Tour 700
The Tour 700 is the bigger of the two Tour Series heads; a Tour 450 is also available for slightly less. Each has the same preamp and power amp topology, with the 700 getting the bigger motor. The 700’s preamp isn’t dead simple, but Peavey’s effective design makes what’s there as easy to grok as possible. The signal train leaves the station at one of two q" inputs, parallel high or low gain jacks for appropriate sensitivity with active or passive basses. The left-hand side also includes a handy bright button for a quick treble boost, the all-important mute button, a mid-scooping/bass-and-treble boosting contour control (with helpful pictogram illustrating the resulting EQ curve), and the preamp’s gain knob.
From the input stage, the bass express hits the Tour 700’s unusually full-featured EQ section. Peavey decided to go the graphic route with its Tour Series heads, and while this is likely a turn-off to those who prefer simpler semi-parametric or notch-filtering designs, the 9-band circuit affords exceptional power to the unafraid. Shelving filters augment the sliders on the low and high end, as does a simple low cut button for quick rumble reduction. I’ve conquered my fear of graphic EQ’s (as well as my temptation to make cool wavy shapes and smiley faces), so I dug the 700’s potent circuit. It worked well to jack up my mids for back-pickup fingerstyle or poof-up the airy highs of my Audere-preamp-equipped Fender Jazz. Should all of this make you graphically bored, Peavey happily included an eq bypass button, which shunts the whole scenario quick-like.
Pulling into power amp station brings some of the Tour 700’s neatest amenities, like switchable ddt limiting and a righteously rotund octaver. A red led indicates when the ddt circuit is putting the clamp down, but the design is so transparent, I never heard it offensively doing the kibosh. I couldn’t help but love the 700’s octaver—maybe it’s all the synth-bass gigs I’ve been doing lately, but I’m immediately seduced by sexy Moog-ish undertones. The 700’s tracked well, sounded huge, and generally impressed. Plus, its ratio to the direct signal is adjustable, so it’s additionally useful as a subtle sub-harmonic boost.
The 700’s construction was excellent, with a thick and rugged chassis and solidly installed components. There was nothing fancy to gawk at, just good design and construction—the sort of approach that tends to last. The Class AB amp features something Peavey calls “SmartRail Technology,” which Peavey says improves efficiency by the rail voltage to best suit the input signal. In practice, the Tour 700 sounded loud, even, and dynamically responsive, without any notable humps or frumps in the frequency spectrum.
TECH SPECS
TOUR 700 HEAD
Power rating 500 watts rms into 8Ω; 700 watts rms into 4Ω minimum load
Tone controls low: ±15dB @ 50Hz; graphic eq: ±15dB @ 40Hz, 63Hz, 100Hz, 160Hz, 250 Hz, 400Hz, 800Hz, 1.6kHz, 3.2kHz; high: ±15dB @ 5kHz
Additional tone controls low cut: preset cut @ 80Hz; contour: midrange cut and bass and treble boost, variable; bright: +10dB @ 10kHz
xlr direct interface output Differential op-amp driven with ground lift switch
Power amp topology Class AB
Weight 23 lbs
Made in China
Warranty Five years limited
List $699
Street $559
Pros Strong, loud, straightforward sound with a killer octave circuit
Cons Graphic EQ might freak out some of y’all
Bottom Line A super-solid head for loud gigs on a tight budget
Tour 410
With the arrival of Peavey’s Tour-series cabs, neodymium has gone fully mainstream. The lightweight magnet material, which was previously the purvey of elite where-the-hell-do-I-buy-that brands, is now available for a song, and Peavey nailed it. The 410 was light, loud, and quick, with a strong and buoyant midrange, a delicate—but present—low end, and a treble extension that is a bit unrefined from the tweeter, especially considering the woofers’ smooth response across the frequency spectrum. The slot-ported cabinet seemed strong and was well braced. The cab pairs well with the 700, but I could also see it being an ideal entry-level option for those inclined to have a big multi-driver cab, curious about the neo thing, and interested in saving a bit of dough.
I gave it a go with this review, but ultimately the Peavey just got the job done, leaving it difficult for me to get my job done. At this price range, the market grows ever thicker with phenomenal deals, but Peavey laid it down with the Tour Series. They’re loud, light, and sweet sounding. These are good things.
TECH SPECS
TOUR 410 4x10 CABINET
Type 4x10 + tweeter, ported
Frequency response 41Hz–15kHz
Power handling 1,600 watts rms
Impedance 8Ω
Sensitivity 100dB SPL (1W/1M)
Speakers 10" Peavey custom-designed neodymium
Weight 65 lbs
Made in U.S.A
Warranty Five years limited
List $799
Street $599
Pros Great power handling with sweet mids
Cons A touch harsh on the top
Bottom Line Lightweight big volume at a low price
CONTACT
601-483-5365
www.peavey.com