Warwick BC20 Bass Combo Amp

The Warwick BC20 bass amplifier delivers 20 watts of power and features an 8-inch Warwick Custom Speaker along with a 2-inch high-frequency horn. It is housed in a bass reflex cabinet with a rugged metal grille, and includes a Class A low-noise preamp with a 3-band EQ for bass, mid, and treble control.

A series of compact amplifiers for Bass instruments like nothing you have seen or heard before. These full frequency, extended headroom, integrated combo amps could be used for virtually any amplified instrument but are specifically tuned to the unique needs of Electric and Upright Bassists.

Features:

• Bass combo 20 Watt Power Amp
• 8″ Warwick Custom Speaker 2″ High frequency horn
• Bass reflex Housing Rugged metal grill
• Class A Low Noise Preamp 3 Way EQ with controls for bass, mid and treble
• Cooling by air circulation in the bass reflex cabinet. No fan noise
• 2 Inputs for active or passive Basses
• The two instrument inputs are suitable for 2 instruments at the same time
• Aux Stereo input, Mini jack for connecting MP3 player, CD player etc.
• DDL (Dynamic Distortion Limiter) for distortion-free reproduction at high levels
• Integrated headphone amplifier. Aux in stereo signals over headphones in stereo
• Dimensions: (B/H/D) 320mm x 430mm x 380mm / 12.6″ x 16.9″ x 15″
• Weight: 9,52 kg / 20.9 lbs
  

Consumers of recorded music have grown accustomed to the improvements in performance and sound resulting from the development of high quality, lower cost electronics. The bass world has enjoyed little benefit from this progress. Warwick%u2019s new line of compact Bass Instrument Combo amps is destined to change this by introducing improvements in circuit design, speaker design, manufacturing, and much improved component integration.

Our considerations in these amp designs were multifold and our objective is to provide:

• An aspiring bass players first amp.
• A seasoned professionals “residential amp” (to be used for practicing and pleasure playing at home).
• A backstage tune-up/warm-up amp.
• A teachers amp where both the student and the teacher can plug in simultaneously while playing musical examples with a music player through the auxiliary input.
• An amp for rehearsals, where space and sound levels are limited.

CLASS-A CIRCUITRY

Class-A amplifiers are typically more linear and, as such, are less complex than other amplifier classes. The amplifying element is biased so the device is always conducting to some extent. This means the amplifier is always
on, avoiding the problem of crossover distortion associated with class-AB and -B designs.

Low-Z CIRCUITRY

By lowering the impedance inside an electronic circuit you lower the amount of thermal noise. In an amp where you have tone controls that lift mids and highs a considerable amount, proper impedance level makes the difference between enduring audible annoying hiss, and enjoying a pleasant tonal experience.

DYNAMIC DISTORTION LIMITER (TM)

Distortion occurs when an amplifier works beyond its range, when the power supply cannot supply the power any more to take the amp higher. A common method to control distortion in amps is to use a limiter, a device that stops the signal going beyond a specific level. Audio limiters work by setting a threshold signal level where the circuit kicks in and keeps signal levels within the capabilities of the power supply. This method is not very precise and often causes audible effects such as pumping and thumps. We designed a circuit that instead reads the distortion level in the power amp and starts limiting as soon as the amp shows even miniscule amounts of distortion. This means our amps always stay within 0.3% distortion (THD) when most amps are rated at between 5-10% distortion (that means that to get your 20 Watt out of a 20 Watt amp you will get it audibly distorted and if you want a clean signal the power will be a lot less).

The BC 10, 20, 40 and 80 model combos all feature a dual conductor “mini” power cable for easy connectivity, simple travel, benefits of safety, and reduction of ground hum. The dual pin connection has a continuously lifted ground, so no interfering hum can enter the circuit from outside sources. The internal transformer is double encased preventing high voltage from ever causing a safety issue. The power switch is located on the bottom rear of the combo to create maximum proximity separation of high and low voltage circuits within the system, this also reduces the possibility of unwanted noise. These are features that were carefully planned to provide the highest level of safety, quality, performance, and tone.

There are desirable types of distortion, but these are not usually associated with transistor amplifiers, but more commonly associated with tube amps and effect pedals. Warwicks goal is to give the user a great, clean sound allowing the user to decide how much, and what kind of distortion to employ.

INTEGRATED SPEAKER DESIGN

All the speaker drivers and cabinets have been designed in tandem with the electronics to create units that work together efficiently. Careful consideration has been taken to modify all parameters, thereby achieving the best results in sound and performance. All components reflect a custom designed solution to give the end user optimum control over his/her tone,
volume and configuration