Preamp for Wayne Jones Powered Cab?

[Top_Ten]

Hey all, I’m looking for some thoughts on a preamp to use with a Wayne Jones powered 1x10 cab. It’s actually a two part question:

First, one thing I want to try is using the Wayne Jones with my HX Stomp. Any thoughts on whether that cab is FRFR enough to use with the power amp and cab sims in the Stomp, or would it be better to just use the preamp and effect modules in the Stomp as though I was using the Stomp in front of a regular amp?

Second, what other small, pedal board sized preamps would be good to pair with the Wayne Jones? I have a nice collection of rack mount and other more “full size” preamps that I will try, but I am particularly interested in a set up that would allow me to run just a pedal board straight into the cab. So something like a Noble or similar. Any good ideas?

One consideration is that the Wayne Jones does not have its own gain control like you would typically find on a standalone power amp. So any volume control will need to be handled only through the preamp. This makes me wonder whether a Noble or similar preamp with just a single volume control may not be very flexible with the Wayne Jones.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[steelbed45]

I owned the 2x10 at one point and ran into the same issue. The Mesa Boogie Subway Bass DI-Pre pedal checked all of the boxes. It has both line and mic level XLR outputs and the signal is hot enough to the WJ to have precise volume control.

 

[Top_Ten]

Thanks — the Mesa was not on my radar but that does look like it might fit the bill.

 

[hamer12string]

Mesa Boogie Subway Bass DI-Pre pedal checked all of the boxes

I've used the "plus" version of the Mesa DI to drive the WJ powered 2x10 as well as the powered 1x10 (paired with an unpowered WJ 1x10).

I've been really happy with it - as steelbed45 mentioned the Mesa has plenty of signal to drive the WJ's.

 

[michaelmwong]

First, one thing I want to try is using the Wayne Jones with my HX Stomp. Any thoughts on whether that cab is FRFR enough ...?

I think so. I've tried this with guitar modellers - a guitarist plugged his Kemper in and it sounded great.

Second, what other small, pedal board sized preamps would be good to pair with the Wayne Jones? I have a nice collection of rack mount and other more “full size” preamps that I will try, but I am particularly interested in a set up that would allow me to run just a pedal board straight into the cab. So something like a Noble or similar. Any good ideas?

One consideration is that the Wayne Jones does not have its own gain control like you would typically find on a standalone power amp. So any volume control will need to be handled only through the preamp. This makes me wonder whether a Noble or similar preamp with just a single volume control may not be very flexible with the Wayne Jones.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

I use a Jule Amps Monique and love the combination. I find that if with the Whirlwind Bass Ten EQ on my pedalboard I have plenty of level to drive the powered speaker (stereo pair powered and passive 1x10s) even without the Monique.

 

[marchone]

I had a similar question recently so I wrote to Wayne Jones. I wanted to know if a Sadowsky SBP-2 would power his WJ210. I thought his purpose made preamp had too many dials and I wanted to simplify. He responded personally within hours. Apparently the XLR output should match to obtain the designed volume of his powered cabinets.

Hi,
Yes the Sadowsky pre amp will work with the powered 2x10 cab
Looking at the specs of the pre amp it says XLR output 600 ohms
My pre amps XLR out puts are 300 ohms
https://www.waynejonesaudio.com/products-specs/wjbp-stereo-bass-pre-amp/
It may be that the volume level will suffer as the Sadowsky looks more like a DI output level
I tried an Avalon U5 DI straight into the cabs but there was a loss in volume
The WJ pre amps or most designated pre amps have similar XLR output Impedance
Hope that helps, Wayne

My query came from deciding between a WJ210 or a Mesa Boogie Subway rig. Strangely enough, the answer from the posts above brings me back to a Mesa product anyway.

 

[frankie5string]

If you're looking for a simple pedal preamp, don't forget the Sansamp Q-Strip.
It's basically clean preamp in a pedal with a pretty versatile EQ.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[agedhorse]

What is the input sensitivity of the XLR input on the cabinet?

This is important in determining if the preamp can drive the cabinet to rated power.

In this case, the impedance isn’t going to matter, they are all going to be fine in this regard.

 

[frankie5string]

What is the input sensitivity of the XLR input on the cabinet?

This is important in determining if the preamp can drive the cabinet to rated power.

In this case, the impedance isn’t going to matter, they are all going to be fine in this regard.

Probably lower than the typical sensitivity on something like a QSC power amp. Funny how it's few specs he doesn't publish, but I assume that's because he expects folks to buy his preamp with his amplified speakers... ;-) "It works perfectly fine with the preamp I sell."

 

[marchone]

What is the input sensitivity of the XLR input on the cabinet?

This is important in determining if the preamp can drive the cabinet to rated power.

Trying to understand here …

… I am selectively dense when it comes electronics …

… didn’t Jones answer that question? That in choosing a preamp the XLR output should be 300 ohms?

I’m looking for specific preamp recommendations that will power a WJ210. So which exact Mesa preamp will work? I see several that Mesa offers.

EDIT: This is purely an academic question as I’ve already preordered for a WD-800 and SW115 rig.

 

[agedhorse]

No, the impedance doesn’t have anything to do with sensitivity.

Input sensitivity is a critical specification when it comes to interfacing preamps with power amps.

As a general rule of thumb, the preamp should be capable of 6dB maximum output level greater than the rated input sensitivity of the power amp.

The Subway pedals are capable of driving with this headroom any power amp with a sensitivity of +4dBu which is the most common input sensitivity (this some can be as high as +8dBu).

This is discussed in the pedal owners manual, and the full specs are listed there.

 

[marchone]

This is discussed in the pedal owners manual, and the full specs are listed there.

Which Mesa pedal? All or any of them? Boost? Drive? EQ?

Which ever direction I go, when it’s set I forget about. I have enough clutter in my little brain.

 

[agedhorse]

Which Mesa pedal? All or any of them? Boost? Drive? EQ?

Which ever direction I go, when it’s set I forget about. I have enough clutter in my little brain.

Specifically the Subway preamp pedals that were mentioned earlier in this thread. The Subway and Subway Plus Pre-DI.

The guitar pedals do NOT have adequate maximum output level, nor do they have XLR line level preamp outputs.

 

[marchone]

The Subway and Subway Plus Pre-DI.

Thank you for your patience.

 

[Top_Ten]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I got the Mesa Subway and it seems to work great with the Wayne Jones cab. I haven't been able to try it full volume yet, but from what I can tell messing around at home, I suspect it is going to work fine.

 

[agedhorse]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I got the Mesa Subway and it seems to work great with the Wayne Jones cab. I haven't been able to try it full volume yet, but from what I can tell messing around at home, I suspect it is going to work fine.

I guarantee that it's compatible level-wise for driving that powered cabinet.

 

[michaelmwong]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I got the Mesa Subway and it seems to work great with the Wayne Jones cab. I haven't been able to try it full volume yet, but from what I can tell messing around at home, I suspect it is going to work fine.

Agedhorse has said it will and there's no higher authority on Mesa products (and possibly amps in general) so Mesa Subway will definitely have enough output. I expect it will sound amazing and am interested in your results.

You can test the output level without making any noise by plugging into input 2 and disabling the link. This will drive the speakon output only and it can be run without plugging in a cabinet. You will then be able to turn up the Subway and see when the clip indicator lights up on the Wayne Jones 1x12

 

[marchone]

Wayne Jones 1x12

Did you mean WJ110 or WJ210?

 

[Top_Ten]

Agedhorse has said it will and there's no higher authority on Mesa products (and possibly amps in general) so Mesa Subway will definitely have enough output. I expect it will sound amazing and am interested in your results.

You can test the output level without making any noise by plugging into input 2 and disabling the link. This will drive the speakon output only and it can be run without plugging in a cabinet. You will then be able to turn up the Subway and see when the clip indicator lights up on the Wayne Jones 1x12

That's smart and yeah, using that method, the Subway drives the cab to clipping easily.

 

[agedhorse]

That's smart and yeah, using that method, the Subway drives the cab to clipping easily.

With at least 6dB of headroom beyond where the power amp clips.

That's the entire point of the Subway preamps, to directly drive any power amp I am aware of including all of the pro audio power amps.