BassTractor Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 (edited) Can't seem to find this being mentioned or shown yet, so here goes - hopefully not again: Marc Vanderkley reckons his new amp Aurora will be ready in October. Should make an impact at some level, seeing as how the previous one was lauded with weird oak leave thingies and whatnot. [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/VanderkleyAurora201307-1_zps00ca709c.jpg.html"][/url] Now before you search your lining for change, do please realise this thing is gonna cost. That means "money". I mean: serious money. [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/VanderkleyAurora201307-2_zps3cf29e28.jpg.html"][/url] - Input for passive/active instruments, 0/-12dB. - 5-band active tone control. - Loop with dry/wet blend. - Continuously Variable Damping factor to control speaker damping - Master volume - The pre-amp is built up from high end discreet audio op-amps. - Stereo Aux in, Send/Return, - Headphones out with adapter jack to mini jack. - Balanced DI out, Pre/post eq, Ground lift, - Tuner out. - 700 Watt @ 4 Ohm, 1200 Watt @ 2 Ohm. - Weight around 5 Kg. - The power-amp is class D with switch-mode power supply. - It is two rack units high and comes with rack-ears for 19" mounting. - Supplied in a sturdy road case. Edited September 16, 2013 by BassTractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/VanderkleijAuroracomplete_zpsf5a57c03.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/VanderkleijAurorafrontleft_zpsb757ea22.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/VanderkleijAurorafrontrightbig_zps324abc54.jpg.html"][/url] Notice the loop choices as well as the CVD, which is the Continously Variable Damping. My amateur guess is that it controls the output impedance, and hence gives you control over the damping factor. This in my book is fan bloody tastic, and very useable. I think the best thing to do now is just ordering it, and if it doesn't perform well enough, to just throw it away. Yup. That seems like a good plan. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dixon Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 You can pre-order for £1599 from Bass Direct [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vanderkley_Aurora_amplifier.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vanderkley_Aurora_amplifier.html[/url] It will be interesting to see how the pre-amp in the Auroa performs. I've just bought a Jule Monique tube pre-amp and used it to by pass the pre-amps in friend's amps, namely: Tecamp Puma 900 Aguilar DB751 (assuming you can hear the amp over the droning fans cooling the bloody thing) Aguilar TH500 Genz Benz Streamliner 900 It was astonishing how the Monique improved the sound from all of them, I guess the pre-amp is the weakest part, hopefully the Aurora addresses this weakness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 hmmm, tasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt on your Bass? Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Looks great, but 1599 for a class d?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rk7 Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Absolutely stunning, want one! Need one! RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Pricey beast but impressive 2ohm figures from a class D amp. (that's assuming it's not a stereo amp expecting 4ohm on each side) Hate the fact it hasn't got a IEC socket though - if you damage your lead, the likelihood of finding a spare at a gig in the middle of nowhere is pretty slim. At least with IECs, you are likely to find one, somewhere! Looking forward to seeing these in the flesh and hearing what they can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 It will be interesting to see how the manufacturer justifies that price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 [quote name='Mark Dixon' timestamp='1379357049' post='2211733'] You can pre-order for £1599 from Bass Direct [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vanderkley_Aurora_amplifier.html"]http://www.bassdirec..._amplifier.html[/url] It will be interesting to see how the pre-amp in the Auroa performs. I've just bought a Jule Monique tube pre-amp and used it to by pass the pre-amps in friend's amps, namely: Tecamp Puma 900 Aguilar DB751 (assuming you can hear the amp over the droning fans cooling the bloody thing) Aguilar TH500 Genz Benz Streamliner 900 It was astonishing how the Monique improved the sound from all of them, I guess the pre-amp is the weakest part, hopefully the Aurora addresses this weakness. [/quote] improved? you stick a top of the range boutique valve preamp that you like the tone off before almost anything and it will probably improve it! ESP. when comparing it to bass amps either way cheaper than the preamp or going for solid state lightweight. (or are a DB751 - which I know nothing about apart from it's big and silver) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1379534002' post='2213936'] improved? you stick a top of the range boutique valve preamp that you like the tone off before almost anything and it will probably improve it! ESP. when comparing it to bass amps either way cheaper than the preamp or going for solid state lightweight. (or are a DB751 - which I know nothing about apart from it's big and silver) [/quote] Mark said it improved it, but what he meant was that he thought it improved it. One shouldn't confuse opinion for fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 [quote name='stevie' timestamp='1379535231' post='2213973'] Mark said it improved it, but what he meant was that he thought it improved it. One shouldn't confuse opinion for fact. [/quote] i did say more or less that.. then decided to remove it from my post. Tecamp preamp is pretty good to my ears - esp with the onboard compressor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 The Genz shuttlemax 9.2 has more power, twin channels using FET and or blendable valve preamp, 3 fx loops which gives you the option of a global only loop for use of an external preamp or in my case the fishman pro from the double bass. It comes with a footswitch and costs less, good old Fender are stopping sales of all Genz gear! Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rk7 Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Booked a demo next month! oh dear RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rk7 Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Delays with PCB manufacture mean that the Aurora won't be arriving until early '14. Still need one! Anybody got any more info about the amp? RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 [quote name='Salt on your Bass?' timestamp='1379361635' post='2211853'] Looks great, but 1599 for a class d?? [/quote] £1599 for any amp?!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 £1599?. At that price it needs to slaughter the Class D competition. A risky pre order IMO. Would need to hear this thing first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 [quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1386977582' post='2307239'] £1599?. At that price it needs to slaughter the Class D competition. A risky pre order IMO. Would need to hear this thing first [/quote] to do class D SMPS amp well is apparently hard- which is why most commercial bass amps seem to use one of a small selection of amp modules available. I guess what you're being charged for is their preamp before whatever power amp modual it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rk7 Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 It's that old story again. What an item is worth is down to the purchaser, no-one else. Yes, its expensive, but good things usually are. If it doesn't perform though, it stays in the shop! RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted December 14, 2013 Author Share Posted December 14, 2013 You bunch of nitwits! They charge you £1599 for the striking red colour, and it's totally worth it! So the preamp is free, as is the class D amp. Deal of the century! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 [quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1386977582' post='2307239'] £1599?. At that price it needs to slaughter the Class D competition. [/quote] Using a different module to the ICEpower thing virtually every other Class D uses will be a good start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rk7 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1387062881' post='2307954'] You bunch of nitwits! They charge you £1599 for the striking red colour, and it's totally worth it! So the preamp is free, as is the class D amp. Deal of the century! [/quote] Red - to match my Bank Account! And a free pre-amp. Where do I sign? RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 (edited) [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1387063027' post='2307955'] Using a different module to the ICEpower thing virtually every other Class D uses will be a good start. [/quote] Hopefully the finished article will be as promising as the good start. Anyone got a chanced to demo this little beast yet? Edited December 15, 2013 by leroydiamond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1387063027' post='2307955'] Using a different module to the ICEpower thing virtually every other Class D uses will be a good start. [/quote] I do wonder why so many class D use the ICEpower thingy... IMO and purely subjectively and with no evidence to back this up... it's got it's own sound that I seem to hear through every amp I've tried with it in. The older Tecamp stuff used powersoft modules and sounded very different In a way I liked (but were more expensive). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Add one of these, [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QSC-power-amplifier-Qsc-plx3602-Sounds-Like-Mc2-Lab-gruppen-Amplifier-/131063545347?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item1e83fefe03"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QSC-power-amplifier-Qsc-plx3602-Sounds-Like-Mc2-Lab-gruppen-Amplifier-/131063545347?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item1e83fefe03[/url], to this, [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/224698-aguilar-db680-all-tube-preamp-mint/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/224698-aguilar-db680-all-tube-preamp-mint/[/url]. Stereo, bi amp able, heavier..yes but much more practical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rk7 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 The Vanderkley Aurora still hasn't broke cover yet. End of January is the latest prediction. Gonna have one. Decided. RK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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