So I picked up a 2009 VHT 2/50/2 Power amp for running my Tone King Imperial and Friedman IR-X through just to try something new. I had planned on getting into the whole Synergy thing next year, but a fellow on TGP offered to sell me a SYN2 with Tone King Imperial and Marshall JMP modules, a Syn 5050 power amp, a Live Wire 9 outlet power conditioner (this ain't fancy, but it's at least better than remembering a power strip), and a Gator Rack case for $1900 shipped. I couldn't pass that up, so I "loaned" myself the money out of savings knowing I'd have at least a redundant power amp and the Tone King Imperial module to sell.
What I'm trying to figure out is which power amp to sell.
VHT 2502
Pros - Separate volumes, presence, and depth knobs and separate hi/low signal and voice buttons for each channel. Separate Class A/Class AB switches for each channel.
Cons - Built in 2009. Looks pretty good inside, but it's bound to need a cap job sooner than later. The two tubes for Channel B (12AX7/12AU7 complement) cracked in shipping, which gives me a touch of gear hypochondria that something else may be lurking to fail at some point. Cannot be bridged, so no more than 50 watts (class A) to a single speaker (this is more theoretical than anything because it's not like I'm using the 50 watts available to begin with). The lack of bridging makes it easy to accidentally flip Channel B on without a load when not running two cabs. This is a user error thing, but things happen on a dark stage. In fact, I have already blown one fuse, haha. Heavy and takes up two rack spaces.
Incidental - EL34 Power Section
Synergy 5050
Pros - Lighter, and only takes up one rack space. It's a newer unit that was serviced before shipping. These are also designed and built by Fryette, so the quality is there. Brigable to 100 watts, which also takes Channel B out of the mix (no accidental fuse blowings or worse if you hit the wrong standby).
Cons - While there are volumes for each side, presence and depth are universal. There are also no options for A vs. AB, voicing, or hi/low signal.
Incidental - 6L6 Power Section. Also only uses a 12AX7 as a phase inverter for each channel, rather than the 12AX7 for the same purpose in the 2502 but with an additional 12AU7 for each channel as a line driver.
Overall, neither sucks, and this is a high class problem to have. The VHT is older gear with all the ups and downs of that, and it weighs 10 more pounds (though a lot of that weight is in the transformers I'm guessing, which is not for nothing). The Synergy is newer with a more recent service but is not as flexible in many ways. Even today, the Fryette 2502 is pretty much the same as the VHT badged ones, and they still cost a bit more. And it does sound really good - just smooth, clean power for days. But the Syn 5050 sounds pretty nice too.
Either way, one needs to go, and I was curious what the opinions around here are.
Question
LucSulla
So I picked up a 2009 VHT 2/50/2 Power amp for running my Tone King Imperial and Friedman IR-X through just to try something new. I had planned on getting into the whole Synergy thing next year, but a fellow on TGP offered to sell me a SYN2 with Tone King Imperial and Marshall JMP modules, a Syn 5050 power amp, a Live Wire 9 outlet power conditioner (this ain't fancy, but it's at least better than remembering a power strip), and a Gator Rack case for $1900 shipped. I couldn't pass that up, so I "loaned" myself the money out of savings knowing I'd have at least a redundant power amp and the Tone King Imperial module to sell.
What I'm trying to figure out is which power amp to sell.
VHT 2502
Pros - Separate volumes, presence, and depth knobs and separate hi/low signal and voice buttons for each channel. Separate Class A/Class AB switches for each channel.
Cons - Built in 2009. Looks pretty good inside, but it's bound to need a cap job sooner than later. The two tubes for Channel B (12AX7/12AU7 complement) cracked in shipping, which gives me a touch of gear hypochondria that something else may be lurking to fail at some point. Cannot be bridged, so no more than 50 watts (class A) to a single speaker (this is more theoretical than anything because it's not like I'm using the 50 watts available to begin with). The lack of bridging makes it easy to accidentally flip Channel B on without a load when not running two cabs. This is a user error thing, but things happen on a dark stage. In fact, I have already blown one fuse, haha. Heavy and takes up two rack spaces.
Incidental - EL34 Power Section
Synergy 5050
Pros - Lighter, and only takes up one rack space. It's a newer unit that was serviced before shipping. These are also designed and built by Fryette, so the quality is there. Brigable to 100 watts, which also takes Channel B out of the mix (no accidental fuse blowings or worse if you hit the wrong standby).
Cons - While there are volumes for each side, presence and depth are universal. There are also no options for A vs. AB, voicing, or hi/low signal.
Incidental - 6L6 Power Section. Also only uses a 12AX7 as a phase inverter for each channel, rather than the 12AX7 for the same purpose in the 2502 but with an additional 12AU7 for each channel as a line driver.
Overall, neither sucks, and this is a high class problem to have. The VHT is older gear with all the ups and downs of that, and it weighs 10 more pounds (though a lot of that weight is in the transformers I'm guessing, which is not for nothing). The Synergy is newer with a more recent service but is not as flexible in many ways. Even today, the Fryette 2502 is pretty much the same as the VHT badged ones, and they still cost a bit more. And it does sound really good - just smooth, clean power for days. But the Syn 5050 sounds pretty nice too.
Either way, one needs to go, and I was curious what the opinions around here are.
Edited by LucSulla0 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.