Poweramps

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi gang!
question, In the future I'd like to change part of my rig (kind of split it) in 2 components. I'd like to start using my old and confident SWR SM-400 as a solo-unit for smaller clubs and go for a rig with F1-X, SF-2 and poweramp.
Are there any advices some can give about brands and use? One of the salespeople over here of a highly specialised audio-store said that question poweramp the most of them are really good. Differences in price are mostly marketing differences excpet for some very specialised materials used in the amp that in musician set-up you never hear but you will hear in studio-set-up. He showed me the V 3000 plus from American Audio (www.americanaudio.us) as a very good amp at reasonable price.  
He said also that sound is mostly defined by the quality of the peamp and the filter and for those I know the perfect adress ;-)
 
Paul

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

I guess that most of them being made right now are all really good too.  I personally just don't care for the ones that you have to buy extra deep racks for.  Granted they are only one or two spaces tall, but they are just too deep.  My favorites are the 4 space units that are shallow and can fit into a standard anvil rack.  My favorite of this bunch is one that I have been using for 25 years.  It is a Crown DC300.  It has been quite reliable.  I have also had some others too, but I always come back to that old beat up Crown.  I have used BGW, and QSC and Carver, etc...  Just my opinion, don't get a deep one.

[Derwin Moss (bassdude63)]

I too have heard many good reports regarding Crown power amps. I've personally used QSC and Crest power amps in the past along with my F1-X. They both did a great job. It's very important to take your bass, preamp, and speaker cab to a store that carries many different brands, as each brand has it's own sonic character. Best wishes, Derwin

[Mark DuFresne (markus)]

Michael is right. Most of them are really good now. But when I used to really push the power through my speakers, damping factor was really important. The Crown K series was more than twice as good as the others. But its one of those blasted deep ones -- and a real boat anchor too. I have to carry it in a separate rack.
 
Mark

[Wayne McLemore (wayne)]

I've got a QSC PLX and love it.  When I was shopping around, I contacted QSC about their amps for use with bass, and I got a reply from one of the designers who told me that they actually bought an F-1X from Alembic to use in the final testing of the PLX series.  That sold me....
 
C-Ya...........wayne

[Edwin Hurwitz (edwin)]

I have to second the PLX praise. I just got a 2402 to replace my Mackie 1400. Not only is it 15 lbs lighter, it sounds much much better (and has a lot more power). When I brought it to my first gig last Saturday night, everyone commented on how great I was playing, but I think it was because they could actually hear me (or was it because I could hear myself?). Anyway, I unreservedly recommend this amp.
 
Edwin

[Joey Wilson (bigredbass)]

Having worked around traveling concert sound systems, I tend to trust the same ones as the sound contractors: Crest, QSC, and Crown.  My personal favorite for the most overlooked power amp that runs forever is what a LOT of people are using in gigs tonight: the Peavey CS800.  Hartley's been building 'em forever down in Mississippi.  He finally sold enough of 'em to BUY Crest last year!  These things are the Ford pickup truck of power amps, and have been in continuous production with upgrades for over 20 years.  The K series Crowns are just delicious for bass with a monstrous damping factor. The pro-series Crests are in a class by themselves.
 
I wish I could be really 'old school' and run an Alembic preamp thru a MacIntosh power amp, but big Macs could be had a lot cheaper back then.   It would be very intriging, however, to hear one with the discontinued Mesa Boogie power amp.  Mesa's Bass 400+ is a terrific amp, and I'm a big Randall Smith fan.

[gale barchus (gbarchus)]

here's my 2 cents: damping factor is a critical factor for a bass player. You can buy powerful amplifiers today with a damping factor of 200. Compare those with some that have close to 1000 and you'll hear the difference. Not all watts are the same.
 
But, don't forget tube power amps! I'm using a Marshall EL 34 100/100 with my F2-B. It's FAT!

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hello Brothers on the other side of the big water,
 
thanks for all the input!
Let's  do a first round-up! Names coming through frequently are:
- Crown K (and the DC 300)
- Crest
- QSC PLX
- Carver
- Peavey
- Mesa Boogie.
With an important side-remark that in fact evrey power-amp recommended by skilled PA-people will do the job as long as (when buying) bring the components of your rig to the store (F1-X, SF-2, speakers.... and Alembic bass of course) and see if things work out as they have to do!
Well friends I'm going to visit some websites and see what can be done at this side of the big water. Crown is imported but extremely expensive, the same for Mesa but that 400+ Power Amp but is not in production anymore (they are mostly for sale in music-stores). Crest  and Carver are to find in the PA stores at medium price and I think Peavey CS 800 I'll find also in Music stores. QSC PLX I've never heard about.
Guys additional ideas always welcome. I know also now that the first savings I have will be spend on the SF-2 (I can use him with the SM-400), than the F1-X and THAN the poweramp.  
 
So let's hum the theme of Indiana Jones and start this quest to new financial horizons... po-po-po-poooom-po-po-pooom!
;-)
 
Paul
 
PS: What's a damping factor? Can you explain that in plain english?

[Matt Bulmer (prime)]

Anybody have any experience with the SWR Power 750? I believe it is the power amp portion of the 750x without the pre-amp.
 
Matt

[Valentino Villevieille (valvil)]

Just to throw in a name nobody's mentioned so far...
Ashdown tube power amps ( designed by Mark Goday, Trace Elliot 's design man before Gibson bought it).  I am very happy with their tube line, and highly recommend it, particularly considering price/ performance...Entwistle's last rig...and Mark King's current rig as well...sounds very good with Alembics

[carlos shilinsky (shilinsky)]

also theres a peavey i think  dpx1400, its small (just one rack space)  and delivers 1400 watts,someone know about it?
 
 

[Nate Pitts (cntrabssn)]

Paul, have you considered Glockenklang power amplifiers? You already have a couple of their speaker cabinets, correct? If their power amps are anything like the rest of their gear, you probably won't be disappointed. I think you mentioned in another post that Glockenklang prices are more reasonable over there. Unfortunately, the gear is pretty expensive in the US.  
 
By the way, I use a QSC Powerlight 1.4, which works well for me into my Glockenklang Quattro or Bergantino HT112 cabs.
 
Carlos, the Peavey amp you mentioned was tested in Bass Player magazine, though I don't remember which issue. The review was favorable, as I recall. Just in case, keep in mind that it requires a deep rack.  
 
- nate

[Andrew Sisco (prons_bud)]

Another name to consider is Stewart for power amps. I've had my PA-1000 (1 rack space, 1000 watts when bridged) for many years and it's been a real workhorse. I trade off this amp with my Aguilar DB 728 ( 400 watt tube mono block) I gotta tell ya, my SF-2 really wakes up my rig and multiplies it's versatility. Also, I was unaware that Ashdown made an tube power amp.

[Matt Bulmer (prime)]

The Ashdown APM1000 Power Magnifier is a tube/solidstate power amp. Depending on the input mix you are able to utilize more or less of the tube amp section.  
 
Matt