kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Or in other words one with no fan(s). I've seen the Stewart world 1.2 recommended on talkbass, but I don't seem to be able to find a UK distributor. Are there any others available like this, I don't need loads of power, 400 watts is amples, but I do want it to be very 'hifi', and quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Can I ask why? Crown K-Series are fanless. Stewart Audio don't work on 230V mains. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 You are *more* likely to find D-Class poweramps without a fan.. and they are likely to be in that power region. I had a 600W D-Class 'module' from www.bkelec.com that doesnt use a fan. Do you have a major issue with noisey fans then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 I just find the noise that they make really irritating. I'm currently using an Eden traveller head, I've been practising for about 6 hours so far today, and it's superb, the fan never comes on, it runs cool. I'm getting an Avalon U5 preamp, and I'm after a power amp to go with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Dood, do you mean something like this. [url="http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/ClassD/ClassD.htm"]http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/ClassD/ClassD.htm[/url] Are the specs any good on this amp, I'm really lost when it comes to this sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='kjb' post='21484' date='Jun 21 2007, 05:31 PM']I just find the noise that they make really irritating. I'm currently using an Eden traveller head, I've been practising for about 6 hours so far today, and it's superb, the fan never comes on, it runs cool. I'm getting an Avalon U5 preamp, and I'm after a power amp to go with it.[/quote] Good choice on the preamp - my U5 did its first gig last night and it was decidedly awesome! Personally I think that if you're looking at rackmount power amps then the fan noise will be inaudible in live situations. For practising at home could you use the Eden as your power unit, running the Avalon into the FX return. One option is to get a tech to add a fan defeat switch to a normal power amp - at low volumes the fan really isn't required and any quality power amp will shut down if it gets too hot before damage occurs. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='alexclaber' post='21492' date='Jun 21 2007, 05:45 PM']Good choice on the preamp - my U5 did its first gig last night and it was decidedly awesome! Personally I think that if you're looking at rackmount power amps then the fan noise will be inaudible in live situations. For practising at home could you use the Eden as your power unit, running the Avalon into the FX return. One option is to get a tech to add a fan defeat switch to a normal power amp - at low volumes the fan really isn't required and any quality power amp will shut down if it gets too hot before damage occurs. Alex[/quote] Cheers I'm a big fan of Anthony Jackson sound and I've seen the U5 recommended with reference to him, even though he uses the more expensive Millenia preamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 There's also this that I was thinking of getting, as an alternative to the Avalon. [url="http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm"]http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='kjb' post='21497' date='Jun 21 2007, 05:58 PM']I'm a big fan of Anthony Jackson sound and I've seen the U5 recommended with reference to him, even though he uses the more expensive Millenia preamps.[/quote] Yes, it's an amazing 'bargain basement' alternative. The Millenia preamps are heinously expensive and the one he uses is rather short on features for a bass - and the fully balanced signal path completely wasted. What are you doing for the cabs? I can't think of a better way of getting that studio sound on a budget than Acmes - but if you can afford it I highly recommend the Meyer Sound gear, it really is very very very nice, though it's also rather big and heavy. [quote name='kjb' post='21499' date='Jun 21 2007, 06:02 PM']There's also this that I was thinking of getting, as an alternative to the Avalon. [url="http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm"]http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm[/url][/quote] I considered that too. The lack of balanced XLR outs did it in for me, plus it's more expensive and far more fragile (in appearance at least). The separate mic and line level XLR outs on the U5 is a very nice feature, which is hard to find on high-end DIs and mic preamps. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 I'm using an Epifani 3x10 cab, but was thinking of getting an Acme low B-2. Where did you get your Avalon from, the cheapest that I've seen it was £375 from Ebay. The FMR RNP is £380 from here [url="http://www.audioagencyeurope.com/fmr_audio.html"]http://www.audioagencyeurope.com/fmr_audio.html[/url] Thanks for all your advice by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='kjb' post='21489' date='Jun 21 2007, 05:41 PM']Dood, do you mean something like this. [url="http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/ClassD/ClassD.htm"]http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/ClassD/ClassD.htm[/url] Are the specs any good on this amp, I'm really lost when it comes to this sort of thing.[/quote] Yup! Thats the one! I wrote a bit about the module back in BassTalk days.. but essentially, big thumbs up from me! What I really liked about the module (other than the fact that you can slot it straight into any cabinet to make it 'active' is that you don't need a preamp at all to drive it. The input is instrument level already (or you can plug a microphone - balanced XLR straight in) This means that you'd only need to use a preamp for tone shaping. Less gain means less noise/hiss etc. The unit IIRC weighs about 3 kilos too. I'd say yes, it was a very good spec! Or there's this one too.. [url="http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm"]http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm[/url] BK build OEMs for a lot of PA companies. I think there gear is pretty damn good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Oh.. something to add.. if you are practicing that quietly that the fan becomes intrusive, why not get a smaller amp to practice with, that doesnt need a fan? Just an idea.. could save you some pennies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='dood' post='21508' date='Jun 21 2007, 06:29 PM']Yup! Thats the one! I wrote a bit about the module back in BassTalk days.. but essentially, big thumbs up from me! What I really liked about the module (other than the fact that you can slot it straight into any cabinet to make it 'active' is that you don't need a preamp at all to drive it. The input is instrument level already (or you can plug a microphone - balanced XLR straight in) This means that you'd only need to use a preamp for tone shaping. Less gain means less noise/hiss etc. The unit IIRC weighs about 3 kilos too. I'd say yes, it was a very good spec! Or there's this one too.. [url="http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm"]http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm[/url] BK build OEMs for a lot of PA companies. I think there gear is pretty damn good.[/quote] Ah yes, that does look good, and a pretty reasonable price too. Thanks for that, very much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I acquired that Class D module from Mr Dood and as far as I can tell it is indeed a quality piece of apparatus. Totally silent both acoustically and electronically to my ears, and awesomely small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Ya know I was even tempted to get another... stick it inside my Epifani 6x10!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='dood' post='21533' date='Jun 21 2007, 07:17 PM']Ya know I was even tempted to get another... stick it inside my Epifani 6x10!!!!![/quote] Wow, an Epi 6x10, I bet that sounds good. My 3x10 is incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I'm really impressed with it. I haven't had a chance to take it out and crank it up.. but it seems to have a lovely crisp yet 'weighty' sound without any 'woofiness' if that is a word! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIM Basses Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 You guys are pure tech heads! enjoy the new gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Speak for yaself!! Mr Tfunk and Whappo Jr combo! ;o) - How's yours? sounding good? - thanks for the advice BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='RIM Basses' post='21614' date='Jun 21 2007, 09:52 PM']You guys are pure tech heads! enjoy the new gear.[/quote] Says the man that gets excited about coil winding machines and pin routers! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 [quote name='kjb' post='21507' date='Jun 21 2007, 06:23 PM']I'm using an Epifani 3x10 cab, but was thinking of getting an Acme low B-2.[/quote] It's the magic of a 3-way design and a really good crossover that sets the Acmes apart. I tried the UL310 a while back and thought it was a great cab but it just didn't have the midrange resolution I'm used to. [quote name='kjb' post='21507' date='Jun 21 2007, 06:23 PM']Where did you get your Avalon from, the cheapest that I've seen it was £375 from Ebay. The FMR RNP is £380 from here [url="http://www.audioagencyeurope.com/fmr_audio.html"]http://www.audioagencyeurope.com/fmr_audio.html[/url][/quote] Actually I think when I first compared the prices the U5 was cheaper and the RNP possibly more expensive, I know Avalon's prices have gone up recently. I bought the Avalon in the US because my brother flies back and forth all the time. Looking at the RNP again, something else that bothered me was the 6dB steps in gain - my power amp has fairly coarse steps too and that could possibly leave me in a no-mans' land of gain. The U5 is in 3dB steps which works really well. Don't forget to figure in the relevant rack mounting kits, they are not cheap! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIM Basses Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Ok you got me guys, im also a pure tech head when it come to bass. Im lovin the Tfunk/Whappo Jr rig, great sound just got to build my own bass now. I would have liked to add another cab to the rig but cant due to the 4 ohm whappo and the Tfunk only goes down to 4 ohms, maybe I'll pick up a combo and have a stereo setup. Any ideas! Robbie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Do a 'Steve Lawson' and have an active Whappo Jr made! Or grab one of the D-Class modules that I owned and slip one of those in.. but they are only 600W, not sure what the rating on the Whappo is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 I got called a 'gear slut' after a gig at the weekend. I think it was meant as a compliment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 [quote name='dood' post='21508' date='Jun 21 2007, 06:29 PM']Or there's this one too.. [url="http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm"]http://www.bkelec.com/Pro/Amplifiers/MXF1200D.htm[/url] BK build OEMs for a lot of PA companies. I think there gear is pretty damn good.[/quote] The BK stereo digital amp has two very small (but not silent) fans mounted on the sides of the case. I know because I've just bought one. Details to follow soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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