Bit of a bump here, been thinking much the same as @twofingers for some time, am now looking at a active one way cab build and pointers to existing solutions would be cool.
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Where are we with powered (active) bass cabs?
- Thread starter two fingers
- Start date
How would you spec a cab, intended to be convenient at home, slant for monitoring live and maybe add extra oomph or maybe even power a second cab on stage? Would a simple woofer setup with additional tweeter be cool? Hanger setups from ICE is a cool option for that kinda stuff.
I was researching this and while the ISP powered cab looks perfect it's a bit pricey. I contacted GK support and they said you can absolutely run a Plex directly into a MBP cab with a 1/4 TRS to male XLR cable. Unless there is something special about the Plex that I can't see, I don't understand how you can't run another preamp like a Sansamp or Ampeg SCR into one too.
Interesting thread, a couple years ago I was all into floor pre amps and active cabinets, bought the ISP set (BETA BASS PreAmp and BASS VECTOR 210) and I sold it a few months later to buy a full stack Ampeg SVT. Now after buying too many pedals I am looking into the Line 6 Helix floor unit and looking again at the ISP Bass Vector Pro BASS VECTOR PRO | ISP TechnologiesISP Technologies, anyone has any experience with it?
Bit of a bump on an old thread here but I picked up this chat after coming to a similar conclusion around active cabs and doing some research. Using a Preamp pedal (like TC's SpectraComp) and getting a tone I like, it just wants to be amplified, not coloured any further. Also, the point is that except the band on stage, no-one hears my amp sound, it's mainly front of house so I would value something that gives me an idea of the FOH sound but as a stage monitor.
Anyway, long story short, I found the BlackStar Unity 250ACT. I think it does what you guys are talking about and what I'm after too. Going to try one next week. I wonder how you guys got on with your search.....
Anyway, long story short, I found the BlackStar Unity 250ACT. I think it does what you guys are talking about and what I'm after too. Going to try one next week. I wonder how you guys got on with your search.....
Have you used one? Yes
Who makes them? Accugroove
Are they any good? YES
Your thoughts/impressions? Mucho denero but it aint a bad thing, their passive cabs are costly but well worth it IMHO, Accugroove makes killer cabinets, guys like me who run a Helix or similar could benefit from the powered options, I am too old school though and prefer a head/cab combo. I am a GK guy and play a pair of MB Fusion 800s through a pair of NEO 212 cabs...it could crack foundations...put an Accugroove El Whappo on top of one of their Whappo Grande cabs and it could crack your ribs and put a hole in your chest.
Rock on.
Who makes them? Accugroove
Are they any good? YES
Your thoughts/impressions? Mucho denero but it aint a bad thing, their passive cabs are costly but well worth it IMHO, Accugroove makes killer cabinets, guys like me who run a Helix or similar could benefit from the powered options, I am too old school though and prefer a head/cab combo. I am a GK guy and play a pair of MB Fusion 800s through a pair of NEO 212 cabs...it could crack foundations...put an Accugroove El Whappo on top of one of their Whappo Grande cabs and it could crack your ribs and put a hole in your chest.
Rock on.
GK makes very good powered cabs MBP series. Been thinking of running them off a tech 21 bass fly rig.
From what I gather, those cabs only work with GK combos as an extension. Read up on them. That may have changed. You can't just run any signal you want to them, I believe. They have a proprietary circuit that only accepts input from their own amps.
kinda. They require a super hoofy signal which the combos deliver. There is also their plex preamp pedal set to do same.
If you really really wanted to do it there would be someone who could say what the signal level needs to be to get them working. I did read a spec on here once but all I remember was 'dang they aren't messing around making it it hard for anyone to use other gear with their powered cabs'.
Thanks for the clarification. I knew there was an "issues". I just couldn't recall exactly what it was.
Sansamp PBDDI + GKMBP115 = some pretty nice noise.
So, due to some band work that has started to come my way (amp-less stage and IEM set up) and that I've kinda been in bass amp rejigging mode lately, I've discovered these Sansamp thingies. Then came the notions that this little pedal possibly could also be used to drive a stage amp set up....
After reading as much as I could on the "preamp driving a powered bass cab" topic, I happened upon a deal on a practically brand new GK MBP115 today, with the hope that my Tech21 programmable BDDI would work with it. (All kinds of helpful info here and in other places...so thanks all! There was, in particular, one post from someone who said this combo of boxes worked....so.... ).
I use a TRS 1/4" to xlr adapter from the driver's "parallel out" to run to the MPB xlr input. Selecting the +10 db boost on that output in the driver sure helps too.
The result----seems to work just fine. Should it/could it be louder? I un-scientifically compared the parallel out to MBP volume to the driver's DI out running straight into a 200W power amp driving a passive 15" cab....had to really crank that power amp's level to almost max to be able to hear the passive cab over the MPB.
Now I know there are likely other variables (cab efficiency, etc) but a seat of the pants meter says this is gonna work just fine....as a stage bass rig for most of my "non-PA supported" outings.
The only downfall is the lack of a "master volume" on the powered cab....but c'mon....can't have everything...right?
So, due to some band work that has started to come my way (amp-less stage and IEM set up) and that I've kinda been in bass amp rejigging mode lately, I've discovered these Sansamp thingies. Then came the notions that this little pedal possibly could also be used to drive a stage amp set up....
After reading as much as I could on the "preamp driving a powered bass cab" topic, I happened upon a deal on a practically brand new GK MBP115 today, with the hope that my Tech21 programmable BDDI would work with it. (All kinds of helpful info here and in other places...so thanks all! There was, in particular, one post from someone who said this combo of boxes worked....so.... ).
I use a TRS 1/4" to xlr adapter from the driver's "parallel out" to run to the MPB xlr input. Selecting the +10 db boost on that output in the driver sure helps too.
The result----seems to work just fine. Should it/could it be louder? I un-scientifically compared the parallel out to MBP volume to the driver's DI out running straight into a 200W power amp driving a passive 15" cab....had to really crank that power amp's level to almost max to be able to hear the passive cab over the MPB.
Now I know there are likely other variables (cab efficiency, etc) but a seat of the pants meter says this is gonna work just fine....as a stage bass rig for most of my "non-PA supported" outings.
The only downfall is the lack of a "master volume" on the powered cab....but c'mon....can't have everything...right?
Gallien's been offering these for a few years now. Probably the biggest player in the bass amp market to offer them. It always seemed like they were intended more as powered extension cabs but they'd function with a preamp in front of them as well. Gallien Krueger had a powered extension for the 200MK so they were way ahead in these designs.
MASoundworks offers a powered option for most of their bass cabinets. They are built
by Mike Arnopol who is a bassist and a bass cabinet builder.
I own a MAS 1/8 and the 4x5.5. The advantage is that you can use whatever
preamp you wish to drive them. They sound incredible.
MASoundworks offers a powered option for most of their bass cabinets. They are built
by Mike Arnopol who is a bassist and a bass cabinet builder.
I own a MAS 1/8 and the 4x5.5. The advantage is that you can use whatever
preamp you wish to drive them. They sound incredible.
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Old thread bump, but just curious if you're still doing this. I have a board with an HX Effects, Le Bass and Q/Strip I absolutely love. The Q/Strip has the 10db bump option like the BDDI and I want to try this with the GK powered cab.
Hey NorthTexasBass---Made me re-read my post--- Realize I had mistakingly called the 1/4" out a "parallel out"....which is not the case.....it is simply the "1/4 out".
Ran this set up for a few events, but no, not using it any longer. It DOES work though---the 10db bump helps too.
No glaring reason that I'm not running it any longer....the past year+ has seen a river of gear come and go...just been in that mode. The PBDI was replaced by Tech 21 VTDI based pedal board that feeds FOH (we actually had an outdoor gig back in September!!!!) and/or a Tech 21 VTBass500 amp head into a couple of older Ampeg SVT cabs.
I bet the Le Bass and Q/Strip combo sounds wicked. Two very highly regarded little boxes!!
"River of gear"......so much pun potential!!!!!
Ran this set up for a few events, but no, not using it any longer. It DOES work though---the 10db bump helps too.
No glaring reason that I'm not running it any longer....the past year+ has seen a river of gear come and go...just been in that mode. The PBDI was replaced by Tech 21 VTDI based pedal board that feeds FOH (we actually had an outdoor gig back in September!!!!) and/or a Tech 21 VTBass500 amp head into a couple of older Ampeg SVT cabs.
I bet the Le Bass and Q/Strip combo sounds wicked. Two very highly regarded little boxes!!
"River of gear"......so much pun potential!!!!!
The Le Bass in Cold fusion mode with the Q Strip after it is magic
I still use powered IPs. They still sound amazing. Their DSP specifically tailors the response to be the maximum performance for the cab's component specs and dimensions. They allow me to swap pres for taste.
Did you find anything? Or what are you using these days?
I've been searching for a powered cab for my Double Bass for a few years. Tried a few combos, and so far I haven't been impressed.
I need something lightweight so I can carry Double Bass, Preamp & Cab in one go or put it on a small trolley.
My guitarist bought the Headrush Pedalboard and the 12" & 8" full range powered cabs rated at 1,000watts RMS?
The 12" sounds firm and full but it weighs 35lbs. The 8" is ok at low volumes and only weighs 20lbs. I've used the 8 regularly with a DI/preamp at low stage volume mostly folk/country vibe (no drums).
The 12" might be ok for an electric bass stage monitor.
Search for: Headrush FRFR – 112 or 108.
I've been searching for a powered cab for my Double Bass for a few years. Tried a few combos, and so far I haven't been impressed.
I need something lightweight so I can carry Double Bass, Preamp & Cab in one go or put it on a small trolley.
My guitarist bought the Headrush Pedalboard and the 12" & 8" full range powered cabs rated at 1,000watts RMS?
The 12" sounds firm and full but it weighs 35lbs. The 8" is ok at low volumes and only weighs 20lbs. I've used the 8 regularly with a DI/preamp at low stage volume mostly folk/country vibe (no drums).
The 12" might be ok for an electric bass stage monitor.
Search for: Headrush FRFR – 112 or 108.
