PRS Archon 50 - Seems to get alot of love, yet under the radar?? Hidden Gem?

[dead-pan]

Is it a new production Lynx? I didn't really notice any issues with ground loop or noise on the Bad Cat, it just had an absurd amount of gain on channel 2 that was out of control. It was woofy, (definitely not tight, like they claim), the gain was worse than an EVH red channel. It was over the top on 1. I couldn't box it up and return it fast enough.

This is an accurate view of the new Lynx but once you tame it the damn this might is phenomenal. Has that Matchless quality with high gain. Truly great.

As far as the Archon, I have to a USA 100 and it is sick as well. Responds great to tube changes.

Played the 50 combo and thought it was nice. Just different from the 100.

 

[Rising Farce]

Did the USA's have any effects loop issues? Seems to be a widespread problem. I've even read many that still had problems in the so-called "mod fix" PRS had later in 2015 and up. I'd love to pick up a used USA, they pop up cheap, but, they seem plagued with FX loop problems, and that's a big no-go for me. I hear nothing but great things about their tone!

The only loop issue I had was a humming when I set a delay pedal on top of the amp, near the transformer.

 

[napalmdeath]

The only loop issue I had was a humming when I set a delay pedal on top of the amp, near the transformer.

I've had that issue with amps before, I just got longer input cables and moved them.. Doesn't really sound like a "loop" issue, per se...

So what made you ditch the Indo made one so fast? They seem to sound pretty close. And any "loop" issues that may or may not have existed were apparently addressed, per PRS. I've found a few USA's, but the asking prices are up there. Reverb's price guide has the USA's selling for well under $1k, but people are asking $1200+. Used Indo's have sold for under $600 to about $700-ish.

 

[Rising Farce]

The USAs have a heft and richness to the tone that was lacking in the import. The import wasn't a bad amp; I'd just rather spend the extra money for the OG.

You should still be able to find a good USA 100 for $1200-ish. The people who ask $1800-plus for them these days are on bath salts.

 

[Whatamada]

I have a USA 100w Archon, it is truly the best amp I've had.
Having owned Diezel Herbert/Hagen/VH4/Einstein, Mesa recto/Mark V, 5150, Elmwood 3100 and KSR Ares, the Archon has them all beat.
Yes, the earlier ones came with loop noise, a buddy fixed that in 15 minutes and is now a non-issue.
All amps mentioned are great, but they all had something that I didn't like or like the VH4 had a too many features that I just didn't use.
The Archon, for me, is perfect in every sense. It also has it's own voice, responds to pedals great and just feels phenomenal to play.
I've played live with all of these amps, the Archon is the only one where sound techs have come up saying "that amp sounds great, what is it?"
But, everyone has their own preference, ears and style. But I would strongly recommend trying one, especially the 100W

 

[LPMojoGL]

Love my import combo. Great cleans and drive that does crunch to modern metal. I rarely get the gain up to noon. It's the one I play in the living dining room area, and grab to take out, play with friends. Plenty of clips on my YouTube page:


No stdby switch means a loud pop when powering down, and yes there is some noise with the effects loop, that i don't notice after a few seconds.

 

[LucyLived]

This is an accurate view of the new Lynx but once you tame it the damn this might is phenomenal. Has that Matchless quality with high gain. Truly great.

As far as the Archon, I have to a USA 100 and it is sick as well. Responds great to tube changes.

Played the 50 combo and thought it was nice. Just different from the 100.

I'm a relatively new owner of a Badcat Lynx. I used to have a 2014 Archon 100. It was great, but my tech couldn't fix the ground issue with the loop. I find the lynx has a nice feel and is enjoyable to play, though I think I would like it to have a depth control. It mixes incredible well with the Diezel. When you say tame the lynx, what did that entail for you? I am finding that it has tons of essentially unusable gain. I like Tool, Animals as leaders, porcupine tree, twelve foot ninja etc for tone reference.

 

[napalmdeath]

I'm a relatively new owner of a Badcat Lynx. I used to have a 2014 Archon 100. It was great, but my tech couldn't fix the ground issue with the loop. I find the lynx has a nice feel and is enjoyable to play, though I think I would like it to have a depth control. When you say tame the lynx, what did that entail for you? I am finding that it has tons of essentially unusable gain. I like Tool, Animals as leaders, porcupine tree, twelve foot ninja etc for tone reference.

I certainly couldn't "tame" it.. It's out of control. Unusable gain is accurate. I found channel 2 completely useless. It was boomy, loose, absurdly gained out, and just terrible. Maybe some lower gain tubes in the preamp might help, but I doubt it. You could always cut some lows with an EQ in the loop. I just thought it was so bad, I wasn't going to waste my time. I thought it was defective - it sounded NOTHING like the demos, whatsoever.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I certainly couldn't "tame" it.. It's out of control. Unusable gain is accurate. I found channel 2 completely useless. It was boomy, loose, absurdly gained out, and just terrible. Maybe some lower gain tubes in the preamp might help, but I doubt it. You could always cut some lows with an EQ in the loop. I just thought it was so bad, I wasn't going to waste my time. I thought it was defective - it sounded NOTHING like the demos, whatsoever.

My Lynx did not sound good when plugged into the wall. After plugging it into a power conditioner it was a completely different amp. I dunno. YMMV

 

[dead-pan]

I'm a relatively new owner of a Badcat Lynx. I used to have a 2014 Archon 100. It was great, but my tech couldn't fix the ground issue with the loop. I find the lynx has a nice feel and is enjoyable to play, though I think I would like it to have a depth control. It mixes incredible well with the Diezel. When you say tame the lynx, what did that entail for you? I am finding that it has tons of essentially unusable gain. I like Tool, Animals as leaders, porcupine tree, twelve foot ninja etc for tone reference.

Keep the gain and bass low then boost it with a good drive pedal that has good control of the low end. Depth would always be nice but an EQ in the loop can help if needed.

 

[napalmdeath]

What’s a clean channel ?

Lol. I'm finding these exist as well.. News to me..

 

[NinjaRaf]

I had a USA Archon and an MT15 at the same time. I don't remember if mine was 50 or 100. It sounded awesome, and recorded extremely well, but ultimately I sold it because the low end wasn't tight enough. It had a response similar to the OG 5150. It was improved with a boost, for sure, but I don't really like boosting amps. I preferred the MT15 voicing. A little more low mid focused and grunty, which was better for me. I made this video comparing the 2. If you're familiar with the MT15, maybe it can give you an idea of the differences.

 

[napalmdeath]

I had a USA Archon and an MT15 at the same time. I don't remember if mine was 50 or 100. It sounded awesome, and recorded extremely well, but ultimately I sold it because the low end wasn't tight enough. It had a response similar to the OG 5150. It was improved with a boost, for sure, but I don't really like boosting amps. I preferred the MT15 voicing. A little more low mid focused and grunty, which was better for me. I made this video comparing the 2. If you're familiar with the MT15, maybe it can give you an idea of the differences.

I'm honestly not even interested in a USA after all the issues I've read about, (and people asking too much for used). The MKII seems to get alot of love, and the sweep on the gain pot was addressed, as was the loop. It seems many say tonally, it's right up there. For the money they go for, they seem like a good value. They sound pretty damn good.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Yeah, videos seem good, but I haven't played that one. I know they supposedly tweaked a few things with it.

 

[Bram576]

Cool amp, boosted sounds great. Does have known issues. I’d honestly probably get an mt100 over it and call it good.

 

[napalmdeath]

Cool amp, boosted sounds great. Does have known issues. I’d honestly probably get an mt100 over it and call it good.

I like the smaller footprint and simple 2 channel layout of the Archon.

 

[avastcosmicarena]

I like my Archon 50. It's brighter sounding than the 100, which I personally think is a good thing, as the Archon, in general, is a pretty dark sounding amp, and I generally don't like dark/muffled sounding amps. That would be my biggest criticism of them in general. A bit dark, and a bit honky. But they can be dialed in to sound pretty good.

I have the newer import version of it. My understanding was that it should have _less_ issues with FX loop noise versus the original USA ones.

 

[napalmdeath]

I like my Archon 50. It's brighter sounding than the 100, which I personally think is a good thing, as the Archon, in general, is a pretty dark sounding amp, and I generally don't like dark/muffled sounding amps. That would be my biggest criticism of them in general. A bit dark, and a bit honky. But they can be dialed in to sound pretty good.

I have the newer import version of it. My understanding was that it should have _less_ issues with FX loop noise versus the original USA ones.

I took a chance and got the 50 watt MKII. The price was right. Let's see what a good bias, maybe even some KT77's, and clean out all those JJ's in the preamp section does. All JJ's in the preamp is dark, (and bland), city. I've got some Tungsols, Mullards, Gold Lions, GE JAN, etc.. So I'm sure I can make it better than stock. Their suggested bias is 25-30mV - I can't imagine that being near 50%, if the PV is in the 440-460 range, as I suspect it is. That's considerably cold.

 

[PiggySmallz]

Fired up my 100 watt today. Loop is absolutely dog shit. Worst it's ever sounded...or I've gotten used to my other amps being whisper quiet.

Amp sounds incredible. Not going to sell it so I guess I'll finally fix the loop lol

 

[angelspade]

This thread is interesting as I am looking here locally at an America Made (supposedly mostly hand-wired) Archon 50. It's the one with the brushed aluminum style face-plate. A guy is selling it with two matching Archon stealth 1X12 cabs as a stack at what appears to be an attractive price. I can tell you, I am concerned with the "dark" sounding feedback...I have real trouble with that "blanket over the speaker" thing.