First, I'd like to mention that I am a guitarist and a producer, not an expert on bass amps, but I do have a good understanding of what constitutes a quality bass sound.
This amplifier exhibited malfunctions straight out of the box, emitting strange crackling sounds, especially during the decay of low notes. Regrettably, this isn't my first experience with receiving a faulty item from Harley Benton upon delivery. Could this be a mere coincidence? Probably not. Consequently, I will think twice before considering any future purchases from this brand.
The amplifier was paired with the matching Harley Benton SolidBass 410T, a 450-watt cabinet. On paper, the amp was supposed to deliver 800 watts at 4 ohms, while the cab operated at 8 ohms. So in my case, the amp's output should have been around 400 watts.
Given my familiarity with 100-watt all tube amp heads for guitars, I anticipated the 400 watts to destroy my rehearsal room. Unfortunately, the 400 watts were barely sufficient to cover a drum set played with medium to hard intensity without triggering the amp's clipping indicator to turn yellow. Don't get me wrong; you can still cover the drums or perform in a small venue with this amp, but it invariably pushes into clipping territory.
Clipping this amp isn't necessarily a bad thing; when the LED is in yellow, you'll hardly hear any distortion—instead, it tends to impart a sense of signal compression. Depending on the musical style, some may find clipping to be a pleasant effect. However, in terms of clean headroom, as I mentioned earlier, this amp barely covers a drum set.
Is this amp truly delivering 800 watts at 4 ohms? Are the watts in solid-state amps different from tube amps? I have no idea, but in terms of volume and clean headroom, my expectations were higher.
The EQ section of the amp is quite musical; you can sculpt most basic bass sounds using the built-in EQ, which is a positive aspect. The compressor is also usable, and the potentiometers provide a satisfying tactile feel when adjusting them. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the amp's other functions due to the malfunction, which discouraged me from exploring the equipment further. Fortunately, the Thomann team approved my request for a return, and I will be sending it back tomorrow.
Had this amp not been malfunctioning, I would have kept it. In terms of sound, it was decent but nothing extraordinary. It could produce a respectable sound suitable for work, and who knows, with the addition of pedals, it might even sound great.
In all likelihood, I'll invest in something slightly more expensive, but I won't be considering Harley Benton. I feel insecure relying on their products for a gig, fearing it might malfunction in the middle of a session.
I need to feel that I own something more reliable for sure.
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