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  #1  
Old 12-19-2017, 05:22 AM
AllanAnd AllanAnd is offline
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Default Affordable, battery powered 2 channel amp?

This has probably been asked before... I find myself bewildered....

I am looking for an affordable battery powered amp with a minimum of 2 channels - preferably 3. It has to be able to take wall power, too.

I would like to be able to play my acoustics through it and for my 12 YO daughter to sing (aka "play") with her mic into it.

I have tried a Laney AH Freestyle but that thing really sounded like I don't know what...

Been GAS'ing for a Laney Audiohub 4 X 4 or maybe a Laney A-Fresco... This is the price range I gravitate towards...

Any better suggestions, please?
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  #2  
Old 12-19-2017, 06:21 AM
roylor4 roylor4 is offline
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Low budget - decent sound - Fender Passport Mini.

Not overly loud but capable of gigging small venues - I know because I have and will again tonight. 2 channel. Works fine with acoustics but truly shines with electric guitar. Vocals are actually pretty good but gets a bit boxy much past 1/2 way up.

Vox Mini5 rhythm. I have no real experience with this, but looks promising. Has mic input, but is 1/4", not xlr.

Roland - Cube Street, Cube Street EX and BA330. The latter are capable of playing middle sized to larger venues. Not cheap, The EX is quite loud. The BA330 is more flexible.

The Laney stuff is very rare on this side of the pond and I know nothing about them.
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  #3  
Old 12-19-2017, 07:24 AM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AllanAnd View Post
This has probably been asked before... I find myself bewildered....

I am looking for an affordable battery powered amp with a minimum of 2 channels - preferably 3. It has to be able to take wall power, too.

I would like to be able to play my acoustics through it and for my 12 YO daughter to sing (aka "play") with her mic into it.

I have tried a Laney AH Freestyle but that thing really sounded like I don't know what...

Been GAS'ing for a Laney Audiohub 4 X 4 or maybe a Laney A-Fresco... This is the price range I gravitate towards...

Any better suggestions, please?
I have the laney AH4x4.
PROs:
* Phantom power
* Transparent sounding (not tons of bass but not lacking)
* Does not sound boxy on vocals... as little amps usually do
* Standard Li-ion batteries. So you can buy as many you want recharge them before.
* The bag is well designed

CONS:
* No EQ
* No gain pots (need a sensitive mic)

I chose it over the Fresco because the seller said Fresco was louder but mid-range focused (dedicated for guitar, less for vocals)

* The first that has to be tried (I could not) is the Mackie freeplay with an XLR/jack adapter. The freeplay does not have any gain stage on jacks so without the adapter it is really weak. Freeplay has EQ but no phantom power. Signs seem to indicate freeplay will be replaced soon...

* The second that has to be tried is Fishman mini charge. It has gain pots!!! I don't remember well but I am pretty sure the AH4x4 sounded similar or better compared to the fishman mini as far as vocals are concerned. (But tone is subjective)

Note that 12 years old girl probably won't sound boxy in a small amp.

my 2 cents
Cuki
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Old 12-19-2017, 08:24 AM
MikeBmusic MikeBmusic is offline
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What do you consider 'affordable'?
This Mugig has been discussed here before: https://www.amazon.com/Mugig-Recharg...ords=mugig+amp

Been meaning to give mine more of a workout than the 15 minutes I had with it when I got it a couple of months ago.
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  #5  
Old 12-19-2017, 09:46 AM
Pecx Pecx is offline
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The Laney A-Fresco is the best option for your needs
Just search the forum for its thread. There's plenty of info there.
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Old 12-19-2017, 10:24 AM
Mandobart Mandobart is offline
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I don't know about the Laney Audiohub 4 X 4, I've never tried one. When I was looking for a batery powered amp for acoustic plus vocals, the only one that I thought sounded decent was the Roland Cube Street EX. I ended up building a portable pure sine wave inverter/battery package for less than half the cost. This allows me to run my 250 W Carvin AG300, with more features than any typical DC amp, for about 7 hours.
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Old 12-19-2017, 10:47 AM
MrErikJ MrErikJ is offline
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I know some folks who use and/or endorse Sunburst and are generally happy with them.

http://www.sunburstgear.com/prod_speaker.html
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  #8  
Old 12-19-2017, 01:26 PM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrErikJ View Post
I know some folks who use and/or endorse Sunburst and are generally happy with them.

http://www.sunburstgear.com/prod_speaker.html
seems related Elite acoustics (same email adress)
http://www.eliteacoustics.com/
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  #9  
Old 12-19-2017, 03:06 PM
AllanAnd AllanAnd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roylor4 View Post
Roland - Cube Street, Cube Street EX and BA330. The latter are capable of playing middle sized to larger venues. Not cheap, The EX is quite loud. The BA330 is more flexible.
Thanks. Don’t know why I wrote the Cube Street of the list long time ago. Will look into it again. The price seems right...
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  #10  
Old 12-19-2017, 03:08 PM
AllanAnd AllanAnd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeBmusic View Post
What do you consider 'affordable'?
This Mugig has beendicussed here before: https://www.amazon.com/Mugig-Recharg...ords=mugig+amp
Man, that’s affordable for sure! In terms of USD I’m thinking somewhere in the 200-300$ range.
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  #11  
Old 12-19-2017, 03:13 PM
AllanAnd AllanAnd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuki79 View Post
I have the laney AH4x4.
PROs:

...

CONS:

...

I chose it over the Fresco because the seller said Fresco was louder but mid-range focused (dedicated for guitar, less for vocals)

my 2 cents
Cuki
Thank you very much for sharing your insight and experience. This is very valuable info to me!

Are you generally satisfied with the 4 X 4?
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  #12  
Old 12-19-2017, 03:16 PM
AllanAnd AllanAnd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandobart View Post
The only one that I thought sounded decent was the Roland Cube Street EX. I ended up building a portable pure sine wave inverter/battery package for less than half the cost. This allows me to run my 250 W Carvin AG300, with more features than any typical DC amp, for about 7 hours.
Hmm... I can’t build ANYTHING... Cube Street EX seems cool, too. But way above my budget, though....
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  #13  
Old 12-19-2017, 03:18 PM
AllanAnd AllanAnd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pecx View Post
The Laney A-Fresco is the best option for your needs
Just search the forum for its thread. There's plenty of info there.
Thanks... Will check it out!
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  #14  
Old 12-19-2017, 03:20 PM
AllanAnd AllanAnd is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrErikJ View Post
I know some folks who use and/or endorse Sunburst and are generally happy with them.
They seem interesting...
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  #15  
Old 12-19-2017, 04:48 PM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AllanAnd View Post
Thank you very much for sharing your insight and experience. This is very valuable info to me!

Are you generally satisfied with the 4 X 4?
Yes I am happy. It is not loud but it does the job better than most things I have tried... However I did not try the latest products (like elite acoustics or mackie freeplay)

Note that I use my personal IR pedal so I don't need tone shaping.

I think tone is subjective and you should try as many amp as you can before making up your mind.

Cuki
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