Behringer BX4500H Ultrabass Bass Amplifier Head (450 Watts)

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The Behringer BX4500H offers all the features a professional bassist needs. With ample tone-shaping options and an onboard limiter, the BX4500H is a keeper.

The Ultrabass BX4500H is a massive 450-Watt bass amp head with patented* Dynamizer technology, boasting a switchable Ultrabass sub-harmonics processor for unbelievable low-end power and a revolutionary Shape filter for extreme sound range. Since flexibility has become a particularly important factor in the music business over the past few years, modern bass players need to offer a broad range of sounds, but should still be able to play in different kinds of settings at short notice: home recording, studio or live concerts.

This is why you get a complete set of useful functions that are simple enough to be operated intuitively and quickly. An extremely musical 5-band EQ with 'Bright' and 'Deep' functions gives you the ultimate in tone-shaping. There is an integrated limiter and an active, temperature-controlled cooling system for ultimate protection. You also get a vintage-style VU meter for precise signal level control. A dual footswitch for Ultrabass and Shape functions is included, and there are 3 speaker outputs on 1/4" jack and touch-proof connectors compatible with Neutrik Speakon. With this amp, you can certainly rock the stage like a pro!

Behringer BX4500H ULTRABASS Bass Amp Head Features and Specifications

- Extremely powerful 450-Watt bass amplifier head
- Patented Dynamizer technology for ultimate punch and to capture every nuance of your playing
- Switchable Ultrabass sub-harmonics processor for unbelievable low-end power
- Revolutionary Shape filter for extreme sound range
- Dedicated 5-band EQ with Bright and Deep functions for awesome sound shaping
- Musical opto-limiter for ultimate volume without distortion
- Vintage-style VU meter for precise signal level control
- Dual footswitch for Ultrabass and Shape functions included
- Balanced DI output for direct connection to your mixing console
- Dedicated Tuner Output/Effect Send and separate Line Output for additional flexibility
- FX Insert for external effects devices (stomp boxes, rack effects, etc.)
- 3 speaker outputs on 1/4' jack and professional speaker connectors (compatible to Neutrik (R) Speakon)
- Integrated limiter and active, temperature-controlled cooling system for ultimate protection
- Ultra-rugged power supply with toroidal transformer for highest power reserve
- High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life
- Conceived and designed by BEHRINGER Germany

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Web: https://www.behringer.com/service.html

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (117 ratings)
Submitted August 4, 2006 by a customer from warwick.net

"And now we have three!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Great value, and it delivers. Would consider Fender pro series and Ampeg is money was not an issue.

Sound
This amp's main reputation problem is people love to bash Beringher. Otherwise, it's a really great bass amp for the working musician. I wrote a review on my first one back in October of 2005. We now use three BX4500H heads in our setup. Two of them drive BA410 cabs, and one drives a BA115. Someone back then said buy two, they're cheap. We got thinking about it, and it seemed appropriate to buy three in fact! The heads work best with a single cab, because of the impedence, so we bought three cabs, and three heads. We loop them, plugging the bass into the first one, coming out of the effects loop to drive the second, and into the second through the return jack, which basically just uses the power amp section of that head, and then the same loop out of head two and into head three. You can then adjust the settings on the first head, just crank up the output knob on all three and KABOOM! You get far less noise by slaving them in this manner. It's still not as spiffy as some tube amp at twice the price, but there's little else that will match it at the money. By the way, use Speakon cables to the cabs, it really makes a difference.

Features
Please read my previous review, but in general, almost every feature is a useful one, especially if you decide to use this capable amp for other things than bass. I didn't read more think the ultrabass was important at first, but we have come to use it as well when we want an octaver effect.

Ease of Use
The variety of inputs and outputs make the set up I describe under sound possible and that is the key to making this a first class professional rig, while not spending the earth. And what I describe is just one possibility. A huge side benefit of the collective rig, is that it is modular. If you want to go to a small venue, or practice, take one head, and the BA115. Need a sweet setup in a medium sized venue, two heads, and the 2 BA410s. Need a system for an outdoor, or just want to impress the troops (and yes people will be impressed even though its Beringher) bring all three heads and all three cabs. A setup for any occasion.

Quality
All my amps and cabs came without problems and have not had any problems since. We play regularly, move them from gig to gig, use them for practice, and don't baby them. They are very solid, with both the amps and cabs being housed in thick wood and black rug. Metal grills on the cabs have held up well and offer lots of protection. Here's a story - On the first amp I said that the knobs were too "loose", no resistance to the touch, which feels "cheap". Well by the time I bought number two, they had substituted knobs that had great high quality feel. Number three came that way as well. To say I was impressed, is an understatement. I am not saying they listened, I am just saying they are looking to improve and have.

Value
The rig I have described above includes 3 BX4500H, 2 BA410s and 1 BA115. Even if you think the heads are overrated in terms of power (which I doubt having used them) lets say they produce close to 1000 Watts, you have three cabes with 8 10" drivers, 1 15" driver, and three high frequency horns (switchable) and they all have aluminum cones. All this costs less than $1700 even with Speakon cables added. Well - you could say Ampeg is the way to go - the 450W solid state heads there start at about $580 each. Hartke - $500. Do the math, then buy these things before they go up again.

Manufacturer Support
No real experience with service, they work far too well. I have used the Beringher web site to keep up with what's going on there, and I find it useful.

The Wow Factor
As a group this triple rig has a lot of appeal, but even the smallest version looks fine on stage.

Musical Background:
Active Musician

Musical Style:
Rock, Blues
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