mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Hi everyone. I'm after a little help, please. I am going down the power amp / pre amp route and need some advice about power amps, please. I have no idea what I'm looking for. Everything I have checked out so far look like they are designed purely for a PA / monitoring setup. Is that OK? Are there specific power amps designed just for bass? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Hi Matt, I'm curious to know why you've decided to take this route when you don't seem to know how or even if it will do the job for you. A power amp just makes noise. Unless you're getting into big arrays of cabs, that's about it. Bass players usually go to power amps when they need a lot of power or to run more cabs than the average bass amp. I've never had to use a power amp and I've played in arenas. When you get larger than the average pub there is usually a good PA to go through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 Hi Chris,. I am using my SansAmp more and more so I just want something to power that. It's that simple I'm really just trying to find out options. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='mattbass6' timestamp='1453119931' post='2956446'] Hi Chris,. I am using my SansAmp more and more so I just want something to power that. It's that simple I'm really just trying to find out options. Cheers. [/quote] Your present amp can be used as a power amp only, by sending your pre-amp signal into the 'effects return' jack. You'll still need speakers (cabs...), of course, in any rate. Why won't that do the job..? Do you need more power..? Do you need stereo, or bi-amping, or bi-phonics..? Any decent PA power amp should do the job, in 'bridge' mode if you don't need separate channels, but will require hefty cabs if you're 'upping' the power. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTypeV4 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Some companies do make specific power amps for bass (no current production amps spring to mind but SWR, Ampeg and Trace used to) however, ones you've already looked at for PA will do the job just fine. All the usual suspects from the pro-audio world such as Crown, QSC, Crest and C-Audio are all premium brands with Crowns being my personal faves. Decent performance can be had a little further down the line from the likes of Citronic andPeavey also. Be aware of power ratings (and how they're achieved - I'll not get into that now), minimum impedance, speaker connections, input sensitivity and plus size and weight. Someone will almost certainly make one that suits your needs although it might take a bit of sifting through the pile to find the one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) Matt, One simple option could be to use an ordinary SS or D class (non valve) amp and put your SansAmp into the return socket. You'll be bypassing the pre on the amp and using the power section. Dad beat me to it. Edited January 18, 2016 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='mattbass6' timestamp='1453119931' post='2956446'] Hi Chris,. I am using my SansAmp more and more so I just want something to power that. It's that simple I'm really just trying to find out options. Cheers. [/quote] Popular choices would be the likes of QSC PLX/PLX2, Crown XLS or even Behringer inuke if your on a tight budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1453120260' post='2956454'] Your present amp can be used as a power amp only, by sending your pre-amp signal into the 'effects return' jack. You'll still need speakers (cabs...), of course, in any rate. Why won't that do the job..? Do you need more power..? Do you need stereo, or bi-amping, or bi-phonics..? Any decent PA power amp should do the job, in 'bridge' mode if you don't need separate channels, but will require hefty cabs if you're 'upping' the power. Hope this helps. [/quote] Hi Dad3353, OK, that makes a lot of sense. I do appreciate the help. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1453120432' post='2956459'] Matt, One simple option could be to use an ordinary SS or D class (non valve) amp and put your SansAmp into the return socket. You'll be bypassing the pre on the amp and using the power section. Dad beat me to it. [/quote] Thanks Chris, as Dad said, that makes sense. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1453120464' post='2956460'] Popular choices would be the likes of QSC PLX/PLX2, Crown XLS or even Behringer inuke if your on a tight budget. [/quote] Appreciated Bassman7755. I shall have a look in to these. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 [sharedmedia=core:attachments:167485] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 On the other hand. . . . buy a decent bass amp and the pre should be every bit as good as the SansAmp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1453120720' post='2956470'] On the other hand. . . . buy a decent bass amp and the pre should be every bit as good as the SansAmp. [/quote] I just love my SansAmp. It gives me everything I need. I will look at your suggestion and maybe keep the current setup. Thanks ever so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Some of the Sansamp preamps are not hot enough to drive some power amps to full power, so you'll need the check both the output voltage of the preamp and the input sensitivity of the power amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I've got a Crown xls2000 on a reggae sound rig...silly loud...silly light....good price..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1453120919' post='2956474'] Some of the Sansamp preamps are not hot enough to drive some power amps to full power, so you'll need the check both the output voltage of the preamp and the input sensitivity of the power amp. [/quote] I had someone just mail me the exact same thing. Thanks so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1453121055' post='2956477'] I've got a Crown xls2000 on a reggae sound rig...silly loud...silly light....good price..... [/quote] Cheers. I've decided to keep my rig and try some of the suggestions here. Thanks so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifi2112 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Here's a nice looking bass poweramp FS on here now ... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/274826-fs-fender-mb1200-power-amplifier/ I went down pre + power amp / powered cab route but changed back. Now I just run my B7K into the front of my GK 400RB-IV .. I could bypass the amp's pre but haven't needed to as it sounds great, better than all the different pre / power setups I tried ... just my 2c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Crest CA9 The daddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1453120260' post='2956454'] Any decent PA power amp should do the job, in 'bridge' mode if you don't need separate channels, but will require hefty cabs if you're 'upping' the power. [/quote] Well its pretty common to over spec the amp when using a PA amp for bass rigs, last time I used a rack, the poweramp was over twice the rating of my cab (1600 watt rms bridged vs a 750 watt rms cab), most power amps have decent power meters so you see when your reaching say -12 or -6 db relative to full power so its not too hard to avoid doing something stupid. I guess what I'm saying is if your cab(s) can produce the required volume then theres no need to upgrade just because you've theoretically got more amp power on tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1453122227' post='2956497'] Crest CA9 The daddy [/quote] Just remember to factor in the cost of a forklift to move it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I don't believe there's such a big issue here as in the USA regarding the type of power amp and how it'll delivery bass - we have 240V power, they have 110V, so over four times as much power easily available from the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 Thanks everyone. After listening to your advice, I'm sticking with my current setup and going to use the SansAmp in conjunction with that. It does seem a bit mad when I think about it, going down the poweramp / preamp route. I appreciate all your comments, so much. Cheers ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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