Preamps + PA vs. Heads Thread

[Petrucci]

I know it's a somehow timeless question, but what do you think about that: tube preamps + tube PA vs Heads, especially soundwise. The impact of the PA as a part of the head is known /Diezels, Uberschalls etc/. Allows the tube preamp construction somehow replacement of the missing relevant PA? I mean Triaxis+2:90 isn't equal soundwise to Mark IV for example...Share your thoughts and experience. Thanks.

 

[Petrucci]

C'mon guys...I know there are a lot cool dudes here...

 

[Tone Monster]

Even if you had two Mark IVs side by side they would sound ever so slightly different. This is due to the huge number of variables in a circuit, component variance, tubes, etc. To answer your question directly about the triaxis vs Mark IV, you can dial them in extremely close. Like within 1%. The power amp makes a huge difference in tone and feel. I always ran my triaxis with a strategy 400. The increased headroom made the tone very surgical. Anyway, those two rigs are from the same DNA and therefore sound almost identical. A popular internet opinion is that pres + poweramps sound shitty/inorganic/thin/whatever other cool cutdown you can muster, but it's just not true. Rack stuff can sound just as good as heads.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

The difference is this.

In a head the power supply powers both the power amp and the preamp.

When the power amp demands large amounts of power from the amp the power amp sags a little bit.

In a head the preamp power supply will sag in unison with the power amp.

In a separate rack system this does not happen, no sag in the preamp.

That is the difference and the reason a preamp thus far has never sounded like an amp.

 

[JMMP]

I believe it's on a case by case basis. My JMP-1 sounds good (but doesn't feel the best to play), my old triaxis felt bad to play, but sounded pretty good, and my quad preamp is as amp like as my mark IV, so it is very subjective, and varies

 

[BMoore77]

What power amp with an ADA-MP1? I tried a tube power amp and a head with it. the head with two 6l6s sounded better to me but I initially didnt think it would make that big of difference..I thought power section was just what it said it was and the tone was strictly the preamp. I love the sound and would like to have a single space power amp to fit in a small rack and get rid of the 6L6 head just for space and more practicality.

 

[Petrucci]

Most of the single space tube power amps are el84 based...a lot of people dislike them...but it's a matter of taste.

 

[Petrucci]

Thanks for the inputs so far. Any further advice, answers, experience, pros/cons would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[rottingcorpse]

I have had the same dis-satisfaction with my rack set ups in past years, and only own heads now. Whatever it is, it isn't there for me in a rack. Or maybe I am just used to the simplicity of a head now.

Tho I would really love a littler head than the monstrosities I have now. Lol

 

[marvcus]

I can only post about my personal experience, take it for what it's worth.

I had this same dilemma, i.e. (Am I missing out on something by having a preamp/power amp set up vs. a head?) with an Egnater
M4 preamp.

To cure my mental issue about it, I bought a Mod 50 head and A/B'd them in several situations (home, rehearsing/recording, etc.)
Yes, there was a slight feel difference and barely, BARELY a tonal difference. However, I opted to sell the Mod 50 head
and stuck with the M4. The difference in tone and feel was miniscule compared to the options of the two extra module slots
I kept.

HOWEVER: I have owned the Triaxis and the Mark IIC+ and this is my analogy:

Tonally, The Triaxis Mark IIC+ mode is a rolled-up tortilla. The Mark IIC+ is the full enchilada.