Dayton MCA2258 Bi-amp amp

[BFW]

So here's the project, to be used as an additional stage monitor in a small PA. The speaker drivers are Selenium 1" driver and 101db (extinct) Eminence woofer. The question is this amp going to be enough for a dive bar/coffee house stage volume? Thanx, Bill

[billfitzmaurice]

The question is this amp going to be enough for a dive bar/coffee house stage volume?
Probably. But to get maximum utility from monitors they should all be identical, so that they will have identical response and require only one EQ/send to get them right. If they're different you have to EQ each separately, and that's potentially a lot of EQ/sends. Even two is one two many IMO.

[BFW]

Well back in the day the Living Room had a 32X16 Soundcraft on stage with all JBL E120/Bullet tweets in the wedges, but now the PA is whatever the former Living Doomers happen to bring, oh, how the mighty have fallen, so my friend the bass player wants something he can just piggy back onto whatever the PA head du noir might be. The bi-amp amp is not alot more than a cabinet ready x-o. Which brings us back to plugging to many speakers into the PA.....

[Mipsconsult]

Here's my opinion:

No.

Not enough juice even for an acoustic gig. Also, the built in EQ freq's are horribly centered for live work, even if they were shelving slopes.

User reviews report hot heat sinks at idle (never a good thing in pro SR) and one had a serious concern about how it would survive real world use.

Also, "SR" is not a published application. This is a major red flag based on the fact that there are so many amps advertised as "pro sound" that shouldn't be.
At least the tech writer is trying to be honest about the applications...like for PC sound systems.

C'mon folks, let's STOP trying to use hi-fi & HT products for pro sound. I really DO sound like a broken record about that (:

[Paul O]

For this application the PMA250 has a much better chance of being usefull, and of course that means you need a passive crossover inside the box too.


http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-797

[envisionelec]

Here's my opinion:

No.

Not enough juice even for an acoustic gig. Also, the built in EQ freq's are horribly centered for live work, even if they were shelving slopes.

User reviews report hot heat sinks at idle (never a good thing in pro SR) and one had a serious concern about how it would survive real world use.

Also, "SR" is not a published application. This is a major red flag based on the fact that there are so many amps advertised as "pro sound" that shouldn't be.
At least the tech writer is trying to be honest about the applications...like for PC sound systems.

C'mon folks, let's STOP trying to use hi-fi & HT products for pro sound. I really DO sound like a broken record about that (:

As the designer of a similar amp, I completely agree with this post. The amplifiers require a substantial heatsink for professional applications. At best, the amplifier will thermal out and you'll get the worst clipping sounds you'll ever hear. At worst, you'll blow the amp - by the time the fuse blows, it's too late.

[jeff_free69]

For this application the PMA250 has a much better chance of being usefull, and of course that means you need a passive crossover inside the box too.


http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-797

I tired the biamp and sent it right back (MCM has the exact product) - way too HOT even before it was mounted in a cabinet. the heat sink is tiny. It may work, but for how long?

Since then I've been using the PMA250 and it has held up well. http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=209278

There's one in each of the satellites shown in the above thread (the system shown has evolved - now there are 2 bass cabinets w/ KAppalite15LFs electronically crossed over at 150Hz & driven by a QSC GX) .

We just played an outdoor gig with all the backline instruments coming through loud and clear ( bass , guitar/pod, 2 keyboards and even Kick drum)
the PMA's were just reasonbly warm.

My only negative comment is that at about 12 pounds and $150 each, buying 2 is the same as the entry level QSC power amp, and they bulk my sattellites up to over 40 lbs each.