Those Seymour Duncan Powerstage amps are utter tripe

[Eagle]

Class D amps are fine but they don’t measure up to class AB if you are expecting a tube power experience. Sometimes ir choice can make up a lot of ground. Generally speaking though I find my GT1000fx to be one of the best solid state power amps for guitar. The old HH v series where great but huge and very heavy.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

85 watts vs 800+

“A fender champ is a fine amp, but it doesn’t hold a candle to a Bassman.” This is an obvious and intuitive statement to guitarists.

For whatever reason when non-tube amps are involved it has to be the technology of the device involved, not that you are comparing an apple to an apple orchard.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Currently using a Samson 120a as power amp for home use. Class AB. Rated at 120 watts into 8 ohms bridged. It works well in that context because it doesn’t have a fan, so I can leave it in through my work day and go back and forth from work to guitar without white noise when not playing. I can get it to run out of gas, though, even playing my shit John Schofield impersonations in my 12x12 room at “probably not good for my ears, but not going to wake up ringing either” volume levels. At some point, it does that strange phenomenon described in the OP of getting louder, but sounding smaller.

I keep my PS170 for times when I’ll be jamming with drummer and/or drum and bass player and MAYBE a full quartet. Because despite only being rated at 170 watts into 4 ohms (my speaker cab is 8), it stays big sounding to MUCH higher volume levels than the Samson. Also weighs a lot less and I can tuck. It in the back of the cab to make transport easier. Class D.

I could start making up weird nonsense about Class D vs AB. Or I could go with Ocamm’s razor: despite what the spec sheet says, the PS-170 can deliver more power in the way a guitar needs it than the Samson. Not because of the technology of its active components, but because of the size/number of them. After all, the Samson is pretty small and light by AB standards with pretty modest toroidal transformer.

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

I have tried the following models with good results: QSC RMX2450, QSC PLX3402, and QSC PLX3102. I own all of these models and they work essentially interchangeably. Older PA amps are plentiful on the used market and can be had for a bargain.

But.... But.... But.........

They weigh more than 6 lbs. So they are impossible to use for gigging...

 

[JiveTurkey]

Pros:
Form factor
3 band eq

Cons:
They don't like a hot input signal. I'm screwed. My F12s are quiet. I'm double screwed. IIRC, a right angle speaker cable with metal collar can cause black smoke funtime. I read all these things 8 years ago on TOP and trot it out to myself anytime I think for a minute I want one.

 

[Mongillo19]

Pros:
Form factor
3 band eq

Cons:
They don't like a hot input signal. I'm screwed. My F12s are quiet. I'm double screwed. IIRC, a right angle speaker cable with metal collar can cause black smoke funtime. I read all these things 8 years ago on TOP and trot it out to myself anytime I think for a minute I want one.

Are we talking about the QSCs or?

 

[JiveTurkey]

Are we talking about the QSCs or?

Duncans!

 

[OrganicZed]

But.... But.... But.........

They weigh more than 6 lbs. So they are impossible to use for gigging...

To be fair, I would rather not take the 2450s on a gig (I have two). They weigh 45 pounds each and would ideally be placed in a rack (adding a few extra pounds on top of that). The reason I bought the PLX amps is that they are more reasonably portable weighing in at just a bit over 20 pounds each.

 

[JiveTurkey]

If I'm hauling a 45lb amp; it's not going to be a solid state one

 

[OrganicZed]

If I'm hauling a 45lb amp; it's not going to be a solid state one

Exactly.

 

[bikescene]

I have the Powerstage 170, but doesn’t use it that much anymore. The low end doesn’t seem to be flat and is a lacking when the Bass knob is at noon. I gave up on it being transparent amplification for modeling and just use it as its own thing to amplify clean models/low gain when I do fire it up.

I use a Behringer A800 rackmount power amp when I want to amplify more distorted sounds into a cab. Still a cheap Class D amp, but no tone controls to throw off the response.

 

[Diary Of An Axeman]

I tried the S.D. Power Stage 700, loud but, it colored my sound too much and I was pumping in four 12ax7 tubes into the thing.
So I sent it back and went back to my trusty two Crate Power Blocks.

 

[captn Krunch]

The assertion here is that these class D poweramps cannot provide their rated wattage in a sustained fashion. The PS200 gives 210W at a 4ohm load. But that might just be a peak reading.

So the theory is, more wattage means more headroom, means more chance of actually sustaining 100W continuously into a 4ohm load.

i was running a crown power amp and had my preamp volume at noon, replaced it with the ps200 same wattage now my preamp is at 9 oclock, plenty of power and no input clipping, run the ps200 at full volume and turn your preamp down

 

[Enchilada Jones]

I just received a Powerstage 100S the stereo version. It is sensitive at the input but usually whatever I’m sending signal from has a way to attenuate it.
First test with the Poly Ample into the Fractal VP4 into PS 100S I had to drop the volume on the Ample presets I had made for direct to interface quite a bit, as well as back off the VP4 preset level. Had to rebuild presets as they were done with headphones or Adams near field studio monitors. Once I redid them it was all great.

That said it is great having a pair of 1x12 guitar speakers set up like monitors at the desk.
For very low volume stuff this is a win for sure! Going to reduce my time in headphones and that’s a big plus.

Tried it at around 100 dB and that too was a win. I don’t play with a band anymore so 100dB is my limit usually. I had the dial at less than half on the PS at that level using a pair of 8 ohm speakers.
I could see using a 2x12 with each speaker on its own jack and playing with a drummer no problem. What the sound quality will be I can’t testify to but I imagine it would be good enough.

Solid state amp output… *do not ground the output* … not even for a moment. You will burn up the amp like blowing up a light bulb.
I’d do right angle plugs if I needed them with heat shrink insulation on it assuming no sharp edges where the wrap touches chassis.

I had the Fryette LXii 50 watt per side tube amp and memory says it was a better sound at similar volume but not worth double the cost and not at all worth the extreme weight increase and size of a rack enclosure in comparison.

 

[KingsXJJ]

T75's are dtoo

T75's are dope!

Too brash here.