Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

[Johtosotku Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Johtosotku]

Re: Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

I prefer the 2502 over the 2902 because I liked the ability to run 6L6 in one channel and EL34s in the other. Although, in the end I loaded both with JJE34Ls tubes. Man, I could get some good saturation. I miss it. The 2902 is KT88s. Plus with the 2502 you are able to get some good power tube saturation at lower levels. The 2902 is a bit much, and it always seems like a peamp will add even a little more power to boot.

As for the UL. When I went to look at VHT head amps, the UL sounded the best to my ear, and I am usually a 6L6 or EL34 guy. I would go with either the UL or CLX though.

As far as choosing a head, the only advise I can give is to try them out. What you buy is what you get. At least with a rack unit you can always swap out the preamp. There are good and bad to both though.

Well yes, I've heard that the 2/90/2 is really hard to get to break up. I guess it boils down to if I'm a preamp distortion kind of guy. I've heard some people say that the KT88 makes more consistent a preamp, is that true? I'd like it to sound good at all volumes, naturally, even if that's a bit difficult with tube amps. I hope I'll get to fire the poweramps up next to each other, I'm just a bit afraid their kind of made to order around here, not so many in stock.

I don't know about the heads anymore, I'm leaning a bit more towards the rack at the moment, although some experienced opinions could sway my course were that to come... I'll have to hear and think about it some more.

Thanks for the input!

[WaR HeaD Tone Member Find all posts View Profile Close WaR HeaD]

Re: Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

It does really sound like a terrific unit, it's just too bad it comes with a terrible price tag! I'm afraid it's a bit too much right now, even with ordering from elsewhere. If I had 3000€ to spend right now, I'd probably just get an Ultralead or an Uberschall and be done with it!

One of my main ideas with building a rack has been to divide the costs to a longer period of time while still being able to buy the best. I'm also quite confident with my PodXT as a preamp, some of the headphone tones I've got really are great. Could it be even better with a high-quality tube poweramp? But, if a Triaxis were to come upon me on the used market in a few years, could I resist it? No, I could not!

you can find the whole package (triaxis + 2:50 or a simul class 2:90) for 1200-1500 € on the used market

and yeah go for a pro power amp...it doesn´t have to be the mesa nor the vht....it has to be an all tube pa...if you want to have the best i think the 2:90 is the best to suit along with the triaxis, but imo a stereo 90 watts pa is too much power to use...think of a 180w long head....on the other hand a 2:50 pa is much more useful...

btw....which cab did you say you were going to work with?

[Johtosotku Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Johtosotku]

Re: Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

you can find the whole package (triaxis + 2:50 or a simul class 2:90) for 1200-1500 € on the used market

and yeah go for a pro power amp...it doesnŽt have to be the mesa nor the vht....it has to be an all tube pa...if you want to have the best i think the 2:90 is the best to suit along with the triaxis, but imo a stereo 90 watts pa is too much power to use...think of a 180w long head....on the other hand a 2:50 pa is much more useful...

btw....which cab did you say you were going to work with?

I'll have another look on the local used market, but I'm afraid that the prices here aren't as low.

I'm sure that a 50w poweramp has all the power I need, with the VHTs I've been thinking I've been considering the tonal difference between the different powertube's they use in their respective poweramps, meaning EL34 vs. KT88. The price difference isn't really that big. I've also been thinking if using the 50w poveramp allowed me to use more possible speakers in my cabs, 2 * 25w greenbacks for example. For my cab I plan to use Framus 2*12 cabs, probably in stereo too.

[Burkwieser Tone Member Find all posts View Profile Close Burkwieser]

Re: Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

I'll have another look on the local used market, but I'm afraid that the prices here aren't as low.

I'm sure that a 50w poweramp has all the power I need, with the VHTs I've been thinking I've been considering the tonal difference between the different powertube's they use in their respective poweramps, meaning EL34 vs. KT88. The price difference isn't really that big. I've also been thinking if using the 50w poveramp allowed me to use more possible speakers in my cabs, 2 * 25w greenbacks for example. For my cab I plan to use Framus 2*12 cabs, probably in stereo too.

Not sure, but it sounds like you might be a little confused. The VHT 2502 is a two channel amp at 50w per channel. Essentially a 100w power amp. That was why WaR HeaD was suggesting the 2902 was a bit too much power. A 180w power amp. If you go with a power amp, go with the 2502 with JJe34Ls. You won't be disappointed. As far as a preamp goes. The triaxis is a good preamp, but you really need to check out the Egnater M4 or M8. the sound is just amazing, and you can have modules modded to your liking at a low cost. It is the only preamp I would really consider, other than my current Mesa setup.

http://amazingtone.com/generic.html?pid=0

http://www.egnater.com/

http://www.randallamplifiers.com/pro...ts/mtsrack.asp

[Johtosotku Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Johtosotku]

Re: Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

Not sure, but it sounds like you might be a little confused. The VHT 2502 is a two channel amp at 50w per channel. Essentially a 100w power amp. That was why WaR HeaD was suggesting the 2902 was a bit too much power. A 180w power amp. If you go with a power amp, go with the 2502 with JJe34Ls. You won't be disappointed. As far as a preamp goes. The triaxis is a good preamp, but you really need to check out the Egnater M4 or M8. the sound is just amazing, and you can have modules modded to your liking at a low cost. It is the only preamp I would really consider, other than my current Mesa setup.

http://amazingtone.com/generic.html?pid=0

http://www.egnater.com/

http://www.randallamplifiers.com/pro...ts/mtsrack.asp

I am confused! Isn't the 2/50/2 just two different poweramps, where each of them breaks as 50watters instead of one 100watter? And that I either use two separate speaker sets for each channel, not just one? I'm planning to use two 2*12 cabs, for real stereo or just a stereo 4*12 cab.

I'm certain that 50w is enough power for me. The only reason I'm considering the 2/90/2 is that some reliable people say that it has a different and better tone than the 2/50/2. They call it more consistent, balanced and bigger. The price difference is small too, so I'm quite uncertain, or confused right now.

I'll check the Egnater out, I don't know if there's anybody importing them here now, they look quite expensive too. But, quality costs, right?

[WaR HeaD Tone Member Find all posts View Profile Close WaR HeaD]

Re: Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

yeah it could be right that they are bigger sounding...when pushed (the power amp section)

but its "easier" to crank the power amp section of a 2:50 than doing the same with the 2:90 one... you´ll count with your fingers the number of times you´ve cranked a 180w pa

there is also economical facts...every time you have to retube the preamp you have to pay 600-800€... too much tubes to pay...fu....ng money!!

[Johtosotku Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Johtosotku]

Re: Head vs. Rack for me (?VHT?)

yeah it could be right that they are bigger sounding...when pushed (the power amp section)

but its "easier" to crank the power amp section of a 2:50 than doing the same with the 2:90 one... youŽll count with your fingers the number of times youŽve cranked a 180w pa

there is also economical facts...every time you have to retube the preamp you have to pay 600-800€... too much tubes to pay...fu....ng money!!

Yes, even though I have the opportunity to play about as loud as I want, it's quite rare for me to run anything with full volume, haven't done it many times. Some say that along to sounding bigger when cranked, the KT88s sound better at lower volumes when you don't have the opportunity to drive the poweramp to clip. Is that true? The financial factor is a thing to remember too, the 2/90/2 costs 2x to retube than the 2/50/2. Well, what wouldn't you do for tone!?