Mark Cohen
From:
Calabasas, CA, USA
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Posted 19 Apr 2006 3:56 pm |
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Hi all:
I am developing an amp for multiple uses - steel being crucial. Essentially, this is to be a high power driver for the sort of preamp you would otherwise use to 'go through the board' or send directly to the PA. The projected configuration will include two 12" neodymium speakers (Eminence) and two horn tweeters (Eminence), in full stereo with 500W/channel. The enclosure is a tuned and ported design to give extended bass down to about 50 Hz.
The power amplifier uses a novel switching design that is incredibly lightweight. A 19" 2U rack is included to place the preamp of your choice. My own preamp is to be a Digitech 2120, but the Rocktron Chameleon 2000 is an excellent, and available, alternative. Using special wood composites and aluminum reinforcements, the amp should be about 30 pounds! (not including the preamp - a Rocktron, for example, adds another 5 lbs). The output can be directed either to the internal speakers in stereo, to the internal speakers in the left channel only, with the right channel sent to an external cabinet, or to two external cabinets to run in parallel with each of the internal speakers. This flexibility is essential for an amp with such high power output.
The system will have a nearly flat response from 50 Hz up. An active circuit prior to the power amp stage will provide response tuning (speaker simulation) if needed (that is, if it is not included in the racked preamp). The amp is intended not just for steel, but for keyboards or other instruments needing very high distortion-free headroom for accurate reproduction. The modeling preamps, of course, will make this suitable for guitar players as well.
This is a 2 way design. The 12" neodymium drivers that are presently avalable on their own have little output above about 3500 Hz, which would yield a somewhat dull sound. Even if you prefer a less zingy steel tone, certain kinds of reverb are much more natural sounding if they contain the high end. Therefore, the compression tweeters are added to give this amp extremely high clarity.
I should have my first prototypes completed by the end of May. Stay tuned.
This will be a specialty hand-crafted item in limited quantity (no worries Mike...) under the name of Clear View Designs that will be available only if I see enough interest.
General Specs:
- 2 @ 12" Speakers
- 2 @ 3" Compression tweeters
- 500 W/Channel X 2
- Exterior dimensions 26" X 17.5" X 14"*
- Weight, less preamp, 30 lbs
- Frequency response +/-3.5 dB 50Hz-20kHz
*The 14" dimension might be adjustable, but this will compromise the low frequency response. I need feedback about this.
Target pricing is in the $1100 range.
So, who might be interested?[This message was edited by Mark Cohen on 19 April 2006 at 04:58 PM.] [This message was edited by Mark Cohen on 19 April 2006 at 05:01 PM.] |
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