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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 03/09/09 at 17:48
(Originally written by hugues blanchon/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- Hybrid amp with one 12AT7 tube and mosfet circuitry.
http://www.randallamplifiers.com/about/news/valvedynamic.asp (for more information)
- This solid-state amplifier head produces 300 watts of power.
- Connections: adjustable FX loop, line output and 4-input Midi footswitch.
- Two separate channels plus master:
- Claen channel: 3-band EQ (mid/bass/treble), boost, reverb control, volume control.
- Lead channel: 3-band EQ plus sweep control and voicing switch, volume control, two gain controls (switchable).
I give it an 8 because a perfect amp would have a third channel to get a good rock'n'roll crunch.
UTILIZATION
- The settings are not very easy for a beginner. With the sweep control, all the voicing possibilities, and the master and channel level controls the amp it can be a real pain in the beginning.
- You'll easily get a good sound but to get an optimal sound, you'll need time... It has a pretty exaggerated low-frequency response so you'll have to control it (2-3 for clean sounds and 5 for distortion sounds... Otherwise, just play bass guitar...)
Average dynamic response. I guess that has to do with the low-quality speaker...
SOUNDS
- I play in a black and death metal band and this amp is perfect for this sort of music...
- I play a mahogany LTD Eclipse 500 with EMG pickups. I had the opportunity to try out the amp with a Schecter Hellraiser and the sound was also very good (even better in certain cases...)
- The clean sound is well-defined and crystal-clear. Even though you don't get the character and warmth of a tube amp I still like it, but do enable the boost otherwise you'll get a poor dynamic range.
- The distortion sound is good but difficult to shape:
First of all, avoid "V" EQ settings if you want to cut through the mix, it's not a tube amp.
For distortion sounds I set the high and mid controls to maximum (same sweep setting) and the bass and distortion controls to 5.
With these settings I get a full and heavy sound, accurate and sharp for rhythm parts.
The lead sound is clear and accurate but with a low dynamic range.
- The amp is not versatile at all, it's conceived for heavy metal and nothing else.
Don't except to get a typical ACDC or Guns and Roses sound, nor a good blues rock sound. The response is too clean and with a high-gain...
- I hate hollow sounds with imposing lows (and this amp can produce enormous lows, especially using the voicing switch). I hate that heavy sound with no dynamics and nuances!
- The main disadvantage of this amp is the lack of dynamics but that's due to the low-quality speaker... which I will replace with a good one!
I give it a 7 because the amp is just alright, average.
I will update this review when I change the speaker to solve the dynamic range problem.
I will make another update after my first live gig with it...
Update, 9 March 2009
It's a good idea to use a distortion pedal, the result is great. I wanted a less metallic sound, more vintage with stronger mids and character (I play in a melodic death and black metal band and the amp sounded too much like modern thrash metal or hardcore).
I used it with my Electro Harmonix Metal Muff and the sound became more precise and clear (no more overemphasized lows), well-articulated, very accurate and with more warmth and character.
I used the pedal with the clean channel so I could boost solo parts and strong passages for some songs.
I haven't tested this setup with my band yet...
OVERALL OPINION
- I bought it in August 2008.
- I like the sound character and the comprehensive controls even if some settings are useless. The amp has a poor dynamic response compared with an all-tube amp.
- I previously tried out several other models: Randall RG50 (yuck!), Randall G2 (very good but discontinued), Randall RX (nice budget product), Peavey Valveking (I don't like the distortion sound), ENGL Screamer (amazing distortion sound but only one EQ section for both channels so it's impossible to get good clean and distortion sounds...)
- Virtually unbeatable value for money in this category, especially if you need a good clean sound.
- I don't know. If I had had more money I would have bought the Randall V2 amp head and a cabinet with V30 speakers!!!
- Hybrid amp with one 12AT7 tube and mosfet circuitry.
http://www.randallamplifiers.com/about/news/valvedynamic.asp (for more information)
- This solid-state amplifier head produces 300 watts of power.
- Connections: adjustable FX loop, line output and 4-input Midi footswitch.
- Two separate channels plus master:
- Claen channel: 3-band EQ (mid/bass/treble), boost, reverb control, volume control.
- Lead channel: 3-band EQ plus sweep control and voicing switch, volume control, two gain controls (switchable).
I give it an 8 because a perfect amp would have a third channel to get a good rock'n'roll crunch.
UTILIZATION
- The settings are not very easy for a beginner. With the sweep control, all the voicing possibilities, and the master and channel level controls the amp it can be a real pain in the beginning.
- You'll easily get a good sound but to get an optimal sound, you'll need time... It has a pretty exaggerated low-frequency response so you'll have to control it (2-3 for clean sounds and 5 for distortion sounds... Otherwise, just play bass guitar...)
Average dynamic response. I guess that has to do with the low-quality speaker...
SOUNDS
- I play in a black and death metal band and this amp is perfect for this sort of music...
- I play a mahogany LTD Eclipse 500 with EMG pickups. I had the opportunity to try out the amp with a Schecter Hellraiser and the sound was also very good (even better in certain cases...)
- The clean sound is well-defined and crystal-clear. Even though you don't get the character and warmth of a tube amp I still like it, but do enable the boost otherwise you'll get a poor dynamic range.
- The distortion sound is good but difficult to shape:
First of all, avoid "V" EQ settings if you want to cut through the mix, it's not a tube amp.
For distortion sounds I set the high and mid controls to maximum (same sweep setting) and the bass and distortion controls to 5.
With these settings I get a full and heavy sound, accurate and sharp for rhythm parts.
The lead sound is clear and accurate but with a low dynamic range.
- The amp is not versatile at all, it's conceived for heavy metal and nothing else.
Don't except to get a typical ACDC or Guns and Roses sound, nor a good blues rock sound. The response is too clean and with a high-gain...
- I hate hollow sounds with imposing lows (and this amp can produce enormous lows, especially using the voicing switch). I hate that heavy sound with no dynamics and nuances!
- The main disadvantage of this amp is the lack of dynamics but that's due to the low-quality speaker... which I will replace with a good one!
I give it a 7 because the amp is just alright, average.
I will update this review when I change the speaker to solve the dynamic range problem.
I will make another update after my first live gig with it...
Update, 9 March 2009
It's a good idea to use a distortion pedal, the result is great. I wanted a less metallic sound, more vintage with stronger mids and character (I play in a melodic death and black metal band and the amp sounded too much like modern thrash metal or hardcore).
I used it with my Electro Harmonix Metal Muff and the sound became more precise and clear (no more overemphasized lows), well-articulated, very accurate and with more warmth and character.
I used the pedal with the clean channel so I could boost solo parts and strong passages for some songs.
I haven't tested this setup with my band yet...
OVERALL OPINION
- I bought it in August 2008.
- I like the sound character and the comprehensive controls even if some settings are useless. The amp has a poor dynamic response compared with an all-tube amp.
- I previously tried out several other models: Randall RG50 (yuck!), Randall G2 (very good but discontinued), Randall RX (nice budget product), Peavey Valveking (I don't like the distortion sound), ENGL Screamer (amazing distortion sound but only one EQ section for both channels so it's impossible to get good clean and distortion sounds...)
- Virtually unbeatable value for money in this category, especially if you need a good clean sound.
- I don't know. If I had had more money I would have bought the Randall V2 amp head and a cabinet with V30 speakers!!!