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TC Electronic BH800 vs RH750

jtallent

jtallent

Sep 15, 2007
124
0
Haddon Heights, NJ
www.justintallent.com
#1
Does anyone have experience with both of these amps and could offer some comparisons. I was initially looking at the RH750 and then saw that TC has released the BH800. I am aware of the technical differences and features; I'm more interested in seeing if anyone has any thoughts on their tone differences.

I'm looking to finally replace my rack (preamp, power amp, tuner, etc.) with a lightweight class D power amp. I will usually be pairing this with my Bergantino AE410 and would like to have a fair amount of power to make it a little more versatile in dealing with a variety of cabinet combinations and situations. If anyone has any other suggestions, I'm always up for exploring other ideas. I have contemplated the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, I just wish it was a little more powerful.

Thanks for the input and advice!
 
#5
If you want more power than a TH500, I would not go with the TC heads, as the RH750 is less powerful than the TH500 and inquiring minds are still waiting for an objective test of the BH800's output. I'd consider the GK MB800, Orange BT1000, Markbass LM800.
 
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#9
The thoughts and comparisons between the TH500 and RH750 are very helpful. I've played through the TH500 but not the RH750 (and only in a store show room setting) so that is very helpful (and is definitely making me think the TC amps might not be for me). I realize the BH800 hasn't been out long enough for too many opinions on that but everyone's suggestions have been helpful ... I'm going to have to trek to a store that has a few of these options to see what I think with my main bass and cabinet.
 
#10
jtallent said:
The thoughts and comparisons between the TH500 and RH750 are very helpful. I've played through the TH500 but not the RH750 (and only in a store show room setting) so that is very helpful (and is definitely making me think the TC amps might not be for me). I realize the BH800 hasn't been out long enough for too many opinions on that but everyone's suggestions have been helpful ... I'm going to have to trek to a store that has a few of these options to see what I think with my main bass and cabinet.
Click to expand...

BEST plan you can make! MUCH better chance of getting it right the first time even though you will be in a store, not practice or gigging.
 
#11
If volume/headroom is the issue with your TH500, are you going to be able to do a test that's loud enough (in a store) to be relevant? If so make SURE you are playing them both through a similar cab/stack.

FWIW, I have a BH800 and it's not as loud as my Shuttle Mx 9.2
 
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#12
lomo said:
... are you going to be able to do a test that's loud enough (in a store) to be relevant? If so make SURE you are playing them both through a similar cab/stack.
Click to expand...

That's always my biggest problem with test driving anything in a store. Even when I take my own gear with me, it's never feels "right" until I get take it home and use it out. That being said, it will hopefully still be helpful.
 
#13
Right... an don't forget you can't compare the volumes at..say, 3. It's unlikely that 2 amplifiers that have identical power would be the same volume at the same numbers.. Even just the types of pots the use for the volume can make a significant difference. If you are comparing 2 amps and one is louder at 3 than the other does NOT mean that it will continue to be louder at, say 5... or 8 or whatever.

Just curious LOMO, did you really let them get flat out.. or close to it when comparing the volume of the BH800 and Shuttle? How did you compare maximum volumes between the amps? I've never actually done that with a pair of amps.
 
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#14
Yes outside...into a big cab while trying to get the eq similar (I don't have a scope). The BH800 compresses lows at high volumes, but both the SMax and the BH800 do sound subjectively louder to me than my MPulse 600. The other head in the "experiment" was a Shuttle 3.0 that completely runs out of grunt well before the others. I was using a pair of old, borrowed Hartke 410 cabs. I don't own anything larger than a 210 combo or 112 cab ATM. Any of the 1st 3 heads on top of a pair of 12s would be plenty for my needs BTW. Small xmas/restaurant party gig tonight for 75 people and I will take a single NX2-112 and the Mesa. The drummer in the group I have been playing with for the last year plays an electric kit through an Alesis combo with a VOLUME knob-GENIUS!!!!!!! After years with a drummer who mistook "dynamics" for "dynamite" I am lovin' it:bassist:
 
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#15
lomo said:
Yes outside...into a big cab while trying to get the eq similar (I don't have a scope). The BH800 compresses lows at high volumes, but both the SMax and the BH800 do sound subjectively louder to me than my MPulse 600. The other head in the "experiment" was a Shuttle 3.0 that completely runs out of grunt well before the others. I was using a pair of old, borrowed Hartke 410 cabs. I don't own anything larger than a 210 combo or 112 cab ATM. Any of the 1st 3 heads on top of a pair of 12s would be plenty for my needs BTW. Small xmas/restaurant party gig tonight for 75 people and I will take a single NX2-112 and the Mesa. The drummer in the group I have been playing with for the last year plays an electric kit through an Alesis combo with a VOLUME knob-GENIUS!!!!!!! After years with a drummer who mistook "dynamics" for "dynamite" I am lovin' it:bassist:
Click to expand...
Very nice. My drummer has been using my TD4 with mesh heads. Having a volume control for the drums is a new paradigm. It's amazing. He's selling his 2 sets of Tamas and looking for a TD30 set. That will be sweet.

Cool test you did and thanks for posting the results. I appreciate it.
 
#16
I have to confess that after looking at all of the class D amps here, the GK800 seems to be my choice among all those other than the BH800. But then when I see what the BH800 adds, and for a hundred less, it makes them almost a dead heat. The big difference, though, is that the GK is a "known entity" while the BH800 is a bit of an unknown at this point. Meh. By the time I buy, it won't be...
 
#18
The RH750 is made of lies and disappointingness, the BH800 may not be; nobody has tested[yet].

My choice; the GK MB(F)800 or the Ampeg PF800 depending on taste. Ampeg for old school tone, GK for everything else. Including, strangely enough, a really sweet old school tone. At least they are known entities.


*EDIT*
Just read the OP and realized you have a TH500. Nice amp!

Anyway, with this new info, I would recommend the MBF800. The TH500 does the old school tone really well (as good or better than an Ampeg depending on who you ask.) and has the same power amplifier module as the PF800. The MBF800 will give you a more modern compliment to the TH500 that can also do the vintage thang with aplomb. Plus, if you buy used, you can flip it with little loss if you hate it.
 
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#20
I have the BH800 and I just can't imagine wanting to be louder than I have gotten with everything set at 12oclock. To me, that's what FOH is for. I have 2 2x10 cabs and this setup is just fierce. I am looking at getting a 4x10 and a 2x12 of the new K series cabs when they start shipping just in case I want to blow people in the front row back a bit...lol.
 

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