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Where are the lightweight power amps?


Soulfinger
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Ok, so Markbass manages to fit a pre and power amp into a tiny little 500W bass head weighing less than three kilograms.

Surely someone must be manufacturing similarly small, lightweight and powerful power amps?

I seem to recall that Dood had one, but that was a couple of websites ago...

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I think powersoft do a range of 1u lightweight p/amps.

Second mortgage time tho!!

[url="http://www.beyerdynamic.co.uk/distributorpages/powersoftpages/powersoft.html"]http://www.beyerdynamic.co.uk/distributorp.../powersoft.html[/url]

Edited by neilb
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Dood and I both mention the [url="http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm"]Class D 1 u 1200w amp[/url] offered by BK Electronics. Also you can find the [url="http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/82528/number/00350750/cat/89/DPC%AE+1400X+Digital+Power+Amp.cfm"]Peavy DPC1400 power amp[/url] sometimes on Ebay with a similar spec. Wallbassist had one for sale a while back.

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[quote name='neilb' post='14227' date='Jun 8 2007, 03:15 PM']I think powersoft do a range of 1u lightweight p/amps.

Second mortgage time tho!!

[url="http://www.beyerdynamic.co.uk/distributorpages/powersoftpages/powersoft.html"]http://www.beyerdynamic.co.uk/distributorp.../powersoft.html[/url][/quote]

Yup I own and LOVE a powersoft 2004 model. It's hifi clean 1Kw+1Kw RMS in a 1u rack weighing around 8Kilos. The new price appears steep, but when it eats the likes of the very top power amps for breakfast, the price tag isnt so bad. I have heard some glowing reviews of these amps and can understand why! Some of their 1u racks can chuck out more than 3KW RMS!

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='14237' date='Jun 8 2007, 03:37 PM']Dood and I both mention the [url="http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm"]Class D 1 u 1200w amp[/url] offered by BK Electronics. Also you can find the [url="http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/82528/number/00350750/cat/89/DPC%AE+1400X+Digital+Power+Amp.cfm"]Peavy DPC1400 power amp[/url] sometimes on Ebay with a similar spec. Wallbassist had one for sale a while back.[/quote]

BK Are fantastic! I have bought a fair amount of gear from them, including amp modules and the 600W D-Class unit below. I was originally sceptical about them, as it was an 'unknown value' in amp manufacture. but they actually build a lot of OEM units for other companies.

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='14457' date='Jun 9 2007, 01:04 AM']I bought the tiny one from Dood.

That's about as much power in a small package that I've found. There's also the Crate power brick and I think Bose do a small one, about 200W if I recall rightly.[/quote]

Still goin ok then!! 600W RMS into 4 Ohms IIRC? - This module is very clever! it will slide into the back of ANY cabinet (full range or otherwise) - 4 screws to hold it into place and you have an active speaker cabimet. Yup.. you only need to carry a cabinet and your pedals! no need for a seperate head!

There are other 'lightweight' amps out there.. The market will eventually catch up and build more and more based on these 'lightweight' designs, including D Class, H Class, SMPS (Switched Mode Power Supply) modules and ever more emerging technologies.

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Powersoft website

[url="http://pro-audio.powersoft.it/an_series_list.php?use_in=53&id_menu=271"]http://pro-audio.powersoft.it/an_series_li...amp;id_menu=271[/url]




Check out the spec of this audio menace!
[url="http://pro-audio.powersoft.it/product_list.php?id_menu=271&obj=121"]http://pro-audio.powersoft.it/product_list...271&obj=121[/url]

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Thanks for your suggestions.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='14235' date='Jun 8 2007, 04:27 PM']Acoustic Image Focus SA.[/quote]

3,5 lbs - now we´re talking.

I was hoping for something less expensive, though.

I guess Dood is spot on - there will be more of these in the near future, and probably more affordable too.

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I've got one of these in my rack [url="http://www.smartsounddirect.com/content/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=SSD1180"]Sound Tech 802[/url]

2 x 400W 4ohm
2 x 230W 8ohm
1 x 800W 8ohm bridged

Maybe not the lightest but a nice 1U amp and on sale at the moment for £299.

Pete.

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[quote name='Soulfinger' post='14223' date='Jun 8 2007, 03:00 PM']Ok, so Markbass manages to fit a pre and power amp into a tiny little 500W bass head weighing less than three kilograms.

Surely someone must be manufacturing similarly small, lightweight and powerful power amps?

I seem to recall that Dood had one, but that was a couple of websites ago...[/quote]

I've been wondering the same thing myself.

I'd like to see Markbass stick a couple of their power amps in a chassis for a twin channel 1000w power amp that only weighs 5kg

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QSC PLX2 -04 models weigh 13lbs and put out up to 1800W. -02 models weigh 21lbs and put out up to 3600W.

There isn't much market for super lightweight lower powered amps because once you've got them in a rack and you're carting PA speakers around you might as well take a bit more weight and power.

I wonder how the Markbass amps would perform under heavy loads without the helpful EQ built into the preamps? Very clever engineering though, to find the balance of cost, weight and tone - certainly a step ahead of the rest of the market.

Alex

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[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='14803' date='Jun 9 2007, 09:20 PM']By "helpful EQ" do you mean the EQ section or the preamp's inherent colouration?[/quote]

Little Mark 250 with EQ set flat:



The preamp's inbuilt roll-off on the lows reduces both the demand on the power amp and on the speakers - which is a good idea as most cabs are hopeless in the true lows below 80Hz. On the other hand it may not be what you want when recording or feeding a PA system. Or if you use cabs that do go low.

Alex

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[quote name='PaulMartin' post='14643' date='Jun 9 2007, 03:15 PM']I've been wondering the same thing myself.

I'd like to see Markbass stick a couple of their power amps in a chassis for a twin channel 1000w power amp that only weighs 5kg[/quote]


I sent an email to MarkBass a while back (month or so ago), suggesting that they make the F1 a full 1 u rack and stick 2 poweramps in it, to make a full stereo rig.. maybe with a stereo effects loop (YES!) or a crossover to make a Bi-amp system.

It'd not be a massive deal to do it.. but alas, I didnt even get a courtesy reply.

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[quote name='alexclaber' post='14845' date='Jun 9 2007, 11:24 PM']Little Mark 250 with EQ set flat:



The preamp's inbuilt roll-off on the lows reduces both the demand on the power amp and on the speakers - which is a good idea as most cabs are hopeless in the true lows below 80Hz. On the other hand it may not be what you want when recording or feeding a PA system. Or if you use cabs that do go low.

Alex[/quote]

Very interesting. So that's why they sound louder than other amps?

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[quote name='PaulMartin' post='14971' date='Jun 10 2007, 10:41 AM']Very interesting. So that's why they sound louder than other amps?[/quote]


However, something I found interesting too, is that I found (on two different occasions) markbass heads 'missing' top end clarity. a sort of roll off from just under1 Khz up toward what would be around 10K.

To explain what I mean.. I plugged the head into different cabs and could clearly hear the hiss coming from the tweeter, so I definitely know top end was coming from the poweramp. The top end zing of the head just didnt appaear to be in the same ball park. I changed over to another head, a warwick something or other.. and although the amp had a different character, the top end 'zing' if we can call it that, was defintely there in comparison.

Mebbe it was a particular model of MB.. but that was one reason why I chose not to go with them. I should just add, that it isnt a bad trait, most bass players dont want top end zing and indeed make a point of turning off their tweeters for example. I do like a bit of top end that can slice your head off, like a 16" power crash with loose rivets bashed in! - ok.. not really that.. but I like the extra bite! ;o)

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[quote name='dood' post='15234' date='Jun 10 2007, 08:00 PM']However, something I found interesting too, is that I found (on two different occasions) markbass heads 'missing' top end clarity. a sort of roll off from just under1 Khz up toward what would be around 10K.[/quote]

dood, I know exactly what you mean. However, now that I've seen a load of plots of frequency response I've found that the majority of bass amps have a built-in treble boost, consequently the few that don't sound like they have the opposite.

Alex

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That would hold true with my most recent findings about trying too many items in the signal chain with a flat (flatter) response. Gawd, it does sound lifeless and boring!! Lacking in zing and balls!! Engineering a curve into preamps aint such a bad idea after all!

I have had a bit of an aural epiphany this weekend and have had a great idea that I'm gonna stick on another thread in one mo.

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[quote name='Gazm' post='14599' date='Jun 9 2007, 01:13 PM']I've got one of these in my rack [url="http://www.smartsounddirect.com/content/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=SSD1180"]Sound Tech 802[/url]

2 x 400W 4ohm
2 x 230W 8ohm
1 x 800W 8ohm bridged

Maybe not the lightest but a nice 1U amp and on sale at the moment for £299.

Pete.[/quote]Yeah, I had one of these for a while. Triffic little thing.
OK, so at 15lbs it's not as light as the AI one but let's face it, just how light do you want? 7kg is hardly SVT territory is it?? :)

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Interestingly, if you get a BK catalogue, they sell the Soundtech stuff as well. Infact, looking at most of BK's kit, I actually wouldn't be surprised if they have a hand in the design anyway! - I'd have to find out, so don't take my word for it.
Having owned BK kit, I would say to go for the BK D class rack. Also, get in touch with BK directly. They can do a lower price than that on the website. They did for me when I bought a single D-Class module. (grab a catalogue at the same time.. they do loadsa stuff for us musicians!!

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