Stereo Power Amp options

[CorrosiveMatter]

I like the looks of the Harley Benton GPA-400 amp everyone in Europe gets for a budget power amp but with the incoming fees to get one it’s 55% more expensive.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I like the looks of the Harley Benton GPA-400 amp everyone in Europe gets for a budget power amp but with the incoming fees to get one it’s 55% more expensive.

There's a moment when a SS power amp becomes a "nope; I'm not spending that much on this" proposition.

 

[SonVolt]

You’re correct I am a plant from some other power amp maker trying to sell my product! You caught me!

The store I got it from online says it’s a warranty issue is why I called them. A new switchcraft jack will be here today and an easy fix.

I think I am just old school and used to when a company would fix things lickety split to keep a customer for life rather than I got your dollars now and don’t care if you are ever back.

Busted! Ha... in all seriousness, it's 11 days old. Warranty repair shouldn't even be in the picture IMO. It would have just sent it back under the typical 30 day return window. That seems like the obvious path of least resistance. That said, I don't know who you bought it from and if they tried to steer me back to the MFG for something that broke 11 days in, I would not be buying from them again.

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

Busted! Ha... in all seriousness, it's 11 days old. Warranty repair shouldn't even be in the picture IMO. It would have just sent it back under the typical 30 day return window. That seems a lot easier.

I agree but the store is sh!t and says this was a factory defect and it might have been but I agree it should stil be their problem. It's my fault for trying to find one "fast" because I am impatient rather than like Sweetwater or hell even Amazon.

 

[OrganicZed]

If these discussions have taught me anything it is that there remains a gap in the market for a company to come in and dominate if they could deliver a solution.

The Seymour Duncan amps are reasonably pedal board friendly, but are underpowered for use with 16 Ohm cabinets unless you get the PS700. The PS700 is an awkward size to mount on a pedal board and it takes up 1.5 rack spaces. It is also pretty expensive for what it is. Amongst the options I currently own, the PS700 would still be my current choice if I needed to use a power amp and cabinet in a live setting considering the favorable power to weight ratio.

The Matrix amps are mostly well regarded (although they can't deliver their rated power due to power supply design limitations), but the company has gone belly up and the prices on the used market are insane. Also, they're rack mount only whereas the ideal offering would be pedal board friendly.

Red Sound makes some guitar centric power amps, but I'm not sure they've distributed them to anyone other than Brett Kingman. Those are also rack mount only offerings.

The Fryette / Mesa / Marshall tube power amplifiers are great for a guitar preamp rig, but they are heavy, expensive, rack mount only, and they aren't neutral (impart their own sonic signature on the tone) which makes them less ideal for a modeling rig.

My choice for home use are the PA centric solid state power amplifiers. They can deliver a lot of power, have a very neutral signature, are stereo, and can be had for cheap on the used market. The downside is that many of them weigh about as much as a 1x12 tube combo amplifier and they have fans that can be quite noisy. I have replaced the stock fans on mine with slightly lower CFM models which are much quieter.

I'd love to see a company fill the void for a pedalboard friendly solid state stereo power amp that can deliver a continuous 200W into 16 Ohms per channel.

 

[JiveTurkey]

If these discussions have taught me anything it is that there remains a gap in the market for a company to come in and dominate if they could deliver a solution.

The Seymour Duncan amps are reasonably pedal board friendly, but are underpowered for use with 16 Ohm cabinets unless you get the PS700. The PS700 is an awkward size to mount on a pedal board and it takes up 1.5 rack spaces. It is also pretty expensive for what it is. Amongst the options I currently own, the PS700 would still be my current choice if I needed to use a power amp and cabinet in a live setting considering the favorable power to weight ratio.

The Matrix amps are mostly well regarded (although they can't deliver their rated power due to power supply design limitations), but the company has gone belly up and the prices on the used market are insane. Also, they're rack mount only whereas the ideal offering would be pedal board friendly.

Red Sound makes some guitar centric power amps, but I'm not sure they've distributed them to anyone other than Brett Kingman. Those are also rack mount only offerings.

The Fryette / Mesa / Marshall tube power amplifiers are great for a guitar preamp rig, but they are heavy, expensive, rack mount only, and they aren't neutral (impart their own sonic signature on the tone) which makes them less ideal for a modeling rig.

My choice for home use are the PA centric solid state power amplifiers. They can deliver a lot of power, have a very neutral signature, are stereo, and can be had for cheap on the used market. The downside is that many of them weigh about as much as a 1x12 tube combo amplifier and they have fans that can be quite noisy. I have replaced the stock fans on mine with slightly lower CFM models which are much quieter.

I'd love to see a company fill the void for a pedalboard friendly solid state stereo power amp that can deliver a continuous 200W into 16 Ohms per channel.

The Duncan stuff if weird. Agreed on all your observations on them. I will also add that you can barely send it any signal from all I have read before it's overloaded. Which is DUMB.

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

I am using one of these. I would definitely try one out if you have an opportunity.

View attachment 52085

I did see the Fractal Forums enjoying them.

 

[hunter]

These guys make the power amps for Kemper. They got a pedal board stereo one.

Guitar Board Amps – DigitalGuitarGear

We offer electronic equipment for the modern guitarist. Add on amplifier modules for the Kemper Profiling Amplifier, small amplifier modules for up to date modeling guitar floor boards , DIY speaker kits and cabinets to make yourself heard.

digitalguitargear.com

 

[OrganicZed]

@hunter That looks interesting. I am a bit unclear on their output ratings. Is that 140W into two 16 Ohm cabinets continuous or peak?

 

[mbenigni]

There's a moment when a SS power amp becomes a "nope; I'm not spending that much on this" proposition.

This thread got me searching for a Marshall EL84 20/20. Imagine my amusement on finding an EL84 power amp going for $1000-$1500. I mean, OK, it's stereo, but yeesh.

 

[mbenigni]

If these discussions have taught me anything it is that there remains a gap in the market for a company to come in and dominate if they could deliver a solution.

The Seymour Duncan amps are reasonably pedal board friendly, but are underpowered for use with 16 Ohm cabinets unless you get the PS700. The PS700 is an awkward size to mount on a pedal board and it takes up 1.5 rack spaces. It is also pretty expensive for what it is. Amongst the options I currently own, the PS700 would still be my current choice if I needed to use a power amp and cabinet in a live setting considering the favorable power to weight ratio.

The Matrix amps are mostly well regarded (although they can't deliver their rated power due to power supply design limitations), but the company has gone belly up and the prices on the used market are insane. Also, they're rack mount only whereas the ideal offering would be pedal board friendly.

Red Sound makes some guitar centric power amps, but I'm not sure they've distributed them to anyone other than Brett Kingman. Those are also rack mount only offerings.

The Fryette / Mesa / Marshall tube power amplifiers are great for a guitar preamp rig, but they are heavy, expensive, rack mount only, and they aren't neutral (impart their own sonic signature on the tone) which makes them less ideal for a modeling rig.

My choice for home use are the PA centric solid state power amplifiers. They can deliver a lot of power, have a very neutral signature, are stereo, and can be had for cheap on the used market. The downside is that many of them weigh about as much as a 1x12 tube combo amplifier and they have fans that can be quite noisy. I have replaced the stock fans on mine with slightly lower CFM models which are much quieter.

I'd love to see a company fill the void for a pedalboard friendly solid state stereo power amp that can deliver a continuous 200W into 16 Ohms per channel.

See also:

Post in thread 'Quilter Elevate'

Sep 11, 2025

This seems like a well-considered product in some ways, and I like Quilter's solid state tones quite a bit, but there are also a lot of weird choices here that make it feel pretty niche in the end. With the interface, I can't see this appealing to the crowd that is buying a lot of solid state preamp pedals etc because they don't want to use tube amps, but also don't want to go digital, and I can't see it appealing to the crowd that has already embraced digital and this type of workflow. I'm sure the build and fidelity will be rock solid, and the Quilter stuff is head and shoulders...

• mbenigni

• 

 

[OrganicZed]

@mbenigni I agree that Quilter would be a good candidate for filling the market gap. They certainly have the expertise necessary and their new modeling unit gives them even more reason to step up to the challenge.