Best solid state rack power amp ?

[FracKing]

If you want something affordable that sounds amazing, you could always go with a Rocktron Velocity 100 or 300 power amp, I still think those are amazing after all this time.

I remember they sure had appealing marketing blurbs!
I also have very fond memories of a friend gigging the Rocktron Chameleon through one (the worst I could say is that maybe this combo could sound plastic-y in a great way).
I tried one at home once but I guess it didn't blow me away here.

I wish I still had the Marshall 8008. No idea how good or bad it was, but for the memories and tubeless 1-rack portability. Was good enough for Mike Landau for a while, AFAIK (for his wet cabs).

 

[Desertdweller]

While I've never used one, I researched them a lot years ago.

What I read was the they were very colored (not flat)...

I owned a Velocity 100 and used it as a backup amp. Had to use it once, was great as a fill in. It was also a competent amp to take with my old HD500 back in the day and go jam with people, so I think it's a great line from my personal experience playing the actual amp.

 

[Eagle]

At volumes where you care about fan noise, can you distinguish the subtle differences? Maybe my ears suck or I'm not picky enough, but I really struggle to notice, much less care, about subtle differences at those volumes.

I can, up loud and very quiet is where I hear it most.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I used to use an SLA-2.

It was pretty great. No fan noise because it's passively cooled.

Downsides:

• Very deep in the rack - deeper than the Axe Fx II
• Very heavy - large Toroidal transformer
• Requires bare wire or banana plugs (or adapters) for speaker connection

If you're not moving it often it's a solid choice... Although I much preferred the GT800FX for gigging.

There is a small fan...slight noise ... but you can't hear it when playing.

 

[unix-guy]

There is a small fan...slight noise ... but you can't hear it when playing.
View attachment 32626

You mean in the SLA-1?

The SLA-2 has no fan.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

You mean in the SLA-1?

The SLA-2 has no fan.

That was a screenshot from Sweetwater....sla2

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

That was a screenshot from Sweetwater....sla2

View attachment 32634

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

Also...not trying to be a contrarian....just trying to set it all straight. No offense intended.

 

[unix-guy]

That was a screenshot from Sweetwater....sla2

View attachment 32634

Hmm...

I was pretty sure the one I had did not have a fan. That was about 10 years back and bought used.

Maybe the model changed or my memory is failing?

 

[texhex]

Have you ever checked out any of the Crown amps? I’m using a DriveCore2 XLS1002 to power some HiFi speakers and for that application it is incredible. ZERO fan noise even when really pushing volume.

Crown XLS 2502

Meet the new XLS DriveCore™ 2 Series The next generation of XLS got a makeover with a sleek n...

www.crownaudio.com

I just ordered these Speakon to 1/4 inch adapters and will try driving a 8 or 4 ohm 4x12 this weekend to see how it does. The XLS1002 is a little low on power compared to the Matrix 1600 I usually use but I’ll bet the 1002 could easily handle a single 4x12 at 4 or 8 ohms.

NPAD - New Power Amp Day: Crown XLS 1002

So apparently I always have to learn things the hard way. I was running the volumes too low on my Matrix because I was afraid of cooking these new Polks. Guess what, I cooked the tweeters anyway. This is a good read if you have some time: Why Do Tweeters Blow When Amplifiers Distort? Basically...

thegearforum.com

Well these Speakon to 1/4 inch adapters showed up and the Crown XLS1002 runs two 16ohm 4x12 cabinets like a boss. Sounds great. AXE III Output 1 with no cab block and volume on the AXE at 1/2 way up and it’s more than enough. Runs both cabs in stereo flawlessly.

Friggin incredible amp for less than $300!

 

[Eagle]

I would like to thank everyone for their input helping me to make my decision.
I bought the LXII because no SS amp I have heard is as three dimensional . The only one that is really close is the old HH . I have tried many of the suggested options already and found them to be not as good as my Matrix. It’s in the dynamic feel, not just the eq. Many just seem to be a fairly mundane class D with an old stereo loudness control engaged to give a fake sensation of bigger. You can’t eq your way to a truly bigger dynamic range. Even when you are struggling to hear a difference you can still feel it.
The other thing is what you’re using it with. A high end all tube analog preamp will show up every little detail that a modelling device just doesn’t. And I’m not saying they sound bad because they don’t.

 

[Eagle]

The last part of this equation is if I go four cable "FRFR" the LX II is the best amp choice because it can swap voices from regular tube power amp to "FRFR" .

 

[AutomationBias]

Ok I bought the Fryette. And I will keep one matrix GT1000 as well.

 

[Eagle]

While I've never used one, I researched them a lot years ago.

What I read was the they were very colored (not flat)...

They are voiced to be like a tube power section but exaggerated so thin and coloured at the same time. I tried one a few years back, not good.

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

You have a bbe so I’m not sure. I’ve tried the crate and hated it .

I think the BBE 482 made the huge difference, plus sitting around tweeking the pedalboard, rack gear into being fine tuned to my needs.
Works for me.

 

[Eagle]

I think the BBE 482 made the huge difference, plus sitting around tweeking the pedalboard, rack gear into being fine tuned to my needs.
Works for me.

I remember them well but they were used when fx switching systems sucked out all the nuances of your amp and these were to put something back. They went out of use because the dynamics was negatively affected and tone is fake sounding imo but
they were popular for a short period though.

They were replaced effectively by fx loops and mixers that preserved analog dry through and didn’t kill your amp tone in the first place. This can still happen with most DACs . Comparing your fx bypassed tone to your amp alone still is something that everyone should do.

 

[Kagami]

I never used one of those sonic maximizers but remember they had meme status for making yourself disappear in a mix when I started playing. I almost want to grab one now just to experience it for myself though I don't play in a band.

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

All one has to do is figure out how to effectively integrate those Sonic Maximizer's in your set up.
I did and my amps and speakers tones are super, super enhanced.

And when I dropped it in my four effects loops, from my pedalboard to my amp processor and my two Crate Power Blocks, my amps and speaker's articulation, increased.

The Lo Contour enhances and aligns the bass frequencies perfectly, Process enhances the higher frequencies and the mids are untouched.

So I let my pedalboard's programs dictate my mid range frequencies.
If I play Blues, 80's Hair Metal tones or Classic Rock, my pedalboards mid Eq's are left intact, if am doing a Thrash type song, I scoop the mids.

I use two 31 band Eq's and a digital 12 band parametric Eq to handle the frequencies my two 31 band Eq's don't handle.
And I am happy with my Sonic results.

 

[Eagle]

This is the worst signal path I have come across in 30years . It’s meant to be about keeping the signal not totally destroying it and trying to rebuild it with stuff from radio shack. Risky turning on a noise gate with a signal to noise ratio of about 50/50.
But whatever works for you is right for you.
Please don’t post clips

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

Ok I bought the Fryette. And I will keep one matrix GT1000 as well.

VHT/ Freyette Valvulator 1 totally are game changing tone enhancers.
They give those Solid State amps and Digital processors, tube articulations.
They are great with lowering high impedance signals into low impedance thru the tubes.

I moved it from being the first thing and the last thing on my pedalboard, to using it between my Digitech 2112's two balance outputs to the VHT Valvulator 1's before going into two Crate Power Blocks.

The Valvulator 1's are exactly like plugging into a super quality amp input and it killed the "Solid State" sterility. I have three 12ax7's being pumped per channel.
And the headroom the Valvulator 1's give, make any Solid State amp have tube dynamics, sound and feel.