Amplifier meet

I don't think I will be able to make it but can I make a worthwhile suggestion... I appreciate that the "big boys toys" amp arena seems to be focused on the bass but what about tops... I think that there would be far more gained in ideally running a consistent set of bins and tops and trying these amps at both tasks.

If you look at Martin Audios current re-badged amp line-up, they deliberately sell two different sets of amps... Ones for driving bass and ones for driving tops.

The other rather interesting test as I have found out recently is whether you can get a sub to deliver what its recommended frequency range is. For example I tested an newly purchased amp this last weekend that was able to drive a Gsub up to near its recommended frequency range of 180hz and it sounded amazing. On the other hand the amp I used to use would be ok upto 80hz but much above that the sound and control of the Gsub turned to mush.

Anyway I look forward to hearing of some outcomes from this get together...

If nothing else I am sre you will all have fun!

tallmike wrote: Date I'm thinking of is wednesday 2nd September. Is that OK with everyone?

I go away to eat some food and all this happens in a hurry. 

Wednesday is already in diary. Thanks for holding the meet Mike.

Would you mind the presence of some anal types ?

I love to hear lots of noise as much as the next man / woman / child / speakerplanner or beetle called Derek.

I am sure that we can not listen to all of the amps at the same time. Knowing how hard it is to get everybody together I suggest that we make it a dual purpose meet, as originally suggested.

Hearing things is important, I could not agree more. However, I have read thread here and elsewhere that suggest some amps sound louder because of distortion ???
I was over the moon to see that we were finally going to sort this amp thing out for once and for all. Both sound testing and putting the amps that are not running speakers on a test bench with a set of multi meters, scopes and a dummy load sounds like a great idea.
I understand that I do not have the budget for beautiful products like the FFA or MC2, but would love to see with my own eyes the differences between these high end amps and the likes of the matrix. I may not be able to interpret all of the results myself ( still learning ) but will be bringing high end digital SLR's and HiDef canon camcorders to record waveforms etc.

I am sure that the more knowledgeable people frequenting this forum will be able to interpret the results for us, even if they can not make it to the meet.

Win win solution for everyone involved. Lots of kit, many faces put to names and a proper, analitycal review of each of the amps. Whilst we can try and describe the differences in sound from one amp to the next to the unfortunate members who can't make the meet, there is no hiding from scope captures that will look the same to everybody.

I'm hoping to 'see' why the lab gruppens / mc2 / crown's of this world cost that much more than the likes of the matrix, before I consider upgrading the xp5000's.

I'm sure that this will present no problems because the test gear and person to operate it has already been promised, the only thing we need from Mike's venue is one bench, a power supply and some willing amp candidates.

I would even go so far to say I am willing to miss out on the grub for the sake of getting the data.

So, fellow speaker planners, if you would like me to miss out on the good food at the pub ( and just munch through Mikes' biscuits ) in the name of science let me know.

Mike, may we have that one bench please ?

Cheers
Matt

edit: speeeling



Edited by Sinfinity - 17 August 2009 at 9:05pm

i love the idea of the xp5000 but only becuase it would make a great back up amp for the money. you cant place lab gruppen mc2 crown ffa camco and crest etc on the same shelf as these are the types of amps very big touring companys use day in and day out and if the xp5000 could match these they would already be buying them for sure. i hope that these tests are done with ears not just laptops. just look at d&b and your see my point doesn't matter how it works or what the plots say it sound out of this world.

I have an XP 5000/2 ohm version, but it does not yet have the uprated fans. I have some holiday booked the following week, so may not be able to take anything the week before.....

Sounds like a great idea to have an amp shootout, assuming it has not been done before ?

Cheers 

Hi Chaps,