Mesa Subway WD800

[BassAdder60]

Hi folks 

 

Any users of the WD800 on here and how you rate it compared to say other top end class d amps ? 
 

Does it lack in anything particular or is it about as good as it gets without going for a full valve amp ?

[Steve Browning]

I know Captain Rumble has one.

 

I use the TT 800 and don't miss my all-valve amps at all.

[Chrisan2]

I got one I might be selling, it’s just a bit too much going on eq wise for me plus the subway cabs are out of my price range. 

[Chienmortbb]

On 09/08/2024 at 10:42, BassAdder60 said:

about as good as it gets without going for a full valve amp ?

This suggest that a full valve amp is the gold standard. 🤣

[HowieD72]

On 10/08/2024 at 17:27, Chrisan2 said:

I got one I might be selling, it’s just a bit too much going on eq wise for me plus the subway cabs are out of my price range. 

Did you end up selling it? 

[Sean]

On 09/08/2024 at 10:42, BassAdder60 said:

Hi folks 

 

Any users of the WD800 on here and how you rate it compared to say other top end class d amps ? 
 

Does it lack in anything particular or is it about as good as it gets without going for a full valve amp ?

It's modelled on the Walkabout, so that's the comparison for the WD-800. The Walkabout used a MOSFET power section. 

 

The newly released 800D is modelled on the 400+, which has a valve power section.  

 

The current range of Class D Mesa amps are very highly regarded by fans.

 

The big advantages of these Class D amps is that they're not 30kg and they don't have huge servicing costs to keep them running over the long run. 

 

Valve amps aren't the "gold standard", they're just different technology. For many of us any advantage they give is "outweighed" by Class D amps' convenience. 

 

Yesterday I took my Laney 400 to the bass bash, it's 37kg. It's a behemoth of a thing. It takes some handling. Currently my Mesa 400+ is away for repair, that's going to be expensive! 

 

Mesa products are a gold standard whatever tech they are and, being very customer focused, Mesa makes very different flavours of amp for different needs. 

 

I'd recommend trying out the WD-800, TT-800 and 800D and seeing which ones suits you best. You can't go wrong with any of them, they're just different. 

 

 

[Chienmortbb]

12 hours ago, HowieD72 said:

Did you end up selling it? 

 

12 hours ago, HowieD72 said:

Did you end up selling it? 

Yes, There were a lot of good points to the Subway, the voicing control and deep switch were great. However neither worked that well for me in a band setting. The EQ was nice but I tend to run flat adding any colouring via my Zoom  Pedals. 
 

I decided that I needed a better PA so sold it on. 
 

It was very well built, a tad utilitarian in its design but if I wanted to go pedaless would have probably been a keeper. 
 

[Sean]

5 hours ago, Sean said:

Currently my Mesa 400+ is away for repair, that's going to be expensive! 

 

 

 

Since posting the above the quotation came in. My advice to anyone getting misty eyed about valves goodness is, understand that, like cars, they have servicing costs.