Tech 21 Power Engine 60

[Fresh_Start]

Do any of you use one of these?

I just bought one used because I couldn't get enough clean headroom on the "Tweed" setting from my TradeMark 10 amp. That was with the TM-10 plugged into a 1x12" Avatar cab with a Tech 21 speaker in it.

I got what I needed for practice volumes, but I was expecting 60 watts to be way louder than what this thing puts out. Even with the volumes almost maxed out on both the TM-10 and the PE-60, it's loud but not loud enough to fill a small club. I thought people used these things for gigging...

My 15 watt Blues Jr. with both the preamp & master volumes at 3:00 is painfully loud - much more than the Tech 21 setup. I know that tube watts are "bigger" than solid state watts, but didn't expect this result.

Anybody know what's going on here? I already talked with Lloyd at Tech 21, and we ran through his trouble shooting list. BTW I'm using the XLR output from the TM-10 into the Power Engine.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Chip

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

Shameless bump - anybody using one of these things? Please?

Chip

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

HHHMMMMM.......I wonder if it has anything to do with the source, in your case, 10watts from the TM-10. Could it be that you're only "amplifying" 10watts???

I've got the TM-60 running in stereo with a PE-60 & the sound is pretty huge. I've also run the SansAmp PSA-1 thru the PE-60 & the sound is huge.

I currently run the TM-60 & the SansAmp PSA-1 thru the PE-60 on opposite sides of the room & have them A/B/Y'd. I've got nothing bad to say about it.

What did Lloyd say about it?

I'm sorry it's not working out for you....I feel semi-responsible for turning you onto it. If I can help you out in any way, let me know!

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

Hey Terry -

Don't feel responsible for this at all! This was entirely my idea

I think Peter is on target, at least partially.

Terry, what output are you using from the TM-60? Direct XLR or 1/4"?

The guy I bought the Power Engine from suggested that I try running the effects loop "Send" into the PE-60. Apparently that's hotter than the XLR output. The manual recommends using the XLR, and so did Lloyd, however.

Lloyd also told me to put a dummy plug in the headphone jack of the TM-10 to bypass its 8" speaker, then crank the volume on the TM-10 and put the gain on 11:00. That barely produces any distortion on the "clean/Tweed" setting. Before, the little critter seemed to start clipping about 1:30 or 2:00 on the volume by itself and even when plugged into an external cab. The XLR output must be coming out of the circuit after the volume control but before whatever was clipping. Turns out I can crank the TM-10's volume just about all the way without clipping and get more headroom out of the PE-60. For anything other than squeaky clean Fender-sound, this setup is plenty loud for a small club.

I still don't get why the "Tweed" (Fender) part of the circuit is so much quieter than the "California" or "British" settings. Tech 21's response is essentially "that's just the way it is."

BTW please don't think I'm bashing the TradeMark 10 - it's an amazingly versatile little box for a great price IMHO. I'm just trying to get a bit more out of it...

Thanks for your thoughts,

Chip

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

I use the 1/4" input & haven't had any problems at all......

Well, it sounds like by bypassing the speaker, you're atleast getting something, but in my opinion, the "Fender cleans" are the big seller on the amp. That's too bad man....I thought it would be a good set-up for you versatility wise.

Screw it....sell the TM-10 & grab a PSA-1 !!!!

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

Hey Terry -

Using a 1/4" cable from the Effects Loop "Send" on the TradeMark 10 to the Power Engine 60's 1/4" input produces more volume than I need and the "Fender cleans" are beautiful

I still don't understand why the level on the XLR out is so low and will check with Tech 21 on that, but this is a great setup now.

Thanks for your help - all I needed was to use the 1/4" cable instead of the XLR.

Chip

 

[Hoss]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

the puckmeister saves the day again!!! :dance:

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!!!

Very cool.....glad it worked for ya'!

Now have fun tweaking!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

I still don't understand why the level on the XLR out is so low and will check with Tech 21 on that, but this is a great setup now.

Could it be lower for recording purposes?

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

Right on again, Terry!

Here's what Lloyd wrote:

"The TM10's XLR Out is instrument level, so it's always going to seem like it's lower than the Effect Send, which is line level. But if you turn the Level knob on the Power Engine all the way up you're still accessing the full 60 watts of that, and dictating how much signal reaches it with the TM10's Level knob, so it doesn't seem like there's any advantage to using the 1/4" connections (with the amp's Level set lower) or the XLR to XLR connection (with the amp's Level set higher)... either way, you're going to reach the maximum volume at some point (it can't go any higher than "maximum"!)"

And this is my reply:

"Thanks Lloyd –

Actually, the combined volume potential is MUCH higher using the ¼” output than you can get with both the TM-10 and the PE-60 cranked to the max through the XLR line. No worries though since it worked out fine."

With the TradeMark 10's speaker defeated by a dummy 1/4" plug in the headphone jack, cranking both the TM-10 and PE-60 volumes gets plenty loud for practice with the XLR line. It's not loud enough for gigging in the "Tweed" (Fender) setting though - the XLR out must be a very low signal strength (that works fine for recording IF you can avoid ground loops).

Chip

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Tech 21 Power Engine 60

O.K. thanks for the info & tips!!!