Loaded with an all-analog preamp and Class-D power amp, the Microtubes 500v2 from Darkglass Electronics is a 500W amplifier head sporting the potent Microtubes B3K Engine. Capable of delivering everything from soft and warm overdrive to massive modern distortion for a range of applications, the Microtubes 500v2 is an excellent choice for studio or stage.
Front-panel controls include active 6-band EQ, a Drive knob for controlling the distortion level, and a Blend knob for balancing clean and distorted signals. You can select between two overdrive voicings: B3K for aggressive, punchy bass, or VMT for a more neutral vintage tone with warmer mids. Further controls include compression (assignable to clean, B3K, or VMT tones), Tone for adjusting a variable low-pass filter, and switchable Active or Passive modes. I/O includes a 3-ohm speakON speaker output, a headphone output for silent practice, an aux input for playing along with or amplifying your favorite tracks, and an XLR output with three selectable cabinet emulations for DI applications.
The Tone knob controls the high harmonic content of the Microtubes Engine via a variable low pass filter: crank it up for additional attack and definition or dim it down for a smoother sound, especially handy if already running bright clean EQ setting or cabinets with tweeters.
- Bass: ±12 dB at 80 Hz
- Mids control of ±12 dB at 250 and 500 Hz, as well as 1.5 and 3 kHz
- Treble: ±12 dB at 5 kHz