NAD Bogner 20th Ecstasy

[stratjacket]

Good description of the red channel. It’s fun to play straight in, with an EQ in front and with OD pedals. It can get as brutal and heavy as anything and still good backed way off.

 

[GreenRust]

The XTC 20th’s Blue channel doesn’t have quite as much chew or grease as the 101B’s Blue channel. But the XTC 20th’s Red and Green channels are several notches better sounding than the 101B’s Red and Green channels.

The XTC 20th Green channel is fantastic. It’s basically a Fender preamp with a 100w power section. The Red channel is top tier and takes boosts exceptionally well. With the right boost it can give you as much gain and aggression as a 5153 but it’s more complex and bouncier sounding which I think is excellent. And without a boost it’s one of the best high gain lead tones I’ve ever heard anywhere. For both of those types of channels in one package, I can’t think of a more suitable amp than the XTC 20th.

Perfect description IME. Yeah, you lose the greasy chew of 101b blue, but gain an amazing clean and a next level red channel that can do anything gain wise...at least for me. The blue is still very nice, just a little different than the 101b.

 

[thegame]

The XTC 20th’s Blue channel doesn’t have quite as much chew or grease as the 101B’s Blue channel. But the XTC 20th’s Red and Green channels are several notches better sounding than the 101B’s Red and Green channels.

The XTC 20th Green channel is fantastic. It’s basically a Fender preamp with a 100w power section. The Red channel is top tier and takes boosts exceptionally well. With the right boost it can give you as much gain and aggression as a 5153 but it’s more complex and bouncier sounding which I think is excellent. And without a boost it’s one of the best high gain lead tones I’ve ever heard anywhere. For both of those types of channels in one package, I can’t think of a more suitable amp than the XTC 20th.

My theory on that is that the 101B's power section is optimized for the blue channel to excel. I feel mid gain tones/channels/amps in general benefit from a slightly looser, fuller, creamier power amp design with a bit more sag. And conversely, the 20th's Red and Green channels are better because, and I'm speculating here, the 20th's power section is designed to break up less and be stiffer with faster response, which benefits pristine cleans and very high gain structures.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

My theory on that is that the 101B's power section is optimized for the blue channel to excel. I feel mid gain tones/channels/amps in general benefit from a slightly looser, fuller, creamier power amp design with a bit more sag. And conversely, the 20th's Red and Green channels are better because, and I'm speculating here, the 20th's power section is designed to break up less and be stiffer with faster response, which benefits pristine cleans and very high gain structures.

Funny you should mention that. I’ve had a 101B and XTC 20th at the same time, and was crazy and obsessive enough to not just A/B them, but also to run the channels of both through the other one’s poweramp because I wondered the same thing.

Turns out it’s both! The 101B has a smoother, more mid-focused power section, while the XTC 20th’s power section is wider and stiffer / more hi-fi, and the 101B’s Blue and Red channels are just a bit more greasy and smooth, while the XTC 20th’s Blue and Red are crispier and more modern. The difference between each element by itself is honestly fairly subtle but the differences are there.

 

[braintheory]

Funny you should mention that. I’ve had a 101B and XTC 20th at the same time, and was crazy and obsessive enough to not just A/B them, but also to run the channels of both through the other one’s poweramp because I wondered the same thing.

Turns out it’s both! The 101B has a smoother, more mid-focused power section, while the XTC 20th’s power section is wider and stiffer / more hi-fi, and the 101B’s Blue and Red channels are just a bit more greasy and smooth, while the XTC 20th’s Blue and Red are crispier and more modern. The difference between each element by itself is honestly fairly subtle but the differences are there.

This is what I call doing one's homework that I love to see here

 

[stratjacket]

Does the Old/New switch on the back of the 20th change it to be more like the 101B?

 

[M@ttC3]

Funny you should mention that. I’ve had a 101B and XTC 20th at the same time, and was crazy and obsessive enough to not just A/B them, but also to run the channels of both through the other one’s poweramp because I wondered the same thing.

Turns out it’s both! The 101B has a smoother, more mid-focused power section, while the XTC 20th’s power section is wider and stiffer / more hi-fi, and the 101B’s Blue and Red channels are just a bit more greasy and smooth, while the XTC 20th’s Blue and Red are crispier and more modern. The difference between each element by itself is honestly fairly subtle but the differences are there.

Just curious- was the 20th a 6L6 or EL34 version?

 

[M@ttC3]

Does the Old/New switch on the back of the 20th change it to be more like the 101B?

No, it changes the power section response to more of a looser, saggier feel- more like a vintage amp. I believe the regular XTC has that as well.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Just curious- was the 20th a 6L6 or EL34 version?

6L6

On that note, I did all the testing at volumes well below anything that would push either poweramp to clipping or compression, and Bogner actually does design each poweramp around the tube type of that model, so basically all variables are accounted for. If there is any difference between tube types at all, it's going to be extremely subtle, like less than 1 db at any given frequency.

 

[M@ttC3]

6L6

On that note, I did all my testing at volumes well below anything that would push either poweramp to clipping or compression, and Bogner actually does design each poweramp around the tube type of that model, so basically all variables are accounted for. If there is any difference between tube types at all, it's going to be extremely subtle, like less than 1 db at any given frequency.

Very interesting.

I did find that running my 6L6 20th on the half power setting did loosen the response up a bit. Dunno if reducing the power OR changing the impedance setting was why, but it was noticeable.