Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

[Quencho092]

I'm looking for a quality rackmount PA, I needs about 125 SS watts per channel, it doesn't need to be big.

If you guys know any good tube power stages that are relatively compact and sound good let me know.

I just want a decent amount of power, at a good price, and light-weight.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

Peavey power amps are built to last forever and are the closest thing you'll get to highend power amps for decent money. If it's for guitar, I'd say a tube VHT or Mesa.
If it's for a PA, I'd stay away from the compact PA heads with EQ and power.
You're better off spending a little money and getting a 1000W + power amp, a cheap used Behringer or Toa rackmountable mixer, and maybe a cheap Yamaha or Alesis reverb unit. Then, 2 15's/horns. Bands break up all the time, so that's where to find used PA equip for cheap. It's better to get the loudest one possible, so your vocals have plenty of headroom over the instruments, before feeding back.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

i already have a mixer, eq, etc. I just need the amp. A 1 space power amp to be exact. I know peavey sells this cs200x model thats great for 300 bucks but i can't find it anywhere. I do not need 1000W, just a simple 1 space 200 per channel amp.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

is the ART SLA-2 any good? its 300 bucks, 200 watts per channel 560 watts bridged, and takes up 1 space. It's really simple too, i dont need anything complicated.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

I dont know anything about PA's.
What are you using it for?


But as GJ said for guitar Id go mesa 2:90 or vht 2/50/2.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

for a PA, i'd stay away from any tube amp...do thet even make tube PA amps anymore? a good SS power amp rayed ay more than you think you will need will be fine.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

PA power amps are a little tricky sometimes and you get what you pay for.

I say tricky because there are a couple things to consider. That ART at 560 watts bridged is most likely going to deliver 200 watts a side on 4 ohms and PA speakers of any quality are generally 8 ohms. The problem is that you will most likely only get maybe 80 watts a side @ 8 ohms and you wont hear that over accordians, let alone rock guitars and drums. Most PA speakers and monitors are rated at no less than 250 watts and 100 watts is not going to power them efficently, causing more loss.

Look for a used Crown CE 1000. They aren't one rack space but they sound good, they are highly dependable and they will deliver enough power to drive 2 or 4 250 watt monitors efficiently.

You should be able to find a solid, used CE 1000 for $300.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

I went to the ART website and the SLA-2 puts out 200 watts a side @ 8 ohms, 560 watts at 8 ohms bridged. You are going to need a serious bit of eq and compression to hear that over a band, and efficient speakers will be a must.

It looks like an ok unit but it's fairly low powered for PA applications. If you are using it for vocals for a rock band, you'll never hear it unless you excercise extreme restraint and hire a drummer that hits like a girl.

You really need something along the lines of a CE 1000. A poweramp that will offer more balls as your needs increase and not become obsolete. You'd need 2 SLA-2s to get the same job done, and seeing as the used Crown will run you the same money that just doesn't make much sence.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

robert is right about the PA size ... you really need more than you think

carvin makes high quality, reasonably priced stuff - new DCM1000 for about $370 i think ... if you are dead set on a 1u high unit, carvin makes a dcm150, but it is only about 75w per side into 8 ohms

good luck
cheers
t4d

ps - you can shop online for a peavey cs200x at www.peavey.com ... i had one in my hands just this past monday at bill's music in catonsville, md (near baltimore) .. was $339 .. was slightly too big to fit in my shallow rack, so i didnt buy it .. but wouldve if it fit in the rack

 

[Hellion]

Re: Rack equipment users-what Power stage is recommended?

I don't know of any single space power amps that have that much output. My own rack uses a Marshall 8008 which puts out 80 watts per side, and I've also used a QSC 1810, which was a little workhorse and was about 75 watts per side. Those are both single space amps, I know Carvin makes a single space that probably puts out about 150 total, too. All of the previously mentioned amps are SS.