved our purpose. Lets go home guys.

Welcome to Talkbase! Since you've been lurking you already know our deepest thoughts. Is a PJ a real P or not? The answer used to be carrots, now it's Covfefe.

BTW what the best Covfefe for metal?

Enjoy! :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
Thanks @Pbassmanca! Edit for typo. Oh crap, is it a real word now?
 
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#5
Deak said:
If we made you spend a lot of money then we've achieved our purpose. Lets go home guys.

Welcome to Talkbase! Since you've been lurking you already know our deepest thoughts. Is a PJ a real P or not? The answer used to be carrots, now it's Confefe.

BTW what the best Confefe for metal?

Enjoy! :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
Click to expand...
*Covfefe;)
 
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#7
Another prop for the Crest ProLite. I've got a 3.0 racked beneath my VTBP-201; and it doesn't get much better than that.

Your other option (which wouldn't quite fit into the selling a kidney budget, but close) is to send your preamp to James and have him install the Minnie 800D power section inside it. Some advantages there as well.
 
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#8
bucephylus said:
Another prop for the Crest ProLite. I've got a 3.0 racked beneath my VTBP-201; and it doesn't get much better than that.

Your other option (which wouldn't quite fit into the selling a kidney budget, but close) is to send your preamp to James and have him install the Minnie 800D power section inside it. Some advantages there as well.
Click to expand...

I'll take a look at the Pro-Lite.

For the Minnie 800D I think it will be a bit too pricey and I think it is 'only' 400 Watts at 8 ohms. I also prefer to have a separate power amp. It will give me more flexibility if I want to use another pre amp in the future.
 
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#11
I have used Carvin stuff for more than twenty years. I have never regretted a single purchase. I too am North of the border. :) Where ever you live you have to pay shipping and taxes even if bought in a bricks and morter store. It’s up to you I have nothing to gain out of this I just made a recommendation.

In my avatar you can see me playing a Carvin bass. I have two more and another that I built using Carvin parts. They are the best instruments I have ever owned! :)
 
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#13
Cremette said:
...looking for a rack mountable power amp that I'll use with my Demeter VTBP-201s pre amp. I just ordered a Big Baby 2 cab from Barefaced to complete my rig.

The cab is 8 ohms and they say to use a amp between 150 Watts and 800 Watts, so I'm looking for a power amp that could push around those 800 Watts on a single channel. I may add a second cab in the future if I need more volume, but for now a single one will be more than enough...
Click to expand...

A Crest Prolite 3.0 non-dap would be my choice. oops, yes, non-DSP!
 
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#17
I'm a fan of the QSC GX7. Truckload of power and relatively lightweight. It won't do bridged mono, but you can split your input signal to each side and still run two 4 ohm cabs.

It sounded pretty good with my gigging "studio" rig...

20170407_000613_zpsvddin7eq.jpg


Carvin AC120 power strip, Empirical Labs Mike-E preamp. Empirical Labs Lil FrEQ EQ strip, QSC GX7 power amp. I usually ran it through two Ampeg PN410s. I've also powered this rig with a Crown XLS 2002 and a Peavey IPR3000. The Peavey quit on me, twice, and the Crown, sometimes, felt like it was struggling. I've had a couple of these QSC's and they always sound good and were pretty reliable...
 
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#18
pbass6811 said:
I'm a fan of the QSC GX7. Truckload of power and relatively lightweight. It won't do bridged mono, but you can split your input signal to each side and still run two 4 ohm cabs.

It sounded pretty good with my gigging "studio" rig...

20170407_000613_zpsvddin7eq.jpg


Carvin AC120 power strip, Empirical Labs Mike-E preamp. Empirical Labs Lil FrEQ EQ strip, QSC GX7 power amp. I usually ran it through two Ampeg PN410s. I've also powered this rig with a Crown XLS 2002 and a Peavey IPR3000. The Peavey quit on me, twice, and the Crown, sometimes, felt like it was struggling. I've had a couple of these QSC's and they always sound good and were pretty reliable...
Click to expand...

On a side note, but still kinda related, Since we're playing both nights next weekend, I'll be taking this rack out for a spin one night with my BareFaced Big Twin II. I'll use my Mesa D800+ one night, and then I'll throw my Arkham Sound Zephyr tube pre in the rack and use that the following weekend...
 
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#20
Cremette said:
I'm wondering, do you guys ear or feel any difference between a class D and a class H topology?
Click to expand...
Not really. Although the damping factor and power of a Crest CA9 or CA6 is oceanic. They also weight 48 lbs.

I was able to fart out a fEARful 15/6/1 with a Crest Prolite 3.0 bridged.
 
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