Power amp for modelers. Alternatives. Class D vs Class AB?

[noizmsm]

What units did you guys try other than the Seymour Duncan? I cant afford the Seymour Duncan right now but anyway I'd like to know if there is a better and easier solution of a power amp for modelers

When they claim 60Watts like the Iron Heart pedal by Laney, how much would it compare to a real tube power section? Like a Marshall DSL 20 watts with two EL34 is way louder than a 60watt Class D Iron Heart pedal right? how much louder?

I've read the typical solution: Electro Harmonix magnum 44, Mooer Baby but these seems to me all very cheap in the sense to achieve that power without basically any heatsink it's just cheap class D amps from alibaba. I imagine they would not sound good even if you plug a good preamp into it

I've had owned a Randall 120W class AB amp model was Randall RX120 and I tried bypass the pre amp but it sounds horrible. My Boss GX1 and Valeton GP-50 sounded really bad on that power amp.

Boss makes good class AB power amps found in the Boss Artist Series head or combo, or the Boss Waze Tube Expander, but they are too expensive. Very hard to find as well where I live.

So my question is is there any solution? any news about the Wampler class D with AI? It was shown at NAM? could it be the future of non tube power amps?

The Wampler Pedalhead (unveiled at NAMM 2026) is a high-power, 240W (60W tube equivalent per side) stereo pedalboard power amp and IR loader featuring innovative machine learning technology. Designed to replicate the dynamic, sag, and compression of a tube power amp, it lets you "learn" your cabinet for optimized tone, while offering six amp models, MIDI control, and stereo DI outputs

 

[sleewell]

quilter tone block 200 is very good

 

[Chocol8]

I am very excited by the Wampler for a number of reasons. The SD and other cheap class D stuff is junk IMHO, especially if you are trying to push significant volume.

One alternative I like is the MosValve 962/982 line from the 90's. They have gotten to be harder to find and more expensive, and there is a good chance you will want to replace the fan with a new quieter one, and the pots often need cleaning or sometimes replacement due to age etc. so not a great solution for the average player anymore.

Another option is used home audio gear. There are some great AB amps and receivers out there at various prices that can put out significant wattage into 8 or 16 ohm loads. Not small and light, and you will need to use converters, special cables, or replace RCA jacks with 1/4" etc. but it's a budget option if you can't wait for or can't afford the Wampler.

 

[JiveTurkey]

You would want to ideally dial in presets on the Randall. Which I am assuming you went straight into the FX return? Presets dialed in with headphones are not going to translate, if that is how you were comparing results.

The Boss has the additional Boss aspect of having output select modes which further muddy the water as well as making sure you didn't accidentally leave speaker emulation on. I'd work with the Randall a bit more if you still own vs. trying to find some other gold nugget in the low budget category.

 

[MTB1973]

Orange Pedal Baby is decent. I liked it better than the SD PS 200 I had. Does have that “orange” sound to it, but you can probably pick one up used.

 

[noizmsm]

You would want to ideally dial in presets on the Randall. Which I am assuming you went straight into the FX return? Presets dialed in with headphones are not going to translate, if that is how you were comparing results.

The Boss has the additional Boss aspect of having output select modes which further muddy the water as well as making sure you didn't accidentally leave speaker emulation on. I'd work with the Randall a bit more if you still own vs. trying to find some other gold nugget in the low budget category.

I tried dialing presets on the Randall even connected a good Jubilee pre amp pedal on it and it doesnt sound right. I GUESS that Fx Loop from that amp was designed to FX pedals and racks only not to bypass the pre amp in a proper way. Someone in an old Randall forum explained it but I forgot where to find, it was like 10 years ago

Anyway I sold my Randall amp. I discovered it has a true AB power section, because of giant heatsink and the manual, but since I could not use the fx loop as a "power amp in" I decided to sell, I talked to a technician to try to improve it for me but that head is too huge to ship. I mean it will cost at least 80 dollars to get to him, pay him and later 80 dollars for him to send me back. He also said there was no guarantee if he could improve much the fx loop.

This small Wampler unit is a regular cheapo class D but with this AI technology which may have a microprocessor to improve the response. Perhaps the answer is in this. I would like to see if chinese companies will copy this, perhaps the way to the future is a class D cheapo amp with AI code to make it sound good.

JBL has been using Class D for their studio monitors, people claim good results for a good price. I would love to see Yamaha and Adam and Presonus make 12 inch studio monitors but I cant see it them doing this in the near future. The FRFR speakers today are too expensive in my humble opinion, sometimes they cost the same as a 8 inch studio A grade monitor where I can not only play guitar but listen to music and mix music with it

 

[Shask]

I think class AB feels better. An ART SLA-2 works well and is class AB, and not too expensive.

For a cheap small thing, I have a Harley Benton GPA-100 that is ok for bedroom.

 

[Chocol8]

This small Wampler unit is a regular cheapo class D but with this AI technology

No, it's far more than that. It's not "class D" itself that most of us find offensive but the lacking power supply that is paired with the cheap class D amps. The Wampler will have significant juice and that's why it needs the IEC connector for a real power cord and won't run off of a pedal type power supply.

The AI part will address damping factor and other amp behaviors that amount to extra gravy, but the ability to put out the needed voltage and current into a guitar cab is the real meat and potatoes that will put the Wampler a big step ahead of the SD, and other current class D offerings.

 

[JiveTurkey]

The Victory sounds solid in the few controlled environment videos that have been released so far. No idea if it's actually enough volume to keep up with a live band.

 

[gearJunkie]

 

[Elf]

I’m very excited about the use of machine learning for this kind of application.

 

[Chocol8]

The Victory sounds solid in the few controlled environment videos that have been released so far. No idea if it's actually enough volume to keep up with a live band.

Probably into a 4 ohm cab and probably marginal for a 16 ohm cab. But, yes, it looks like a solid option, but it isn't cheap and I don't think it is really available at the moment.