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Who's making lightweight half rack power amps?

#61
jeff arddun said:
Used I'm assuming? They were around $650 new last I checked. Curious to hear your opinion on it. I'm kinda surprised a company like EA hasn't done something like a power amp based on the power section of their 550w Doubler head. Certainly a significant part of their customer demographic uses high end outboard preamps and would be interested.
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Yeah, found one here. Good enough deal to experiment without much risk. I'm not expecting a miracle but a surprise would be nice.

I'm not surprised anymore that there's so little action in this niche. It makes no sense to me... I'd bet sales would top the SWR Amplite.
;)
 
#62
::::BASSIST:::: said:
From my experience the EA Micro 300 is a *very* nice sounding amp. However, its weak point is its power rating. IMHO its a very soft 300 w. My 200w GKMB200 eats it for breakfast in terms of power, but tonally, I'd give the edge to EA.
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We'll see if that bears out. I never really know what to expect from EA... I tried driving my VL110's with several amps that had to work pretty hard to drive them and my iAmp350 drove them with ease.
 
#63
I received the Micro 300 and have an Acoustic Image Focus 1R on the way. Should be a fun week. Did a gig at Blues Alley Thursday night and just for grins I ran the Mitre Box through the insert on my AER Basic Performer combo. Sounded great.
 
#65
Received the Focus 1R today and it's great. Pleasntly surprised not have the same voicing issue I had with the Clarus I used to owned. This amp sounds great alone through a single VL110, drives it easily and sounds perfect doing it. And sounds great with the Mitre Box driving it. A bonus is that with the 1R's form factor the Mitre Box fits perfectly between the top screws, like it was meant to sit on top of it.

So... other than keeping my eye out for an Acoustic Image SA amp, I think I'm done.

AcousticImageFocus1RandMichaelPopeDesignMitreBox.jpg
 
#68
Since we're talking AI amps and add-on's pre's, I'll throw this in. I've had a AI Focus 2R S3 for a while now for gigs where I'm doubling, but I've never been super happy with my electric tone. I recently picked up a Aguilar Tone Hammer pedal (I was seriously considering the full amp), and it was exactly what I was looking for. I've got the overall high output clean power from the AI, the AI pre is great for my DB, and the Aggie is perfect for electric.
 
#69
gscroggin said:
Since we're talking AI amps and add-on's pre's, I'll throw this in. I've had a AI Focus 2R S3 for a while now for gigs where I'm doubling, but I've never been super happy with my electric tone. I recently picked up a Aguilar Tone Hammer pedal (I was seriously considering the full amp), and it was exactly what I was looking for. I've got the overall high output clean power from the AI, the AI pre is great for my DB, and the Aggie is perfect for electric.
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I'm also a doubler, and I'd like nothing more than one rig that can do it all. Your approach sounds viable. I have a rack-mounted Aguilar Agro around here somewhere; I'll have to try it with electric bass through my DB rig some time!
 
#71
Brad Johnson said:
The Focus/Pope Mitre Box combo is still working great. Just wondering if anything new has popped up in the 1/2 rack width power amp market?
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I would like to see some more choices where these are concerned as well. I guess the powers that be think there is no market.

For me the SWR is not enough juice. If it did 800 to 900 watts at 4 ohms then I would be all over it. No one makes anything that is right for Bass Players.

It does appear MarkBass has been thinking about this though. Still no half rack but closer. I'm not crazy about MB but they are offering something. I'm surprised I have not seen more about this. No bridge at 4 ohms counts me out though. I would be more after 500 at 8 and 1000 at 4 but not 1000 at 8. That is a bad spec for me.

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It would be cool if I had a powerful, half rack, light weight, mono block power amp to use with my DI on occasion when I just want surgical clean.

Also another Idea would be a small unit that you could screw to the back of a cab. An external IP if you will.
 
#75
Which compact bass heads are the most viable contenders for use as a "transparent" compact power amp capable of driving two 4 Ohm cabs?

Euphonic Audio Doubler is rated 310W @ 8Ohms, 550 Watts @ 4 and 2 Ohms
H 2"
W 10.7"
D 5.4"
Wt 2 lb 10 oz
$ 750

Credible TBers say the Doubler doesn't sound as loud as its wattage rating would lead you to believe.


Euphonic Audio iAmp Pro is rated 600/1200/1200
H 3.5"
W 14.0"
D 9.0"
Wt 10 lbs
$ 1,200

This amp ain't exactly micro


Acoustic Image Clarus+ is rated 450, 800, 1000
H 3.5
W 10.0
D 8.0
Wt <5 lbs
$ 1,000

This amp may no longer be available


Which other heads provide both 2 Ohm capability and ~900 Watts into a 4 or 2 Ohm load?
 
#78
Peredur said:
:(

There's me getting all excited till I read that bit.
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Glad I lucked into mine. It really is an excellent little package.

BTW I'm still using the Focus 1R, still makes me smile and not surprisingly some of my friends are now either using or looking forward to using Acoustic Image amps based on checking mine out. If you have an electric bass that sounds good to great, the AI just seems to make it bigger. Haven't reached any limits with mine so far and it's been tested to a pretty ridiculous degree. And every bass sounds like it sounds vs. sounding like I'm playing through any particular amp. Exactly what I wanted.
:cool:

I loaned it to Kevin Brubaker for several of his gigs last week and it passed with flying colors. His will be on the way soon.

BTW my current rig is easily my favorite ever. I was pretty sure this day was coming and now that it's here it's pretty sweet.

I've had my new Glasstone 2-12 for a couple of weeks now and it flat out kills. As transparent a cab as I've ever heard and it handles the entire range without breaking a sweat at any volume I could possibly need. Two neo twelves rated at 600w each in a tiny enclosure. Cab, AI Focus 1R and Pope Mitre Box total weight... under 40 lb. Mine is a black version of this...

Glasstone2-12.jpg


Mine with my recently acquired Glasstone 5...
IMG_20120408_193609.jpg



I now have a few cabs to get rid of.
;)
 

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