Grateful Dead Music Forum

Just wanted to say that this amp is awesome! It is 4 pounds, 1 rack space, and sounds great! No lie! I didn't believe it at first, was very skeptical, but I am in heaven with it. I run an SMS into it, and bridge it for 200 watts into a K120. Again, sounds amazing! it is class A/B, and really simple to use.

4 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also run my SMS into one into a pair of 8 ohm JBLs (one K120, one E120). The SMS + DCM200L + Gator rack together weigh about 14 lbs. At first I missed my Roctron Velocity 300 but having changed the V1 preamp tube in the SMS, I'm now very happy with the rig's tone.

Searing, is the spacing on the bridge banana plug inputs correct to take a standard type dual plug like this one?

Yes Jon, it is.

Excellent, I'll order one tonight (to try mine bridged into a single K120, too).

Yeah, I've been interested in this one as well! Bridging at 200 watts? Hehe, you guys play loud! I've been switching between a Mosvalve 962 or MC-50 - would love to hear comparisons with these or other amps - or clips?

For me, the bridging would not be to gain volume but rather to safely run into a single 8 ohm cab.

From Carvin.com's DCM200L page:

FEATURES
- Frequency Response: +0/-5 dB 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- THD 20-20kHz < 0.5%, (8Ω typical) < 0.05%
- Output Topology: CLASS D
- Power Supply: Switchmode
- Damping Factor: >400
- Sensitivity (@ 8Ω): 1.4 Vrms
etc., etc.

I'm confused here. It says here that the amp's output topology is class D but I did find another reference to this amp having class A/B topology on Carvin's site. As I understand it, D has more inherent THD but is more efficient/runs cooler? I guess my question is which class sounds better? And which class is this amplifier?!

Strange?? I could have sworn it was A/B?? It does say D in some places, but in others describes it as A/B???? Fuck it! It sounds Class kick Ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any chance of someone posting an example of this amp in action?

I will have my girlfriend help me to get some audio up here using the Carvin later this evening.

At that weight it has to be class D. A 100W class A/B or A is going to weigh more than that because the power supply needs to be much larger and hence heavier because they run much less efficiently.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but how would you connect a preamp with an 1/4 unbalanced out into this Carvin amp that appears to only have the XLR balanced inputs?

Teejay,

The amp has 1/4" inputs. There are two inbetween the XLR inputs. The ground lift and parralled are the switched above. Look closely at the pic of the back.

It doesn't matter if the output from the pre is unbalanced and the inputs on the power amp are balanced?