Roland Cube Street Battery-Powered Stereo Guitar Combo Amplifier (5 Watts, 2x6.5")

With a footprint of 12" x 9", the Cube Street by Roland is a portable, compact powerhouse designed for the musician on the go. Whether you need something for rehearsal, guitar lessons, or busking on the street, there is no amp better designed for your intended uses than this. Though it can be used with AC power, you'll probably want to use your Cube Street on-the-go, making the unit's battery operation your best friend. Even packed full of the 6 AA batteries required to power the Cube, this amp weighs in at a svelte 11 pounds. Light as a feather, but heavy enough for rock!

Versatility is its Middle Name

If you think small size means small in features, then you're in for a treat. The Cube Street actually boasts more features than you'll find on most full-sized amps. With its dual-channel architecture, you can plug your guitar into the 1/4-inch instrument jack and your microphone into the XLR input to sing while you shred. Part amp, part PA, it also includes a 1/8-inch auxiliary jack to plug in your MP3 or CD player for jamming along to backing tracks. When you're warming up before the gig, use the onboard headphone jack for silent practicing.

COSM Technology for COSMic Tones

By now you've got to be thinking to yourself, "Ok, I get it. This tiny little box has every feature I could want or need from a portable guitar amp and personal PA, but there's no way it actually sounds good!" Think again. Featuring two stellar 6.5-inch Neodymium speakers, this little bugger has tone, volume, and a stereo spread that belies its size, putting out a total of five really loud and clean watts. Tweakability is the key to honing in on your signature tones, which is why the XLR channel features volume, bass, treble, and delay/reverb knobs. Add to that the controls on the instrument channel, which are gain, volume, bass, middle, treble, EFX, and delay/reverb, and you've got yourself one versatile little Cube. As if that weren't enough, Roland managed to squeeze in 8 amp models and 6 effects built using their COSM technology -- yep, the very same technology powering all of your favorite Boss pedals. Running the gamut from sparkly pop clean tones to molten metal-core brutality, you will be able to find the perfect sound for your application, every time. Just dial in your sound with the EFX knob, and off you go!

9-Volt Adapter and Onboard Tuner Included

This amp includes a 9V AC power adapter for powering it from a wall socket, or you can get 15 hours of life from 6 AA batteries; that's enough juice for even the most excessive Trey Anastasio-inspired jam sessions. Last but certainly not least, the amp includes a built-in chromatic tuner, eliminating yet another piece of gear to lug around with you. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Roland products.

Rated Power Output: 2.5 W + 2.5 W

Nominal Input Level (1 kHz):
MIC/LINE Channel: -50 / -10 dBu
GUITAR/INSTRUMENT Channel: -10 dBu
STEREO AUX IN: -10 dBu

Speakers: 16 cm (6.5 inches) x 2

Controls:
POWER Switch
(MIC/LINE Channel)
SELECT Switch (MIC/LINE), VOLUME Knob, EQUALIZER Knobs (BASS, TREBLE), DELAY/REVERB Knob
(GUITAR/INSTRUMENT Channel)
TUNER Switch, TYPE Switch, GAIN Knob, VOLUME Knob, EQUALIZER Knobs (BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE), EFX Knob, DELAY/REVERB Knob

Indicators: TUNER, POWER

Connectors:
(MIC/LINE Channel)
Input Jacks (XLR type, 1/4 in. phone type), Foot Switch Jack (1/4 in. TRS phone type)
(GUITAR/INSTRUMENT Channel)
Input Jack (1/4 in. phone type), Foot Switch Jack (1/4 in. TRS phone type)
STEREO AUX IN Jack (Stereo miniature phone type), PHONES Jack (Stereo 1/4 in. phone type), AC Adaptor Jack

Power Supply: DC 9 V: AC Adaptor or Dry Battery (LR6 (AA) type)(optional) x 6

Current Draw: 235 mA

Accessories Included:
Power Cord
AC Adaptor
Owner's Manual

Options:
Carrying Case
Foot Switch (BOSS FS-5U, FS-6)
Connection Cable (PCS-31)

Size and Weight
Width: 415 mm, 16-3/8 inches

Depth: 295 mm, 11-5/8 inches

Height: 250 mm, 9-7/8 inches

Weight: 5.2 kg, 11 lbs. 8 oz.

(Weight is including batteries.)

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Shipping Weight: 16 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 12 in

Product Description

If you're a musician who's on the move, the new Cube Street is for you. Whether you're running to a rehearsal, lesson, street gig, or any situation that requires portability and versatility, the Cube Street is a battery-powered marvel that's ready to travel fast. The Cube Street sounds amazing and is capable of high-volume output thanks to dual (or two) digital power amps and a pair of high-performance neodymium speakers. And just wait until you hear the built-in effects and amp models!

Features

Compact, lightweight stereo amplifier with slanted cabinet design

Two high-performance 6.5 in. neodymium speakers

Battery driven (6 x AA, maximum 15-hour continuous use)

Dual-channel architecture with Guitar/Inst and Mic/Line inputs

8 COSM AMPs, 6 digital effects, and chromatic tuner built in

2-band EQ, Delay/Reverb for the Mic/Line-channel

AC Adaptor included

Great Sound to Go
Roland Cube amps are famous for performance that exceeds their physical size, and the Cube Street is no exception. With two highperformance neodymium speakers onboard, this amp sounds incredible, and is capable of high-volume output that defies its physical dimensions. Best of all, it can run for up to 15 hours on just six AA alkaline batteries.

8 Amps Onboard
More than meets the eye, the Cube Street is actually 8 different amps in one via its built-in COSM amp models. From tube-driven blues classics to modern metal stacks, Roland's COSM technology is world famous for capturing every nuance of the original amps - from the preamp and circuits to the speaker.

Bonus Features
The Cube Street is chock full of extra features to make your gigs easier, including a built-in chromatic tuner and 2 digital effects processors. In addition to the aforementioned COSM amp models, you can choose from six of Roland's famous effects to enrich your sound.

Portable PA
It's a guitar amp and mini PA system in one! With its dual-channel architecture and XRL/1/4 in. Microphone input, you can sing and play guitar through one convenient amplifier. There's even a delay and reverb devoted to the Mic/Line channel.

Choose Your Color
Classic black or fire-engine red? Take your pick. Like the best-selling Micro-Cube, the Cube Street comes in a choice of colors so you can express yourself musically and visually.

zZounds Expert Review

If you're looking for a guitar amp for practice or on-the-go gigging, Roland's Cube series is a great place to start. Cube amps are loaded with COSM (Composite Object Sound Modeling)-based amp simulations and effects for wide tonal variety, and their rugged construction can handle plenty of wear and tear out on the road. The Cube Street amp is particularly portable, giving up to 15 hours of use from 6 AA batteries. Buskers will appreciate the two-channel setup, letting you connect a microphone and guitar at your favorite street corner.

Five watts may not seem like much, but this little guy gets pretty darn loud. The wattage is split between each of the 6.5-inch speakers, offering enough clarity and projection for a typical coffee house gig or small outdoor crowd. The bottom of the cabinet is angled, tilting the face upwards and increasing the projection sort of like a wedge monitor does.

Two Channels For Twice The Fun

Both channels are capable of handling microphones or instruments, but the input connections are each a bit different. The aptly named Mic/Line channel has an 1/4"-XLR combination jack with a mic/line selector switch. It's great for a standard dynamic vocal mic, and can also be used to amplify a keyboard or other line-level instrument with a balanced or unbalanced 1/4-inch output. The (also aptly named) Guitar/Instrument channel has a standard unbalanced 1/4-inch input. You can connect a guitar, keyboard, or unbalanced microphone (with high-impedance cable) and use the separate gain and volume knobs to get a good level.

Lots Of Knobs To Twiddle

The Mic/Line channel has a single volume knob to be used in conjunction with the input selector switch, plus a 2-band EQ and multi-function effects control. From the Off position to about 12 o'clock, you're adding delay. From there to about 6 o'clock you get reverb. The Guitar/Instrument channel has a COSM amp model selector (more on that later), a 3-band EQ, plus two multi-function effects controls. The first sweeps from Chorus to Flanger to Phaser to Tremolo, and the second has the same delay/reverb setup as found on the Mic/Line channel.

If you've got more music in you than the Cube Street has channels, you can always use the 1/8-inch Stereo Aux Input to play backing tracks from CD or MP3. A stereo headphone jack is also available for private practice sessions. The back panel has footswitch connections for each channel. On the Mic/Line channel, you can toggle the delay/reverb on or off or mute the channel altogether. On the Guitar/Instrument channel, you can toggle the EFX or Delay/Reverb controls on or off. I recommend the Boss FS6 footswitch for this purpose. It's got two switches that can be set to latching or momentary, and you can route the switches independently to each channel or both switches to a single channel. If you want control over all four conditions on both channels, a pair of FS6 pedals (each connected with a TRS cable) will do the job.

A Bright Star In The Amp Modeling COSMos

The Guitar/Instrument channel on the Cube Street starts with Roland's COSM-based modeling section to simulate a bunch of different amp tones. The JC Clean, for example, emulates the crystal clarity of Roland's own Jazz Chorus (JC-120) amp. Add some chorus with the EFX knob, and it's a believable imitation. Fender fans will appreciate the Black Panel setting, while the Brit Combo model strives for a chimey Vox vibe. If you're going for a higher-gain tone, the two Stack models do a respectable job (especially considering the size of this little guy) of simulating a much larger Marshall (Classic) or Mesa Boogie (R-Fier). Even better, the 3-band EQ and Gain/Volume controls change their character depending on which amp model you pick. While not technically an amp model, this section also includes an acoustic simulator that's supposed to make your electric guitar sound like a dreadnought. If modeling isn't your thing, it has two bypass settings (one for instruments, one for microphones).

Getting Right In Tune

The Guitar/Instrument Channel has a built-in tuner, further reducing the stuff you need to lug around when playing on the go. If your guitar is only slightly out of tune, you can press and hold the tuner button. This activates chromatic mode, where the tuner will show you how far away you are from the nearest chromatic pitch. There's no display to tell you which pitch you're closest to, however. If you need to be absolutely sure, you can activate manual mode by pressing the tuner button without holding it down. The amp model selector lets you choose a specific pitch for each string in standard guitar tuning so you're sure of where you need to be. You can also use the selector to set the A-string to flat or double flat if 440 isn't your reference of choice.

Hands On

It seems pretty clear the Cube Street is meant for mobile gigging, so what better way to test it out than with a spur of the moment performance? I grabbed my acoustic-electric guitar, a headset mic, and the amp, and found a bustling street corner to set up shop. I ran the XLR output of the headset mic into the Mic/Line channel and plugged my acoustic into the Guitar/Instrument channel. Setup was easy, and I was able to launch into my impromptu set just a few minutes after choosing the location. First, I experimented with the Delay/Reverb control on the mic channel. Both effects sounded nice, though I would have liked to try them out simultaneously. Too much of a good thing can muddy the waters, though, and in the end I was happy enough with just a touch of delay to fatten up my vocals.

I opted to bypass the amp simulation on my acoustic-electric guitar, and used just a pinch of the Chorus effect. I also tried the acoustic amp simulator setting just for kicks, and it added some nice presence to the tone. It was relatively easy to get a good blending of the two channels, and the volume was adequate to get the attention of passers-by without being overly obnoxious.

Back in the studio, I was able to do some more rigorous testing. First, I ran a microphone into the 1/4-inch Guitar/Instrument channel to check out the mic bypass setting on the amp modeler. It didn't really offer any improvement over the Mic/Line channel. If fact, it wasn't quite as clean as the XLR input. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to run two microphones, the Cube Street will do it. If you're only going to run one mic, I'd stick with the Mic/Line channel and the XLR input.

Next, I plugged in a single-coil electric and ran through the amp models. For my money, the JC Clean sounded the best, which is to be expected as the Jazz Chorus is also a Roland product. The Brit Combo sounded most like a Vox with the gain way down low, and less so as I cranked it up. If you're expecting to unleash the raw power of a 4x12 with the Stack models, you're bound to be disappointed, but if you have a more realistic view of what a pair of 6.5-inch speakers can deliver, you should be satisfied with these high-gain simulations. The Classic setting does an especially nice job of reproducing that Marshally bite in the upper mids. The acoustic simulator was a bit underwhelming. It definitely changed the character of the tone, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it made my electric guitar sound like an acoustic. The effects sounded decent on my electric, but there isn't much in the way of control. I can't imagine the onboard effects would ever really replace your stomp pedals, but you can always run those in line.

Finally, I ran a keyboard into both channels with good results. I preferred the sound on the Guitar/Instrument channel, though. Both the Chorus and Phaser effects were particularly nice.

Overall, the Cube Street is a great choice for a practice amp or miniature PA rig. If your expectations are realistic, you should be very happy with the sound and portability.