ENGL E606 Ironball

See "Info" tab.
I write this review to clarify that
- The Power Soak only works on the 8 ohm output.
- The headphone output is 8 ohms. The manufacturer recommends a headphone 8-32 ohms.

UTILIZATION

The manual is complete but only in English / German. (Note: I bought in Italy.)
Nothing complicated to understand, the settings are conventional.
The manual specifies the connection to the footswitches. It seems conventional, so contrary to what I was told a seller, you must use one other than the Z4. I also tried a conventional footswitch in mono, and it worked half (there are two entry orders so it takes footswitch stereo), which tends to confirm.

SOUNDS

I use it with an SG and a cab 2xV30.
I just have. I can not say much relevant about sound my point of comparison is my old combo transistors low end. Inevitably, there is a chasm.

OVERALL OPINION

I chose it for its power setting (power soak) and headphone output. With these criteria, I had a choice with ESRD Studio at Laney. I had not tried any of the two before, but I was recommended the Ironball.
I tried a Tubemeister 18 combo a few weeks earlier. It seemed to me as well. I do not have enough ear, or not enough compared to the difference catches my ears.
If there Ironball combo, I might have taken the combo release.

Amp head lamp 2 channels 20 Watts. The power stage is switchable between 20, 5, 1 W or off to play with headphones. Integrated adjustable reverb behind the amp (damage).

Control footswitch (not included in base) can: Master reverb + or Canal + boost

I regret it is not possible to have a more complete than the Z4 footswitch because at times can disable / enable the reverb seems to be as important as power switcher channel.

UTILIZATION

The configuration is very simple and it is difficult to find a bad sound The manual, I opened it only to find out how to use the power switch behind the amp to be sure not to damage and explanations were very clear. I bought a pedal more Engl Z4 allows me to switch from one channel to another and to enable or disable the boost. Too bad it is not possible to have a more complete pedal also controls the reverb.

SOUNDS

I play mostly metal / rock / blues and the three styles I get the sound I want. It is very easy to spend a beautiful clear sound condition not to connect a guitar that sends severe because the amp is very sensitive to the instrument used. I switch between an ESP M-II, Gibson SG, Fender Stratocaster and the difference is very marked difference between these guitars. The effect of the amp loop is very useful and works really well. This is the first time I used this feature and it caused me no concern. What bothers me a bit is the setting of the reverb on the back of the amp.

For the moment I plugged it on my combos that are both 1x12 "but the sound and always excellent. (V30 and Celestion G12K-85)

I also played a lot of headphones with this amp and I must admit I did not expect that the sound is also good with. Suffice to say that it does not bother me to play with headphones and that's the trick of my girlfriend and my neighbors. I use a Sennheiser HD-25 for info.

OVERALL OPINION

This is one month that I have and for the first time I found nothing to complain about. I always liked the sound Engl and I really feel to have found my sound especially with my Gibson SG and the combo that to Celestion G12K-85. I'd love to test it on a 2x12 and 4x12 cab to see the difference.

Only downside for me: No + channels reverb control and adjustment reberb behind the amp.

Guitar Amp Head
All 1W/5W/20W lamp, lamps amplifier: 2 x EL84, preamp Lamps: 4 x ECC83
2 Channel Controls: Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence control
Gain Boost and Gain controls for each channel, and Master Volume Controls Lead
Power Attenuator: Off / 1 Watt / 5 Watt / Full Power
Line output with frequency corrected for direct recording
Serial effects loop with Send and Return jack plugs
Headphone output
Built-in reverb with adjustable rear
Outputs for external speakers 8 and 16 Ohm
2 connectors for pedal Z4
Crank optional Z4 not supplied
Dimensions: 335 x 142 x 217mm
Weight: 8.4 kg
Made in Germany

Perfect for playing at home without disturbing the neighbors, at any level the sound is always clean (it either 5W or 1W 20W). I have not yet tested the headphone output.

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple, no need instruction!
The sound you want quickly is obtained.

SOUNDS

The clean has a very warm and round sound, with the boost engaged it starts from already seriously in OD.
The lead channel provides a wide variety of sounds ranging from rock to modern metal (with the boost in addition to the solos, it's perfect!)
You can do anything with, clean, blues, rock, hard, heavy, ... extreme metal, also depends on the guitar and pickups that you use on. This Engl will delight more than one and that in all styles of music. Personally I do mainly metal (sudden death) and this sends severe head for its size. Engl strikes a blow.

Using a pedalboard with separate pedals, I can tell you that I just deleted my distortion pedals that serve me for nothing (so the lead channel of the head is good).

For cons, I put all my pedalboard in effect and there is simply fabulous loop. With an equalizer, noise gate, flanger, chorus and delay (for now it is enough for me). The equalizer allows me to sculpt the sound is even more offers huge variations in addition to the equalizer of the head, which is already very good. Other effects in the loop are perfect. I tested the live pedalboard (front connection) and its effects appears much lower. The effects loop is very good.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 weeks and I could not do without! It is plugged into a 4x12 Engl.

The +
Its weight, size and SOUND

The -
For 900 € Engl would think a carrying case or could provide Z4 footswitch! This is the only complaint that I had to do!

I would do this choice without hesitation because the head is a very good alternative for bosser home with all the lights and sends severe for all styles of zic, friends metalheads do not hesitate.

It is all a head lamp:

- Power: 20 Watt
- Lamps amplifier: 2 x EL84
- Lamps preamplifier: 4 x ECC83
- 2 channels with a common equalizer
- Controls: Bass, Mid, Treble
- Presence Control
- Gain Control and Gain Boost Thomann channel
- Controls Master Volume and Lead
- Power Attenuator: Off / 1 Watt / 5 Watt / Full Power
- Line Out with frequency corrected for direct recording
- Effects Loop in series with Jack plugs Send and Return
- Headphone output (rare on any head lamp)
- Reverb built with adjustable rear
- Outputs for external speakers 8 and 16 Ohm Thomann
- 2 connectors for pedal Z4
- Crank Z4 optional not supplied
- Dimensions: 335 x 142 x 217mm
- Weight: 8.4 kg
- Made in Germany

UTILIZATION

Tested for 1 h at the store with my personal guitar a Hamer XT series Dimarzio DP 100 mounted to the bridge and a Seymour Duncan SH-4 split the handle, all on a mesa boogie 1x12 speaker cabinet correct then the headphone alone.

Usage is fairly simple 10 min to digest everything and understand the logic of the knobs.

I go into detail in the Sounds section.

The manual I downloaded from the website but personal ENGL is useless apart how to connect the HP and other elements correctly.

SOUNDS

Playing mainly in the registry Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and metal but also blues rock I wanted to see an amp has all the lamp and can be used at home in your room without making rage neighboring versatile faith. ENGL short answer is everything.

The speaker:

on the channel clear accurate sound and it does not own net forgiving games. We arrive to obtain a broad range of sounds and playing with the knobs on the guitar pickups. If you gain a well mounted versatile crunch we get to kick the rock record DEEP Purple and another group of 70. By activating the boost of the clear channel is a well-muscled OD for the Iron Maiden or Judas Priest.

On the Drive channel on how to feel the beast that wants out of the cage always clean, crisp sound that will tickle the metalheads. engage the boost and the hairy black eyes to be filled.

The headphone:

The headphone of the store was not as high-end speaker, but the sound is still good and does not in any way effect "transistor" to repeat quietly at home is the foot.

OVERALL OPINION

I tried a few amps before H & K a Marshall but particularly hang. ENGL was the perfect weapon to my expectations:

Versatile.
a headphone to play quietly at home.
a power range.
small handy and robust (thank you German quality)
and respects your guitar really well. It does not distort the sound. If you connect a TV SS him you blues and rock. And ESP with EMG 81 it's heavy metal. (Just normal ...)

Around 9 because perfection does not exist

A personal as I tried the H & K TubeMeister 18 combo but not too focused on fairly neutral was much warmer and creamy its not really to achieve extreme sounds.

The +

Everything has been said

The -

High price € 900
No footswitch comes with the price I find it disappointing

I think bought this little bomb next week hoping it has not already been sold.