Tee Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Can anyone think of/recommend decent heads that can be used without a speaker load i.e. so as to use the DI out (if it has one) to go straight into desk or DAW? I know Eden heads can do this. Any others of note? Can the Aguilar TH500 do this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 the TC Electronic RH's. Has DI and digital out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Pretty much any amp without a valve power section will be OK without a load. There are few SS amps with an output transformer (eg Warwick Jonas Helborg) which would need a load too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 TecAmp Pumas don't need a speaker load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I think anything without valves would work wouldn't it? I know I've used my Gallien-Krueger RB400 and Ampeg PF500 in this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 (edited) Although the Orange TB doesn't have output tubes, yet it still requires a load. Edited February 22, 2016 by Tee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Anything with a headphone jack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 I'm guessing its anything without an output transformer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='Tee' timestamp='1456176618' post='2986370'] Although the Orange TB doesn't have output tubes, yet it still requires a load. [/quote] Says who? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderpaws Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 My Streamliner rocks at this, as do many heads of similar type. New Ampeg PF20 and 50t are all valve and have a DI you can run with no speaker. The DI comes off the output transformer too. Same with that Mesa head, 488 or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I use a Genz head as a di box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='Tee' timestamp='1456175549' post='2986345'] Can the Aguilar TH500 do this? [/quote] TH500 is fine without a load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colgraff Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Vanderkley works without load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebasshead Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1456177916' post='2986395'] Says who? [/quote]It's a bit odd, I grant you, but the manual states the following when talking about the DI output: "IMPORTANT: A speaker cabinet of suitable impedance and power handling must be connected to the amplifier’s speaker outputs even when the DI Output is in use." So it's implied rather than stated directly the way I read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Yeah, just read that too! Had this amp for years and never knew that, assumed it was like most other micros and could be used unplugged from the cab if I wanted to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 [quote name='stevebasshead' timestamp='1456185445' post='2986497'] It's a bit odd, I grant you, but the manual states the following when talking about the DI output: "IMPORTANT: A speaker cabinet of suitable impedance and power handling must be connected to the amplifier’s speaker outputs even when the DI Output is in use." So it's implied rather than stated directly the way I read it. [/quote] Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 In the early days of solid state amps a few designs would go into oscillation (like feedback/howlround but electronically, inside the electronics) If no load was connected they'd overheat and break in this state. My Exposure hi fi amp warns about this. I haven't seen that for a long time but I wonder if Orange are simply being careful, a bit like the 'may contain traces of nuts' warnings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) [quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1456214863' post='2986579'] In the early days of solid state amps a few designs would go into oscillation (like feedback/howlround but electronically, inside the electronics) If no load was connected they'd overheat and break in this state. My Exposure hi fi amp warns about this. I haven't seen that for a long time but I wonder if Orange are simply being careful, a bit like the 'may contain traces of nuts' warnings. [/quote] Well, the TB certainly contains some balls. Edited February 23, 2016 by RandomBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 [quote name='stevebasshead' timestamp='1456185445' post='2986497'] It's a bit odd, I grant you, but the manual states the following when talking about the DI output: "IMPORTANT: A speaker cabinet of suitable impedance and power handling must be connected to the amplifier's speaker outputs even when the DI Output is in use." So it's implied rather than stated directly the way I read it. [/quote] I'm guessing that they made the DI so utterly unusable for this very reason ... it discourages people who never read the manual ( ) from trying to use the amp as a DI-only source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Incidentally, when I started this thread ( http://basschat.co.uk/topic/134869-re-valving-an-orange-bass-terror/page__hl__otb%20valve ) I ran my OTB500 from the DI into a mixer, took a feed from the mixer into my Zoom H2, and monitored using headphones. Not a speaker cabinet of suitable impedance in sight. I suspect that, as others have said, this warning is of the "may contain traces of nuts" variety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I think perhaps that has been copied and pasted from one of the Orange valve amp manuals. I've yet to see a modern solid state (or hybrid) amp that couldn't be run without a load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Good call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 [quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1456223958' post='2986704'] I think perhaps that has been copied and pasted from one of the Orange valve amp manuals. I've yet to see a modern solid state (or hybrid) amp that couldn't be run without a load. [/quote]+1. Here's why: With valves signal always passes through the output valves, because their load is the primary winding of the output transformer. If there's no load on the secondary winding of the output transformer bad things can ensue. With SS if there's no load no current passes through the output transistors, so there are no worries. Once upon a time first generation SS amps used output transformers, but I haven't seen that done since the late 1960s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 It's all about them pesky Robots In Disguise, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krispn Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Markbass tte500 is another which can be used without a cab connected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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