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Terror Bass 1000 - Is it issue free?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:54 pm
by PENLIYL
The TB 1000 is finally available in the US, and I was going to put in an order for one this week. I have read reviews and posts on various boards on the internet, most of them with negative feedback on blown fuses, hot DI, amp dies if put in Standby mode between sets, etc.. (Talkbass.com probably has the most)

So... I was thinking Orange learned from all the TB 500 issues, and is releasing a bug/issue free TB 1000.

Anyone own a TB 1000 at the moment, gigging regularly with it, and having zero problems? Did Orange build/spec this higher wattage version any differently then it's 500 watt little brother?

Thanks in advance for any info or feedback on this post.

*** Happy July 4th from San Clemente California.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:25 pm
by jason41224
no amp is going to be issue free. and while the Terror 500s had a few hiccups (specifically a few bad batches), statistcally they're a LOT better when it comes to tech issues than other bass amps in its price range, especially those made overseas. on the off chance that something bad happens, Orange's customer service is the best in business. my bassist's little mark tube 800 blew something and he sent it in for warranty almost two months ago, and he still hasn't gotten it back. on the other hand, my friend's Tiny Terror was redplating right out of the box, and he sent it in and got a replacement amp within a week, and he's loved it ever since.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:20 am
by danbond
There is an issue with the DI on the TB500.

Not sure if that affects the TB1000, but if it does, then you'll want to read up on it and decide if it's worth the potential hassle (or the need to buy a Sansamp or something as well as the amp)

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:39 am
by a.hun
Hi PENLIYL. Welcome! :)

Didn't think anyone had yet seen a TB1K, but you are right, they seem to be available in Europe now too.

Early days to know about issues though - I haven't noticed any comments at all on them here yet.

The early TB500s certainly had DI output issues and occasional blow ups. Hopefully they are sorted now, and the 1K will be too. But only time will really tell... :|


Andy.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:33 pm
by GummiTZ
Received the TB1000 a few weeks ago. I have not had too much time with it, but I have noticed two things:

First up: The D.I. is insanely hot on this one too. I have found two alternative workarounds, both working perfectly:

Opt. 1. Buy an XLR-pad which you connect in either end of the XLR-cable (or in-between two XLR-cables). I found that 40dB is the perfect amount, bringing the output down to the range of a regular dynamic mic, like the SM57 or similar. Perfect for live situations, where most venues are permanently cabled from stagebox to mic-inputs on the FOH desk. I chose "Whirlwind IMP PAD 40dB".

Opt. 2. Buy an XLR-cable with a balanced jack in the other end, and run the head into an input spec'd for +4dB line level. This also works perfectly, and the output from the head keeps nicely within the specs, running with about -6dB of headroom. I chose this for home use with my current computer audio interface.

Second issue: The output to the speaker cabinet was..hmm..."unstable" at some point. The sound level kept rising and dropping with a few dB every once in a while. I do not know the cause, but I have only noticed it while playing at extremely low volume (1-2 out of 10 on the master). Could be dust in the pot, or the amp was not warmed up enough. No idea.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:50 pm
by bassdrop
A friend of mine who subs in for me on occasion got a TB1000 about 2 months ago (got in very early on the waiting list). He's gigged with it probably a dozen or so times since then and I sat in on his rig about a month ago. No reliability issues yet. He didn't mention any DI issues, but a lot of the rooms around here are so small that we don't always run through the house. I'll ask him next time I see him.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is it issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:55 pm
by PENLIYL
GummiTZ wrote:Received the TB1000 a few weeks ago. I have not had too much time with it, but I have noticed two things:

First up: The D.I. is insanely hot on this one too. I have found two alternative workarounds, both working perfectly:

Opt. 1. Buy an XLR-pad which you connect in either end of the XLR-cable (or in-between two XLR-cables). I found that 40dB is the perfect amount, bringing the output down to the range of a regular dynamic mic, like the SM57 or similar. Perfect for live situations, where most venues are permanently cabled from stagebox to mic-inputs on the FOH desk. I chose "Whirlwind IMP PAD 40dB".

Opt. 2. Buy an XLR-cable with a balanced jack in the other end, and run the head into an input spec'd for +4dB line level. This also works perfectly, and the output from the head keeps nicely within the specs, running with about -6dB of headroom. I chose this for home use with my current computer audio interface.

Second issue: The output to the speaker cabinet was..hmm..."unstable" at some point. The sound level kept rising and dropping with a few dB every once in a while. I do not know the cause, but I have only noticed it while playing at extremely low volume (1-2 out of 10 on the master). Could be dust in the pot, or the amp was not warmed up enough. No idea.
WOW.. That second issue sounds troubling. So basically during practice, or playing small gigs, you are going to have volume/output issues. Nice.

Have you contacted Orange about this yet? Is this a known issue?

I'm getting the feeling that the TB1k is just a TB500 with twice the power and not much more. I've read some threads in the past couple of weeks that Orange is having QC issues with the TT/TB series amps being produced in the PRC. Any truth to that? I'm probably asking this on the wrong board, being this is an Orange Forum.

I was really looking forward to finally own an Orange Amp.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:13 pm
by baytamusic
Line outs are meant to go into a LINE input on a console, not a mic input. This is probably why it seems too hot on the 500 (and 1000) for everyone. Seems kind of odd that a line out would have an XLR connector when most line-ins on consoles are 1/4".

Anyways, just putting that out there for people who keep complaining about this.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:18 pm
by danbond
GummiTZ wrote:The D.I. is insanely hot on this one too. I have found two alternative workarounds, both working perfectly:

Opt. 1. Buy an XLR-pad
The problem with my bandmates TB500 (and other people on here) is that the DI is clipped before it leaves the amp. You would just be padding a clipped signal.

GummiTZ wrote:Second issue: The output to the speaker cabinet was..hmm..."unstable" at some point. The sound level kept rising and dropping with a few dB every once in a while. I do not know the cause, but I have only noticed it while playing at extremely low volume (1-2 out of 10 on the master). Could be dust in the pot, or the amp was not warmed up enough. No idea.
I've never heard this about any of the orange line, so i doubt its anything more than a one-off, but a 1000 watt bass amp playing at bedroom levels might be operating out of its intended use and thus strange things can happen. I'd only be really concerned if it did it at gig volumes. Still worth emailing your dealer though. Try to see if you can record it happening.

This could also happen due to a dodgy speaker lead, dodgy input on the bass cab or jack socket on your guitar. Does it happen if you change those variables?

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:32 pm
by Borderline Productions
The XLR out for the DI makes sense considering the distance that the cable might have to travel to get to the mixer. But you are right that most line inputs are 1/4 inch jacks. Some mixers had have a pad switch between line level signals and mic level signals.

My bass amp (a Genz Benz) has a volume pot for the DI output. This has come in handy with recording, even using a compressor. If I turned it up all the way, it would be way too hot, but I have been putting into a mic level input.

If it is clipping even after attenuating the signal, then you have a problem.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:42 pm
by baytamusic
Borderline Productions wrote:The XLR out for the DI makes sense considering the distance that the cable might have to travel to get to the mixer. But you are right that most line inputs are 1/4 inch jacks. Some mixers had have a pad switch between line level signals and mic level signals.

My bass amp (a Genz Benz) has a volume pot for the DI output. This has come in handy with recording, even using a compressor. If I turned it up all the way, it would be way too hot, but I have been putting into a mic level input.

If it is clipping even after attenuating the signal, then you have a problem.
A balanced cable can have XLR or 1/4" TRS connectors. The connector has nothing to do with balancing a signal aside from the fact that it needs to be TRS to carry the two signals and have the ground. The gear itself creates the balanced signal, not the cable.

I do think they should have put a gain pot on the DI on the Terror Bass amps. Seems like an easy addition that is very helpful.

As far as the folks having trouble with the signal clipping inside the amp, that sucks. Maybe a resistor change in there could straighten that out but I really have no idea?

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is it issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:36 pm
by PENLIYL
While I have the attention of the experts...

What's the power rating of this TB1k amp at 8 ohms, if it's 1000 at 4 ohms?

Also, has anyone tried to run two 8 ohm cabs, or one 4 and one 8 ohm cab using this TB1k amp?

I just have a single 410 at 4 ohms, but I was thinking of adding an 8 ohm 115 to my rig.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:50 pm
by a.hun
PENLIYL wrote:While I have the attention of the experts...

What's the power rating of this TB1k amp at 8 ohms, if it's 1000 at 4 ohms?

Also, has anyone tried to run two 8 ohm cabs, or one 4 and one 8 ohm cab using this TB1k amp?

I just have a single 410 at 4 ohms, but I was thinking of adding an 8 ohm 115 to my rig.
Also 1K at 8 ohms I'd think. The TB500 puts out 500W into 4 or 8 ohms and I'd imagine the IK will do much the same.

Remember that class D amps are quite different from standard class AB solid state amps, so the 'lower output into higher impedance' rule doesn't apply. The TB, kind of like a valve amp, is intended to be impedance matched with the speaker load, hence the impedance switch on the amp! Orange recommends setting the correct impedance and I wouldn't go trying in between impedances let alone the 2.666ohm (8 and 4 ohms in parallel) one you were wanting to try. I really wouldn't risk that myself!!!

Serious question here folks: Who actually NEEDs 1000W for bass? Just get some decent efficient bass cabs for crying out loud, or DI to the PA. Oh... right... just answered my own question! :shock:

Andy.

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is it issue free?

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:43 am
by PENLIYL
a.hun wrote: Serious question here folks: Who actually NEEDs 1000W for bass? Just get some decent efficient bass cabs for crying out loud, or DI to the PA. Oh... right... just answered my own question! :shock:
Good question...

1. I've heard that the 1k gets rid of the "Dirty all the time" issue that the 500 supposedly has at higher volumes, the 1k watts giving the amp more clean head room without having to add Gain.

2. I've heard the TB1k is comparable to the AD200B in terms of pure volume, and easily drives 2 410's or 1 810.

3. More is better.

After my last post I downloaded and read the TB 500 and 1k manual (should have done that first). 1000 at 4 ohms, 900 at 8 ohms.

** I'm going to pair this bad boy up to my new DNA DNS-410 cab rated at 1400w/2800w peak. Check it out.

http://dnaamps.com/products/cabinets/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Terror Bass 1000 - Is is issue free?

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 7:26 am
by GummiTZ
danbond wrote:The problem with my bandmates TB500 (and other people on here) is that the DI is clipped before it leaves the amp. You would just be padding a clipped signal.
I'll have to do more testing regarding this. I did not notice any clipping, but I'll do a closer listening test this evening.
danbond wrote: I've never heard this about any of the orange line, so i doubt its anything more than a one-off, but a 1000 watt bass amp playing at bedroom levels might be operating out of its intended use and thus strange things can happen. I'd only be really concerned if it did it at gig volumes. Still worth emailing your dealer though. Try to see if you can record it happening.

This could also happen due to a dodgy speaker lead, dodgy input on the bass cab or jack socket on your guitar. Does it happen if you change those variables?
I do believe you are right about the operating range. I only noticed it at very low volume levels (WAY below practice- or gig-level), so it does not bother me...yet...

I have swapped leads and also checked connections inside the cab, so I'll do some more testing on this as well, possibly recording it.