Bugera Veyron Tube BV1001T

I had this amp for about a month and a half now, and let me tell you, for the price, especially used, this thing ROARS! I've been using it with a modified Ampeg V4 (4x12) cabinet with 4 Eminence Basslite S2012s and this amp makes this cabinet sing. My first impression, run through the V4, was "Whoa!!" The notes were BIG, fat and knock-down punchy. It really woke the cab up. My Band Leader asked "what's that?!" after the first few notes.

The 2000 watt rating is pretty silly, but from my perspective, it's got lots of power to push the biggest cabs you cab throw at it (as long at total load is no less than 4 ohm). It's likely very comparable to most of the 800 watt class D amps out there, and those do not have the Tube preamp.

As for the tube preamp, it really does give this amp added warmth that I did not get from my solid state class D amp (TC Electronic BH250, even with the TubeDrive toneprint). With the BV1001T, I can get warmth, grit or downright grind from the Gain and Volume knobs if I'd like, and get it stupid loud from the Master knob (but be careful, if the Gain and Volume are pegged, a small movement from the Master will give a "pop" sound).

I've found my favorite setting is shown in the image below, at least from my 2x Ampeg SVT210AVs; the V4 has me dial down the bass knob to about 9 - 10 o'clock.

I do have a couple of gripes, but they are really just "why would they have done that?" things.

1) There are LEDs illuminating the interior to "simulate" tube illumination; it's just silly. I could have done without that.
2) Would have liked the 5-freq selector of the M version of the Veryon vs 3 on the T
3) "Veyron"? Sorry this is no super-car...

Bottom line is I think this is a very good amp. I think it's gotten a bit of bad rap with all the other Music Tribe history. Only question I have now is do I keep the BH250, or not. I really don't think I'm going to need it any further.

So what's all the fuzz about these latest amps?
TC electronics, Hartke, Bugera, even Behringer???
They're basically all the same engine, with different covers, save for the older Behringer.
The luxury Sedan would be the TC electronics, which ups the ante by offering an advanced digital preamp, with hundreds of settings,and saving presets.

The Hartke, not so sure. It's very basic and really sounding well and tuned for working with their newest hydrive cabs, especially on the brights. Pair the Hartke with there regular ALU or paper cone drives, and it sounds pretty much like any other amp out there.

Bugera vs Behringer?
Well, it's basically the same company, but 2 different beasts.
The Behringer sounds a lot better, thanks to a much more advanced, and better chosen frequencies on the preamp, but is limited in peak power draw.

The Bugera has round about the same wall power draw, of avg 27W idle VS 20W on the Behringer, and 80W on the AC continuous (which is the same for the Behringer).
I'm beginning to think it might be my cab?
Because it's pretty astonishing to find that the supposed 2000W peak amp, draws only UpTo 80W, with volume dial all open, and gain clipping.
The Bugera is popping the cone of my cab, while the Behringer isn't, yet both use about the same RMS Watts.

I guess I could draw lines, into saying that the Bugera is a slightly tuned Behringer, with slightly more low end punch, but similar low-mids to highs, and draws exactly the same power on the AC.

So if the TC electronics is compared to a luxury sedan, like a Lincoln or Mercedes, and Hartke a specific mid class car like a Hyundai Veloster, the Bugera might be a Porsche Carrera (Not a promised Veyron). And the Behringer an econo-car, leather seats and full option.

Get the Behringer for bedroom and small rehearsals.
The Bugera for most live settings.
The Hartke for if you have the Hartke hydrive cabs
The TC electronics if you're a professional, or an intellectual, and can understand the hundreds of options this amp offers. Besides, it's hard to make that TC sound bad!

Overall, the Bugera is a good amp, comparable to a solid state amp of similar cost, only a fraction of the weight, and looks good too.
Don't expect miracles, but unless you have Hartke Hydrive cabs, go with the Bugera amp.
Better looking, more options, same price.

Gave plenty of juice and grind. I'm glad I know that the flat is bass 9 mid 10 on 2k treble 11. Compressor was fine when I dialed it in but had to retune after adjusting gain down to clean it up when I got third set crazy loud. The low E string sounded loose when pushed when I was riding the tube gain but that may have been the acoustic bn112 getting to its tipping point. Very cool amp that is a bit big (with fitbin my mini m80) but has lots of juice in tap. I wish I knew how many watts it was at 8 and 4 ohms.