Why are there no light weight power amps?

[tallboybass]

It beats the hell out of me why there are no lightweight power amps.

Thanks yet again for making the PLX1804 Bob.

Now, let's get back to the 'problem' at hand.

 

[BassmanPaul]

The BX1500 is actually 10LBS.
.

I have mine in a Bronco White sleeve. That adds the rest.

 

[Antonius]

But because of their distribution system you can expect to see these 1u amps everywhere eventually
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I just noticed this new Behringer amp appears to have been specced down to 900W and is now advertised as EPQ900:
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These amps are to become available by the end of the summer. It would go very well with my 1u pre in a shallow 2u rack. Much better than the 4u deep rack I'm lugging around right now. I often don't feel like hauling the big rack, so play with just a smaller head only, just because of size and weight. The downsizing of the specs is a bit weird though - as if it would not live up to the expectations. Curious to hear the first field reports on the EPQ series.

In the meantime, 2u Lightweight Peaveys are the deal of the century. Peavey has some good arguments for not going 1u - mainly you need the space for cooling anyhow, even though they are 90%+ efficient.

I agree that the new Peavey and Crown amps look great, lightweight at an attractive price point. But I don't buy the need to go 2u. My bass head is 400W (Hypex power stage), has no fans not even cooling sinks on the rear. On top of that it sits tight in a 1u flightcase, no ventilation. I have never even felt it get warm to the touch on rear or front end, and I do run it hard every now and then (playing with a hard hitting drummer ). To me that means it should be feasible to built a 2x400W power amp in the same chassis with either just plain old heat sinks or one or two small fans running at low RPM so they don't get audible.

Pics have been posted of a Peavey IPR opened up. It's mostly air inside, especially on the non-DSP version. I think that would have fitted in a 1u case with two smaller fans instead of one larger. The processing in the optional DSP section may add enough heat to justify 2u, not the power section by itself. All the blue LED's stuffed together in a 1u case would make it brighter than sun in broad daylight though

 

[brianrost]

Power amps have to be able to run 24/7 at rated power, bass amps usually don't. That means heavy duty protection circuits, better cooling, etc. Then you need enough panel space to fit all the controls and connectors. I recall my old Stewart amp had the 1/4" jacks so close to the binding posts that some 1/4" plugs wouldn't fit :scowl: Tough to go 1U with all that.

As far as the Carvin stuff, I own their RX1200L powered PA mixer. 18 pounds for a 12-channel mixer with four 400W/4ohm power amps inside. Pretty insane. Where was this stuff when I was a young pup?

 

[JimmyM]

first it's weight, then it's size, then it's price. some people would complain if they were hung with a new rope! i'm really sorry you can't have your cake and eat it, too. that's how the cookie crumbles.

sorry but i can't think of any more of my dad's favorite cliches that apply to this situation.

 

[mulchor]

sorry but i can't think of any more of my dad's favorite cliches that apply to this situation.

the tree don't fall far from its nuts

 

[pasta4lnch]

^^^ flipping awesome!!

 

[JoeVictim]

How 'bout SWR's Amplite that's meant to partner with the Headlite?

I don't know much about it, never used, this is not an endorsement. But it's what came to mind when I read the first post.

+1, SWR just came out with that at Winter NAMM. Thats exactly what I thought about but couldn't remember what it was called.

 

[low2groove]

There are many amps out now that will weight near nothing, look around. They'll be in one or two rack spaces and most like the Peaveys are really inexpensive.

 

[SteveC]

There are many amps out now that will weight near nothing, look around. They'll be in one or two rack spaces and most like the Peaveys are really inexpensive.

But I don't want a 2 space. I mean something like the Genz Benz or Little Mark heads -but just power.

 

[TheBass]

You might want to check the german Tec Amp BlackCat. Dimensions: 19" W x 15" D x 3,5" H, Rack Size: 2 spaces, Weight: 19 lbs, Tube Preamp, 2*500Watts@4 Ohms/1000 Watts@8 Ohms bridged. Their successor Model Puma 1000 has the same power amp in a smaller package (Dimensions 10,6” x 3,1” x 10”, Weight 6,2 lbs) but without any tubes in the preamp.

 

[BassmanPaul]

As far as the Carvin stuff, I own their RX1200L powered PA mixer. 18 pounds for a 12-channel mixer with four 400W/4ohm power amps inside. Pretty insane. Where was this stuff when I was a young pup?

We were all stronger then!

Paul