Sonic Farm/MAS Bass Amp project.

[MarkA]

On the Tantra there is no Gain switch just the Pentode/Tri switch and the DI EQ switch are usable where from what I read on the 2DI4 they are not.On the Tantra there is a switch called ATT/Mute and it is 3 positions.To the left is mute middle is no Attenuation and to the right is 6db attenuation for Active bass .No matter what position this switch is the 3 Position EQ swotcjs still work on the Tantra but for me the Bass Boost to the right is too much bass boost for me.It acts like a Loudness switch on a Stereo to boost bass at low volumes but when playing loud it is too much.While some feel the Tantra has too many bells and whistles that does.t mean you have to use everything on it !!! But there are so many things useful plus you don,t have to carry around another piece of equipment loaded pedalboard with multi patch cables !!

Are there tiny trim pots (recessed, turn with a small screwdriver) on the Tantra for the Bass and Treble boosts? (Note: not talking about the Bass and Treble controls on the EQ, but the broad voicing switches borrowed from the 2DI4.) There are on the 2DI4. Maxed-out, they are more than I would typically use. (I mentioned in the post with my clip, for which they were fully open, that I usually set the Bass boost at about 40%, Treble at about 60%, when I engage them.) If they are adjustable on the Tantra as well, you might try dialing them back and see how you like them. If you don't like them, that's okay -- as you said, just because there are a lot of features, doesn't mean that you have to use them all.

One thing that I like about the design of the preamp section (which, I'll admit, is a lot of knobs for me, though it's not as intimidating to look at as the first time I saw it), is that pretty much everything can be switched in/out of the circuit. I've liked that on the amps/preamps I've owned that had it (Glockenklang EQ, Demeter HBP-1 parametric section, Ashly BP-41 parametric band).

I'm almost certain that the boosts on the 2DI4 come through the D.I. (mic level) and Line outputs, both, but I'll double-check.

Input switch on the 2DI4: Mute, -12 dB, 0 dB.

 

[foderaman]

Are there tiny trim pots (recessed, turn with a small screwdriver) on the Tantra for the Bass and Treble boosts? (Note: not talking about the Bass and Treble controls on the EQ, but the broad voicing switches borrowed from the 2DI4.) There are on the 2DI4. Maxed-out, they are more than I would typically use. (I mentioned in the post with my clip, for which they were fully open, that I usually set the Bass boost at about 40%, Treble at about 60%, when I engage them.) If they are adjustable on the Tantra as well, you might try dialing them back and see how you like them. If you don't like them, that's okay -- as you said, just because there are a lot of features, doesn't mean that you have to use them all.

One thing that I like about the design of the preamp section (which, I'll admit, is a lot of knobs for me, though it's not as intimidating to look at as the first time I saw it), is that pretty much everything can be switched in/out of the circuit. I've liked that on the amps/preamps I've owned that had it (Glockenklang EQ, Demeter HBP-1 parametric section, Ashly BP-41 parametric band).

I'm almost certain that the boosts on the 2DI4 come through the D.I. (mic level) and Line outputs, both, but I'll double-check.

Input switch on the 2DI4: Mute, -12 dB, 0 dB.

Yes there are trim pots for the DI section just like the 2DI4 but there is no Gain Switch which eliminates any of the Eq changes to the DI.The Basic 2DI4 section in the Tantra has plenty of EQ by itself but then for fine tuning you still have the 5 other EQ pots you can use. On any of them all you may need would be just a slight boost or cut.You say on your 2DI4 if you push in the Gain switch you lose the EQ from the switches but on the Tantra there is nothing that effects those EQ switches.There is so much more EQing if you want with the Tantra there is no need to mess with the trim pots but I could try adjusting to see if I like better but as of now its the exact way from where i bought from Mike A.

 

[MarkA]

Yes there are trim pots for the DI section just like the 2DI4 but there is no Gain Switch which eliminates any of the Eq changes to the DI.The Basic 2DI4 section in the Tantra has plenty of EQ by itself but then for fine tuning you still have the 5 other EQ pots you can use. On any of them all you may need would be just a slight boost or cut.You say on your 2DI4 if you push in the Gain switch you lose the EQ from the switches but on the Tantra there is nothing that effects those EQ switches.There is so much more EQing if you want with the Tantra there is no need to mess with the trim pots but I could try adjusting to see if I like better but as of now its the exact way from where i bought from Mike A.

For sure the Tantra is way more flexible and would still be without the boost/voicing switches of the 2DI4. I just figured (since you've got them) that if they felt like too much where they're set now, you could try dialing them back. You might prefer them off in any case -- the 2DI4 has plenty of depth (and the aforementioned comprehensive EQ) and a solid presentation of the lows as is, and I figure the Tantra is the same way.

On the Tantra there is no Gain switch just the Pentode/Tri switch and the DI EQ switch are usable where from what I read on the 2DI4 they are not...

I just played through the 2DI4, feeding my poweramp via the D.I. out rather than the line out. The line out, unsurprisingly, drives the amp better, but the effect of the boost switches is heard through the D.I. as well.

 

[MarkA]

I got an email from Boris at Sonic Farm, with a link to this writeup of the Tantra in the October '17 issue of Sound on Sound magazine: http://sonicfarm.com/pdfs/201709 SOS sonic-farm-tantra_review.pdf

I own the 2DI4 (purchased directly from Sonic Farm) and have had it out on a few gigs and in a studio once (engineer remarked positively on it) since I last posted in this thread. I don't own a Tantra, but I continue to be impressed with the tone and touch/response of the 2DI4.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

One thing to clarify. I'm no longer working with Sonic Farm. It wound up being a bit daunting shipping back and forth for assembly, as well as some difference in business goals. It's a great amp and I wish them the best.