Carvin SX-300 Preamp

[Guthwulf]

Does anyone know anything about the Carvin SX300 preamp? Any opinions at all?

[Guthwulf]

bump

[ubersam]

I guess it's pretty new. The only review I've seen @ HC is for the head. The reviewer seems to like it - http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/Carvin/SX_300H_Head-01.html.
If you haven't read it yet, here's the description from Carvin's site - http://www.carvin.com/cgi-bin/Isearch.exe?CFG=2&P2=SX300R&P1=SX
True 3 channel design - clean, lead - blues drive, lead - high-gain • "SX" Classic Tube Emulation with overdrive control - turn down the overdrive channel for 2 independent clean channels • Active 3 band EQ for each channel--Bass, Mid, Treble • DSP effects--Chorus, Reverb, Flanging & Echo • Optional foot switch for channel & DSP effects (On/Off) switching • Headphone, output & speaker emulator output jacks • XLR output jacks • single space rack
Looks like no midi. The last SX from that I had experience with was the SX200 combo from the mid-90s. That wasn't enough gain for me.

[Guthwulf]

Originally posted by ubersam
I guess it's pretty new. The only review I've seen @ HC is for the head. The reviewer seems to like it - http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/Carvin/SX_300H_Head-01.html.
If you haven't read it yet, here's the description from Carvin's site - http://www.carvin.com/cgi-bin/Isearch.exe?CFG=2&P2=SX300R&P1=SX

Looks like no midi. The last SX from that I had experience with was the SX200 combo from the mid-90s. That wasn't enough gain for me.

Thanx

Yeah I took a look at the info. Thing is, is that I really don't care if it has midi or not. I have the VHT 2/50/2 power amp and am loving it. I just want a good basic preamp to go with it.

[Dramius]

Originally posted by Guthwulf
Does anyone know anything about the Carvin SX300 preamp? Any opinions at all? I dont know about the "PREAMP" but I tried the SX amps & was unimpressed.

[martini]

I'm bumping this thread to see if anyone has used this enough now to comment. Thanks!

[Dramius]

I honestly think the SX *amps* sound horrid, but I haven't heard them in a full-band situation & that's where things count. I did like the new Tone Navigator preamp after trying it in their showroom.

[EVH Wolfgang]

I'm not a fan of the SX series amps or preamp.

If you want to try a Carvin go with an old Quad or try that new one that Frank Gamble is endorsing.

The Quad has a great reputation. I haven't tried the new one yet.

[Robotechnology]

I am not a fan of the SX series (I honestly don't know where their glowing reviews come from :confused: ) but, I do own a Quad X-Amp (4 Channel Tube Preamp) and I love it. I also like their Nomad 1X12 combo as well. Most people that have Carvin's new Tone Navigator love it as well. Go to the Carvin forum (www.carvin.com/bbs/) and search for clips of it. My website has clips of the Quad X-Amp (Mambo # i iv v, Searching, & Haw Wah Blues) if you want to check that unit out as well (it's discontinued now so it's only available used).

[martini]

OK, I ordered the SX 300R guitar preamp, and ordered some stands and stuff to take advantage of free shipping. I thought, what the heck, 10-day trial, I'll just be out return postage if I don't like it. I accidently clicked the 2-day shipping option and paid $44 in shipping. Carvin shipped it out the next day and wouldn't even talk refund. Ok, then maybe I'll actually like the thing.
WRONG!!!!!!
This thing is the biggest piece of *#&$ I've ever heard. Tube-like sound, give me a break. It's not even 1/10th as good as a SansAMP GT2, which is a stompbox. I couldn't turn the treble above 0 and it's still too shrill. This is not a professional piece of equipment. Why would they sell something that sounds this bad? Please don't waste your time with this thing. And I guess I'm done with Carvin, too.

[Dramius]

Originally posted by martini
This thing is the biggest piece of *#&$ I've ever heard. Tube-like sound, give me a break. Please don't waste your time with this thing. And I guess I'm done with Carvin, too. Won't say I told ya so. But maybe you need to be DONE with Marshall, Fender & every other company that's made a piece-of-shit.

[Tall Midget]

Originally posted by martini
rant

What kinda power amp/speakers did you run it with?

[martini]

My intention was to use it to run direct to the board. I used a Mackie mixer , Peavey power amp, and JBL Eon 15 speakers.

[Knut E Evenmo]

Originally posted by martini
My intention was to use it to run direct to the board. I used a Mackie mixer , Peavey power amp, and JBL Eon 15 speakers.


Did you use a speaker emulator?

[martini]

The preamp has built-in speaker emulation, which I used, but it still sounded so bad that I am actually wondering if the unit was defective.

[Knut E Evenmo]

Originally posted by martini
The preamp has built-in speaker emulation, which I used, but it still sounded so bad that I am actually wondering if the unit was defective.

Ah, ok. O didn`t know that:)