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TC Electronic BH250 vs BQ500. Any advice?

#3
Jimbowhit7 said:
I'm looking for a lightweight amplifier that's versatile for practice and live playing - both through a cabinet and as a DI. Both of these amps look good, and they're the same price. Anyone on here know which is the better buy? I'm not interested in any amps other than these two.
BQ: TC Electronic Thrust BQ500 500-Watt Compact Bass Head

BH: TC Electronic BH250 250-Watt Compact Bass Head
Click to expand...

If I were making that decision, I'd consider the difference in power...what cabinet are you using and what kinds of live scenarios are you talking about? And could the BH come up as insufficient in terms of loudness?

Next difference is the Toneprint feature. If you have no use for it, then that would put the BQ ahead. If it's something you want, AND the loudness potential difference is meaningless for your situation, then the BH would be the choice.
 
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#4
The only things going for the BH are the tone print and the tuner.
The BQ packs 4 band EQ, compressor, aux in & headphone out for practice etc which can be rather useful, and the extra power can be handy. Just the 4 band EQ is a winner for me.
 
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#7
Jimbowhit7 said:
Thanks for the input, guys. I decided to go with the BH250. Now I've discovered that you need a SpeakOn cable to connect it to a cabinet! Just to make sure I'm understanding this correctly, will this cable be the right kind?

Pro Co S12NQ-3 TS-Speakon Speaker Cable - 3'
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Yes.

You might also consider changing the cabinet over. I had a Carvin MBE15 with a 1/4" input and changed it to Speakon. The jack was something like $4. That kind of assumes that you have regular Speakon cable.
 
#8
#10
I had a BQ500 last week. Looked nice enough. I wasn’t bothered about the intelligent EQ or tone prints that the BH has, as I have a spectradrive thAt gives me that.
I was very disappointed in the headphone tone though. Compared to my Spectradrive’s headphone out it was like night and day. The BQ was flat and bland. The SD is full and powerful, with a good range of EQ.
The worse part was there was a loose screw rattling around inside. The amp worked ok but with all the above taken in to consideration I sent it back.
Looking to get a BH800 now.
 
#12
I'm glad I went with the BH250. I got one used for $200 after shipping and tax, and it sounds great! I love the "Comp in the Middle" Spectracomp toneprint, it makes everything sound a little bolder and evened out.
 
#13
IMG_20190123_172030606.jpg

I also love how tiny and light it is compared to my huge Peavey B400H. :D
 
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#14
I think the amp has a combo jack that takes both speakon and 1/4" but I might be mistaken.
Having a speakon to 1/4" cable is never a bad idea.
One of my amps has 1/4" outputs only, one has speakon only, my cabs take both. With two speakon to 1/4" cables I can wire any of my cabs and any amp in any configuration.
 
#15
el murdoque said:
I think the amp has a combo jack that takes both speakon and 1/4" but I might be mistaken.
Having a speakon to 1/4" cable is never a bad idea.
One of my amps has 1/4" outputs only, one has speakon only, my cabs take both. With two speakon to 1/4" cables I can wire any of my cabs and any amp in any configuration.
Click to expand...
That's what I thought, too, but mine will only take a speakon cable! It was an annoying surprise but an easy one to fix.
 
#17
I'm amazed I can't find anything on the BQ500 selling in Canada. Based on a conversion price of US to Cdn dollars it would be a game-changer based on pricing we have for amps here in the Cold, White North. Traynor would get a run for their money (which may explain why Long & McQuade is not carrying the BQs).
 
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#19
Jimbowhit7, I did purchase a connector which you plug your 1/4" speaker jack into a speakon connector. Not sure if this gives you a 100% speakon experience but it would work and you don't need to order a new cable, just the connector. Any naysayers out there with a reason this couldn't work or be optimal?
 

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