Yesterday while I was down loading more and more updates to the native op on the computer (definitely need to get windows 10 again, win7 is not vey good) I had to hear the effect of running the two Mesa Vert 212 cabs. When I did this with the JP-2C I was blown away. Not so much satisfying with the TC-50, was not bad but seemed like it was too much for the amp. Well, the TC-100 has plenty of power to push the 4 ohm total load. WOW, now that is an experience to repeat. Still have not moved on to the OS Recto 412 cab yet. Perhaps later on today I will hear the difference. Definitely want to run the TC-100 though the EV loaded 412 cab I use with the Roadster.
As for the power soak, set to 50W it is almost a dead ringer for the TC-50 but with some tone differences. At 20W still sounds quite the same but lower volume. I did not notice any tonal shift even at 7W. When it comes to external power attenuators there generally is some tone loss. I have the Rivera Rock Crusher Recording attenuator but that unit has bass and treble compensation in the even the tone is affected by the reactive circuit. I have tried it with the RA100 some time ago but thought the tone seems to loose top end and more midrange is present. However, the Rock worked really good with the Roadster, Mark V as well as the JP-2C. I would recommend that if you do use an external power attenuator or load box to keep the amp set to 100W.
I can say this, I am very satisfied with the TC-100. Out of box experience was much better than I expected it to be. Now that I had the experience of the TC-50 behind me I knew what to expect with the TC-100. Actually I did not get what I expected from the TC-100 :roll: Instead I got a big surprise that this amp is more than I expected. A beast.
Clean channel on drive with moderate gain setting. :shock: Now I have found heaven. The clean channel almost seems to have the most power in its voice. You do not need high gain to be satisfied. So far I have been overjoyed by its authoritative punch, demanding grind and growl. I am getting this out of the clean channel?
This is almost like the Lo gain on steroids. Let me just say this, the TC-100 has topped the RA100 with spades just on the clean channel alone. Take it out of drive and you get much cleaner tone (that is obvious) Keep in mind I am not running this amp all the way up as I like my hearing to remain intact. Nice warm rich tone with bold bottom end and chime on the top. There is no doubt you are running EL34 but still it will trick you to think twice. Just like the TC-50, the clean channel in normal mode is about the same. Nice.
Lo gain is where there are differences between the TC-50 and the TC-100. This is all due to the different power supply and more iron in the OT. I generally set the bass around 1 PM, midrange at the same and cut back on the treble. Recently I have been setting more treble with the TC-50. I found I can get similar tone with the TC-100 but need to cut the bass back just a bit but not much. Holy crap does this 100W version Rock. I have tried running the TC-50 preamp and slaved the RA100 as well as the JP-2C just to get an idea what a 100W version would sound like. That just did not get close enough. Experimented with change in midrange to null and then much higher than noon. This amp is not whistling Dixie, reserve that for the Lone Star. It is just as impressive as the clean channel in drive mode with more crunch. The Mark V could not top this, ever. (well perhaps on par would be better word choice). The TC-100 is still the TC-50 but with a change in power supply and transformers and two extra juice bottles. There seems to be a hint of more modern tone with the TC-100 on the lo gain (CH2). I did not get the thinning effect with the tight mode turned on. Still had the characteristic reduction in the bass, sounds just as good. Perhaps the extra thump from the speakers makes a difference. Really liking the tight mode just as much as the normal mode with 100W on reserve.
Hi gain. Not things are really heating up. I am noticing a similar effect with the TC-100 as with the RA100 between the lo and hi gain settings. Change in saturation and bass response. With the TC-50 I am running the bass control around 2pm or higher. With the TC-100 I need to reduce it, especially with more gain dialed in as this reduces the saturation effect on the bottom end. Also I am running the treble a bit higher to keep the tone crisp. Tight mode can become a feedback mayhem if you are too aggressive on the gain setting but easily controlled with gain and presence adjustment. Much heavier tone and quite aggressive.
Overall, it dawned on my why some may be jumping off the Rectos in favor of the TC series. I was definitely hearing the Recto voice (all depends on what amp you are referencing ) in the TC-100, a bit more than I had noticed in the TC-50. You guessed it, the TC-100 made my top list. Now I have to press it against the RA100 and find out which one wins (spoiler alert: they both win but I think I am favoring the TC-100 at the moment).