Now, some of you may remember me fawning over the original RM800 which Ashdown released back in 2015 - there’s a review in the relevant section to which I’m far too lazy to link! That was a solid amplifier and frankly the best class D head I’ve used. I had to sell it because of cash flow issues and regretted it ever since.
Last year I bought a Trace Elliot Elf, believing it would be the answer to my Class D needs. And in some ways it was, but I missed the RM tone, power and drive. I then heard Ashdown were releasing the EVO II which has a headphone socket, the one thing I’d have liked on the RM800.
So May this year I decided to sell the Elf, sell my little Hotone Nano Legacy Thunde bass head which I used for home practice, and find me an RM EVO II.
There have been a few little tweaks since the original RM800, such as headphone socket, second speaker out, VU meter with blue LED showing mute, separate active and passive inputs, improved drive (not that I felt it was lacking before). Plus the new 500 is lighter somehow - I haven’t looked to find out how!
Today it arrived. First impressions I’ll be honest, the new Matt anodised alloy front panel isn’t nearly as cool as the old polished stainless steel but Ashdown have their reasons for it (easier to see under stage lights apparently - I never had a problem before!). But once I was home and got to annoy the neighbours that little gripe went away, this was like an old friend coming home. Everything I loved about the original is there in spades, and it sounds amazing with my Barefaced Super Compact.
First gig is on Friday, cannae wait!