Ashdown ABMRPM EVO II Rackmount Preamp

Blend of solid state and dual triode tube preamp stages.

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3 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 7 out of 10

1 Person wrote a review :

* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"Rock and Roll Heart, Science Fiction Brain!"

Feature:
The previously mentioned blend control, an actually great-sounding octaver and overdrive, and the fact that everything is footswitchable fill just about everything I need. The EQ could be a little friendlier, and I'd like to see a ground lift on the DI, but these are small points.

Quality:
This thing is SOLIDLY built. I opened it up to take a peek inside and everything is very cleanly constructed and tightly locked down. Plus, it looks beautiful, which is not something I expect from my rack gear. The brushed aluminum face, large easy-grip knobs and the VU meter make it look like something from a mad science lab. I want to paint my cabs silver to make a science-fiction stack!

Value:
Considering the other preamps I was looking at that cost more than twice the price and didn't sound half as good, I'm thrilled with the value.

Desirability:
It's fabulous sounding, easy to set up, and LOOKS amazing! When was the last time you wanted to show off the look of a piece of rack gear?

Sound:
I upgraded to this from a SWR SM-450, and the sound just blew me away. I'm running it through a Carvin DCM1500 power amp and two Acme Bass B2 cabs. The ability to mix the tube and solid state preamps is fabulous. The solid state end is punchy, while the tube adds some beautiful "oomph" and, with the drive control, some nice distortion. My favorite rock tone is right about 50%. The EQ is a little confusing, but honestly, I've hardly had to touch it. It sounds great flat.

Ease of Use:
I got this without a manual, and was still able to get a great sound pretty easily. Like I've said before, the EQ is a bit confusing (a combination of knobs and sliders, which really do the same thing), but not a show-stopper.

Support:
I haven't had to deal with Ashdown directly, but their website is well laid out, with all the manuals available to download. (I went to look for the manual, eventually. :) )

Overall:
I may be an Ashdown convert for life. I'm so thrilled with this preamp. It has become a signature part of my sound.

Submitted: 2/2/2007

Style of Music: Lots of different stuff - punk, rock, folk, jazz, country, electronic

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About This Product!
Description
Docs
For those wishing to configure their own rack-mounting bass rigs, the Ashdown RPM-1 EVO II preamp puts all the ABM facilities in a convenient rack-mounting package. Three straightforward rotary tone controls provide 20dB of cut and boost at 60Hz, 660Hz and 5kHz, and are supplemented by two pairs of additional sliders giving 15dB cut and boost at 180Hz, 340Hz, 1.3kHz and 2.6kHz. The EQ can be switched in/out, and flat/shaped by footswitch, enabling players to go from a flat fretless sound to a boosted sound via a favorite EQ setting. A single input is switchable for passive and active instruments with a blend of solid state and dual triode tube preamps stages which can be preset and selected by footswitch, providing access to a massive range of clean, warm and overdriven tones.

Also footswitchable is the mighty Ashdown sub-harmonic generator which precisely tracks the main signal and reproduces it an octave lower. A sub-harmonic level control enables the player to add just the right amount of low-end reinforcement - everything from a subtle, thickening of the sound to unbridled, bone crushing tone. The ABM RPM-1 EVO II features a balanced DI out with pre or post EQ switching, a sub-bass output, a tuner output, an FX loop and a line input for the connection of an external sampler or sound source. Output muting cuts the signal from the DI output but leaves the tuner output 'live', allowing the player to tune up in silence. The addition of a high-precision crossover with variable frequency from 35Hz to 160Hz and a level control for the low-pass output, enables the configuration of sophisticated bi-amped systems, in which the bass and mid/high frequencies are amplified separately.

Technical Info

Specifications

High Instrument Input Impedance: 3.9m Ohms, input range 150mV - 20mV p-p

Low Instrument Input Impedance: 10k Ohms, input range 300mV - 40V p-p

Stereo Line Input Impedance: 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu nominal

Effects Return Impedance: 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu Nominal

Tuner Output Impedance: 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal

Sub Output Impedance: 1k Ohms, level 0dBu Nominal

Effects Send Impedance: 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal

DI Output: 600 Ohms balanced, level 0dBu nominal

Low Pass Impedance: 1k Ohms

High Pass Impedance: 1k Ohms

Full Range Impedance: 1k Ohms

Speaker Outputs: Minimum impedance 4 Ohms

Shape (Push Flat): +8dB @ 50Hz & 4kHz, -8dB @ 400Hz, filter slope - 6dB/octave

Bass: 15dB @ 45Hz

Middle: 15dB @ 660Hz

Treble: 15dB @ 7kHz shelving

Slider 1: 15dB @ 110Hz

Slider 2: 15dB @ 340Hz

Slider 3: 15dB @ 1.3kHz

Slider 4: 15dB @ 2.6kHz

Frequency Response: -3dB at 17Hz and 30kHz

Crossover: Variable between 35 and 160Hz

Power Requirements: 230 / 115V

Height: 90mm (3.5 in.)

Width: 483mm (19 in.)

Depth: 267mm (10.5 in.)

Weight: 6kg (13.2lbs)
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