Rack preamp/power amp (class D) vs class D bass amp: size, weight and usability

[paskisti]

I have been using rack pre/power setup over 15 years and have been thinking to jump into class D bass amp for various reasons, but decided to rethink this before purchasing anything.

My latest rack setup: Sansamp RBI, Crown XLS 1002 power amp (900W bridged @ 5,3 ohms), plastic shallow rack, Darkglass B7K + psu, all cables = total 12kg

I have always been happy for the sound of my rack setups that based on RBI and various power amps, so now I'll focus only for size, weight and usability features and not to amp class, sound or other irrelevant features. My setup is already moderately light and easy to transport but still larger and heavier than the latest class D bass amps. Things are made more annoying because of the DG pedal, and I don't want pedal board for single pedal, so I needed to setup pedal from bag, cables, 2 power cables, pedal psu etc. Things needs to be easily to put up without the hassle and not to forget any components there when packing in dark (and drunk?) after the show.

Rack system pros and cons:
+ all can be in one package (cables, pedal, pre, poweramp)
+ rack gives protection without additional case
+ Easy routine: open covers, connect power, speaker and instrument cables and ready to go
- many modern cabs are narrower than rack -> I don't like that visually
- separate pre brings some weight comapred to bass amp

Class D bass amp pros and cons:
+ small in size and weight
+ pedal can be velcroed on top of the amp = compact package
+ no separate preamp
- needs protective case -> adds weight and overal size
- difficult to have package where there is no handling of loose parts (small cables, pedal, psu etc)

Two options to compare:
1. Make my rack as smooth as possible for setup
2. Jump into class D bass amp, put pedal on top of it (with velcro), find Pelican case for amp+pedal, psu, cables etc.

As I already had all I needed for my stage sound without purchasing any extra equipment, I decided to try to make my system easier for setup and repacking. Tasks to do:
- Pedal needs to be protected inside the rack -> put it in padded soft bag
- Pedal output cable and psu must be attached to system somehow so that I don't need to handle loose cables -> use power strip to attach preamp, power amp and pedal psu into single package -> tie all well into rack
- everything must be secured so that there is no additional loose components nor any cables unplugging accidentally or get lost -> tie rest of the cables inside the rack

Thoman shallow 3U rack was very shallow and there was almost no extra room for cables and pedal to pack so that was real challence, but I managed to do it.



I'm actually happy for the result, but packing need a little attension to fit everything nicely. According to my touring experience for similar but larger and heavier setup, this works well when you are in hurry to put everything up onstage. Only moving part is the pedal and nothing else cannot get lost. Note the extension for DI out in right side: easy to explain for engineer where is the DI out, and you don't need light to find it in dark.

When I was calculating weight (< 12kg) and size (dept 36cm, height 20cm/3U, width 53cm/19" ), this actually do not get much bigger and heavier than bass amp packed into similar semi-touring package, and I bet this is faster to put up.

 

[agedhorse]

Looks like you need to choose your compromises and tradeoffs.

 

[paskisti]

Looks like you need to choose your compromises and tradeoffs.

Oh yes, you are absolutery right.

 

[Marko 1]

I admit to not reading the OP all that carefully...

but dang, with a deeper rack case you can keep everything plugged in, plus room to keep anything else in there.

And not being prohibitively heavy, I suppose if it's not just GAS, I'd continue using it.

 

[paskisti]

I admit to not reading the OP all that carefully...

but dang, with a deeper rack case you can keep everything plugged in, plus room to keep anything else in there.

And not being prohibitively heavy, I suppose if it's not just GAS, I'd continue using it.

This is only attempt to suppress GAS .

 

[Marko 1]

This is only attempt to suppress GAS .

I've done a lot of succumbing to GAS this past year...


only thing is I keep getting more of the heavy stuff.

 

[Alivefor5]

So get a 900 watt class D Darkglass amp. All the Darkglass goodness in one light package including a big amp.

 

[40Hz]

My main rack is very similar to yours.

It consists of:

• SKB 4U Shallow Case
• Furman M-8x2 Power Strip
• Alembic F-1X Preamp
• Crown XLS-1002

I bought some short 12-inch AC line cords for the preamp and power amp which plug into the power strip. So the only cords coming off the back are the Speakon cable(s) for the cab(s) and the main AC wall cable for the power strip.

There’s also a small LED nightlight plugged into one of the outlets that makes doing things in the back of the case far easier than trying to do it while holding a flashlight.

At the end of the night I just disconnect the Speakon and long AC cord, loosely coil and drop them in a padded bag si they don’t rattle around and tuck it in the back of the case. Takes all of a minute. And there’s still room to spare for other things if need be.

The only pedal I usually take along is a Dry Bell Unit 67. That and a 1-spot DC adapter to power it go in my gig bag along with a few cables and the usual items you bring to a gig. If I’m using that pedal I only need a short cable to connect it to the F-1X since I park it on top of the case. There’s a small piece of 3M Dual Lock on the case that keeps the pedal anchored. The 1-Spot plugs into the front AC outlet.

I keep thinking maybe I’ll just get a regular bass head. But then I think my rack really isn’t very heavy (something like 22 lbs), it handles everything I need to do these days, and it’s already paid for. And I’m also not gigging out anywhere as much as I used to. So I don’t actually need another amp. Especially considering how I already own a spare.

And reminding myself of that is enough to keep any GAS I’m experiencing in check.

 

[InkCow]

How do you use your pedal? Do you engage/disengage midsong? If not, you could mount it on a rack shelf, then you don’t have to worry about it being left behind.

 

[paskisti]

So get a 900 watt class D Darkglass amp. All the Darkglass goodness in one light package including a big amp.

That has been one of the alterantives, but I didn't want to burn more money at this point. I'm not sure if DG amp gets me there because it hasn't grunt and attack switches, just like B3K v2 vs. B7K v2 that I liked more. And if amp fails, its more difficult, time consuming and expensive (if there even will be spare parts) to fix/replace than rack components, and usually pre/power/pedal has some parts still running even after the failure. Crown amp was only 289€ + 60€ rack case when I purchased them 3 years ago and RBI and DG pedal I already had (vs. 1100€ DG amp).

Some things to consider in case of failure:
- If RBI fails, I can run pedal + poweramp together, not optimal with DG but should work
- If power amp fails, I can still run pedal + RBI to FOH and bass to floor monitor (this happended me once with RBI)
- If pedal fails, I can still run RBI + poweramp setup easily

I know this is over engineering but what can I do for myself

How do you use your pedal? Do you engage/disengage midsong? If not, you could mount it on a rack shelf, then you don’t have to worry about it being left behind.

Pedal is always on making most of the sound while RBI is set for dry and tone controls are used for cab and room sound only. Rack shelf was considered also, but would need additional 2U rack space and deeped rack to make it bulkier. Now it is optimised for the size and weight (usable dept only 21cm / 4kg) being basically as small and light as possible.

 

[InkCow]

but would need additional 2U rack space and deeped rack to make it bulkier

Indeed, but as noted elsewhere, something’s going to have to give.

Could you mount the pedal semipermanently in front or rear rack panel?

 

[Mike Caldwell]

I would look at either a four space rack and a rack mount power strip or maybe mounting that power strip to the top back inside of your rack if there is the room, maybe you would need the next size deeper to do that.
The power strip and cables puking out the back of rack when you take off the cover would drive me crazy.

 

[Jigmay]

It seems like you could make it simpler with a deeper rack? Like @40Hz does, have a power conditioner or a rack shelf that has outlets in it to make setup simple. I considered a shallow rack but all the connectors would be hanging out and I’d have to reconnect them for setup & takedown. No thanks.
@40Hz has the idea of putting a nightlight in the power strip…brilliant!
Here’s a link to a rack shelf with A/C outlets. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/970623-REG/middle_atlantic_u1v_universal_vented_rack.html

But, you don't want to spend more money, so this may not be helpful.

 

[SteveHeissner]

"I would look at either a four space rack and a rack mount power strip or maybe mounting that power strip to the top back inside of your rack if there is the room..." I concur. It sounds like you've already got a killer bas rig and unless you have a bad back and; therefore, need a 5 lb. bass amp, you're already in a great spot. Good luck with your decision.

 

[bherman]

my basic premise these days, and I would suggest it would apply to your situation as well, is that when what you have works at the 90th percentile or above, call it good and turn your time spent thinking about this stuff to something more productive, like practicing

 

[Eminor3rd]

I’ve also got a very similar setup:

The only difference is Aguilar Tone hammer instead of the Darkglass. I went ahead and made a small board, because it gave me the opportunity to add a compressor and a tuner pedal (allowing me to remove the rack tuner). The pedalboard I got is extremely small (Warwick rockboard, even smaller than pedaltrain nano) and comes with a carrying bag, so with the Mxr iso brick Velcro’s underneath, it’s an extremely easy carry and it’s all wired in and ready to go/pack up at a gig.

Ive got some added weight by keeping the Furman in the rack, but I liked that trade off versus carrying a power strip all the time.

I like that I’ll be able to experiment with different preamps/overdrives/compressors as I need to, one at a time, for only the cost of each piece.

 

[40Hz]

@40Hz has the idea of putting a nightlight in the power strip…brilliant!

Appreciate the compliment but it isn’t my idea. I worked in IT. We always had small lights plugged into the rack outlet strips so we could see what we were plugging or unplugging. Also made it easier to read model and serial numbers whenever warranty services were being booked. I just migrated the idea over to my music rack.

 

[Jefenator]

For me, the concept of a fully self-contained amp in a laptop bag over the shoulder has been a logistical game changer.
The pedal velcro'd on top might spoil that, just enough to tip the scales back. (It's not necessarily the weight for me - it's the extra hand & potential extra trip when I'm in a hurry.)
If you could find an amp that incorporates what your Darkglass pedal does, that could be pretty sweet. (I assume you've researched their heads?)

 

[thebassgrognard]

If you're gigging a lot, I'd shoot for whatever is most simple and straight to the point while giving a tone that is at least usable if not exactly what you want. I've found myself going into forays of wanting to try different stuff, more complex chain, etc, but always returning to the most stripped down rig possible to not have to fiddle with a bunch of stuff. I do cart around two heads in case one goes down (like you mention), but one of them is a markbass nano so in essence weighs nothing and takes up almost no space in the bag. But all of this with the caveat that I don't know what kind of music you play which may require more than a stripped down chain.

 

[Jefenator]

You could just rock multiple shoulder bags.
It's not uncommon for me to schlep a cab, 2 basses, stands, class D amp & my cable bag all in one trip.