Reviewer Steven Brence
Experience 20 years
Review date November 22 2001
Manufacturer Ashdown
Model ABM1000
Price $999 (sale)
Item owned for 6 months to 1 year

Dimensions 2 rack spaces, 18" deep
Weight ~40 lbs.
Power 500/ch stereo at 4ohms, both channels driven
Other bridgeable at 800 watts, 8 ohms only

I purchased the poweramp to pair with an Ashdown RPM-1 preamp and two Acme LowB2 series II cabs. I play an '84 Steinberger XL2 (all graphite boat-oar shape), a '93 Kubicki Ex-Factor, and an NS Design US5 EUB.

In terms of sound and power, this poweramp is incredible. It drives my acme cabs (notable for being power-hungry) easily. The low tones it produces through them, especially the low-B string on my EUB, are unbelievable, remaining tight and focused, but also warm and huge. The mids and highs are clear and smooth. It has a very quick response and is very quiet, do to having several variable speed fans that are controlled automatically according to the temperature.

It has one 1/4" input and one balanced (XLR) input for each channel. It also has one 1/4" and one Speakon output for each channel and one 1/4" bridged output.

The poweramp is very cool looking, with a silver face, rounded chrome handles, an old-fashioned needle output guage for each channel and pop-out level controls. The on/off buttons for each channel are large metal buttons, fashioned after a retro car starter button. All in all, it has a sort of retro-avantguard look about it, like equipment in an old sci-fi movie.

The build is very sturdy with rack-ears on front and back. It is, however, quite heavy and, although it is only two rack spaces high, it is very deep.

To sum up: If you need lots of good clean power, have a strong back and an eye for style, this poweramp would be a great choice.


Construction 98%
(Very solid, but very heavy.)
Clarity 100%
(The sound can't be beat.)
Volume 100%
(Power to spare, listed at 500 w/ch (4 ohms) but word is that this is very con
servative.)
Customer Service 75%
(Very thin documentation, but they did answer my emailed questions.)
Value 90%
(Not cheap, but well worth it for its power and sound.)
Overall 98%
(I am very, very happy with it, although it requires some effort to move it ar
ound.)

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