Sjonnie

From all the preamps I've had over the years only the Aguilar DB680 and Aguilar DB659 are the ones I kept. I have been using the DB659 with a QSC power amp for almost 10 years and I have never even considered another amp. Recently I used my DB 680 for rehearsals and plugged it directly in the PA, that is the only amp so far that made me reconsider my DB659.

I use a QSC PLX1802 myself. Combined with a 1U pre amp and a 3U rack bag this is a very manageable solution. The amp sounds very good and I have plenty of power. I have this amp three years now, and I'm still very pleased with it.

[url="http://www.crownaudio.com/amp_htm/ampfaqnew.htm"]Some background info[/url] (look for: How can I get rid of the noise in my system?) TRS versus TS cables will probably not make a difference (with the emphasis on probably), disconnecting ground from the XLR cable should.

Check the cable between the preamp and the poweramp. Do you have other cables, what cable do you use at the moment? If it is a balanced cable try an unbalanced one. The amp has no ground lift as far as I can see, if you can make a cable where the ground is not connected, that would be the same as ground lift.

Where I the pedal in your setup? Between pre and power amp, in front of the pre amp, or in the effect loop of the preamp?

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1319876193' post='1419497'] Not in my experience. The Ampeg EQ stage is poor, IMO, and you don't want to have to fight it. I find the Ampeg valve amp works well as a package if you can just plug'n'play but not when you split it. [/quote] I think it is even worse, you need the complete package, that is an Ampeg valve amp with probably an 8X10 to get that "Ampeg tone". It's the complete chain, from bass to cab, that makes the sound. You indeed can't take one element out of it and expect that to deliver the sound of the complete set up. However the 7pro uses a class D power amp and only one valve in the preamp. If you like the sound an Ampeg pre and separate power amp should probably get you close. [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1319876193' post='1419497'] I've used the pre and power amp when provided and I can see why hire companies might find this attractive..weight, servicing etc.. but if has been a major let-down whenever I have had the misfortune to have one...and I preferred to see Ashdown..out of the two and that is saying something. Ampeg..and to a lesser degree, Ashdown, must have very active product placement but I am not convinced they could justify it otherwise. More iconic than market leader, IMO [/quote] I have been using a pre / power amp combo for some time now and for how I use it that is ideal. I have been able to test a large number of preamps over the years. The impact of a preamp on the overall sound is large, but it is still the combination that has to be right. I have an Ampeg SVP Pro and at home it sounds stunning. During practice I like it a lot less, but there I use a different bass and different cabinets, so it is probably not the fault of the preamp.

Another option would be to get a (used) Ampeg preamp and a decent power amp. Works like a charm.

[quote name='BassBunny' timestamp='1319402857' post='1413800'] Am I Happy with my Rig? Damn Straight. Been round the block with Amps, MarkBass to Ea to GK to TC .... and back to MarkBass. The EAD Foundation 212 was the misiing link. Stunning Cab and i've stopped looking. A MarkBass SA450, (with a Little Mark II as back-up), and EAD Foundation 212 and a pair of Zoot Cabs as back-up. The GAS Account has now hit stupid levels as the 2xACG's are taking care of the Bass end. [/quote] I was about to write that I'm happy with my setup, but then I came accross this post and now I'm experiencing a serious gas attack for cabs I haven't even seen nor heard.

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1319310567' post='1412656']Sjonnie's responses reflect my experience with wiring up a QSC to run in bridged mono... Seems that most manufacturers follow the same basic pattern. As for 1kW (or however much) being too much power, I beg to differ. The extra poke (tech term ) offers other benefits beyond perceived loudness gains. More current, headroom and (often) larger damping factors all combine to improve the way in which the power amp controls the behaviour and performance of the cabinet. My QSC power amp hammers my poor old Trace, even with only a Korg Pandora or a cheap mixer used as a pre-amp.[/quote] I use a QSC as well. I run it in stereo mode into two Aguilar 2x12 cabs and love it that I'm capable of adding more bass to my tone without clipping the amp.

[quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1319309314' post='1412641'] Yeah - bright green electrical tape around the cable at the amp end. It'll likely stay connected to the amp end within the amps case anyway. I assume the +1 remains connected to +1 via one core, then the -1 is connected to +2 via the other? One question I haven't found an answer to is that the pre I have been looking at has 2 outputs labeled L and R. Should I just take the TRS-XLR from one side to the channel 1 input of the power amp, or should I use a splitter which is wired 2x TRS - XLR so L & R run into the one channel, or - will it make little difference Shep[/quote] Only if you have a real stereo signal you should use both outputs, but in that case you probably don't want bridge mode. If you really need the two channels use a simple mixer, but never use a 'Y' cable. Look here : http://www.rane.com/note109.html for the details.

[quote name='pantherairsoft'] Hey folks. Venturing into my 1st pre & power set up. Manuals are rather techy so for those of you using set ups like this I wonder if you can answer the following questions... [b]1...[/b] Preamp has L/R outputs Jack only that can run in either mono or stereo Poweramp has L/R XLR inputs The power amp will be using in 'Bridged Mono' mode... so... I assume I have to connect left & right (to bridge them) rather than just one side of the setup (for regular mono)? Also, would the best connection be a Stereo (TRS) jack to XLR? [/quote] TRS to XLR should do, but for bridged mono you should connect only one channel. Usually on the amp it is indicated what channel to use. The Crown manual you link to mentiones you should use input one for bridged mono. Bridging in this case is done by combining the two channels of the power amplifier. [quote name='pantherairsoft'] [b]2...[/b] Power amp I'm looking at is the Crown XTi 1000 - [url="http://www.crownaudio.com/pdf/amps/139548.pdf"]http://www.crownaudi...amps/139548.pdf[/url] - I find much of what it says a little confusing regarding the Speakon outputs to the speaker. Should I be using 2-core, or 4-core cabling? I currently own a number of 2-core cables (but with Neutrik 4-pole plugs on) from both AudioSpares & Piranha. The diagrams seem to imply 2-core is fine, but the text implies it needs to be 4-core. Can anyone better minded in such things help? [/quote] According to the manual you have a number of options stereo mode; - use two regular two core cables and use both speakons - use one four core cable connected to speakon one. This is still stero mode, so both channels are present on the other side of the cable where they should be connected to separate speakers. This can be convenient if you have biampable speakers. Bridge mode - use one two core cable that is wired specifically for bridge mode. Cores should be connected to 1+ and 2+ [quote name='pantherairsoft'] [b]3...[/b] If I use a pre amp that only has a single output, can the power amp still be used in Bridge mono mode (can you bridge channels without an incoming signal to each?) [/quote] Yes it can. [quote name='pantherairsoft'] [b]4...[/b] I've read in places that when running an amp in bridge mono mode you have to specially wire a speakon lead differently at the amp end than the typical wiring that will be at the cab end... Is this correct? Shep [/quote] Depends on the amp in question. But for the crown this is correct.

[url="http://www.powersoft-audio.com/"]Powersoft[/url] makes some very nice 1U power amps. They tend to be rather deep, and are not cheap. [url="http://www.swramps.com/products/search.php?partno=4415050000"]SWR[/url] makes a nice small power amp. The choice you have will increase significantly if you drop the 1U requirement, and placed in a decent rack bag it still will be quite manageable.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1318525857' post='1403376'] And two is not in the same league as a 2x12 either [/quote] Imagine what happens if you have two 2x12's