Author Topic: BBE BMAX preamp (Read 118 times)

precarius · « **on:** February 08, 2011, 08:16:28 PM »

Does anybody have experience with this preamp? I picked one up for $150 just for something different to play with. Anybody like it? Anybody hate it?

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:48:34 AM »

I have their Acoustimax preamp for acoustic instruments. I love it. It also has their famous Sonic Maximzer included in the unit.

Bill, tgo

bsee · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:39:05 AM »

I have heard good things about the tube version, though less interest in the non-tube. Everything has a color and everyone has an ear. It's a rare item in the market that doesn't have some usable tones in it. If you have it, give it a whirl. Toss any preconceptions out the window and give all the knobs a thorough spin, you may find something interesting.

precarius · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2011, 09:13:56 AM »

Leaving the F1-X aside, to my ears, I can't tell that much difference between a solid state amp and an amp with a 12AX7 tube in the preamp. With the F1-X I can hear a big difference with a different brand tube. Everything else? Not so much.

bassman4 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2011, 06:12:56 PM »

A a general review, it's a good quality mid-line pre-amp; with the added clarity of the BBE circuit...The compressor function on it is very adequate, though it does not rise to the level of a DBX 160A...The gain structuring is very good...but the unit itself can be noisy in non-filtered power situations.

Overall; I would not be ashamed to fire it up on stage at all. The Tube version; (BMax-T) is warmer in tonality, nothing more.

bassman10096 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:37:53 PM »

I use the non-tube version in rehearsal and have occasionally taken it to a gig when I've had problems in my stage rig. It doesn't give me the sound I like in my main rig, but having heard a couple other players playing through it (we were responsible for providing the backline for a benefit), I'd say it sounded pretty good out front. A bargain for $150.