Mesa Engineering Introduces Subway Bass Series
Mesa Engineering has gotten into the world of lightweight amplifiers with their new Subway Bass Series. The lineup includes the company’s first ultra-lightweight Class D amplifier and a pair of bass cabinets loaded with neodymium speakers.
Heading up the series is the Subway D-800, an 800-watt amplifier that weighs in at five and a half pounds. Mesa says the amp is built around a combination of signature circuits including the Bass 400+, the Bass Strategy 8:88, the Big Block 750, and the M9 Carbine for a unique voice that sits among its lineage. Its input section starts with a mute switch, an active/passive switch, and a Deep switch for enhancing the low end. It has a 4-band fixed, rotary EQ section with Bass, Low Mid, High Mid, and Treble controls. The mid-frequency bands overlap for “pinpoint accuracy when sculpting the important attack region and body of your tone.” Further, the Voice control is a variable that allows for more general sculpting from a “flat” response to a radically scooped midrange sound.
The back panel of the D-800 has Speakon outputs as well as an impedance switch for toggling between 4 ohm and 2 ohm operation. Other features include a headphone output, an auxiliary input, and a Direct Output with pre/post EQ, mic/line level, and ground switches. It ships with an included gig bag and strap.
The series is rounded out with the Subway Ultra-Lite 1×15 and Subway Ultra-Lite 1×12 bass cabinets. Each is loaded with a neodymium speaker and a high frequency horn that has its own attenuator. The cabs are built using Mesa’s Tri-Port Porting with aviation style bracing, which the company says offers better strength and reduced weight thanks to lightweight Italian poplar. The 1×15 weighs 37.9 pounds while the 1×12 weighs 35.5 pounds.
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<The Mesa Subway Series is expected to ship in October. The Subway D-800 carries a street price of $699, while the Subway Ultra-Lite 1×15 and 1×12 Bass Cabinets go for $749 and $649, respectively.
MESA/Boogie Subway D-800 Bass Amp Features:
| Designed & Handcrafted in Petaluma, California |
| Class D Power with 8/4 or 2 Ohm Impedance Switch for |
| optimum Power to Load Performance |
| 5.5 Pounds – 800 Watts @ 4 or 2 Ohms (400 @ 8) |
| Active/Passive Input Switch |
| Play/Mute Switch |
| Preamp features: Input Gain with Clip Indicator (O/D |
| LED), Variable Voicing (Flat to Vintage Scoop), Active 4- |
| Band EQ (+/- 12dB of Bass, Low-Mid, High-Mid, Treble), |
| Deep Switch (for enhanced low-end) & Master Volume |
| Balanced XLR DI w/Pre/Post, Line/Mic & Ground Lift |
| Headphone Output |
| Auxiliary Input |
| Protection & Limit LED Indicators |
| 2 Speakon Speaker Output Jacks |
| Fan Cooled |
| Gig Bag w/Strap |
MESA/Boogie Subway Ultra-Lite 1×15 Bass Cabinet Features:
| Designed & Handcrafted in Petaluma, California |
| Tuned Front Ported Tri-Port Porting w/Aviation style bracing (superior strength/reduced weight) |
| Lightweight Italian Poplar Cabinets – Legendary Mesa Quality Construction |
| Custom Subway Neodymium Speakers & High Frequency Horn w/Premium Attenuator |
| Combination Speakon & 1?4″ Input and Parallel Output |
| Recessed, Flip-Out Metal Handles |
| Black Bronco Vinyl with Black Metal Grille |
| Lexan Corners |
| Slip Cover |
| 37.9 lbs |
MESA/Boogie Subway Ultra-Lite 1×12 Bass Cabinet Features:
| Designed & Handcrafted in Petaluma, California |
| Tuned Front Ported Tri-Port Porting w/Aviation style bracing (superior strength/reduced weight) |
| Lightweight Italian Poplar Cabinets – Legendary Mesa Quality Construction |
| Custom Subway Neodymium Speakers & High Frequency Horn w/Premium Attenuator |
| Combination Speakon & 1?4″ Input and Parallel Output |
| Recessed, Flip-Out Metal Handles |
| Black Bronco Vinyl with Black Metal Grille |
| Lexan Corners |
| Slip Cover |
| 35.5 lbs |
For more information:
Mesa Engineering
The amp looks great. The cabs may be way lighter than other Mesa products, but they are no where near other “ultra lite” products.
Very poor choice of model name. Subway will always be the sandwich shop linked to child porn.
Or a common means of transport in New York. The mayor of NYC is probably working on changing the name of that rail system as I type this. Maybe he’ll go the extra mile and see about removing the word, “subway” from books and museums too.
Expensive.
Same price as 800 watt David Eden and Mark bass and cheaper than others in same class
Nice amp and cabinets. Stupid name!
anyone know what the bass is in the first image?
awesome amp.I own one.The cabs are another story,over 10 pounds too heavy in my opinion for neos,quite expensive,and not the voice I like.As far as lugging them cabs down in the nyc subway during rush hour good luck..Wish they would have came out with a 50 pound 410