Groove Tube SFX-100...

Has anyone tried one of these small amps out yet? I talked to one person who insists it will do the same as the Bose PAS, but on a smaller scale. If so, it would be great for nursing homes, assisted living, and similar venues.



The Spacestation is SFX sound stereo technology in a small, roadworthy and affordable package. In the USA this is a Guitar Center exclusive item so please do not order from the website.

Spacestation measures just 18" high and 11" deep and wide. It has our SFX E1 encoder circuitry, a warm FET stereo 100 watt per channel amplifier, both front and side SFC speaker all contained in it's textured plywood cabinet.

The front speaker is a custom made 8: Co-Ax speaker with a 1" compression driver crossing over at about 1600Hz. The side speaker is a specially designed 6.5" full range speaker mounted 90 degrees off axis to the front speaker, the secret of the SFX magic.

Designed for use with any stereo line level signals from a mixer, keyboard, POD etc. This works great as a stand alone true stereo amp for keyboards, or the stereo based guitar modelling amps and devices such as the popular Line 6 POD.

A master level and master width control allows balancing of the SXF Stereo image to the acoustics of the venue.

Spacestation has a sub woffer output so you can turn it into an effective leyboard amp for medium sized gigs. Since this is a full range system, using a small passive mixer as the Spacestation input will allow the entire band to play through the Spacestation. A single SFX Stereo Spacestation can fill a small church or club with magical stereo SFX souuround sound. You many not even need a monitor since both the band and the audience hear exactly the same mix from the same point source and the players can naturally balance their levels as they all hear from the same source.

Inquiring minds want your opinion,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

If so, I want one... besides, it has my initials. Does GC have these is stock?

Glenn

$699 and 28 lbs
http://www.groovetubes.com/assets/2105_gt_sfxspacestation_manual_outside2.pdf

GC has them down here in the People's Republic of Maryland, therefore, they should have them at all their locations. It was introduced at the 2005 Winter NAAM. It was also recently talked about in Keyboard Magazine. I have yet to go to GC to try it out, but I will try to do this in the next few weeks. This could be a big breakthrough if it is really true. If not, the return policy with GC is store credits, which I do not want!

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

http://www.groovetubes.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=1655
http://www.groovetubes.com/assets/2133_gt_sfxspacestation_namm05.pdf


[This message has been edited by Jerryghr (edited 01-06-2006).]

Interesting, I'll be a my local GC later today. Looks like this could be ideal for the usual smaller gigs I play. I use the Logitechs z5500s and they are great, but I find them a pain in the butt to set up. The Roland KC 150 I sometimes use weighs in at 30 pounds is easy to transport but lacks the sound quality I'm looking for. This may be just what the doctor ordered.

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM05/Content/Groove_Tubes/PR/SFX-Spacestation-Redesign.html

[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 01-07-2006).]

Odd how it came out a year ago? and there's very little on the web. Also, I saw a price of $495 mentioned, not $799. ???

If it works, looks great. For ease of carting, setup. I assume you perform with it on a pole.

No need for a sub?

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

Bill,

I've been led to believe that it stays on the floor, which helps the bottom end a bit, but still provides a full-room sound. Like I said, I'll have to check this out in person. As for the price, the GC store here has it for $499, and you can likely get it about $50 cheaper if you do a bit of haggeling.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I think it might it have on the Harmony-Central link... said something about "leave it low and it serves as an amp and leave it high to spread the sound."

Somebody demo it!

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

http://trio.harmony-central.com/ramgen/WNAMM05/Groove-Tubes.rm


Groove tube amp starts about 3:30 in the video.

Regards,

Jerry

.

I am interested, but the specs say there is an output for a subwoofer. I think that means that if I want a sub I will have to carry it separately and hook it it up each time. That sort of kills the benefits of compactness and quick setup. I will stick with my Logitechs.

.

But I don't think the PAS claims to simulate stereo does it?
from the ad: "as you might expect, signals with little or no stereo content are not affected by the Width control because Mono signals don’t stimulate the side speaker. But feed SFX 100 a good “Leslie” patch or guitar slap delay, and you may get caught
looking around wondering where all the extension speakers are hiding"

Would like to try one to see if it lives up to the claims.
http://www.proaudiosolutions.com/prod.itml/icOid/11834

Hank

Went to local GC today. They didn't have it in stock and have not carried it, but sales person said they would be getting a shipment and will call me when delivered.

Bose does not claim to simulate stereo, however, it does claim nearly equal distrubtion of sound level in mono. The Groove Tube SFX claims it does provide stereo throughout the venue, but I find this difficult to conceive without checking it out first hand.

As for adding a sub, I hope it has sufficient bottom end so a sub is not needed. If this indeed the case, and/or the lows and be adjusted on the keyboard, it would be a dream come true for small venues and nursing home jobs.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I went to my local GC. I went to the amp department and the salesman said they would have to special order the Groove Tube. He said he would get back to me later in the week with the particulars.

I was looking around the keyboard department and saw 2 units that were boxed and out of the way. I inquired about the unit and this salesman said "I didn't even know we had them". He opened it for me to look at. He said he would let me take it for 30 day trial without a stocking fee.

So I brought it home and hooked it up.

First impression-----Not impressed. No bottom end. Would probably need a sub-woofer.

The rotary organs and sterep effects are there, however as you increase the width it also seams to a more reverb, creating a muddy sound. I will play with the eq on the keyboard, but I don't think I will keep it.

Regards,

Jerry

Jerry thanks for the feedback, please keep us posted on what happens. That's disappointing, like Gary said " This could have been a dream come true for smaller gigs and nursing homes."



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 01-07-2006).]

I took it back. No hassles. I knew it wouldn't work for me. Just my opinion. I hope others try it and give their opinion also.

I really wanted it to work. It was a nice small package, well built,lightweight and easy to set up and carry. (the unit in Gary's post doesn't show a carrying handle. The unit I had has a nice handle on the top for transporting.) Just plug in two cables and start playing, however it was not worth the $541 after taxes. Pretty pricey for what I considered a good "practice amp".

Regards,

Jerry


[This message has been edited by Jerryghr (edited 01-07-2006).]

This was what I was afraid of. The specifications indicated that in order to use this thing you would need a sub, which is one more piece of gear to pack around. Nope, not for me.

Thanks Jerry,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy