SWR 750X

(Originally written by astroperenoel/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Solid-state amp with hybrid preamp.

- Output power: 450 watts / 8 Ohms, 750 watts / 4 Ohms and 850 watts / 2.6 Ohms

- Extremely comprehensive connections!

- Controls: Solid-state preamp gain, Aural enhancer, 12AX7 tube level, drive, octaver, bass with turbo, mid with frequency and level controls, treble with turbo, FX mix, limiter/compressor, master volume.

- 2 effects: octaver with volume control, mixable tube preamp with drive control for light crunch to heavy fat distortion!

Nothing is missing!

I give it 10/10 without any hesitation.

UTILIZATION

- Once you understood that you can mix the solid-state gain (with bass/mid/treble) with the tube preamp, everything is possible because you can mix clean and crunch/distortion sounds.

- The footswitch provided allows you to bypass the tube preamp and the octaver effect. Its 33 ft. cable is enough for big stages!

- Someone who buys an SWR amp wants a transparent sound and enough settings to shape his own sound. Some would say the amp doesn't have enough low-end with only one 4x10" cabinet and it's true that I have to activate the turbo bass function sometimes. But with a good bass guitar you won't need it and the sound will remain accurate!

- The user's manual explains how to build an additional cabinet.

I give it 9/10 because the bass control lacks one more step (11). Otherwise, everything is perfect.

SOUNDS

- The hybrid design gives you every sound from cold to warm and crunch tones. You also get a huge power headroom: 750 watts at 4 Ohms with a 4x10" and a 1x15", you should make sure the studio walls are well reinforced.

- I use it with my bass guitars and an effects processor.

- I can get every sound I need.

- Hybrid amps are sometimes criticized but this SWR X-Series shows they can be great.

I give it 10/10 for its versatility.

OVERALL OPINION

- I bought it on an auction website and I've been using it since 2007.

- I like everything about this amp head, even though a bit more low-end wouldn't hurt!

- I'm faithful to SWR but I have tested Ampeg, Mesa, Beringer, Hartke and Fender amps. Every amp has its own sound character and SWR is synonym for versatility and transparency!

- The price is quite low considering the amp head's possibilities.

I find the octaver effect is not very useful and it also lacks a pre/post-EQ switch for the compressor, like on the SWR Miller preamp, so I give it 9/10.

Active and passive input
Beautiful facade, with the chrome logo and all ...
Gain control
Variable Limit
Overdrive
Subwave
Active Bass Control w / pull Turbo Function
Active Treble Control w / pull Transparency Function
Variable mid-range EQ
Our Exclusive Aural Enhancer Circuitry
Effects Blend Control
Master Volume Control
Rack mountable
Rack Handles
Speaker On / Off Switch
Power On / Off Switch
Aluminum chassis

Hard to find more complete, we can even cut the fan ...

UTILIZATION

Easy to use, I still find that for an amp of this size, the knobs are a bit too 'neutral', turn shyly, then frankly (see below). Comprehensive manual for a bit he tells how to make a pregnant ...

SOUNDS

I expected that it'll put an eyeful, I was disappointed. For cons, the sound is crystal clear and of extraordinary clarity, the famous "SWR sound". But frankly, it is sorely lacking in ... Low! I use it with an ampeg cabinet and I think we should use this amp in a cabinet SWR. It must be calibrated to shoot with a big cabinet SWR. However, I'm sure it's something for a lot of people.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a year, and it's not the amp that suits me. The sound does not suit me, but it's very personal. I read a magazine on a very good review of this amp. I am more moderate than before on my review of this amp, because in fact what I need is the sound AMPEG. But it is clear that even so, it does!

Active and passive input
Beautiful facade, with the chrome logo and all ...
Gain control
Variable Limit
Overdrive
Subwave
Active Bass Control w / pull Turbo Function
Active Treble Control w / pull Transparency Function
Variable mid-range EQ
Our Exclusive Aural Enhancer Circuitry
Effects Blend Control
Master Volume Control
Rack mountable
Rack Handles
Speaker On / Off Switch
Power On / Off Switch
Aluminum chassis
Headphone output
Line / Direct Out / Direct Effect + Out -> Excellent To register or for mixing front.

+ Comes with a swab impregnated with a solution to clean the front aluminum and chrome. SWR is shining!

+ Footswitch double minimum 10 m cable!

We can not be more complete.

Power output up to 750W!
Hand assembly plant in California SWR.

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple, very effective.

The sound is of great clarity, do not hesitate to turn the pots to find his sound. I was looking for something close to Porcupine Tree (Tech21) for my pop band, but also something more aggressive to the Death ... it's perfect.

The manual is spiral bound with metal, complete hyper, French, and even provides details of various wall forms of possible speakers, the effect at work the amp depending on the resistance of the speaker or multiple speakers. .. the operation of the 2-speed fan, which accelerates when the temperature exceeds 80 ° C, but that can be cut at will.

SOUNDS

Lots of good things for this head:

Playing 5 string bass gives the turbo more enormous.
The sound is very transparent, oral enhancer off the bass in the mix in an impressive way.
The headroom is very important and we feel that the power amp will suffice for any application (1 Goliath @ 8ohm 4 * 10 + 1 * 18 1 Big Ben @ 8ohm -> you collapse the wall separating you from nearby ... well adjusted, you will only take off their shirts!)

For now, the only small (mini ...) criticism I have with the 750X is perhaps the sound distortion is lacking a little character ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it recently, but I'm already convinced. I have not played mas for bass amp, and my preference is to 750X with no problem.
I tried for a few years different models based on repeat and studios:
- Fender: Bassman 400
- Ampeg: B2RE with 1 * 15 + 4 * 10
- Gallien Krueger: Backline 115
- Trace Elliot: 715
- Hartke: HA5500 with 4 * 10 (head strong, he was found a day after a chutte about 1.50m, the wood was exploded, taking alim Arach, but still working)

Last point, there is the 750X to 1250 € in germany ... terrible!
The price / quality ratio is not great, but at a certain level of demand, all the amps are in unreasonable prices! (I hesitated with 4svt accompanied by an 8 * 10, but no guard at ampeg ... shame ... again, this transparency and understanding of the SWR are an asset!)