- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,076
- 9,795
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
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Sonic Farm/MAS Bass Amp project.
- Thread starter Mark Sacchetti
- Start date
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,076
- 9,795
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
No---perfectly relevant. I've researched the Hypex and other class d modules. The Hypex modules are really nice. But you go from 700 watts into 4 (too little) to 2000 watts into 4 (overkill) They are twp piece amp and power supply. So they take up more space and are heavier. But they cost a lot more. Ice modules (especially the 1000) have been around for a while and are tanks. The amp with Hypex modules would be around $250 more expensive. And bigger and heavier. Diminishing returns here----the 1000 works perfectly in this application. I've not compared the Hypex and Ice side by side. If the Hypex is indeed better (i don't know if it is)---it's not so much as to have a heavier, more expensive amp. Using the 2000 watt Hypex is a LOT more dough.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,076
- 9,795
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Here is a pic of the Sonic Farm/MAS amp preliminary artwork, pulled from FB, for your consideration
This is preliminary. Kindof gives an idea of the vibe. There will obviously be numbers and labeling. There will be lines to delineate the three parametric sections. Big pa boards have had this sort of thing for years. In order to get the most things in the smallest space this layout was most logical. While there is a whole helluva lot of crap going on-----it's pretty logical and intuitive.
Realistically I'd say six months. Design is done, PC boards are done. We're working with the metal fabricators now. All of the heavy lifting is essentially done.
And Zoran and Boris are finally happy with the overdrive circuit. They've been obsessing about it for a while. Everyone really dug it as it is---but they say that they've improved it a lot.
Beta testing is done.
And Zoran and Boris are finally happy with the overdrive circuit. They've been obsessing about it for a while. Everyone really dug it as it is---but they say that they've improved it a lot.
Beta testing is done.
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I think that mentioning the cost is against CUP rules? Any one know if it is? Anyhoo---I've got that on my FB page (Michael Arnopol Soundworks)
Ok---since it has been discussed a bunch I thought that it would be ok for me to follow up. (and stay within the CUP)
Zoran and Boris have found a way to have the effects loop switchable from -10db to +4db. This will allow use of pedals or effect units in the effects loop. Also, Zoran made some improvements to the overdrive circuit and we're really happy with it.
Beta testing done. On to enclosure design and fabrication.
We're getting there!!!
Zoran and Boris have found a way to have the effects loop switchable from -10db to +4db. This will allow use of pedals or effect units in the effects loop. Also, Zoran made some improvements to the overdrive circuit and we're really happy with it.
Beta testing done. On to enclosure design and fabrication.
We're getting there!!!
Woohoooooo!
@nshuman Once this thing's in my paws, BCA, here I come!
EMBRACE THE MTF!
Nothing new (that I know). Mike said they'd be moving on to enclosure design. I suspect any milestone updates will be posted to the MAS facebook page, though I don't doubt that there's more incremental work going on in the background.
Talked with Zoran at length last week. It's funny---if you look at the Sonic Farm thread you'll see that he was initially a bit hesitant about integrating the amp and preamp but now he's pretty stoked. Final dimensions are about 3 3/4 high (the best we could do--they're using a very big toroidal transformer and we found that we could save some depth by standing it upright on the back. 15 !/2" wide and a tad under 10" deep. We gained 1/2" on the width because Zoran and Boris got super-into the overdrive circuit and added an additional stage so you could go from a mild tube saturation to a Jack Casady Versatone to--as Zoran describes it "a Larry Graham Dance To The Music fuzztone" There is another switch on the overdrive circuit to enable the second stage. He was speaking Greek to me saying how the original circuit was chopped and not smooth on the ocilliscope and now he likes it. Also there will be a switch on the front panel to enable or defeat the effects loop. He didn't like the idea of a jack that switches it in and out---he thought that it could lead to poor contact.
And now it will be switchable on the rear panel from 120/240 volts. With the Ice 1000 to change voltage you have to remove the cover and switch out the fuse to change voltage/. We thought that a lot of guys tour between the US and Europe (and they'd be willing to part with some Rupees) and having to remove the top is too much of a pain. The name will be Tantra which we both agreed on. The best news for me is that after integrating the amp into the case there was no nasty noise or hum interactions with the power amp. This is what we were both worried about. So no need to put a cage around the power section. It's in metal fabrication and we're working on the silkscreening.
I think that that is everything.
