- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,062
- 5
- 221,098
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
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Rack mount power amps - what's new or quality?
- Thread starter negativefx
- Start date
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
A 3.0 bridged can drive a 15/6/1 fEARful to distortion, and while I haven't pushed it flat out, can drive a pair of 15/6/1 cabs to high volumes. Not sure I ever have needed it except for the occasional (reggae) gig in a very large space where the PA was really way too modest.
You are looking for a power amp at the right time. Their demand has plummeted, and you can pick up great ones for nothin. You can now get a used LabGruppen for the price of a QSC or Crest. Check Craigslist. I still have a few racks of QSC's that I can't get rid of.
Look for sound companies selling them off. Well maintained, and usually they offer a warranty.
Look for sound companies selling them off. Well maintained, and usually they offer a warranty.
the older PLX amps also have that nice little bank of DIP switches on the back to set up a 30Hz or 50Hz HPF
looks like the 3 to 5 year theory holds up well for regular gigging musicians.
buy a power amp any power amp. just carry a backup.
switch mode power supplies just dont last very long
otherwise ironically as mentioned the completely scratched and dented and well used totally ancient lead sled that everyone laughs at. you know the ones still working. well they are dirt cheap.....and still working.
the more scratches and dents the better. means they work. and work and work. they are the blessed ones lol.
as for the power amp you just bought that did die . it is not blessed. it will always look very very pretty and new.
when you drop it in the trash or sell it. it will look very very pretty and new.
it needed to prove itself. it needed to live on and on. but it did not.
lol for the most part yes. all my old peaveys too were relentless and kept going and going. likewise older QSC
on generators at renegades, running 2 to 3 days constant. yeah.....big heavy dirt cheap turd peaveys. wish i could remember that old yamaha i had was. my god the thing was tough
buy a power amp any power amp. just carry a backup.
switch mode power supplies just dont last very long
otherwise ironically as mentioned the completely scratched and dented and well used totally ancient lead sled that everyone laughs at. you know the ones still working. well they are dirt cheap.....and still working.
the more scratches and dents the better. means they work. and work and work. they are the blessed ones lol.
as for the power amp you just bought that did die . it is not blessed. it will always look very very pretty and new.
when you drop it in the trash or sell it. it will look very very pretty and new.
it needed to prove itself. it needed to live on and on. but it did not.
All of my Carvin Power amps have been rock solid.
lol for the most part yes. all my old peaveys too were relentless and kept going and going. likewise older QSC
on generators at renegades, running 2 to 3 days constant. yeah.....big heavy dirt cheap turd peaveys. wish i could remember that old yamaha i had was. my god the thing was tough
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,062
- 5
- 221,098
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Well the QSC PLX series which is SMPS based has a reliability track record that flies in the face of BogeyBass's doomsday scenario. I've had a couple dozen PLX-3402's for at least 15 (and maybe 20) years that have tens of thousands of touring miles on them and I have yet to have one fail. That's a hard track record to beat, many amps over many years.
There are thousands of Shuttle 3's, 6's and 9's that are getting close to 15 years old as well, and as the factory support guy for all domestic and international customers and dealers/service centers, very rarely do I see a problem with either the SMPS or the class D parts of the amps. The most common problems are tubes and getting dropped.
The computers and servers in industrial/commercial applications all use SMPS, and they often run 24/7 for 10-15 years without any issues. Again, ~100,000 hours without issues.
Let's keep this factual man.
There are thousands of Shuttle 3's, 6's and 9's that are getting close to 15 years old as well, and as the factory support guy for all domestic and international customers and dealers/service centers, very rarely do I see a problem with either the SMPS or the class D parts of the amps. The most common problems are tubes and getting dropped.
The computers and servers in industrial/commercial applications all use SMPS, and they often run 24/7 for 10-15 years without any issues. Again, ~100,000 hours without issues.
Let's keep this factual man.
