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TC Electronic BH500 - Good or Bad Choice?
- Thread starter Mr Antt
- Start date
Common problem usually when trying these amps out in a store.
You have no idea what the previous person has stored and when you fire up - usually sounds like shite!
For those with a little patience (or have a brand spanker) read up and enjoy.
What you percieve as a flat setting on these amps (all dials at noon), clearly is not.
How anyone can say the RH450 is not enough power clearly has a dodgey amp or has it set all wrong.
I'm also planing to buy the BH500 Head with two BC212 Cabs. I've read, that the Heads works best with their own TC Cabs.
That could be the Reason why (for Example) the BC Cabs have no Attenuator for their Tweeter, because you'll get the Tweetertone Knob on the Amp. That makes Sense imo, because i allway found it strange to have to go behind my Cabs to adjust the Tweeter during a Gig. So in this Case, TC has done their Homework to put the Knob on the Amp.
I guess it's a matched System that works perfect with their Components together.
I've read that the Amps lack in Combination with other Cabs and sound great with the TC System Cabs...
That could be the Reason why (for Example) the BC Cabs have no Attenuator for their Tweeter, because you'll get the Tweetertone Knob on the Amp. That makes Sense imo, because i allway found it strange to have to go behind my Cabs to adjust the Tweeter during a Gig. So in this Case, TC has done their Homework to put the Knob on the Amp.
I guess it's a matched System that works perfect with their Components together.
I've read that the Amps lack in Combination with other Cabs and sound great with the TC System Cabs...
I wouldn't venture so far as to say that these amps "lack" in combination with cabinets other than TCE's. I gig my BH500 with Hartke Hydrive 112 cabs, at times with one-other times with both, and could not be happier. A lot depends on what sound and set up suits one best. IMO the TC Electronic cabs (RS series, I have no experience with the BC's) are excellent in most regards, with most any amp. I personally prefer the flexibility that the HyDrives give me, 30 pounds, front ported, 8 ohm or 4 ohm switchable etc... They work great for me. With that said, the amp rocks! I tried a number of other cabinets, that fact remains 
I'm going to try this head on our gig this weekend in Cajun's Wharf Little Rock which is a large room. I'll put my avatar and mark cabs on it and bring it to a 4 ohm load. I think that will get me what I need. This head sounds damn good at home. Dirty like a tube head.
Good to hear you're giving it another go, hope all goes well.
For the feature set you're presented with, and the rather competitive price it's a great head in my opinion. I like the simplicity, I can't get my head around the semi-parametric EQ on the RH heads, except the Classic450 of course. The RH heads are so much more expensive, for what is basically the same. I also don't understand the Blacksmith. It looks great, and I probably wouldn't say no but why is it that big? There aren't any real tubes in it or anything as far as I'm aware.
I really like the BH500, I think it's great and I've definitely made the right decision.
Just placed my Order for 2 BC212 Cabs and a BH500 Head. Can't await to get it...
The cool Thing is, I play in two Bands. So I will place one BC212 Cab in each Rehearsal Room and only take the Head with me from one Practice to the other.
For smaller Gigs i guess 1 Cab will be enough and for bigger Stages I can take both of them and get 2x2x12"
The cool Thing is, I play in two Bands. So I will place one BC212 Cab in each Rehearsal Room and only take the Head with me from one Practice to the other.
For smaller Gigs i guess 1 Cab will be enough and for bigger Stages I can take both of them and get 2x2x12"
AREA said:Just placed my Order for 2 BC212 Cabs and a BH500 Head. Can't await to get it...
The cool Thing is, I play in two Bands. So I will place one BC212 Cab in each Rehearsal Room and only take the Head with me from one Practice to the other.
For smaller Gigs i guess 1 Cab will be enough and for bigger Stages I can take both of them and get 2x2x12"
Ahh, that's smart. Good idea. You'll have to let us know how you get on with yours
OK, so in the quest to explore hooking up multiple cabs with the BH500, i explored feeding an external amp through the front panel XLR output.
First, i tried an old school Carver PM 300 that i use for close field monitoring and mixing ( I LOVE this amp for its accurate sound, not for loudness.) Connected head to the amp XLR toXLR to a JBL JRX115 PA cabinet. Output was abysmal with amp in bridged mode (300W). Not nearly loud at all even with the external amp pegged on 11....
So then i tried a QSC RMX850 that i borrowed from my home theatre (I run 3 of these plus a HSU powered sub in a 6.1 configuration), and same thing.
I figured out that the XLR output is controlled by the PREamp gain, not the master. Disadvantage is that you cannot turn the pregain up ENOUGH to drive the input stage of a normal commercial power amp without your peak level on the preamp going crazy.
I have a dbx 163x that i plug into before going into the BH500 preamp. I just have had this compressor for so many years that no other compressor has that FAT analogue sweetness. NOT that the SPECTRACOMP is BAD at all. But i have the output gain on the DBX at unity gain and still I cant turn the pregain on the BH500 past 5 without it peaking.
So if anyone had any sucess with this I'd love to know. Only solution I CAN THINK OF is a single rackspace mini mixer to run the head xlr out into and then feed the external amp through the mixer. But then im going from a 2 rackspace to 4 plus the amp rack.
Unless I'm missing something more obvious?
First, i tried an old school Carver PM 300 that i use for close field monitoring and mixing ( I LOVE this amp for its accurate sound, not for loudness.) Connected head to the amp XLR toXLR to a JBL JRX115 PA cabinet. Output was abysmal with amp in bridged mode (300W). Not nearly loud at all even with the external amp pegged on 11....
So then i tried a QSC RMX850 that i borrowed from my home theatre (I run 3 of these plus a HSU powered sub in a 6.1 configuration), and same thing.
I figured out that the XLR output is controlled by the PREamp gain, not the master. Disadvantage is that you cannot turn the pregain up ENOUGH to drive the input stage of a normal commercial power amp without your peak level on the preamp going crazy.
I have a dbx 163x that i plug into before going into the BH500 preamp. I just have had this compressor for so many years that no other compressor has that FAT analogue sweetness. NOT that the SPECTRACOMP is BAD at all. But i have the output gain on the DBX at unity gain and still I cant turn the pregain on the BH500 past 5 without it peaking.
So if anyone had any sucess with this I'd love to know. Only solution I CAN THINK OF is a single rackspace mini mixer to run the head xlr out into and then feed the external amp through the mixer. But then im going from a 2 rackspace to 4 plus the amp rack.
Unless I'm missing something more obvious?
I think the BH500 is a brilliant amp, I now have an Ampeg PF500 to compare it with, I have not really given the PF much more than half an hours playing and that was at home, but playing one after the other I can honestly say that the BH500 seems like it has more bottom and output, it shook the house more than the Ampeg, it can get almost any tone you want with a fair bit of knob twiddling, the built in tuner is great as are the tweetertone and tube tone, not to mention the 3 presets and 2 contours, for the money it has to be the most comprehensive and best value head in its market sector .
Where the Ampeg scores higher is in the simplicity of getting your tone, just set the gain and master, bit of EQ and job done where the BH takes a bit of time to suit the room you are in, the PF is also much smaller and lighter, both great heads
I know there has been much discussion about TC Electronic`s power rating at 236 watts but the BH500 is easily as powerful as other amps I have had, it blew away my GK MB210 with MBE115 (rated 500 watts), does this prove that watts numbers are not real world and that your ears are ?
Where the Ampeg scores higher is in the simplicity of getting your tone, just set the gain and master, bit of EQ and job done where the BH takes a bit of time to suit the room you are in, the PF is also much smaller and lighter, both great heads
I know there has been much discussion about TC Electronic`s power rating at 236 watts but the BH500 is easily as powerful as other amps I have had, it blew away my GK MB210 with MBE115 (rated 500 watts), does this prove that watts numbers are not real world and that your ears are ?
Imo, it proves that watts are a measurement of power not volume & that you dig your amp. So that's cool.
Still think TC should've explained 'emselves better in the first place, but that's not the issue.
That you like the amp & that it's loud enough is
Still think TC should've explained 'emselves better in the first place, but that's not the issue.
That you like the amp & that it's loud enough is
I am going to use both heads at band rehearsal this friday, I want to give the Ampeg a good test, I may end up liking it more than the BH
I have to admit, I'm thoroughly enjoying mine. It is loud, it plugged into my two cabs out in the garage, and I never actually realised how poorly built, and just how dangerous the inside of that building is. I had it on volume two and everything was shaking. The roof rattled, things on the wall were shaking, and unfortunately all this background noise meant I couldn't hear it properly through the cabs. However, I've been using the headphone output with my iPod plugged in for backing tracks, etc. It sounds great; it's such a versatile amp. There are so many different tones I can get, especially by tweaking the EQ on my bass too. I going to have to move my cabs to somewhere I can properly test this amp through them though, I want to hear what it's capable of.
I have to admit, that I personaly didn't like the BH500. I now went to the Ampeg PF500 and like it for my personal Taste Way more....
I couldn't dial in a Tone that satisfies me really. Sounds very sterile in my Ears and the Tweetertone does something with the Heighs, that did not pleases me....
I couldn't dial in a Tone that satisfies me really. Sounds very sterile in my Ears and the Tweetertone does something with the Heighs, that did not pleases me....
Well, just shows that it's not suited to everybody. There's nothing wrong with that, glad to hear you're enjoying you Ampeg though
I can see how some dont get on with the BH500, its almost as though it has too many options whereas the PF500 is more plug and play without a lot of tweaking .
This was my side by side comparison of my BH500 and a Genz Benz Streamliner 600, through my Avatar 410N:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/b-tce-bh500-genz-benz-stm600-868632/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/b-tce-bh500-genz-benz-stm600-868632/
I read through that comparison when you posted it, thanks for sharing that information with us.
I was able to use mine at our college's Easter concert. Paired with my Peavey 410, it was plenty loud and I was able to get just the sound I needed. Cut really well through two guitars, heavy drums, four singers, a trumpet and three saxophones, all mic'd. Didn't even touch half volume with only 4 gain.
It's a really great head, I'd certainly recommend it to anybody on a budget who's looking for plenty of power and a great set of features.
I had a bit of a buzz going on, sounded like a loose screw, so I took the head out of the case. Easy 4 screws and it slides right out. All that was needed was the transformer's plate bolts to be tightened down. No more vibration. Tightened all screws, some needed a half turn or so.
So I took a few shots, for those who are interested. Man, TCE sure left a lot of room in there (plenty of smuggling room)! This could easily have been a little more compact - better use of space layout, IMHO.
The cabinet is well made and very light. All the weight of this head comes from the Millennium Falcon style transformer and armoured steel plate base...
So I took a few shots, for those who are interested. Man, TCE sure left a lot of room in there (plenty of smuggling room)! This could easily have been a little more compact - better use of space layout, IMHO.
The cabinet is well made and very light. All the weight of this head comes from the Millennium Falcon style transformer and armoured steel plate base...
Yeah they could have made them more compact like the RB series. Guess that's one reason the RB series cost more.
