Double Bass Power Amps for your favorite Preamps

Nathan Levine

Nathan Levine

Supporting Member
Apr 25, 2008
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Anchorage, AK
#1
Seems like a thread dedicated to the small, but powerful, power amps out there with power ratings and dimensions would be nice for anyones future reference. As we all know, the list is rather short. Please add to this list if you know of any others.

Focus SA - 600w @ 4ohms (10" x 6.5" x 3.1")

SWR Amplite - 400w @ 4ohms (8.5" x 9.75" x 1.75")

Demeter Minnie 800D - 800w @ 4 ohms (10" x 6" x 2")

Jule M700 - 700w @ 4 ohms (12" x 12" x 4.5")

Bose Packlite A1 - 250w @ 4ohms (10.5" x 5.5" X 2.25)
 
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#2
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#6
THanks Nathan for opening this up. It is where I am headed. I am inclined toward the Jules M700. Really what I want to do is velcro the poweramp to my cab (I am open to better clever ways of joining the two) but with the idea that the Felix would be on the floor and the power amp at the Cab. I really like the Cab tilted back, right now I like my MAS 46 tilted back monitor style on the floor but even vertically I like it tilted back some. So I was leaning away from the Jules because it is bigger. But in reading about it it seems like there are sonic attributes to the power amp that should be weighed (if you are going to spend a ton of money on the first half of the signal chain (Felix good mic and pickup) then it makes sense to have a great sounding amp powering it. The M700is bigger though. Not a discrete velcro to the back kind of thing and a pretty penny too. Also I just bought a MAS 16 for duo and small gigs (I do a lot of em) and I want something that will work with that.
Do you own all these amps? I know Ric has the M700 with the Felix and is quite happy.
 
#7
I figured that we were past due for this thread Piro. I've bought and sold both the SA and the Minnie. The Jule is bigger but I'm really curious to hear it paired up with the Felix. It might be too big to fit on the 16. I took careful measurements of the 45 before pulling the trigger on a used Jule. For velcroing purposes I would really consider an AI SL and just using the effects return.
 
#8
Interesting, I've been thinking about this very topic lately but from a bass guitar stand point. I recently bought a used Arkham Octling, basically an Ampeg B-15 pre stage, for recording direct with tubes massaging the sound. I love the tone so much I've started looking for ways to use it in a live setting that is neater than going into an effects return input. I've had it almost a two months and still haven't tried the upright through it... That Felix looks awfully neat but hot durn this stuff gets expensive.
 
#9
The more powerful Acoustic Image heads all have effects returns that bypass the preamp and have a volume control. This extends to everything in the line aside from the newest Clarus S4+, which has no effects loop volume control. I often use my AI heads as power amps using other preamps. You never know when your pre might develop a "thing" at the gig. One plus is that most of the AI heads are smaller than most power amps on the market.
 
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#10
that's a good point. Part of the tube thing is, admittedly, the chaotic nature of the beast and they are more prone to developing a "thing" when you least need it. I have a Clarus 3 and have used the effects return for stuff like tracks or break music quite a bit. The Tec-Amp 500 does that too.
 
#11
I had really nice results with the Felix plugged into the back of an AI Clarus S4+. It was weird seeing nothing going into the front of the AI head, but it sure sounded fantastic. I also like the idea of having the AI pre available in case something goes awry with the fancy pre.
 
#14
Since I don't have the time or money to find out I wonder if any one can speak about tone and sound of power amps ? Is it like cables just a bunch of hoohaa or are there qualitative differences in how they sound? Would a m700 be worth it's girth for sonic reasons for example? Because if not I'd be tempted to just keep the Focus but I like simplicity and I really don't want to have 4 channels of preamp buttons and knobs confusing my simple mind.
 
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#17
Great thread and should be a great resource for others!

I had the Focus SA and loved it! Super clean and loud. Just couldn't find the preamp I liked. Tried to go just FDeck but since it's not a true preamplifier, I never got all the juice I wanted.

Now I have a Ten2 head that I just plug right into. I do agree with flat back in that there are a lot of extras on here I don't need.

Maybe I'll try the Demeter. I've had my eye on one of those for a few years now.
 
#19
Nathan Levine said:
I definitely am curious if someone can speak to this too. It's got to be subtle in a class D amplifier if there are no tone shaping capabilities.
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Well, I thought that as well, until I got the M700. It responds quicker and sounds fuller across the full frequency range of the bass. I'm sure the Felix has a great deal to do with that, but the power sections of either my Walter Woods don't sound like the M700.

Ric
 
#20
Nathan Levine said:
I definitely am curious if someone can speak to this too. It's got to be subtle in a class D amplifier if there are no tone shaping capabilities.
Click to expand...

The people I know who do amps all say the new ICE power is much better for bass. Bigger, stronger lows, etc. That directly relates to tone. Look at how well the new amps with the newest ICE power modules are doing. The Mesa D800 for instance, or the Acoustic Image Clarus S4+. More headroom, bigger lows, more solid lows. Not so subtle depending on how you use the amp, or power module.
 
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