General ---

I was in the market to replace my worn out smaller set-up, and I expected to find that another 210 would do the job. After trying out many different amps, I came across this one. Although a music store is a horrid environment in which to evaluate the performance of an amp, this amp made every bass in the place - active or passive - sound decent. After a few months of using it, to my ears it sounds like it can produce the punch and focus of an all 10 box, but can also deliver fuller, rounder lows and a spike in the forehead high snap. The tone-shaping tools are all there. It is possible to dial in "your sound" with the knobs, and use the graphic EQ to maintain "your sound" in whatever venue you're in. Overall it's a very capable and versatile product, and I can certainly recommend it.

Unique features and caveats ---

* The Drive knob is supposed to produce some sort of tube overdrive emulation. This is a solid state amp, and a good clean sound is its strength. However, if you turn the Drive knob half way up (the 12:00 o'clock position) and beyond, distortion does creep into the sound and build as you crank it. So long as you keep it below half-up and don't whack your instrument too hard, the Drive knob sounds more like a high-mid control. * The effects loop is probably post-EQ. Even if this is incorrect, the signal through the loop on my amp is WAY too hot and distorts every effect I have, even the ones that can attenuate input gain. In any case, you cannot choose between pre- or post-EQ through the effects loop. * There is no polarity switch, and there are warnings not to defeat the ground prong of the AC plug-in. I haven't found 60 cycle hum to be a problem, but I suppose the potential exists. * Another review stated that this amp is loud. I concur; it is plenty loud. However, it does seem to throw the sound so that the complete tone is produced farther from the cabinet than other amps I've used. If you have to perform right up next to this amp and want to change the tone, be aware that what you hear is not what your audience hears. Of course, you could use this amp mainly as a stage monitor and use the XLR direct out to feed the house system. In that case you can select the pre-EQ direct send and fiddle with the tone knobs all you want. * For the sound this amp produces, it is a reasonable size and weight. It has kick-back casters so that you can tilt it back as if it were on a hand-truck/dolly. If you have your instrument in a gig bag with a shoulder strap, you can tote all your gear from your vehicle to the stage in one trip. If there's more than half a flight of stairs, you'll want some help. * I think the Balance knob lets you send more or less signal through the 8" or 15" speaker. I just leave it in the middle detent. I don't know the crossover frequency and it does not sound as if the Balance knob affects that. Whatever the crossover point is works well and makes the system sound good, and I believe the bi-amp feature is what makes this amp so capable and versatile.

Construction	90%
The knobs are a bit flimsy but the box is solid.
Loudness	95%
Clarity	90%
If you really push it, it will clip. Built in limiters help.
Tone	95%
Size/Bulkiness	90%
Value	100%
It's cheaper than both the Peavey Combo 210TX and the Carvin RC210 with the c
achet of the Ampeg name.
Overall	95%