Rack users, what power amp are you using??

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 27 Jun 2008 8:17 am

Lot of talk about preamps here but what about the power amps?

Is PV power different than Fender or Crown or Mosvalve or JBL etc, or is power just power?

Can it be 100 watts, 200 watts or can it be 400, what about 1000 like my bass players house of sound.

Ofcouse then we have the size and brand of speaker, then the enclosure open or back.

Wow, well let's just do one at a time I guess, let's just start with the power question.

Thanks
Larry Behm
503-722-7562

Buddy Castleberry · Post by **Buddy Castleberry** » 27 Jun 2008 1:21 pm

larry i use the old stewart pa 1000
the world 1.2 replaced that one just as good

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 27 Jun 2008 1:24 pm

Stewart World Audio 1.2.

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 27 Jun 2008 3:13 pm

VHT 2/90/2

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 27 Jun 2008 3:34 pm

I have a stewart world 1.2 that I have used without a problem.

Now I am using Stewart PA-200 in each speaker cabinet.

Great little amps.

SS

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 27 Jun 2008 5:11 pm

mosvalve 500

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 27 Jun 2008 7:13 pm

I always thought it would be cool to have one of the old Rivera power amps. I think the Rivera TBR-5 was stereo with something like 100w/side from 6550 power tubes. It probably weighs a ton, but I'm sure it sounds pretty good.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 28 Jun 2008 6:56 am

I am presently using a VHT 2/90/2.

It's heavy as can be but great tone.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 28 Jun 2008 8:56 am

Is power just power tube amp to tube amp or SS to SS?

Larry

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 28 Jun 2008 10:24 am

Larry, I don't know enough to really address your question, but different power amps do give different results, not just in terms of measurable power, but in sound, tone, the quality of the power, which could probably be explained and heard in different ways. I think the performance of the amp has much to do with the quality of components, the design of the circuit, and the way all of it interacts with the preamp and the speakers being mated with the power amp. I don't think you can really assess an amp by just looking at a spec sheet. I have three amps I play pedal steel through (all combo amps): a '68 Fender Twin Reverb with two 12" Fender speakers; a '74 Peavey Session 400 with a 15" JBL; and a 90's Evans SE150 with a 15" Evans speaker in a closed back enclosure. All three amps sound really good, and all three amps are loud enough to where I never have to max out their power. However, the two solid state amps--the Peavey and the Evans-- sound louder than the Twin when playing live with a band. I don't know why, but the Twin's tone tends to sound a little washed out, where the two SS amps sound puchier, hence they sound louder. I'm never really taking the amps past 4 or 5, so I don't think it's because the Twin doesn't have enough power. I'm guessing that part of the difference is between tube power and solid state power, but I'm sure it has to do with the speakers as well (2x12" vs 1x15"). I've always wondered if my Twin would have more punch if I had it rebiased for EL34 or 6550 power tubes. My Twin is 100w, my Evans is 150w, and my Peavey is 200w, but when comparing the Evans and the Peavy, the 150w Evans sounds louder than the 200w Peavy. Both the Evans and the Peavy are SS, and both go through 15" speakers, but the Evans has a smaller closed back speaker enclosure than the Peavy. So, I don't know why, but power seems dependant on a lot of variables. Hopefully someone will chime in with a more absolute answer. It's a great question.

Tom Mossburg · Post by **Tom Mossburg** » 28 Jun 2008 11:25 am

Larry, For the most part power is not power in a technical sense. The better power amps are able to respond faster to the changing signal content and thats where a lot of the cleaner response comes from. If you want a sound to be punchy then the speaker has got to respond quickly to the changing signal. The speaker has to be able to do this and the power amp has got to ne able to supply enough juice in a susttainable manner to make it happen. Power is basically how much energy can be delivered over a period time. It's like the sports car and the family sedan. Both can go fast but the sports car can go fast fast. Also each technology has its own characteristics. Tubes sound like Tubes and solid state sound like solid state,and digital amps are in a class by themselves.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 28 Jun 2008 4:29 pm

Peavey DPC750 - for about 15 years now!

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 28 Jun 2008 5:13 pm

Walker Stereo Steel

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 29 Jun 2008 7:10 pm

Hey Larry,

It all depends on the player. I'd say that most steel players couldn't tell the difference between power amps. However, somebody with your ears definitely can.

It all depends on what you are looking for, but knowing your taste in tone, I'd highly recommend the VHT 2-90-2 power amp. It's really heavy to carry, but also is *HEAVY* sounding. Similar sounding (and almost as heavy) amps are the MossValves.

I can't really tell the difference sound wise between any of the class D solid state amps. The positive for this type of amp is that they are really really light. They are exceptionally 'transparent' sounding, which for some players is a good thing. IMHO the VHT or MossValve amp has more huevos.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 29 Jun 2008 7:19 pm

In terms of the power rating of tube versus solid state, it definitely different.

The VHT 2-90-2 is nominally 90 watts a side (with 2XKT88 tubes per side). You might not think that this would be loud enough, but if you were in a gig where this amp wasn't loud enough, your hearing would be gone by the end of the gig, so it wouldn't really matter what kind of amp you were using.

On the other hand, a 200 watt transistor power amp is barely adequate for loud country gigs. With transistor power amps, the rule is to use as powerful an amp as possible. A 1,200 watt Stewart isn't overkill at all. This is because if you get anywhere near the maximum power output of a transistor amp, the sound deteriorates. For a tube power amp, you want to be driving the power tubes for the best sound.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 29 Jun 2008 9:24 pm

When I was using a G.D. Walker S.S. Pre~Amp. and an Alesiss QuadraVerb Plus Effects-Unit, I used just the Power-Sections of (2) Nashville 400 Limiteds and later I purchased (2) N–1000's and used their Power~Amp. Sections. Both versions worked very well for me! Perhaps sometime I might try the complete Walker S.S. Combo, if I can find an email-contact to get current product-info!

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 30 Jun 2008 3:12 am

John...Navigation to the website for Walker SS amps is available in the "Links" section. I have one and it is a great unit.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 30 Jun 2008 6:13 am

DPC 750, for about a couple of years .

Tom Mossburg · Post by **Tom Mossburg** » 30 Jun 2008 10:01 pm

The website for Gerry's amps is www.stereosteel.com

It takes 10 times the power to make something sound twice as loud. So a power amp at 90 watts that is capable of delivering a continuous 90 watts, i.e. lots of reserve, can outdo a comparative amp thats rated at 200 watts but doesn't have the reserve capacity.

If you go with a digital or solid state amp, get a good sized one from a power perspective.

Another difference between tubes and solid state is the solid state devices operate in their linear range. Tubes are slightly non-linear which color the sound. A lot of people like that

Gary Dunn · Post by **Gary Dunn** » 1 Jul 2008 5:58 am

Hafler P3000.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 1 Jul 2008 2:44 pm

VHT 2/90/2 does the job for me .....

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 1 Jul 2008 2:45 pm

VHT 2/90/2 does the job for me .....

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 26 Jul 2008 7:56 am

Tony Glassman brought over his Stewart 600, I could hear an overall tighness to the sound no matter what the tone settings were on the preamp.

When we plugged the pre into the power amp of a N400 I realized not all power amps are the same. So I guess the hunt is on for a rack system.

In the old days I used a PV 750 but did not feel it had a fast enough response, but it could have been the preamp.

Not only is my prostate acting up now I have GAS issues to deal with.

Oh boy!!

larry Behm

Dennis Wallis · Post by **Dennis Wallis** » 27 Jul 2008 3:05 pm

For the size,weight,output,price,etc. the Stewart amps (PA 200 specifically) can't be beat,I believe.They were good enough for John Hughey.

Dave Diehl · Post by **Dave Diehl** » 28 Jul 2008 7:35 am

Agree Dennis. I am using a Stewart World 1.2 and like it very much.