Manufacturer's Description for Gallien Krueger 700RB II Bass Head
The 700RB-II ups the ante with 480W + 50W bi-amping, which makes it an ideal club amp for driving horn-loaded cabs. The 700RB II features a sophisticated bi-amp design that lets you overdrive its woofer amp for growling, punchy bottom, without distorting its horn amp. The ultra low-noise preamp reduces horn hiss that is often found in biamp bass systems. Sophisticated RB EQ and Voicing controls allow sound shaping to suit every music style and acoustic situation. It's compact,light, and mounted in a rack mountable metal casing for easy integration into rack set-ups. Other features include a -10dB input pad for extra-hot basses, and a hi-cut filter for the tweeter output. The front panel also provides an XLR direct out (complete with pre/post EQ switching, level control and ground lift), an effects loop and a dedicated tuner output. Includes one Speakon cable.
The New Bi-Amp Advantage
Many players want a little growl in their sound, but due to horn distortion, it is hard to get good sounding overdrive from passive full-range systems.
The 700RB is bi-amped with a separate 50W amp for driving the horn, so it doesn't distort when you drive the amp hard. As a result, you can get all the growl you want from your lower speakers, while the horn stays clean and articulate. GK amps also put the horn control on the amp front panel, which makes managing your overall sound that much easier.
GK's new Bi-amp feature for the 700RB head (and 1001RB & 2001RB) is slightly different than the classic 800RB. The 700 utilizes a main woofer amp along with a 50W high frequency amp, which is designed to drive horns only in a bi-amp capable cabinet. A bi-amp cabinet has a special bi-amp input to amplify the horn and the woofers separately which also gives you better separation and clarity between the low and high frequency drivers within a single cabinet. You get more peak power from the woofers since the main amp is not being shared with the horn as it is in passive full-range systems.
Redefining Bass Amp Technology...
GK Creates Value
At GK they believe new and old problems are best solved with new solutions, that take advantage of modern design and manufacturing technology. Using modern methods insures they are able to deliver innovative products that are reliable, long lasting, and maintain good value. GK products are designed and built like no other. Throughout the design and manufacturing process they use the latest computer aided design and manufacturing technology, bringing you the best that American ingenuity can deliver. From the outset of any new product concept, GK is concerned with design for sound, function, and manufacturability. The products resulting from this approach offer great sound (all the time), are extremely reliable, and moderately priced. You don't pay for a bunch of elves that have to tweak each unit because of sloppy designs. GK's products are always forward looking, and often times are years ahead of the competition, giving them a long life, and good future value. Having taken their own path, GK products enjoy a unique, unmatched sound, and years of reliable performance. We call this... value.
Extreme Power
For an amplifier to sound right, it must maintain cone control at all playing levels. This is a technical term that translates to "out front sound". As playing levels approach the power rating of the amplifier, maintaining control of large multiple speaker cones requires tremendous current capability. At least five times the amount required to meet the amplifiers power rating. GK amplifiers typically develop five to ten times the current required for their power rating, and there for sound great even into the rails. GK accomplishes this by using extra output devices, high current toroid power transformers, and sophisticated SOA protection circuitry. Producing this kind of power generates heat, so we use a combination of power efficient, multiple rail amplifier designs, and temperature controlled variable speed fans, to keep everything cool. When push comes to shove, and you really need to lean on your GK, it will be there... With Extreme Sound!
Low Noise
High power is wasted if the amplifier is noisy. With today's horn loaded cabinets, noise has become even more important. GK has reduced noise to negligible levels with its ultra low noise front end. A discrete differential FET input stage running on 70 Volt rails produces a signal to noise ratio greater than 90 dB. Finally, they use toroid power transformers that do not induce hum into guitar pickups. This means you deal with less sizzle and hum, and have more freedom to express your self.
Active Serial Equalizer
All GK amplifiers share a unique equalizer designed by Bob Gallien 20 years ago. It is based on an active serial filter concept, and has proven itself equally competent on the road, in clubs, and in recording studios world wide. It is easy and effective to use, never creating weird sounds, but able to bring out sounds unattainable by any other EQ concept. Unlike graphic equalizers which are intended for room EQ and are only put in amplifiers because it is a no-brainer for the designer, the GK equalizer was designed specifically to solve the problems bass players encounter. It isn't good for any other instrument, but it is unbeatable for bass.
Voicing Filters
Complimenting the equalizer, all GK amplifiers use voicing filters. Three very special shaping circuits that are able to create a basic foundation on which to lay your sound. Used in conjunction with the equalizer they provide exceptional sound contouring.
G.I.V.E. Technology
Another GK innovation first introduced on the 800RB, G.I.V.E. (gate induced valve effect) uses field effect transistors in the signal path, biased in a particular way to take advantage of the FET gate effect. This adds a warm color to the sound that is not normally present in solid-state amplifiers.
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Gallien-Krueger products.
Power <1% THD:
Low-480W@4ohm, 320W@8ohm, 1 kHz
High-50W@8ohm, 5kHz
Cooling: Continuously Variable Speed Fan
Input Section: Ultra low noise S/N>90dB, Clip LED, 10dB Pad, Volume, Mute Switch and Mute LED
Voicing Filter: 5/4 String Bass, Adjustable Contour and Presence
Equalizer: Bass Specific Series 4-Band Active
Output: Boost, Tweeter Level w/ Hi-Cut Switch and Woofer Level with Crossover Switch
Direct Out: XLR, Ground Lift, Pre/Post Switch and Level Control
Patching: Send, Return and Tuner Out
Power Connectors: Two 1/4 in. and 2 Bi-Amp Connectors
Weight: 16.5 lbs.
Dimensions: 17.5 W x 3.5 H x 8 D in.
