All user reviews for the Crate PowerBlock

The Crate Power Block can be use in Monophonic mode at 150 watts at 8 ohms or in Stereo at 75 watts at 4 ohms.
On the front of the CPB, are the Gain, Treble, Mid and Bass knobs, an Input plug and Headphone input so you don't disturb neighbors or your significant other.
The back features an input for RCA Jack's to plug in any outside source like a Tascam CD-GT2 Guitar Phrase Trainer to play along or learn music from . And there is a knob to control the volume .
It has a mono switch , monophonic output and two stereo out put, in case you want to play in stereo .
The Effects Loop needs a "Y" chord to work properly.
I placed a BBE 482 Sonic Maximizer for proper phase alignment and Hush / Rocktron Super C Noise Reduction Unit to act as a Noise Gate in the Effects Loops of my CPB's .

I use mine as if it were a Hiwatt amp : a clean pedal platform to translate what various distortions or clean tone are sent in from my Decibel Eleven Loop Expander, Digitech RP-12, RP-1 and rack processors.

I gain stack my distortions, Overdrive , Fuzz and clean sounds from my multi effects units and set the gain knob in my CPB's at 2 or 3 O'clock, set my guitars volume knob at 6 or 8 for clean sounds .

My Digitech 2112 SGS has 12ax7 tubes and from the left and right balanced out puts they go into two VHT Valvulator 1's before going into my two Crate Power Blocks. I have 100% tube dynamics and sound, I no longer have haul my heavy tube amps around to rehearsals or venues .

This came out way before Quilter, Seymore Duncan Power Stage or Orange Tiny Terror.
In my opinion, this was Crate's greatest / most versatile amp ever and it was way ahead of its time .

Some people use them as a backup, just incase their main amp goes down during a gig, but I managed to get the sounds of my Fender , VHT, Carvin, Peavey, Mesa Boogie and Marshall amps, I keep those aforementioned amps at home safe .

Two years ago, the Crate Power Block was usually selling for $ 80.00 to 120.00 US Dollars, but have doubled in price and when you try one, you will see why .

Crate has been more or less synonymous (for good or bad) with solid state guitar amplification for over two decades. It would make sense then, that they know a thing or two about making them sound good. In some cases yes, and in some cases not so much.

The PowerBlock is very much a case of the yes. It's a small unit, with a heat-sink style top, pushing 150 solid-state watts mono or 75 watts per-side stereo, and it also features XLR line out w/ level control and stereo cd inputs. It works with any standard rated guitar cabinet, operating easily on 4 to 16 ohms, and can drive multiple cabinets with no problems.

Oh, and there's even a headphone jack on the front for you bedroom players.

UTILIZATION

The PowerBlock is very simple to operate, and features Gain, Bass, Treble, Mid, and volume controls. It's very well built, and comes with a soft travel case with a side pocket for storing cables, pics, and whatever frilly undergarments fly up onto the stage during the course of a show.

SOUNDS

Many people are surprised by the quality of the tone available in the Crate PowerBlock, and indeed it doesn't respond or sound much like a solid-state amp, thanks to Crate's tube response-replicating technology. It actually sounds very akin to a big, loud Fender Twin Reverb. The touch sensitivity, compression, and soundstage are impressive. The EQ controls are very responsive, since this is still a solid-state amp, and volume and EQ behave more linearly with the power transistors.

OVERALL OPINION

The Crate PowerBlock gets a huge, clean sound, up into a not-unpleasant mild overdrive. It takes pedals very well, and fellow players will be shocked at the tone you're able to evoke from this little monster. At 150 watts peak power, it can keep up with and even overpower the rest of the band in some cases, all in a package that's smaller than a loaf of bread and weighs merely 5lbs. It's small enough to easily fit in the overhead compartment of a plane if you're gigging overseas, plus it operates on 100v-240VAC, so there is no need for a voltage converter.

The PowerBlock is currently discontinued, but rumors abound of a new model emerging in the next year, so be sure to check it out when they do hit stores. The Crate PowerBlock makes a fine backup or travel amp head for those who need great tone, horsepower, and durability in a small format.

For the character's and rglages, I refer you to the official website ...
The 150w and 75w are 2 times Submitted, we get along well!
The big highlight is the sr weight and height of the vehicle, 2.5 kilograms and few prs the size of a pod.
It supports 110 and 220v, practice.
J'apprcie what really is the fact that you can connect a stro prampli and thus "bypass" SETTING THE all the front panel. Bother to ask whether it is necessary to rework his prampli SETTING THE SETTING THE with the amp, which is the fate of his prampli amplifipeut just be a little color but very little, vrifier with more time spent playing it).

UTILIZATION

Very easy (euphmisme. ..) use, or you plug a guitar into it and thanks the technology WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) it's easily the RULES (d ground for redundancy, p) or it goes through a prampli. In the latter case is all about prampli RULES. The manual is clear and succinic nothing to write a novel about this amp ...

SOUNDS

My config: line 6 4x12 cabinet, guitar luthier and type PRS LTD MHB-400, pod xt live.
The sounds are clean honntes and can relatively easily according to their fawns sound and DSIR gots the time. Clean the quality but it remains in the world of transistors ... it's good but not as fat and alive than the lamps Obviously.
The crunch are saturated trs good quality and the gain will lead to much satursans reach mtal however). I quite agree with his leplussauvage when compared to the JCM 2000 (me too I got a, p). For some extreme styles (from mtal ...), it will add pedals or other prampli.
If you plug a prampli Stros in the entries, the amp controls are inactive and we are left with the sound of his prampli inaltr.

OVERALL OPINION

I did not long ago and I will correct the notice if ncessaire. It's a good little amp that will satisfy the budget and users who like practical things.
Which is really what are its capabilities, headphone amp home power amplifier or simply amp for rpt, XLR outputs with adjustable level for home studio or live application, compact and ger, sounds very convincing (but still ...). transistor
Caution should not expect the soft lights but still really good especially the price trs l

Transistor amplifier with speaker simulation circuit at the inputs and loop pramp.

2 * 75 @ 4 Ohm or 8 Ohm 1x150 @
It is powerful enough cable to my HP dssouder the only time I pushed a little.
There's way to much nerver everyone with a 150W 2x12 '

Between the mono pramp
Effect loop jacks Stereo 2 mono or 1 Stereo jack
Insert CD 2RCA
Line out with level CONTRL
Stereo headphones

Gain, Low, Mid, High, Level: Each well influence the sound.
While the rest of a transistor, but I like the sound of crunchy gain knob bottom.

UTILIZATION

Simple, indeed ...
The sound is good even if there is a sharp buzz ds ignition.
There's no native 36 sounds but not sounds good.
The manual is the wiring INTERESTED simulations of HP.

SOUNDS

It takes a multi-effect or distortion for Exceeds the crunch.
I also play an active low D / P and groove! Ms. ultrabass of the v-amp go out too rough, tell it! I would not say that I have not provided a fat ...
Complterais I use, but I recommend bte indniablement very practical. A test coupled with a prampli lamps ...
Really super versatile ...

OVERALL OPINION

I've had two weeks
It's still a bit noisy, but I do not have excellent cables either ...
It has the PCHE, no doubt, but I have not tried outdoors.
I have not tried other, trs subjective opinion.
Report quality unbeatable price and issue size / weight is the best!
Obviously I would do this choice and I recommend you also do whatever instrument amplifier!

EDIT
I have four years now, and I'm only rgler the problem of acute buzz of a ground loop in faade. Insulate the instrument jacks and headphones with tflon and seal the faucet to the rear faade! It's worth it! on the other hand, it's not whisper quiet either. I always have a lightweight wind output, but much less Gnant the buzz before!
I also use it for my home studio, the mixing desk in between line and two passive monitors behringer output. For this use would be missing even when a volume of entries and symtriques ... But adpanne!
It really is super flexible and convenient.

Amp transistors, 150 watts mono, 2 times 75 watts stereo, a single channel. Facade in regulation of gain, 3 band EQ, volume and basta.
Headphones (with simulation of hp), XLR line output (level adjustable), effects loop, CD input.
No reverb.

UTILIZATION

Very simple configuration, which amounts to 5 buttons. A single channel, which will saturate a clean sounds (crunch). With the gain saturation gives background to the AC / DC. No big metal donc.Le sound convincing enough. The receiver captures the dynamics.
The manual is clear, against the wiring diagram is wrong.

SOUNDS

The amp can play a lot of styles (jazz, blues, rock), except the metal.
I use a Washburn X40-Pro. 2 doubles and split. The receiver captures the different configurations of microphones.
The amp sounds great in clear as saturates. The distortion sounds somewhat reminiscent of Marshall. Playing with the EQ you get to have a sharp sound as well as sounds plump. For cons, I think he does not hesitate to push the sharp, otherwise it is quite dark.
I do not like the headphone output. The simulation of HP did not convince me. It seems she is also on the line out, and you can not disable it, so it is a negative point.

OVERALL OPINION

I use the amp for four months.
What makes this particular amp is its size and weight for the lower power settings.
Another plus is that it possesses an effects loop, and can be used to by-pass the preamp, and use only the section SONC amplification. It allows to add a preamp EXTREN or multi-effects or amp modeling.
Since I paid the $ 99 device, I would say the quality / price is excellent.
This is an amp that sounds good, which is very convenient, highly portable (it comes with his bag), and very cheap.

I made a short video on youtube for the amp to hear sounds clearly and saturates the amplifier:

This is a 150 watt solid state amplifier that can be run in mono or stereo. It uses the standard 1/4" guitar cable jacks with an auxiliary section with RCA inputs to plug in a CD or MP3 player. There is a headphone output, a balanced line out, and the amplifier has controls for gain, low, mid, high, and output level. There is also an effects loop. The main appeal of the amp is it's very small, very light-weight size.

UTILIZATION

The controls are very simple to use, and it provides a decent sound at full, loud volumes quite easily. I don't think I've ever needed to crack open the manual for this amp.

SOUNDS

The tone out of this amplifier is decent, but relatively flat due to the limited controls. It's basically got the same tone as a small practice amp, only on a much more powerful scale. It is fairly quiet and doesn't produce much hiss. However, if pedals or other pre-amp equipment is placed in front of this amp or as part of its effects loop, the tone vastly improves. At this point, the PowerBlock essentially becomes a cheap power amp.

OVERALL OPINION

The main appeal of this amp is its very compact size and weight. Because of this, it makes an excellent backup amp, which is what I used it for when gigging. Fortunately I never needed to use it live because my main rig never went down. I have used it in practice through a half-stack and a 1x12 combo and it works well, so long as effects equipment is used on the front-end for tone shaping.

I've never had any problems with the amplifier. In all honesty, with the right front-end effects gear, 90% of the audience probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference in tone between using this amplifier or a high-end amplifier like a Mesa Boogie.

I've had a year is a great product.
Analog with digital amp, for 150W 2lbs ... and grows stronger!
Malignant hyper, it was an effects loop mono or stereo, or PARALLEL series, with or without simulation of hp.
An output format xlr di adjustable offset, between a stereo RCA, Headphone output, which does not cut the hp of office, and finally the choice of 2x75 or 150 bridg (at 4 and 8 ohms, respectively, did not fall. Within 8 or 16 ohms works very well, though less potent).
In short, the total was more facade gain in bass-treble-mid-level. Remarkable, especially since it makes very little noise operation.

UTILIZATION

Not very easy, must be captured for effects loops and make some custom cables just in case.
If so, not easier, in fact, all frontage is ...
Very easy to get sound, clean or saturax. And if you push the volume is deafening with a 412 for example.

SOUNDS

Mates are correct, this sounds a bit dark crate, climb the treble is required. Why, because the crate has installed a mock guitar just APRS hp effects series back, so it's dark necessarly playing guitar on a hp ...
The trick to LARIFICATION sound is to make a very bte-cinch cable (the tip remains empty, the ring as the APRS dpart prampli The cinch comes without the simulation hp). Simple, but I do not understand the choice of Departure from Crate ...

Saturax background is as a dream marshall, but not a nice grain snack and ears: with real bass!
The amp is very well ragit guitar volume, I leave the gain down and I catch on to the bluesy guitar very nice with enough treble.
Inversment if I do I leave the heavy bottom to gain rhythm and j'enclenche a booster or overdrive (by scratching) for solos.

In clean home clean background volume gain twelve o'clock adcoiffe not bad. I ready a jazz musician (with a small box 10pouces 150w) which has found great and for once strong enough to clean.

With a delay and / or rverbe in the loop is beautiful, especially in stereo on 412. on the other hand with a distal to clean the crate I have not really found my happiness lack of time. I ProCD so today:
guitar box-ab-1: the facade in right bottom crate gain -2: a genesis one rgl clean with reverb that starts in the RCA in the rear of the crate. Three-class sounds and easy to CASC without delay or interruption of reverb when I change channel ...

Nov2010 Edit: this branch in a box crate 3x10 vibroking sends a potato kind of thunder, with amazing clarity (hardrock, gain bottom, scrapes right in), it competes with a hassle free 333 of 412 ... Brilliant! APRS and even hours rpt very strong it does not heat, it is clear that disrupts habits has a max eh!

OVERALL OPINION

Since I bought two cheap price the second stereo amp I use for little over a sound system of local multitrack tapes of last century as a mixer, and the sound is very correct (by a top 12pouces plus a 15 inch sub, actually pull the bazaar for a small head!).
Lger a noise even with nothing plugged into it prohibits its use for home studio monitors such that clear.

Why have stopped production so that all users are enchants? Another mystery Crate is really stupid on their part.

One last thing: look what a speaker!

Two kilos of pure happiness for the back too! Find rest, or have made an ultra-baffle Lger ...
But if you leave your 412 in a small box room and the house in the crate with gigbag guitar and nobody talks about anymore! What progress!

I also used as power amp on the back of a combo (150w hp rigor, eminence 121) line6 spider 30w 4 via adapter Impedance, suddenly I have a volume of hell if necessary , weighing barely more lev. The dream for every gig! Is versatile, compact, yet Lger, and we hear far ...

CRATE 150w amp head POWERBLOCK
150 watts RMS / 8 Ohms mono or 2 x 75 W stereo
super product = Analog preamp transistor (GAIN, Bass, Med, TREBLE)
with Class D amplifier, 2 Kgs for 150w!
Provided in his black shoulder bag cute -
Mini-mini, it looks like a toy ... BUT it grows very very much!
The 150 WATTS RMS advertised are there!
Class D = very powerful yet compact and lightweight
(Universal switching power supply)

Effect loop mono or stereo, parallel or serial
with or without simulation of hp.
1 Output format XLR DI offset adjustable
1 stereo RCA input, headphone output
suitable for guitar and bass



UTILIZATION

Perfect clear sound (gain 10/11h), although its CRUNCH, medium with distortion (transistor preamp distortion type = fuzz, I do not like)
j'utisise but a multi purpose, so ...


SOUNDS

Used (gain at 11am) with MusicMan PETRUCCI ZOOM G7 + + Small Speakers BASS 15P / = 200w/8ohms absolutely brilliant such power as light!


OVERALL OPINION

CRATE ceased production when the company was bought out, too bad the concept was excellent!
There are still some new ones because they have sold their stock at discount stores.
Originally, it was a bit expensive (450 euros)
At current prices, do not hesitate = to an amp or 1 amp main relief, great!