WTB: inexpensive power amp to use with Helix

Clecko

Following on from my thread about ways to connect my Helix to a 2x12 cab, I'm after a way to try this without losing my shirt if I don't like it.

Possibly an EHX 44 Magnum or similar, or potentially another pedalboard or rackmount solution. Ideally solid state. Anyone have anything they're keen to shift?

simonk

The Seymour Duncan Powerstge is excellent, so that would be my recommendation. One of the little Quilter heads would also work, but for the price of them you might as well just buy the Powerstage.

Beexter

simonk said:

The Seymour Duncan Powerstge is excellent, so that would be my recommendation. One of the little Quilter heads would also work, but for the price of them you might as well just buy the Powerstage.

I went for the Q101 mini head - worked out cheaper than the powerstage and I think provides more power into an 8ohm speaker (which is what's in my cab). The fact that the Quilter has a preamp too gave me other options (ie. Back up to my valve head,  wet/ Dry, stereo etc)
Don't know how they differ in sound to the powerstage though.

kennedydream1980

These seem to be a fairly popular choice for folk on a budget. They seem to be well liked as well:

https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gpa_400.htm

drwiddly

kennedydream1980 said:

These seem to be a fairly popular choice for folk on a budget. They seem to be well liked as well:

https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gpa_400.htm

^^^^ This!

I had a credit with Thomann a couple of years ago and picked one of these up as a spare. I've gigged it a few times and it's impressively powerful and articulate. Pairs nicely with my Kemper so no reason it won't work well with a Helix.

Clecko

SD Powerstage incoming - thanks all.

NorthernStomps

Having never used modelling amp software or anything I’m a bit dense when it comes to stuff like this

What do you need a power amp for? Can you not just plug your Helix/AxeFX etc straight into a cab? 

sgosden

NorthernStomps said:

Having never used modelling amp software or anything I’m a bit dense when it comes to stuff like this

What do you need a power amp for? Can you not just plug your Helix/AxeFX etc straight into a cab? 

No, you need something to drive the speakers. 

Would be like plugging straight into a speaker from your pedal board 

Grumpyrocker

kennedydream1980 said:

These seem to be a fairly popular choice for folk on a budget. They seem to be well liked as well:

https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gpa_400.htm

Ooh tempted by one of these. I could run my 2x12 cab in stereo.

TeleMaster

Only issue is you get what you pay for. A budget power amp might not give you the sound that a better one will, and you could end up giving up on it when it’s purely down to the quality of power amp. 

Just something to keep in mind. 

Clecko

TeleMaster said:

Only issue is you get what you pay for. A budget power amp might not give you the sound that a better one will, and you could end up giving up on it when it’s purely down to the quality of power amp. 

Just something to keep in mind. 

Yeah, I thought the same. That's what led me to buy the Power Stage, together with the obligatory, extensive YouTubery. The video from That Pedal Show comparing the 44 Magnum, SD Power Stage and Vox MV50AC (with controls hilariously set wrongly) was the final convincer. Oh, and I was allowed to claim £100 of its cost back from the 'creative bursary' fund at work, which is nice.

On a related note, I spent a couple of hours playing the Helix through my neighbour's home studio monitors (KRK Rokit 6s) and it sounded MINT. If I were just recording, I'd be happy with those all day long. Not as much 'fun' as running straight into the front of my amp though. This is the first modeller I've had that's really interesting.  

Musicman20

Personally, I'd get a good quality power stage otherwise you might be compromising the quality of the whole rig...