Behringer Ultrabass BXD3000H

Katselin keikkakäyttöön ja treeneihin jonkinlaista perusnuppia halvalla.

Tässä nupissa on monia säätömahdollisuuksia äänen värin säätämiseksi ja sisäänrakennettu kompressori. Tehoa on riittävästi pienille keikoille ja laite on kevyt roudata.

Jotenkin kuitenkin tuntuu liian heppoiselle tuo nuppi, saisi olla joku case tai vastaava suojelemaan sitä. Säätönupit ovat melko pitkät ja pelottaa että ne katkeaa, jos osuvat johonkin roudattaessa.

Olen kokeillut laitetta saman merkkisen putkietuaste-pedaalin kanssa ja äänen laatu ja soittotatsi parani.
Tähän hintaluokkaan saa tuskin halvemmalla yhtä paljon tehoja, kuin tässä on. Olen kaikesta huolimatta tyytyväinen nuppiin.

Tämä laitehan on palvellut itseäni jo vuosia Orangen kaapin kanssa. Riittää aloittelevalle ja kokeneelle soittajalle mainiosti ja varsinkin ensimmäiseksi nupiksi erinimainen laite, koska seuraavan ostamista ei tarvitse miettiä todennäköisesti vuosiin ja rahaa jää törsättäväksi muihin hankintoihin. Saundiakin pystyy hyvin säätämään EQ:lla ja parasta jos kitaristeiltakin löytyy säätönupikat, niin treeneissä on saanut leikellä ylimääräisiä huminoita pois, eli selkeyttä saundiin.

I am running through 2 8ohm 1x15 300w cabinets. I have an ancient but good Digitech BP200 between my 4 and 5 string basses and the amplifier input. My basses are active, have maple bodies, and are therefore bright and also very deep. I bought this head as a backup, but I like it enough to use it as my main live amp.

The good (in no particular order):
Definitely a good strong 300w, no lack of power here.
Two channels ? and one with distortion which again used sparingly is a real boon. Couple this set slightly louder than the clean channel (using the level control) and there is a noticeable lift, ideal for a 3 piece bass player.
The distortion channel also has a shape control which works well and not to extremes.
The graphic EQ works and is illuminated, which is a nice touch.
Light weight ? very easy to transport
Rack mountable, if you so choose ? brackets are in the box.
Nice long lead for the footswitch. The footswitch supplied with my amplifier is labeled Bugera rather than Behringer, and is black rather than anodised gold as shown on the box.
The case looks like high density PVC so should be very tough, if rather unattractive.

The not so good/bad (in no particular order):
The power lead is only 1.5 metres long. I barely reaches the floor from the amplifier on top of my two 1x15 cabs.
The quality of the pots is minimal ? they are quite insubstantial but nevertheless work smoothly.
The FBQ metering is a gimmick that is of no value whatsoever. It just reports low frequencies, who?d have thought that could happen with a bass guitar?
There is a noticeable click from the speakers when changing channel or switching in the utlrabass effect.
The sound is a little uncontrolled ? difficult to describe this precisely. Sounds slightly woolly compared to the Trace Elliot I have been using, but has stronger lows. My Trace Elliot has a very tight, punchy and focused sound. That said I have no problem using this head ? all amps sound different after all.
The ultrabass effect, if used sparingly, gives a subtle but undeniable sub octave chorus like grumble to the tone ? however the effect seems to be rather hit and miss, with the overall volume rising and falling unpredictably.
Only one speaker output
No ground lift on the DI out ? not uncommon with lower priced amplifiers.
Build quality could be an issue ? the first one of these I had was dead on arrival. Thomann replaced it quickly.

Conclusion: A bit of a curate?s egg, with the good significantly outweighing the not so good. This head is outstanding value. You really can?t go wrong, especially not with Thomann?s best in class guarantee.

This is a great solid state D Class amp. I have connected the amp to a Warwick WCA 410-4 = 4 X 10 @ 4 Ohm 300 Watt. My bass guitar is an HB with active pickups. The amp has 2 channels, switchable on the amp and with the included footswitch.

Channel 2 is with an overdrive emulation as Gain, and a Shape control that scoops out a frequency area depending on the setting you use. I keep the amp on channel 2 as I like using a clean sound just near to over-driven and using the Shape control.

The 7 band EQ works well, together with the other controls I am able to shape and get a very good tone.

Compression works well, it functions as far as I can tell as a 'limiter' to reduce peaks and does not squash the overall sound. Very good.

Ultrabass effect is a sort of octave effect, it works on my set up around the mid freq range, and is a worthwhile effect to use when you need it. Switchable with foot switch.

The amp is very loud and clean, shakes my house when up to 50% power, I play it at home mostly around 30%. No noise noticed at all, no hum or any unwanted distortions. D class amps are now increasingly used by bass guitarists as the light weight, clean sound, instant power and simple reliable power supply all add up to a low price to quality sound ratio.

How do Behringer make this amp at such a low price? Most guitar and PA amplifier manufacturers buy the power stage module from a supplier and then build the pre-amp section and other components around the module. Behringer make the power stage module themselves and then the overall manufacturing of the amp is at a lower cost.

I know 'Behringer' make a lot of low price gear and making it at an ultra low price you sometimes have to compromise - which often means 'you get what you pay for'. I feel over the recent years Behringer are now also producing more very high quality equipment and very low prices. This amp head is a high quality solid state D Class amp. It is housed in a plastic shell with the internal amp mounted on a metal chassis.

The fan - it is not loud, I would say compared to other fanned equipment I have this amps fan is relatively quiet. If you play and stand away from the amp you will not hear it anyway. I never sit close to the amp and speaker. The ultra bass combo version that contains the same amp does not have a fan there is adequate air flow in the combo housing. I have removed the fan, and find the amp only gets warm and not hot.

If you put the head on top of a speaker box with a carpet cover then the amp head needs to be raised up a bit to allow air intake for cooling the amp head.

On another amp head I have I disconnected the internal fan. This is ok if you do not play at full volume for 4 hours non stop. The amp gets a little warm but nothing much.

Verdict - Great amp, loads of power, onboard effects work well. The low price does not equal low quality or compromise in this case. This amp head added to the Warwick WCA 410-4 is a perfect setup for me, very happy with the sound I have. I can play loud and get a perfect sound, and play at low volumes and get a great sound too.

With the amp comes a big yellow triangle Behringer sticker, I stick mine on the outside of the amp with pride.

Buy this amp and stop fussing about 'what shall I buy' - and make some serious bass.