ART SLA-2 vs. Carvin DCM 150

rsf1977

rsf1977

Fractal Fanatic
NOTE: I started a new thread that is a little more on target with my issue here http://www.fractalaudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6250


Art SLA-2: http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=85&cat=8&id=105
or
Carvin DCM 150: https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=DCM150

I'm considering a poweramp to power 2 4x12 cabs with my Ultra and have seen a lot of people like these 2. I was wondering, if the price point didn't matter, which would be preferred? And I play high gain detuned metal if that has any importance on which to choose? Also is it an issue if one 4x12 is 8ohms and the other is 16ohms?
 
xrist04 said:
What impedance are your cabs, and what do you normally drive them with (wattage)?
Click to expand...

well i was using a mesa dual rectifier into a 16ohm 4x12 and a peavey 6505 into an 8ohm 4x12 before. Do you think either of these have enough juice?
 
Pass on the DCM-150, probably not enough power to satisfy you ( I have one driving 8 ohm EV12ls like it ok but
my 1976 50watt Marshall JCM stomps it volume wise) :evil: .

I am using IEMs/PA now in my non-live setting but would probably want the ART to drive two 412s if the gig required
using the volume that they would generate. YMMV, this is only MY take on your question. :D

Cheers,
Joel
 
rsf1977 said:
Art SLA-2: http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=85&cat=8&id=105
or
Carvin DCM 150: https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=DCM150

I'm considering a poweramp to power 2 4x12 cabs with my Ultra and have seen a lot of people like these 2. I was wondering, if the price point didn't matter, which would be preferred? And I play high gain detuned metal if that has any importance on which to choose? Also is it an issue if one 4x12 is 8ohms and the other is 16ohms?
Click to expand...

I have already paved this road. The DCM and the SLA2 is an Apples to Oranges comparison with the SLA2 slaying the Carvin. I'm driving a pair of 16 Ohm 412's with an SLA2 and it works very good. If you have one cab that is 8 Ohm it will be noticeably louder and punchier than the 16 Ohm cab. Do your self a favor and go with the SLA2 it's worth the extra $$$ and try to get a matching cab to balance your volume (8 Ohm preferably). I have been running mine for a year now with no issues and still very much liking it. For the heavier stuff it's nice to have the extra power for the lows.
 
rsf1977 said:
xrist04 said:
What impedance are your cabs, and what do you normally drive them with (wattage)?
Click to expand...

well i was using a mesa dual rectifier into a 16ohm 4x12 and a peavey 6505 into an 8ohm 4x12 before. Do you think either of these have enough juice?
Click to expand...
If you're used to the volume levels produced by 100 W (tube) into 16 ohms, then I would avoid the DC150. The DC150 produces 150 W into 8 ohms (in bridged mode), and considerably less into 16 ohms (~110 W). This doesn't sound so bad, until you consider that you'd have almost no headroom at "normal" playing levels. Driving the DC150 to get as loud as the Dual Rectumfryer will likely result in nasty-sounding SS clipping, which can also be dangerous to your speakers.

With SS power, you'll definitely want lots of clean headroom. To match a tube power amp, a rule of thumb is "Five times the tube wattage, for solid-state." This is not because tube amp watts are any 'louder' than solid state watts -- a watt is a watt, no matter where it comes from. It's more because, when overdriven, tube power amps ease into a musical type of harmonic distortion, whereas solid-state amps exhibit nasty-sounding distortion when they are overdriven. Five times the power ensures that the solid state amplifier has plenty of headroom to handle musical peaks, without offering any solid-state distortion. If you're used to using 100W of tube power into a 16-ohm cab, then look for a SS power amp that can deliver 500W - 600W (bridged) into 8 ohms. The good news is that powerful SS amps of this size are generally both lighter and less expensive than comparable tube-powered amplifiers.

If you need to have a 1U solution, take a look at the ART SLA2 - 560W (bridged) into 8 ohms. If you can handle a 2U solution, there are several good options available.
 
Agreed.

I had a 50W head, and run a 2x12 8 Ohm Cab (rates at 60W).

Im using the SLA-1 in bridged mode. Thats 260W into 8 Ohm - so again roughly the 5 x power mark (of the amp - not cab), and it works great.

Its just as loud as the head was (a VHT) both clean and driven, with power to spare. It also keeps up with an Orange Thunderverb head ( which my friend has) into his Orange 2x12. the Thunderverb is 120W I think - though it may be 100.

For 4x12s, and the possibility of running stereo cabs (which with 100W per side from the SLA-1 isnt really an option - though I could drive a 4x12 in bridged mode OK) id go SLA-2.

I would have done the same but for 3 points:

1. I was worried a little by using 560W into a 60W cab (though using a single side at 200W was very tempting).
2. Ive NEVER run 2 cabs, so didnt need the option of stereo really. The SLA-1 Bridged was fine.
3. Although not that much really, the SLA-2 was more dosh (in UK, £300 against £220), and I did have a budget to consider.

No issues, and loving the ART.
 
thanks guys for all the info i've never used anything solidstate so I appreciate the advice I'm going to start a new thread more related to what i need to power my gear rather then which of these 2 devices would be best because it sounds like both might be lacking in some respects. here is the new thread http://www.fractalaudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6250 thanks again guys
 
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