Solid State Power Amps

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 5 Apr 2005 1:48 pm

There is a lot of good discussion about amps...tube/solid state.
I would like some feedback comparing:
Crown - XLS402B Power Amplifier
QSC RMX850 Power Amplifier
Walker Stereo Steel Amp head

Thanks

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 5 Apr 2005 2:55 pm

We use two RMX850's in our amp rack at church to power sub-woofers. We have had one of them in service for about two years powering monitors, the other was put in service about a month ago. We haven't had any problems with them. We also have a QSC RMX1450 powering monitors, it has been in service for about three years, no problems.

I don't know how these would sound in a steel guitar rack application application. The price was reasonable.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 5 Apr 2005 3:01 pm

The power amp that I've been using for years failed on the gig one night. The sound company pulled a large Crown amp from their rack and let me use it for the night. I don't know what model it was but I couldn't lift it. By far the best my live rig ever sounded.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 6 Apr 2005 4:59 am

Tom, have you considered "Stewart" power amps? I have a model 400 which is 400wrms mono, or 200 w/ch stereo. It only weighs 9 lbs. and is one rack space(but 14"deep).
I haven't used it since I got a NV112. I would consider selling it and a evans preamp in a 3-space rack.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 6 Apr 2005 5:34 am

This doesn't directly address your question, but I've been using a MosValve 500 power amp for several years (bought it used from Duane's music). The MosValve is supposed to be the closes solid state amp to a tube amp. Herby Wallace and Paul Franklin also use the MosValve 500 power amp.

It's heavy, compared to a Peavey DPC 750 or 1000 but it's a lot more "instrument" friendly. The DPC amps are great linear amps and they are used by a lot of bass pickers. I've got a DPC1000 that I bought to bring down the weight, but went back to the MosValve 500.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 6 Apr 2005 9:00 am

The Hafler Trans-Nova series of amps are also Mosfet and sound great. I've used a Hafler Trans-Nova P3000 for studio monitoring, but recently tried it on steel with a tube preamp and it sounded great. Plenty of power and nice tone.

Brad

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 6 Apr 2005 2:32 pm

Thanks all for your comments.
I am in search of...

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tombleu.com

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 7 Apr 2005 6:03 pm

IMHO power amps are not just a workhorse, they do have a sound. The Walker is cool because it has a low frequency filter built in to prevent your speaker cone from jumping out of the frame if you send a really low signal, like bumping your pick-up. Most typical power amps do not have this filter. I am very familiar with QSC amps. Some do have this LF filter that is switchable from the back. The CEO of QSC is a fishing buddy. We've fished for several years together so I have had the opportunity to learn a bunch about how they do things. In fact, I have visited the QSC factory a number of times and that is one impressive company. The RMX is the only amp they sell that is not American made. But it's a good design. It was made to compete with low priced Crown CE (not as good of a design). We have done major listening comparisons between Crown, QSC and Lab Gruppen. The QSC amps always score very high in the high frequencies. Powerlight 2 series is really good. The Lab Gruppen is extremely impressive but you'd have to get a second morgtage to pay for one. If you don't need the utility of a power amp that will be used for non-steel things like PA or monitors, I'd take a serious look at the Walker. Otherwise, I think QSC is a great value.
TC