so if i was to have a very cheap rig using a 1x15 cab i made myself with a used speaker, and used a cheap old pa power amp, in theory would i need a preamp to run it, or will a preamp just make it sound better is it definately neceissary, and if so does it have to be a rack preamp or could i use a pedal preamp like those cheap behringer sansamp clones because one of them would be cheaper than a rack mic preamp. thanks
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question about seperate power pre amp
- Thread starter LeoJB
- Start date
A pedal should work, I've used my Ampeg SCR-DI into a power Amp before. Only problem is sometimes a pedals output isn't as powerful as a preamp. May need to turn up the power Amp more than normal. Should work thought.
- Apr 18, 2008
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- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Power amp = louder.
Preamp = tone shaping.
Preamp can be as fancy as you want or as simple as you need.
Preamp = tone shaping.
Preamp can be as fancy as you want or as simple as you need.
A pedal preamp would probably be enough -- it depends on the preamp AND the power amp. Some power amps need a pretty hot signal (like +4dBm or higher) to be driven to full output level, and some pedals -- and even some rack-mount preamps -- don't quite have enough signal. To be clear, almost any preamp will provide enough gain to drive a power amp to a usable level, it just might not be hot enough to achieve the full output power the amp is capable of. If you can suss out the input sensitivity (usually stated in volts or millivolts) of the power amp, you can check to be sure any preamp you're considering has enough gain -- manufacturers generally include maximum output level in the sales literature. If you can't determine the amp's input sensitivity, you'd probably be OK with a preamp that has an output in the range of about 1 volt or so.
Edit: I stand corrected -- I tried to find a published output specification for the Behringer clone pedal and struck out -- Behringer doesn't provide it. I wonder what they're not saying about their $39 clone of a well-built $200+ preamp?
Further edit: I don't know Scheisse from Shinola about pedals in general, but a casual comparison of the Behringer clone reveals that it is a long way from being an actual clone of the Tech 21 product it mimics. The Sansamp has a switchable output level (technically, it's a pad) on the XLR out that allows it to drive mic level OR line level inputs -- the Behringer lacks that function, from which I infer that the XLR out is basically in the mic-level range. The "manual" (such as it is) even states that the XLR is to be connected to the input of a mixer. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't a good value at <$40, but don't begin to expect the same performance.
To the OP, I'll suggest that you can maybe buy a used, half-decent bass amp head for $100 -- it would work as a stand-alone, and would likely have an output you could also use with your junky PA amp if necessary.
Edit: I stand corrected -- I tried to find a published output specification for the Behringer clone pedal and struck out -- Behringer doesn't provide it. I wonder what they're not saying about their $39 clone of a well-built $200+ preamp?
Further edit: I don't know Scheisse from Shinola about pedals in general, but a casual comparison of the Behringer clone reveals that it is a long way from being an actual clone of the Tech 21 product it mimics. The Sansamp has a switchable output level (technically, it's a pad) on the XLR out that allows it to drive mic level OR line level inputs -- the Behringer lacks that function, from which I infer that the XLR out is basically in the mic-level range. The "manual" (such as it is) even states that the XLR is to be connected to the input of a mixer. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't a good value at <$40, but don't begin to expect the same performance.
To the OP, I'll suggest that you can maybe buy a used, half-decent bass amp head for $100 -- it would work as a stand-alone, and would likely have an output you could also use with your junky PA amp if necessary.
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