Speakerplans.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > General > Amp Forum
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - QSC PL380 vs QSC PL9 vs Powersoft K20
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

QSC PL380 vs QSC PL9 vs Powersoft K20

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
Author
Message
ReubGold View Drop Down
Registered User
Registered User


Joined: 09 April 2012
Location: Essex/JA
Status: Offline
Points: 271
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ReubGold Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: QSC PL380 vs QSC PL9 vs Powersoft K20
    Posted: 10 September 2019 at 12:31pm
From what I've seen:

Powersoft K20 - Not warmest sound @ 2.66 ohm stereo, but plenty power, most reliable, decent power on 32A ring main
QSC PL9 - Most powerful when on Genny, most unreliable, fairly warm sound, often blows on 32A ring main
QSC PL380 - Ok reliability, warmest sound, ONLY really performs on Genny, or very strong mains spur.

Comment, opinions, thinking of trying Crown MA12000.
If he turns me into a zombie, first person I'm coming after is you.
Back to Top
spongebob View Drop Down
Young Croc
Young Croc


Joined: 20 October 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 1395
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spongebob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 September 2019 at 1:20pm
"Most powerful when on Genny"
Back to Top
levyte357- View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 27 July 2012
Location: UK, South East
Status: Offline
Points: 8128
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote levyte357- Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 September 2019 at 1:25pm
Originally posted by spongebob spongebob wrote:

"Most powerful when on Genny"


Maybe should say, performs best when on Genny.

I have seen this many times..

Global Depopulation - Alive and Killing.
Back to Top
rosssss224 View Drop Down
Registered User
Registered User


Joined: 25 July 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 447
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rosssss224 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 September 2019 at 1:44pm
Is there any benefit running a K20 off anything other than a 13A standard socket if only running at 4ohms? In this case to power 4 PD1850's playing 30-85hz.

Looking at the fuse curve I can't see there being much point.
Back to Top
levyte357- View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 27 July 2012
Location: UK, South East
Status: Offline
Points: 8128
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote levyte357- Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 September 2019 at 1:57pm
Originally posted by rosssss224 rosssss224 wrote:

Is there any benefit running a K20 off anything other than a 13A standard socket if only running at 4ohms? In this case to power 4 PD1850's playing 30-85hz.

Looking at the fuse curve I can't see there being much point.


Can't see the point of running 1850s downto 30hz, in most cabs.

Can forsee many disadvantages, and problems of doing it though.
Global Depopulation - Alive and Killing.
Back to Top
Elliot Thompson View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 02 April 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 5172
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Elliot Thompson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2019 at 2:50am
Originally posted by ReubGold ReubGold wrote:

From what I've seen:

Powersoft K20 - Not warmest sound @ 2.66 ohm stereo, but plenty power, most reliable, decent power on 32A ring main
QSC PL9 - Most powerful when on Genny, most unreliable, fairly warm sound, often blows on 32A ring main
QSC PL380 - Ok reliability, warmest sound, ONLY really performs on Genny, or very strong mains spur.

Comment, opinions, thinking of trying Crown MA12000.


All QSC amplifiers sound the same. If the Powerlight 380 sounds "warmer" to you than the Powerlight 9.0, it usually stems from one amplifier running out of headroom faster than the other (which begins to clip). When this occurs, distortion (Not at all times a bad thing when you are aiming for a particular tone) is coming into play. 

The above is very common when comparing two amplifiers of the same brand offering unequal output power. The QSC Powerlight 9.0 is 9000 watts RMS whereas, the QSC Powerlight 380 is 8000 watts momentary (Burst) Peak.

Best Regards, 






Edited by Elliot Thompson - 11 September 2019 at 2:51am
Elliot Thompson
Back to Top
toastyghost View Drop Down
The 10,000 Points Club
The 10,000 Points Club
Avatar

Joined: 09 January 2007
Location: Manchester
Status: Offline
Points: 10920
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote toastyghost Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2019 at 10:05am
Originally posted by levyte357- levyte357- wrote:

Originally posted by rosssss224 rosssss224 wrote:

Is there any benefit running a K20 off anything other than a 13A standard socket if only running at 4ohms? In this case to power 4 PD1850's playing 30-85hz.

Looking at the fuse curve I can't see there being much point.


Can't see the point of running 1850s downto 30hz, in most cabs.

Can forsee many disadvantages, and problems of doing it though.


Where you should place your electronic HPF is very rarely where the acoustic output has dropped by 3dB. The HPF should prevent overexcursion but also aid cooling, and many reflex boxes can also take a large PEQ boost at tuning frequency too. You’d be very surprised if you saw many pro manufacturers’ settings, for any sort of design. They very rarely match what I see used in the DIY scene.

As for using a bigger mains plug, you should use the largest available, for thermal reasons if anything. A 13A plug fuse may not blow but the wire is thin comparatively and the plug top will get warm.

Edited by toastyghost - 11 September 2019 at 10:06am
Back to Top
Chris Grimshaw View Drop Down
Registered User
Registered User


Joined: 10 September 2018
Location: Sheffield
Status: Offline
Points: 281
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Grimshaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2019 at 10:38am
Originally posted by ReubGold ReubGold wrote:

Comment, opinions, thinking of trying Crown MA12000.


I have an MA12000i sitting around at the moment. Would be interested in selling it on. PM me if you'd like to work something out.

Chris
Quality sound from Sheffield
www.grimshawaudio.com
Back to Top
U.Viktor View Drop Down
Young Croc
Young Croc


Joined: 04 May 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 716
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote U.Viktor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2019 at 3:06pm
QSC PL380 is a crap Class-D, does not even have real output feedback.. Very poor sound quality.
Its PSU is also a nigthmare for circuit breakers, poisoning the mains with extreme current spike harmonics.

QSC PL9.0 is a half-finished yet over-complicated design. Not reliable, since ~10 or more years out of production, not a surprise!

Powersoft K20 is not sounding good but still works better than the two above^
Back to Top
rosssss224 View Drop Down
Registered User
Registered User


Joined: 25 July 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 447
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rosssss224 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 September 2019 at 3:15pm
Originally posted by U.Viktor U.Viktor wrote:

QSC PL380 is a crap Class-D, does not even have real output feedback.. Very poor sound quality.
Its PSU is also a nigthmare for circuit breakers, poisoning the mains with extreme current spike harmonics.

QSC PL9.0 is a half-finished yet over-complicated design. Not reliable, since ~10 or more years out of production, not a surprise!

Powersoft K20 is not sounding good but still works better than the two above^

Intrigued what's good sounding then?
Back to Top
fat_brstd View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc


Joined: 23 August 2008
Location: Melbourne, OZ
Status: Offline
Points: 2125
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fat_brstd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 September 2019 at 5:54am
Originally posted by U.Viktor U.Viktor wrote:

QSC PL380 is a crap Class-D, does not even have real output feedback.. Very poor sound quality.
Its PSU is also a nigthmare for circuit breakers, poisoning the mains with extreme current spike harmonics.

QSC PL9.0 is a half-finished yet over-complicated design. Not reliable, since ~10 or more years out of production, not a surprise!

Powersoft K20 is not sounding good but still works better than the two above^


I have never seen you ever make a positive comment about any amp ever, pure negative vibes. We all know you are involved with PKN in some capacity but the product bashing is really getting tiresome now.

I use the PL380 to drive my subs, I really like it, loads of power, spanks PD1850 right to their limits and most importantly sounds clean and good. I regularly run 6 drivers off it on a 32amp supply and have never had it pop a breaker even when being drive right up to clip.

Personally I think it sounds a lot better than the K20 which I have also played with. TBH I have never been a fan of the Powersoft K series when it comes to tone, oodles of power but the tone is just not for me.
Adrians Wall Sound System
Melbournes Rootical Warrior
Roots - Dub - Steppers

facebook page
Back to Top
levyte357- View Drop Down
Old Croc
Old Croc
Avatar

Joined: 27 July 2012
Location: UK, South East
Status: Offline
Points: 8128
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote levyte357- Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 September 2019 at 8:44am
Originally posted by fat_brstd fat_brstd wrote:

 

I use the PL380 to drive my subs, I really like it, loads of power, spanks PD1850 right to their limits and most importantly sounds clean and good. I regularly run 6 drivers off it on a 32amp supply and have never had it pop a breaker even when being drive right up to clip.

Personally I think it sounds a lot better than the K20 which I have also played with. TBH I have never been a fan of the Powersoft K series when it comes to tone, oodles of power but the tone is just not for me.

Have to agree with 99% of that, PL380 on proper mains/genny can properly spank 6x PD1851s, with warmth and tone.

K20 loses bit of warmth, when you play > 2 "8 ohm" cabs a side.

But K20 is possibly the most likely amp to survive heavy gig, at 4x cabs a side.

Notice I didn't mention terms like 4 ohm/2 ohm stereo, as most cabs are never 8 ohm exactly.
Global Depopulation - Alive and Killing.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.06
Copyright ©2001-2023 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.109 seconds.