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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/15/08 at 12:47
(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.
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.