Double Bass Power amp recommendations please

[McThud]

Hello all. Longtime player. Looking to redesign my rig. I own and love several bass preamp pedals, and decided that using those partnered with a high powered, clean, quiet power amp would be the best bet for my rig.

I've seen some pedal-sized amplifiers out there, but since I carry a small rack anyway for my current amp head and to send power to my pedal board, a small rack mounted suggestion would be great too.

Any suggestions for lightweight, powerful, clean (uncolored) sounding power amplifiers that could serve this purpose, I'd love to know. Not sure exactly how powerful an amp I'd need, but let's say between 500 - 1000 Watts to limit choices. Thank you all in advance for any suggestions you might offer!

 

[rwkeating]

Power amps are usually flat. It's the preamp that adds the color. You could go with any name brand power amp (Crown, QSC ...) Just make sure that your preamp can meet the input needs of the power amp. There may be some good info. here: matching preamp/power amp input levels

 

[G Aichele]

Sumo (1000 w.) or baby Sumo (600 w.).
Boutique
Single channel, very clean. I've used a baby Sumo with an Eden WTDI preamp and Barefaced Super Compact speakers for several years now. There's a thread here devoted to them.

 

[Co.]

Sumo (1000 w.) or baby Sumo (600 w.).
Boutique
Single channel, very clean. I've used a baby Sumo with an Eden WTDI preamp and Barefaced Super Compact speakers for several years now. There's a thread here devoted to them.

The Sumo Amps are great for their price, but there might be better choices for you.
They are small, lightweight, fanless and have enough power for my needs. That's why I use them.
The built quality is ok, but they don't feel like they are going to last forever. The power connector is wiggling and the input jack came lose one time and fell inside the amp. No big deal, if it happens at home, awful on a gig though.
Also, there is a slight hum from the unit itself, depending on where the volume knob is.
And in my opinion, 600w of digital power feel more like 200-300w of conventional power or max. 150w of tube power. You might want to get the 1000w Sumo.
All that being said, I would buy the Sumo again immediately. Surprisingly there are not too many fanless light weight power amps out there. If there are, feel free to correct me.

 

[G Aichele]

All that being said, I would buy the Sumo again immediately. Surprisingly there are not too many fanless light weight power amps out there. If there are, feel free to correct me.

Amen. Plus, since it's single channel, the Sumo is smaller and lighter than all the PA power amps that I know of.

 

[Ben Rolston]

Some other options I've looked at:

Jule Simone 500
Bassics A900
Demeter Minnie 800D
Ashdown ANT
Jay Ganz Straight Ahead

 

[Jeff Kissell]

For a similar price you could also get an Acoustic Image Clarus SL and just use the effects return for 600 watts into 4ohms. Bonus, you have a built in preamp if you want it.

 

[G Aichele]

Harley Benton (Thomann) also has power amps in several different wattages. I have no experience with them.

 

[Francois Blais]

I think this has been posted on the wrong side of Talkbass.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I think this has been posted on the wrong side of Talkbass.

As far as I know Co. is mainly a DB player, so it might be in the right place or at least interesting for both sides.

 

[Zbysek]

I had been using SWR Amplite for some time. I was satisfied...but it doesn't meet your power criteria (only 400w).

recently, I have been feeding my preamp into MB LM III (either instrument input or FX return)...

 

[McThud]

Thank you all for your immense input. Second, I realize I posted this in the DC section. I apologize, and will repost accordingly. However, you've all given me a huge amount of research to do, regardless of my instrument for this.

 

[G Aichele]

As someone already said, the question applies as well to DB as to BG. The split is irrelevant here.