Designed to offer the functionalities of a tuner, boost pedal, FX loop, and DI boxall in a single, compact device.
Exceptional Wireless Performance
The B-8 Wireless system operates flawlessly within the 2.4 GHz frequency range, ensuring uninterrupted broadcasting without global interference. Its outstanding 24-bit 48 kHz audio quality guarantees crystal-clear sound reproduction, preserving fidelity and preventing unwanted audio degradation during performances. With an exceptional signal transmitting latency as low as 2.5ms at peak performance and an extensive operational range of up to 50 meters (160 feet), the B-8 exemplifies reliability and versatility in wireless transmission for musicians. It also features a user-friendly pairing system for easy setup. Turning on both the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) initiates automatic pairing within seconds. Each set employs a unique pairing algorithm, enabling instant detection and configuration of their IDs. This intuitive process ensures a swift and stronger connection.
Long Battery Life and Efficient Recharging Convenience
The TX component of the system is equipped with a spacious Li-ion battery, ensuring an extensive battery life of up to 6.5 hours on a single charge. Additionally, for added convenience, the TX unit is designed to be easily placed atop the RX unit, allowing for seamless recharging. This innovative design enables users to effortlessly recharge the TX unit by docking it onto the RX, ensuring a hassle-free and efficient charging process between performances.
Enhanced Performance Arsenal: Built-in Booster and Versatile Tuning Options
Additionally, the B-8 Wireless system includes a built-in booster and a digital tuner. The tuner offers various modes such as Chromatic, Guitar Standard, Guitar Compensated, and Bass tuning, providing musicians with versatile tuning options for on-stage performances. These additional features enhance the B-8’s usability for live performances.
Extensive Signal Routing Options
Catering to versatile routing needs, the B-8 offers 1/4” OUTPUT/SEND and RETURN jacks. Connect your effect pedals via the SEND jack to send signals for processing, and use the RETURN jack to bring the processed signals back into the system. This feature allows seamless integration of external effects, empowering musicians to customize their sound effortlessly. Additionally, this also includes a D.I. output that gives you a direct signal to mixers and audio interfaces, providing a versatile and streamlined setup for musicians with convenient audio routing and direct integration with sound systems.
NUX B-8 Highlights include:
- Wireless system, tuner, boost pedal, FX loop, and DI box in one pedal
- Operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency range with 24-bit 48 kHz audio quality.
- Minimal signal transmitting latency of 2.5ms and an operational range of up to 50 meters (160 feet)
- User-friendly pairing system for automatic and quick connection between the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) with a unique pairing algorithm.
- Includes a built-in booster and a digital tuner with multiple modes (Chromatic, Guitar Standard, GuitarCompensated, and Bass tuning)
- 1/4” OUTPUT/SEND and RETURN jacks for integration of effect pedals.
- D.I. output for direct connection to mixers and audio interface.
The NUX B-8 carries a street price of $319.
For more information, please visit nuxaudio.com.
BRAND NEW | NUX B8 2.4GHz Guitar Wireless System
Is this the ultimate metal head for 21st-century tube-amp addicts on a budget?
Great range of heavy tones. Useful effects, IRs, and noise gate. Killer value.
Limited clean-channel headroom. Only three included IRs. Somewhat lackluster reverb.
$1,499
Engl Ironball E606SE Special Edition
engl-amps.com
Once upon a time, lunchbox amps intrigued us because of their simplicity, smaller footprint, lighter weight, and the fact that they were more affordable than the big-ass heads that dominated rock for decades. But over the 15 years since Orange's Tiny Terror sent amp makers down this path, mini amps have become progressively more nuanced, diverse, and powerful. Some of the biggest changes have come in just the last year, with intriguing new designs packing both stunning tones and flexible routing and recording capabilities into über-transportable housings. Engl's new Ironball E606SE illustrates this trend wonderfully. Where some lunchbox amps have minimal controls, the high-gain Ironball has 29 knobs, switches, and buttons in a package that's only slightly bigger than Orange's Tiny Terror. At $1,499 street, this EL84-driven 20-watter isn't cheap, but even amidst an increasingly crowded field, it stands out for its sheer number of features and bang-for-buck ratio.
A New Kind of Switch
One of the first things you notice when scanning Ironball's front panel is the bank of eight switches and LEDs next to the power and standby toggles. These low-profile, spring-loaded switches help you dive deep in the amp's functionality or keep it simple—all while accessing a full-sized rig worth of tones.
Recorded using an ESP LTD SN-1000 with Fishman Fluence pickups and a Kramer SM-1 with Seymour Duncan JB bridge and Hot Rails neck and middle pickups into the Ironball (clean and lead gains at 9:30, bass at 3 o'clock, middle at 9 o'clock, treble at 2 o'clock , lead presence at 10, lead volume at 1 o'clock, and master at max) into either a Bogner a 2x12 miked with a Royer R-121 or feeding an IR cab sim into an Audient iD44 then into GarageBand with no EQ-ing, compression, or effects.
The 2-channel E606SE doesn't just avail traditional speaker-output andonboard IR cab capabilities (via an 8-position selector). Around back you'll find controls for onboard digital reverb, digital delay (with mix, time, and feedback controls), and a very effective 1-knob noise gate. Even cooler, Ironball lets you set everything once and toggle between clean and dirty sounds with a single-function footswitch (not included). But you can also use an 2-button footswitch to switch channels and engage the lead-gain boost function, or program a MIDI controller to govern everything from amp-mute functions to IR bypass, reverb mix and tails, and delay tempo, mix, tails, and feedback. Other back-panel features: headphone out and level, XLR out, MIDI phantom power, a pre-/post-power-amp IR button, a 4-position power attenuator, a series effects loop, and dual speaker outputs.
All Ball, No Chain
When I powered up the Ironball, delay, reverb, a lead-channel gain boost, and a master-volume boost were all engaged, so the first order of business was stripping away that stuff to get a sense for the amp's core sound. As you'd expect, the lead channel has a lot of gain on tap, so the next step was tailoring the amount of dirt and balancing the generous EQ section to match my playing and my test guitars—a Fishman Fluence-loaded ESP LTD SN-1000FR, a Kramer SM-1 with Seymour Duncan JB and Cool Rail pickups, and an Eastwood Sidejack Baritone with Curtis Novak JM-WR humbuckers. My test cab was a closed-back Bogner 2x12 with Celestion Vintage 30s, and I evaluated IR functionality via both Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO headphones and an Audient iD44 interface driving KRK Rokit7 Gen4 monitors.
Having to share EQ controls between a clean and a dirty channel can easily lead to unfortunate compromises. For instance, what if you want a semi-bright, articulate distorted sound but prefer your cleans a bit mellower? While the Ironball doesn't entirely avoid this problem, each global EQ control (bass, middle, and treble) has a lot of range, and the lead channel also smartly employs a lead volume (essentially a lead-channel master volume) and its own presence control so you can fine-tune dirty sounds. In other words, the lead-channel-only controls allow you to voice dirty tones for more heft or bite while you keep clean tones relatively sparkling. Through a real speaker cab, I found that master volume at max, clean gain at 10 o'clock, bass at 3 o'clock, middle at 9 o'clock, and treble at 2:30 worked perfectly alongside lead-gain at noon and both lead presence and lead volume at 10:30. These settings yield mean grind that is articulate and responsive to playing dynamics and volume-knob maneuvers. That means you can move from extreme metal applications to clean tones that can be fat, rich, or bluesy (with the Eastwood and ESP) or funky and spanky (with the SM-1's pickups in split-coil mode).
The Verdict
Even as a guy who prefers relatively simple pedals and amps, I'm extremely impressed with the Engl Ironball E606SE. As with most 20-watt amps, particularly high-gain ones, there's not a ton of clean headroom. You could probably still be heard over your drummer's double-kick ruckus with the dirty channel raging as high as it can go, but if you want Ironball's loveliest clean tones, you may need to mike up or use the handy rear-panel outputs for volume reinforcement. Speaking of which, Ironball's default IRs of Vintage 30-stocked 2x12 and "XXL" 4x12 cabs sound great, but it's a bummer Engl doesn't offer any other downloads for Ironball owners—especially since the company sells a separate Cabloader pedal with 12 preloaded IRs for a quarter of the price.
Nevertheless, there are many other sources for cool IRs, and the SEs strengths put it in a niche few companies currently match—particularly at this size and price. Considering many metal players don't use much more than a boost/overdrive and maybe a delay, it's easy to see Ironball being a killer-sounding all-in-one option for a good number of them—just grab your axe and a cab (or not!) and you're set for blisteringly fun action.
Four top speaker-emulators from Mesa/Boogie, Two Notes, Boss, and Universal Audio get the PG review-roundup treatment.
Guitarists have searched for ways to capture big amp tones at low volume since time immemorial, or at least for the last few decades. The quest became more urgent during COVID, as many of us needed to carve out sonic space for remote-schooled kids, telecommuting roommates, and housebound neighbors griping about loud music, not just on evenings and weekends, but 24/7.
Fortunately, solutions are legion: hardware amp emulators, faux-amp plug-ins, and—our focus here—load box/speaker emulators that let you capture the sounds of your favorite amps minus their usual volume. In fact, we're zeroing in on one particular type of product: load box/emulators that faithfully mimic the sound of a miked speaker via impulse responses.
Impulsive Behavior
Speaker impulse responses (IRs) are created by running a test signal through a cabinet and recording the results. The software then compares the raw signal to the sound that emerges from the speaker, and imposes the same coloration on raw, direct-from-amp tones.
Meanwhile, the load box makes your amp "think" it's connected to a speaker. (Running an analog amp without a speaker load is a quick way to destroy the amp.) The four devices examined here include speaker-out jacks, so you can play through your speaker at reduced levels if desired while simultaneously capturing the direct IR sound. All four offer attractive faux-speaker sounds. Beyond that, prices and features vary dramatically.
While we're specifically examining stand- alone devices, it's also worth noting that amp manufacturers—among them Revv, Fender, Victory, and Mesa/Boogie—are increasingly offering built-in cab IR tech, too.
During COVID, many of us needed to carve out sonic space for remote-schooled kids, telecommuting roommates, and housebound neighbors griping about loud music—not just on evenings and weekends, but 24/7.
About the Demo Clips
I recorded all clips using a ReAmp, so I could run the identical material through each device without having to worry about performance inconsistencies. Each device is represented by three clean tones and three distorted tones. All were recorded through a Carr Lincoln amp, a Vox-inspired boutique model. The test guitars are a pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster for the clean tones and an '80s Gibson Les Paul with retro-style PAFs for the crunchy ones.
Exercise caution when making direct sonic comparisons. The available models and effects vary from device to device. Also, since the Mesa CabClone IR+ has no effects, its clips lack the fattening compression and rich ambience of the rival examples. But CabClone users can easily add those effects within the DAW or at the mixing desk. Finally, remember that only the speaker/cab sound is under review, not the amp tone. Results vary immensely depending on your amp of choice. For example, you may not dig the vintage-flavored tube distortion heard here, but connecting a modern, high-gain amp would instantly yield modern, high-gain tones.
We'll proceed in ascending order of price.