Aguilar DB680 users: Which power amp now?

#21
I have an SWR Stereo 800 powering my DB 680 based rack. It is totally killer. I honestly think you'll be fine with any quality power amp. If I were you, I'd keep using your Bergantino as a power section and put the 680 in a small rack. Then you can bring the pre or leave it home depending on the gig and sound good no matter what.

I recently acquired a Noble which I'm running into the power section of a TecAmp Puma. It sounds 92% as good as my big rack and is a million times more convenient.
 
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#22
Dee-man said:
You will be very happy with a class D power amp that has an ICE power module (say the ICE 1000, which does 1200w at 4 ohms) or, so I've heard, the new Pascal power module. Or the Jule Amps I mentioned (including a very pricey M2500 if you need that much power). You can get an ICE power amp from RAD engineering here on TB if you search around. Sounds great and plenty of slam, weighs about 10 or less pounds. At my age, I would get that over a CA9. Good luck.
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Are RAD Engineering doing a rackmount power amp with the ICE module?
 
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#23
While I don't have an Aguilar DB680 preamp, I do have its "little brother" - a DB659 preamp which, according to lore I've read on the 'net, has some of the same sonic characteristics. I used to pair it with an SWR Stereo 800 power amp and the combination was simply stellar, IMHO. While the Stereo 800 isn't super lightweight like your typical class D amps, they're only 22 pounds, which ain't bad for an old school type a/b "lead sled" power amp. I only ditched mine because it was a quantum leap more powerful than I could ever use on the types of gigs I play. It was really a great sounding and versatile unit.
 
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#25
Judge Nickels said:
I have an SWR Stereo 800 powering my DB 680 based rack. It is totally killer. I honestly think you'll be fine with any quality power amp. If I were you, I'd keep using your Bergantino as a power section and put the 680 in a small rack. Then you can bring the pre or leave it home depending on the gig and sound good no matter what.

I recently acquired a Noble which I'm running into the power section of a TecAmp Puma. It sounds 92% as good as my big rack and is a million times more convenient.
Click to expand...
I’m leaning towards what Judge is saying - using the Bergie B Amp’s Power section for the Aguilar. It fits the lightweight/modular concept of whilst still using the tube pre-amp perfectly.
 
#28
I’ve got the DB659/728 setup, and honestly they do sound glorious together; I could only imagine how great a DB680 would sound with my DB728!

That said, the DB728 is a bit of a pain to deal with when it comes to transport. It’s longer then will fit into most production racks and due to it’s weight requires extra support than the four rack screws can give it (I’ve got mine mounted on wood inside a shock mount rack). Its also somewhat expensive to retube (worse for me because I can’t seem to find a decent tube amp tech in Austin!), but the sound does indeed make up for all of these issues.

If I were regularly gigging my rackmount DB659, I’d probably end up getting a smaller and less expensive power amp to rack together with it and then just add in the 728 for special shows where weight wasn’t a concern. I’ll bet that your DB680 would sound great through a Crown power amp or any decent Class D head...shoot, maybe the power section of an Ampeg SVT!
 
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#31
As you no doubt know the Aguilar companion power amp (db728) is no longer in production. Occasionally one pops up on TB used. The Demeter VTHF-300M is still available new, if you want to stick with tubes. The best sounding solid state power amp I’ve heard is the Glockenklang Bugatti, which is a true audiophile bass power amp (there is actually an audiophile variant of it marketed through high end audio shops). This amp is rated at 2X400 watts, at 0.1% THD - i.e. very conservatively rated. In the lightweight SS arena you might try the Demter HB-1600D, which is a 2X800watts power amp in a 1RU form factor. I’ve not heard it but have always been curious about it. The B|Amp option would no doubt be a solid choice. The Glockenklang crushes, regardless of what the numbers say.
 
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#33
Cheers,

I am running my DB680 with two of the Wayne Jones Audio 2X10 Powered Cabinets. These have the top of the line Pascal Class D poweramps bridged @ 1000 watts in each cabinet. This is run dual mono as the Aguilar has two 1/4" outputs.

I am very happy with the tone, volume available and the light weight relative to having a powered 2X10+H on casters with a retractable handle. (I've heard plenty of complaining about the handles and rolling it being "difficult", but I seem to have no issues and can get both in and out of my backseat by myself.)

This is a MONSTER rig option that works!
 
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