[Jon S.]

I have no affiliation with Carvin nor do I own any of their gear. But this is quite a nice price on a decent power amp. Is it a top of the line amp? No. But if you're cash-strapped and need a power amp, it's not a bad option at all. In fact, Mark Norwine (designer/builder of the Carlson Turbo-Pup) told me he's used the predecessor model for Dead tones and it's decent. And it's 4 lbs. Match that with an SMS Classic Preamp in a 2U rack and you're looking not much over 10 lb. for the whole rack unit.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/s ... ct=DCM200L

[Jon S.]

It's amazing what you can find on YouTube - FWIW, here's a guy A-Bing the Carvin DCM 150 (predecessor to the DCM200L) with the Rocktron Velocity 300 (what I, and some others here, are currently using). It's a useful data point though I wish the guy had done a bit of adjusting of the RV300's Reactance and Definition controls (setting and leaving them both at noon works to illustrate that the RV300 is capable of sounding thicker and more tube-guitar-amp-like than the Carvin amp even with its EQ Expand switch engaged but doesn't answer the question of how close the RV300 sounds to the Carvin with the two controls lowered).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOGZmUs_5co

[hippieguy1954]

Yea, it makes no sence to AB those two amps with the reactance or definition control being used at all on the V300. What is he thinking?
The Carvin sounds good! I've thought about this particular one, but I have the V300 and am some what satisfied. Wish those MC2300's weren't so much money!
I'm thinkin of trying one of these... maybe...and this is a good deal if there is nothing wrong with it: The Mosvalve -Tube Works MV-962

forum/viewtopic.php?f=334&t=11629