Rack Power Amps

[7 Dying Trees]

To complement the other thread, I thought I'd ask everyone about rack power amps. Which ones are good, which ones to avoid, which ones I should look into etc.

So far my prefernce is towards a mesa 2:90 to compliment my triaxis, but I will listen to any recomendations anyone may have.

Currently I am using my old marshall head as a power amp, which is unreliable. Oh, and it has to be sturdy

cheers for advice and recommendations in advance

James

 

[xenophobe]

Mesa power amps are great. I've played through the 2:90 and the Strategy 400s, and they're very well built and musical.

I own a VHT 2150, probably the king of all power amps. But I could say without a doubt (and from having conversations with Steve Fryette, a very nice and knowedable man), that ANY VHT would be a good thing.

The VHT stuff is so over-engineered and overbuilt, they're pretty much the industry standard for tubed power amps.

Both Mesa and VHT are hand-built in California, and are well worth the money they cost.

Of course it comes to preference, but that's my opinion.

 

[shredguitarman]

Definately the 2:90 as is has four switchable voicings for use with your Triaxis.... as well as being as loud as you'll ever realistically need..

 

[scarr3d]

i have a question. when a PA is listed as 50W/50W, is that the same as say...a 100W head? i don't understand...

 

[shredguitarman]

all dependant on whether that figure is RMS or not for the PA..

Also valve amps tend to be much louder than their stated wattages in comparison to their solid state counterparts...

 

[xenophobe]

No, that would be two channels at 50 w each, some would be bridgable, but most aren't...

Yeah, and tube amps and SS amps both used different ratings for watts...

a 50w tube amp with outcrank a 100w SS most of the time....

 

[scarr3d]

hmmm. so why would you need 2 channels on the power amp?

 

[Ishtar]

well, most of rack power amp have two channel for stereo...

The only problem is that you must have the speaker connected or a resistor if you don't want to damage the power supply.