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NAD: Harley Benton Block-800B MKII

R

ReeV0

Apr 5, 2013
732
272
#1
Hi all,

So... I was looking for a cheap backup amp and saw the Harley Benton Block-800B had good reviews and was only $300, so bought one off Thomann which arrived yesterday. Interestingly the one they sent me is MKII.

Long story short, I think this amp is just too good to be sold at this price with 3 year warranty. I think I might actually use it as my main amp! I also currently own a GK Legacy 800, a TC RH750 and an Eich T900 (as well as many others in the past).
A few things I noted...

The good:
  • Physically it is a very quiet unit, the fan doesn't always run and when it does it's whisper quiet. Can barely hear it.
  • Ugly knobs are easily changeable.
  • Heavy enough not to vibrate off a cab (3kg).
  • Interesting I can't get the 'clip' light to activate, even with my active bass's EQ maxed out, and the amp input and EQ all set to max. No red light...
  • I really like the EQ frequencies of the HB compared to the Eich and GK.
  • Haven't noticed the amp getting warm at all, despite there only being two small vents on either side.
  • Opened up the chassis and can see it has an ICEpower 700AS1 power amp. Very impressive considering the price. If I'm not mistaken, this power amp is more powerful than what is in the Eich, which is the 250ASX2 (700W vs 500W). I believe the 700AS1 is also used in the Genzler 800 and Darkglass Microtubes and possibly the GK Legacy 800 (it makes the same clicking noise on startup). These are all far more expensive amps... Although interestingly the 700AS1 is $65 cheaper than the 250ASX2, so not sure which one is better. The latter has lower output but louder dynamic range?
250ASX2 - ICEpower (icepoweraudio.com)
700AS1 - ICEpower (icepoweraudio.com)

The not so good:
  • It seems to have a very constant high noise floor. By constant I mean it is present with no bass plugged in, plugged into the input or effects return, volume at zero or max, mute engaged/disengaged etc... It is worse than my GK Legacy, which I already thought was quite bad. There is lots of white noise even at zero volume, both through DI and headphones (worse through headphones). Haven't had a chance to try it through my BB2 cab yet. There is very little white noise from the TC or Eich. The TC actually has zero white noise when running through the effects return, even on max volume... But I guess that's because the power amp isn't very loud, presumably as it's only 236W. I suppose it's the magic in the preamp that somehow makes it sound much louder.
  • The mute button doesn't mute the white noise or the effects return.
  • DI out volume is pretty quiet (not necessarily a bad thing I guess).
  • Onboard compressor adds a noticeable volume boost... not sure whether I'd use it.

Questions:
  • Does anyone know the difference between the MKI and MKII?
  • Is the amp protected from phantom power?

In summary, I think this amp is brilliant value for money. So much so that I am going to return the Eich which cost me over $1000, and sell the TC. Might end up buying another HB as a backup to the backup!
 

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Reactions: Luthiferian, kikstand454, tindrum and 4 others
#2
I can't get the input gain to clip either but last time I used it as backline another bass player had an alpha omega photon running really hot and it started clipping and popping. Sound engineer did mention he came in hot as heck though but I've never had that happen otherwise.
 
#3
makanudo said:
I can't get the input gain to clip either but last time I used it as backline another bass player had an alpha omega photon running really hot and it started clipping and popping. Sound engineer did mention he came in hot as heck though but I've never had that happen otherwise.
Click to expand...
I've got mine to clip now using my HX Stomp.
 
#4
I've been looking at this also. I have a Markbass LMIII that has a static noise issue, did everything I could to fix it. It will probably cost as much to ship and fix as it would be to just buy a new 800B with a 3 year warranty.
I looked at the HB sight and it also looks like it will fit into my Markbass bag.
 
#5
That is an exceptional price for that amp! You can't get a ICEpower 700AS1 for that price alone. Three-year warranty is also very good. I doubt they'll have problems, but I do wonder if they can support that warranty in the US.

I don't think the original version of that amp had ICEpower in it.

You know the ICEpower is good on noise, so any noise it does have must be coming from the pre-amp. It'd be interesting if you inserted a shorted plug in the effects return if it still had noise. If it does make a difference it could be an EQ in the loop could cut the noise.

There's also a Line in, so noise may be coming in through it. A shorted plug on it may help figure it out.

I think a lot of bass head designers just don't take noise/hiss into account. If they themselves can't hear it, they should at least take a spectral analysis and look for it.
 
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#6
I actually returned my 800B due to the white noise I described in the first post. I picked up a used Markbass LM800 (my first Markbass amp) and used it at rehearsal last night with my Barefaced SM. I gotta say, I'm not massively keen on the tone, but this amp is LOUD! It was noticeably louder than when I used the 800B, which was at the very limit of its power with the clip light illuminating, yet the MB was already louder with no clip indication. Just thought that was interesting...
 
#7
ReeV0 said:
Hi all,

So... I was looking for a cheap backup amp and saw the Harley Benton Block-800B had good reviews and was only $300, so bought one off Thomann which arrived yesterday. Interestingly the one they sent me is MKII.

Long story short, I think this amp is just too good to be sold at this price with 3 year warranty. I think I might actually use it as my main amp! I also currently own a GK Legacy 800, a TC RH750 and an Eich T900 (as well as many others in the past).
A few things I noted...

The good:
  • Physically it is a very quiet unit, the fan doesn't always run and when it does it's whisper quiet. Can barely hear it.
  • Ugly knobs are easily changeable.
  • Heavy enough not to vibrate off a cab (3kg).
  • Interesting I can't get the 'clip' light to activate, even with my active bass's EQ maxed out, and the amp input and EQ all set to max. No red light...
  • I really like the EQ frequencies of the HB compared to the Eich and GK.
  • Haven't noticed the amp getting warm at all, despite there only being two small vents on either side.
  • Opened up the chassis and can see it has an ICEpower 700AS1 power amp. Very impressive considering the price. If I'm not mistaken, this power amp is more powerful than what is in the Eich, which is the 250ASX2 (700W vs 500W). I believe the 700AS1 is also used in the Genzler 800 and Darkglass Microtubes and possibly the GK Legacy 800 (it makes the same clicking noise on startup). These are all far more expensive amps... Although interestingly the 700AS1 is $65 cheaper than the 250ASX2, so not sure which one is better. The latter has lower output but louder dynamic range?
250ASX2 - ICEpower (icepoweraudio.com)
700AS1 - ICEpower (icepoweraudio.com)

The not so good:
  • It seems to have a very constant high noise floor. By constant I mean it is present with no bass plugged in, plugged into the input or effects return, volume at zero or max, mute engaged/disengaged etc... It is worse than my GK Legacy, which I already thought was quite bad. There is lots of white noise even at zero volume, both through DI and headphones (worse through headphones). Haven't had a chance to try it through my BB2 cab yet. There is very little white noise from the TC or Eich. The TC actually has zero white noise when running through the effects return, even on max volume... But I guess that's because the power amp isn't very loud, presumably as it's only 236W. I suppose it's the magic in the preamp that somehow makes it sound much louder.
  • The mute button doesn't mute the white noise or the effects return.
  • DI out volume is pretty quiet (not necessarily a bad thing I guess).
  • Onboard compressor adds a noticeable volume boost... not sure whether I'd use it.

Questions:
  • Does anyone know the difference between the MKI and MKII?
  • Is the amp protected from phantom power?

In summary, I think this amp is brilliant value for money. So much so that I am going to return the Eich which cost me over $1000, and sell the TC. Might end up buying another HB as a backup to the backup!
Click to expand...
so overall is a good choice as a main amp? I was between a rumble 500/800 or a ampeg portaflex 800 but this is much cheaper
 
#8
10emmanuel said:
so overall is a good choice as a main amp? I was between a rumble 500/800 or a ampeg portaflex 800 but this is much cheaper
Click to expand...
Only available through thomann.de in Germany. You might get hit with shipping, US import taxes then import tax when you take it back home. Check if thomann.de ship directly to your home country.
[This invalid link has been removed]
 
#9
abarson said:
Only available through thomann.de in Germany. You might get hit with shipping, US import taxes then import tax when you take it back home. Check if thomann.de ship directly to your home country.
[This invalid link has been removed]
Click to expand...
I am going to Germany in September! So you
Think is a good purchase to
March in a rig that will be used in small gigs and garage band rehearsal? Rock generally
 
#10
Can you get it serviced in your home country? Almost certainly there won’t be any warranty in your region when bought outside of your region.
 
#11
ReeV0 said:
I actually returned my 800B due to the white noise I described in the first post. I picked up a used Markbass LM800 (my first Markbass amp) and used it at rehearsal last night with my Barefaced SM. I gotta say, I'm not massively keen on the tone, but this amp is LOUD! It was noticeably louder than when I used the 800B, which was at the very limit of its power with the clip light illuminating, yet the MB was already louder with no clip indication. Just thought that was interesting...
Click to expand...
did they charge you for return shipping? since it was noisy
 
#12
I just got mine in with the HB 2x10 and 1x15.

It is a little confusing. I am getting so much string/fret noise (I'm a fairly new player and know I need to work on technique).

But I don't understand the compressor function. It seems to change volume more than anything. Should I set it at 0 and move from there, or at 12 and adjust left and right to taste?

I've never used a compressor before.
 
#18
seamonkey said:
That is an exceptional price for that amp! You can't get a ICEpower 700AS1 for that price alone. Three-year warranty is also very good. I doubt they'll have problems, but I do wonder if they can support that warranty in the US.

I don't think the original version of that amp had ICEpower in it.

You know the ICEpower is good on noise, so any noise it does have must be coming from the pre-amp. It'd be interesting if you inserted a shorted plug in the effects return if it still had noise. If it does make a difference it could be an EQ in the loop could cut the noise.

There's also a Line in, so noise may be coming in through it. A shorted plug on it may help figure it out.

I think a lot of bass head designers just don't take noise/hiss into account. If they themselves can't hear it, they should at least take a spectral analysis and look for it.
Click to expand...

Just quoting myself as recent information shows these are no longer use ICEpower.
It seemed too good to be true to last.
 
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