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What Amplifier Specifications Do You Feel Is Beneficial?

#101
seang15 said:
Great idea/question here, thanks agedhorse!

I didn't read through all the responses here, although quite a few were very good. My responses/suggestions won't be too abstract, but they're features I usually dig:

-Higher input impedance: Supports both upright and electric.
-HPF (Able to be tweaked by user). This is YUGE!
-Ability to run either pre/post (power) amplifier to D.I.
-Mute! (Front panel)
-Tuner out! (Front panel)
-Effects loop (of course)
-Illumination of some sort...we all usually play in the dark!

And: Not overly complex. We'd rather be playing than RTFM.

Edit: Add the ability to run with no-load needed! Love that I can use my GK MB200 as a headphone amp, sans speaker cab. And could use it at a gig to drive an inner-ear monitor, and go direct to PA if needed, without a cab. (Haven't done this yet, but it's great to know it's available.)

Edit again: Able to properly operate at 2ohms!

Cheers,
Sean
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See below. ;)

Hoochie Coochie Man said:
Many responders here remind me of politicians. They are asked a question, and respond to an entirely different question..
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jonathanhughes said:
Yes! I'm amazed that five pages in, people are still just answering the question they want to be asked.
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#105
Hoochie Coochie Man said:
I think some of the more esoteric specifications that some people have mentioned are overkill. Few people will know what they mean, and would not be likely to be published by other manufacturers so you could make a comparison between various amplifiers. Anything beyond the basic specifications found in the D800+ owners manual would not help me predict how it sounds, or how it performs in various circumstances. I ether like how it sounds, or I don't.
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But just because it's not meaningful or overlooked by 90%, doesn't mean it's not awesome to the remaining 10%. If Mesa already knows the specs, why not publish? It's just ink. Or, on the web, electrons.
 
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#106
Bass'd on a true story said:
I find it extremely annoying that a very large number of amps do not specify what range their "Mid" knob actually is adjusting. While having a movable mid is ideal, if it's not included I would at least like to know what frequency I'm fiddling with.
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The GK Variable Q Equalizer is good example of some magic going on that is not really described or defined anywhere, just called out as a feature and and benefit. No criticism of GK intended as I like how their tone stack works!

Edit: Although I'm not sure it would sound different to my ear if I knew all the specs or even saw the circuit design data.
 
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#108
I like to know weight, Wattage ratings at the workable impedance loads and what the EQ frequency points are. Past that, the only thing I'm really looking at is how intuitive the control layout is.

Even Wattage ratings are really just a ballpark comparison from amp to amp so I read them with a big grain of salt. My needs are pretty simple....
 
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#110
bdplaid said:
One of the things that bugs me about parametric controls is a lack of knowledge about which frequencies are where on the dial. Even if it was just published in the manual as a spec (rather than printed on the faceplate), that location reference would be useful to me.
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For those of us who actually have a sense for what the various frequencies contribute to or diminish, this would be very useful IMO. I hate doing the old max or zero the gain and sweep the frequencies until you get an effect deal during a sound check...then I still need to fine tune. I could start the fine tuning more quickly if I knew the frequency ranges more precisely.
 
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#111
Having read through all the answers so far, the second order question that comes to mind is what specs are necessary/desirable to sell amps to the more technically minded folks who can connect the dots between all the various pieces of data and what is useful/desirable/necessary to entice/satisfy people who are more musician/artist minded and not really into the "how" it's accomplished.

I've played with some incredible musicians whose only piece of numerical knowledge regarding their gear was the phone number of trusted sound tech who could keep it running well. Other players I know are quite proficient in the musical realm, but also happen to be rocket scientists. The most challenging problem I see here beyond picking the right set of data to present to the rocket scientists (who like analyze exactly why the amp sounds that good), is how to be sure that some of those specs (as mentioned in an earlier post) aren't interpreted as the amp being weak in the low end because it has a HPF set point at 35 HZ or something similar.
 
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#114
Most important, range of supported output impedances, output power at each, flat eq response curve or maybe 3rd-octave graphic. Also important, supported connectors for all inputs and outputs. DI and/or line out specs, fx loop specs, eq specs, noise floor / s/n. And not forgetting how noisy is the amp in terms of cooling fans etc - important for studio use!
 
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#115
Size
Weight
Dimensions
EQ Points (cut, boost, shelving/peak, frequency)
Watts
Class (A, AB, D, etc.)
Power Amp and Preamp Info (SS, Tube, what tubes, rectification, etc.)
Tonal Goal (swiss army knife, old school warm, modern hifi, flat response, etc.)
New design or based on other design and if so which

i'm pretty simple when it comes to these things.
 
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#116
Honestly, give me specs to show reliability and power and then do a video where I can hear what the tone controls do. Don't do a bunch of slap and noodling high up on the fretboard, it's showing the tone of the amp, not the player's prowess. Maybe even loop over a fairly simple bass line and then turn the knobs to show what they do and how they sound. How many people can look a graph and know how the control will sound?
 
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#118
bdplaid said:
One of the things that bugs me about parametric controls is a lack of knowledge about which frequencies are where on the dial.
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That is something I really loved about the Furman PQ-3 preamps I had. They were excellent in that regard. :thumbsup:
Al Kraft said:
For those of us who actually have a sense for what the various frequencies contribute to or diminish, this would be very useful IMO.
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Yes, it is. No guessing game for those of us who are knowledgable in such things.
 
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#119
I think each amp spec sheet should state what genre(s) it is best used for. Please note that this is not the same as "this amp is the best amp for x genre." This isn't a "best amp for metal" joke. Plus, it's not only the metal kids asking the question, there are certainly a lot of people with opinions of which amps are best for which genres. I don't really get it because I think any decent amp can work anywhere but it seems that it would stop a lot of arguing if experts in manufacturing would clarify this for people who believe otherwise.
 

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