http://www.voxamps.com/MVX150Vox has taken its nanotube technology used in its small MV series and not only expanded the MV range, but its launched the MVX150. With a nanotube in the preamp and power amp sections this smacks of a variation of its AV series, but with nanotubes - however, the prices are pretty hefty!
Andertons are selling the head at £649 (matching cab £349), and the combo at £849 - these are being marketed as proper tube amps - but to me they seem to be an analogue (solid-state)/tube hybrid. With the likes of the Boss Katana etc at these prices they'd better be damned good or these will fail in the market. I don't want to be sceptical or pre-judge but even if these do sound terrific that's a lot of money for an amp design that's likely to fall in street price and used values pretty darned quickly. I remember the Valvetronix VTX150 being sold for stupid money when new and sales of those were simply unsustainable & production had to be pulled.
Vox says:
The newly designed power amp uses NuPower technology, and attains sound quality and stunning power that surpasses conventional tube amps. The two-channel design covers a wide range of sounds from clean to high-gain, and everything in between.
And: The world’s first large tube amp equipped with a Nutube in both the pre-amp and power amp sections
But is this new nanotube technology any good? Presumably a big theme is no maintenance and light construction (but so was the VTX150) - can they really replace conventional valves or is this just a bit of clever marketing hype where you'd actually be better off with either a traditional valve amp or something like the Katana?
Personally, I think many folk are wary about being taken in by 'new technology' where it isn't cheap & the financial sting on re-sale could be a big problem.
Initial thoughts guys and gals?
I started out with nothing..... but I've still got most of it left (Seasick Steve)
Comments
A larger head was the next logical step I guess. There appears to be loads added to these (back panel too), but maybe too much and hence the price. A smaller, single channel, less bells & whistles, 100w @4ohms / 50w & 8ohms head would have sufficed for me.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57632/
Doesn't save much on weight, but it does mean it's much easier on the output valves - and, given that the NuTube things aren't replaceable quite so easily, that's a good thing.
Will enough people pay for it when that's really the only advantage over similarly-priced valve amps and high-end digital amps, though? Doubt it.
I would guess it’s the same as the first series of Valvetronix where the valve was used as a tiny power amp with a real output transformer, then coupled to a much bigger solid-state power amp to actually drive the speakers. This does sound good, although it’s still not the same as a full valve power amp and still doesn’t have the same sort of dynamic response really - the AD120 was only about as loud as an AC30, which is normal for solid-state. (And explains why the new one needs to be 150W.)
As ever, it doesn’t at all mean they’re bad amps, and they may sound good, but be careful about reading too much into the ad hype.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The small £199 amps are a cool idea.
This is far too expensive. I can't see them taking off.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57632/
Most guitar cabs are 2 x 16 ohm, and being able to run a pair of those in stereo would be bloody awesome.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
You could also rewire the cab.
I rewired my 4x12 to give 4ohms instead of 16 ohms.
The other option for using multiple cabs is something like the palmer cab merger.
Whatever next?
Civilisation is falling apart, humans are resorting to cannibalism and wearing fetish gear.
On the other hand it's less than the Yamaha THR100 Dual - although a lot more than the single-channel one - and only slightly more than the Quilter Aviator.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
To be honest, impedance won't limit you a huge amount, if you have a multiple speaker cab, most of the time you can rewire it to have a 4 ohm impedance, with a 16 ohm 2x12 being one of the exceptions.
Vox could probably implement a system to deliver the full power into any impedance but it would add complexity and cost to the amp.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein