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Vestax VDA-1000

L

LouBass

Nov 19, 2008
296
266
Rochester, NY
thisisnotafranchise.bandcamp.com
#1
New thread from "Small form factor..."

So this amp appears to be a Chinese knock off of the Powersoft Digimod 1000NPS... either that or it's an older model which might explain that "MKII" after the amp as listed on current Vestax website. I'm uploading an image of the unit's guts. You can see the differences in board layout compare to the Powersoft board - but it's really close. What's missing is the Powersoft branding that's usually on one corner of the board. But for $200 (or $160 with discount) seems like a solid unit. The only thing I'm worried about is that the unit is sealed pretty tight when assembled and I'm afraid heat is going to be a problem... but only some pounding on it will tell ;-)

I'll post some feedback in a few hours after I've had it powered up and played through it tonight.
 

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#3
Note the air holes on the MKII on the Vestax website:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Powersoft Digimod line general page:
Link Removed

Powersoft Digimod 1000NPS Spec Sheet:
Link Removed

Powersoft Digimod 1000NPS Manual:
Link Removed

Mine is put back together now, plugged in and powered up. The XLR connections are shaky, but maybe that's my cables. 1/4" input is rock solid as are the Speakons. Generally, feels like a pretty nice unit. It's dead quiet when on, both from no fan and output signal wise. I'm running A/B through my Line6 X3 Live into a Carvin B1500 and the Vestax unit. The unit is punchier than the B1500 and less warm, but not less warm in a bad way. Probably why I think punchier. I'm no audiophile though so don't take my words to the bank.

So... let's see how she sounds after a few hours of playtime...
 
#5
Hooking up USB was a no brainer - Just plug it in.
USB Audio Codex shows up. Just a couple of more outputs to chose from in the DAW.
Works fine with ASIO2ALL. I haven't pushed the latency yet, but it doesn't seem to be a problem.
It also shows up as couple of USB inputs. Which has me curious if can function as an interface. I'll have to try that later.

1/4", XLR, RCA, and USB - this amp has all the inputs you could need.

This amp doesn't seem have the DSP, but I'd be curious if you could add it. It would probably cost as much as the amp itself. It looks to have a separate programmer module you program for the DSP, then plug it into the amp once programmed. My use would be coming from a PC so I'm not so sure I'd need a DSP.

The curious part is the 100w 300w 500w switch on the front.
As far as I can tell it just kicks the limiter in at different levels.

The manual does say the amp must sit vertical for cooling. But I imagine if you kept the cover off, or made another for cooling it'd be fine horizontally. After the warranty is over, drill holes for venting in the regular cover.

Very generous on 4 "Spekon" connectors (which seem fully compatible with Speakon connectors).

I won't get into "warm" or other subjective tone comments as a little gain adjustment, or EQ easily gets past anything heard.

Not as "mini" as I was hoping, but for the price - hard to beat.
 
#10
@gmarcus: No comparison and I'm not sure that'd be fair anyway. Someone correct me as I'm probably wrong, but I think the Carvin B1500 is 700 watts continuous in 8 ohms. Bridged, the Vestax is 490 watts continuous into 8 ohms. I do not think that the Vestax has the headroom that the Carvin has either way (I don't believe the specs). I'd blow up my cabinets if I pushed the B1500, but I was able to clip the Vestax without taxing my cabinets.

Don't take this the wrong way, the Vestax still puts out a lot of very clean juice. For it's weight and price, if the amp holds up, it's a steal. Plus it's kind of nice package, stereo, 2 Speakon connectors per channel, the front controls are mostly protected by the case design... oh and you don't have to buy a separate case like you do a rack amp. And while not tiny, it's still small. If you want a real world size comparison, let me know and I'll throw it next to something you might know and take a pic.
 
#11
Thanks LouBass

I have a GK1001RBII and I'm wondering if the Vestax will be any louder into an 8 ohm cab if I bridge it. Given your experience, it will probably be about the same volume (The GK is 450W at 8 ohms) and the GK is super reliable but twice the weight. I guess I'll save my money.
 
#14
Thanks LouBass for sharing your experiences with the Vestax VDA-1000. The information you posted is quite valuable stuff and I really appreciate you taking the time to do that. I've been looking for a power amp that is clean, compact, powerful and light. The VDA-1000 seems to fits the bill very nicely.

deb
 
#15
LouBass said:
@gmarcus: No comparison and I'm not sure that'd be fair anyway. Someone correct me as I'm probably wrong, but I think the Carvin B1500 is 700 watts continuous in 8 ohms. Bridged, the Vestax is 490 watts continuous into 8 ohms. I do not think that the Vestax has the headroom that the Carvin has either way (I don't believe the specs). I'd blow up my cabinets if I pushed the B1500, but I was able to clip the Vestax without taxing my cabinets.

Don't take this the wrong way, the Vestax still puts out a lot of very clean juice. For it's weight and price, if the amp holds up, it's a steal. Plus it's kind of nice package, stereo, 2 Speakon connectors per channel, the front controls are mostly protected by the case design... oh and you don't have to buy a separate case like you do a rack amp. And while not tiny, it's still small. If you want a real world size comparison, let me know and I'll throw it next to something you might know and take a pic.
Click to expand...

Now the bar lights hitting the red - versus what's actually coming out is a different story. It may be hitting the red LEDs but still not clipping. You'd have to get to like 3% THD before you could even detect clipping.

If the amp goes into solid "protection" mode then for sure you've hit the maximum.

The manual contradicts itself.
Page 8
"The VDA-1000 can be used as a mono power amplifier with a maxium 1000w output into 8Ω"

Then on page 13:
"Continuous Power Output (1kHz, 0.5%) THD)
STEREO MODE, 290w+290W 4ohm,
240W+240W 8ohm
BRIDGE MODE, 800W Bridged 4 ohm,
490W bridged 8ohm

For the latter, it appears you can bridge at 4 ohms.

I'd use it at 4 if I needed it. The Vestax does have protection, and if it kicks in - I'd turn it down or try the next lower wattage setting.

I just don't tend to worry about the too low of impedance if the amp is class-d with protection circuits.
 
#17
It's just an amp.

These threads often go off into "big iron" versus lightweight
And it often turns out the difference in sound is an issue with gain matching.
I have no doubt that the Vestax specs are exaggerated. EIAJ is not a rating that QSC or Crown would use. (Not is US markets)

And Carvin specs are often conservative.
Just by the fact that the Carvin is likely putting out more power, it probably sounds better.

The Vestax, For $160 ($200) 3kg in weight, a good hefty amount of power, good build quality based on a design by Powersoft - it is quite a bargain if you need a power amp and you are OK with the odd form factor.

IMO, IMHO, YMMV, ...
 
#19
That is a very good question - the 1000w is EIAJ standard. You'd have to look at it to see how it's determined. In Vestax favor, is they do publish "Continuous" watts also - but there seems to be a conflict.

For EIA and EIAJ, From what I've seen from other manufacturers that's the average maximum power consumption. For music - like for a DJ - the average power consumptions is based on like 1/8th power.
 
#20
So... I played around yesterday with the Vestax. As an A/B, I ran again with my Line6 board into a GK1001RBII and then the Vestax into one of the new GK Neo410 (8 ohms). I've always found this particular GK rig to have kind of a muddy/unclear lowend (it's not my rig and I feel really bad saying that btw). Anyway, the GK is biamped, the Vestax not... I'm unsure if that matters, but my impression is that the Vestax had a less muddy bottom end than the 1001 into this cabinet. I didn't get a sense that either amp was louder, but that have been that I was little tentative in pushing it as it's not my cabinet (or GK amp). I thought the treble side was better with the GK which is the opposite of what I thought the other day with my B1500. Maybe that's the biamping. Dunno.

I also ran it into a Carvin DCM2000L (brand new). I didn't use my real preamp and used the Line6 trying to get as close to Apples to Apples as my limited faculties allow. Sure there's more power with the Carvin, but to Vestax's credit, if I were blindfolded, my ears aren't good enough to tell the difference between these two...

I gotta say, after a couple of rehearsals with the Vestax and carting it around and all... if there's still a discount floating around, for $160 I'd be hard pressed not to buy a second one.

I'll be back there Wednesday again and will bring my camera to take a pic of the Vestax next to the 1001 for size comparisons. I meant to on Sunday but spaced out about it... sorry.
 

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