KRK VXT4 Active Studio Monitor - 4 Inch, 45 Watts Review

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(More customer reviews)Firstly, I would like to enphasize I'm not a musician or record technician but just an audiophile enthusiastic.
Although I don't work with recordings, I've got quite good ears which have been improved over the years listening to high end equipment such as McIntosh, Krell, Monitor Audio, Accuphase and others. Taking my background into account, I would say my ears and impressions are quite reliable.
My opinion about Mackies, M-Audio, Yamaha and other studio monitors I've listened is they are on the bright side, sounding cold and lacking excitement and musicality in comparison to high end domestic audio equipment. Studio monitors are not projected to sound nice to our ears, but to monitor and control recordings. I mean, they are optimized to sound flat and transparent. KRK VXT4 is the only studio monitors I've heard manage to sound warm and musical like many audiophiles are after and at the same time acurate and detailed just like a studio monitor must be. Furthermore, their soundstage are huge and focused. Incredibly astonishing taking into account their compact size.
I'm sure these monitors will satisfy recording professionals and audiophiles.

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About the KRK VXT SeriesKRK VXT Series monitors are the latest products from a company known for creating world class studio monitors for a variety of markets. The series was created using stringent design philosophies similar to KRK's flagship close-field monitor, the Exposé E8B. The VXT Series has been designed to reproduce the true nature of the audio material and raises the bar for recording monitors used by professional engineers, musicians and DJs worldwide. The VXT Series includes new proprietary woofers and tweeters, a newly designed curved face plate for excellent imaging, a new cabinet design that provides low resonance, improved structural integrity and extended low-end and slotted ports that greatly reduce port turbulence. KRK engineers started with the extremely functional cabinet design of the flagship monitor, the Exposé E8B to create a very high performance yet attractive line of monitors. The curved cabinet and faceplate provide excellent imaging characteristics and a wider sweet spot. (Many monitors have discontinuous elements which can increase diffraction.) The use of ABS structural foam as the cabinet material provides excellent damping characteristics and extended low end due to more internal volume. The ABS foam also absorbs shocks really well so the cabinet is extremely impact resistant. With the VXT Series, KRK engineers set out to improve transient response in the system. The tweeter's dome is comprised of true silk, as opposed to cloth, which translates to fast transient response, excellent imaging and extended frequency response.The New KRK VXT Series Woofer The new woofer inside the VXT Series has improved transient response by using a stiffer, lighter cone that provides very low distortion and extended low-end. With such attention to detail taken in the creation of VXT Series' key components, it should come as no surprise to learn that KRK has designed numerous extras. The VXT Series features tamper resistant switch covers to protect against others changing your personal settings, integrated Omni Mount support for easy wall or corner mounting, ground lift, defeatable limiter and auto mute controls, and high and low frequency adjust switches on the VXT6 and VXT8.
Get the Details: KRK VTX4 Specifications Drivers
Woofer: 4-inch Woven Kevlar
Tweeter: 1-inch Silk Dome NEO
Input
XLR-1/4 inch TRS Combo
10k Ohm Blanced
Pin 1 + Sleeve = Ground
Pin 2 + Tip = (+) High
Pin 3 + Ring = (-) Low
Amp & Fusing
HF: 15 Watts
LF: 30 Watts
2.0A 100VAC 50Hz
2.0A 110-120VAC 50/60Hz
1.0A 220-240VAC 50/60Hz
Frequency Response
56Hz - 22kHz +/-2dB
Dimensions (H x W x D)
10 1/16 inches H x 7 1/3 inches W x 7 inches D (25.6cm H x 18.6cm W x 17.7cm)

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Line 6 Vetta II Combo Amp Review

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(More customer reviews)This amp has servered me well, I still use it extensively for live performances as well as recording. I bought it back in 2004 and it's still going strong.
The paragraph below is basically the same review I posted on Musicians Friend back in 2006.
This amp has all the features I've ever wanted and a lot more. If you're a mad scientist type that likes experimenting, then you will love this amp. If you're someone that doesn't like messing around with a lot of knobs and settings, then this is not the amp for you, buy a Fender twin or a Marshall half and be done with it. While the Vetta II alone offers a lot of capabilities I do recommend the FBV floorboard and Variax guitar if your budget permits. The value of being able change your amp and guitar models with a single click of a footswitch is worth the price of admission IMHO. Before I had the Vetta II and Variax I can't tell you how many times I wished for this capability while switching guitars between songs at a gig. The only issue I've had with this amp is it's susceptibility to power surges. It used to reset itself on me during rehearsals but since then, I've always plugged it into a surge protector and it's never reset on me during a gig.

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Vetta II is the latest evolution of Line 6's flagship Vetta amplifier family.Inside Vetta II lives a virtual collection of 80 sought-after vintage and modern amps and cabs, over 50 stompbox and studio rack effects, and 4 classic mic/cabinet setups.At the touch of a single button, Vetta II can deliver two independent amp and effects paths at once, giving you the creative freedom to build incredibly detailed tones.At home, on stage, or in the studio, Vetta II features XLR balanced direct outs, AES/EBU and S/PDIF 24-bit/96KHz digital inputs and outputs, and A.I.R. II mic/speaker simulation.Vetta II is loaded with a pair of custom 12" Celestion speakers driven by a 150-watt stereo power section, and includes a direct digital Variax Modeling Guitar input that seamlessly integrates Variax's collection of guitars with Vetta II's collection of amps, cabs, and effects. Add an FBV pedal board, and this entire setup can be transformed into virtually any rig with just the press of a footswitch. And now there's even more!Download the FREE Vetta II V2.5 Update and get an all-new collection of Wah models, expression pedal controlled Pitch Bending, 6 new Amp Models, a dedicated Solo Boost function, Tuner enhancements, Tap Tempo that syncs to MIDI clock, plus much more.

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Schertler DYN-B for Double Bass Review

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(More customer reviews)I am professional bassist. This is a very nice transducer for arco and pizz playing. It is XLR, but does NOT require phantom power. That means you can use a mono 1/4" plug / XLR cable and your own amp. To use it, simply roll the silly putty into a worm and make a ring around the center pole. then stick it on instrument's top, about a hand below and between the bridge feet. This gets a more natural sound through the amp than most pressure mounted bridge pickups- like Underwood, Realist, Planet Wing, Shadow, etc- and it has less impact on the acoustic sound of the instrument.
It will require some experimentation with placement and some tone shaping (preamp of some kind). I think this is one of the best solutions for arco amplification, and it is very balanced between arco and pizz playing. It also does well to keep the lower and upper registers balanced, though some of that will depend on where you mount the transducer. Depending on placement this can sound very 'honky' but with trial and error, I believe many good sounds can be achieved. Every bass is different, and the best spot to mount it varies with each instrument. You can leave it on the bass for extended periods of time, but it is not permanent. This is one of the advantages, in my opinion- that you don't have to leave wires and pickups on the bass, which will affect the acoustic sound.
If feedback is a major concern for you, then you should go with a different pickup. If you are looking for a natural sound at reasonable volumes (don't point the speaker at the bass), or an easy interface with the PA (You can plug this directly into a mixer or a powered PA speaker), then this is worth checking out- assuming you have the scratch.
I have tried the DYN-B with Schertler PRE-A III preamp, and in my case it is not an ideal preamp for string bass. For upright bass, I would recommend a preamp with more parametric options. I did find the Schertler PRE-A III to be EXCELLENT for electric bass.
All that said, for this price you can buy a slew of cheaper pickups and microphones to play around with. If money is a concern, I recommend you check out the Planet Wing pickup and the Gage Realist pickups. For this kind of money you could also have a new bridge cut with the Fishman Full Circle installed.
Another observation: microphones always sound better than pickups, and this is true even for this $700 pickup. A microphone of 1/2 the price (RE-20) will sound twice as good, but won't necessarily work in as many settings/ applications.

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Swiss-made Schertler DYN-Series electrodynamic contact transducers are designed to be used in a variety of applications, from home recording to live performances, encompassing all types of music and musical playing styles where the utmost in accurate acoustic reproduction is required.DYN-Series transducers provide a sound that is exceptionally 'acoustic" in nature - the sound is close to that of a studio microphone, but without the on-stage problems of bleed or feedback.The Schertler DYN-B is the most natural-sounding double-bass transducer available.The easily-installed contact microphone (attached to the instrument's top with the included, inert putty) delivers a warm, accurate reproduction of YOUR instrument's acoustic tone, whether your style is Jazz, Rockabilly, Americana or Bluegrass.DYN-Series transducers ship in an elegant wooden box.

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Seymour Duncan SFX03 Twin Tube Classic Distortion Pedal Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned at least a dozen different distortion gadgets over the last twenty years. This one sounds the best. The distortion ranges from a smooth, subtle compression to a very robust hard-rock sound. Unlike other distortion widgets, this one doesn't seem to add off-sounding artificial harmonics, so the transition from clean to distorted is very smooth; it responds very well to the dynamics of your playing style. This is now the sole distortion-adding device I own and use, having sold all of my other stuff on eBay because it just didn't sound as good. It's a bit pricey (compared to a Boss or Digitech stomp-box, or even a classic tube screamer) but, in my opinion, it's worth the price. My only reservation is that the tubes aren't user-replaceable, but if they last as long as SD claims, it shouldn't be a problem. Construction quality and materials are top-notch, and the thing looks like it could survive years of abusive use, unlike some cheezy plastic-case stomp boxes I've owned.

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The Seymour Duncan SFX03 Twin Tube Classic is great for country, blues, surf, classic rock & more. The Twin Tube Classic is a two-channel guitar preamp that uses a duet of subminiature 6021 dual-triode vacuum tubes and is voiced to evoke the classic sounds that define rock and roll. The new-old-stock, USA-made Phillips Sylvania 6021s represent the pinnacle of tube technology. They were designed and manufactured to meet the U.S. Government's MIL-E-1 spec for reliability under conditions of severe shock, vibration, and temperature. They provide extremely long service life and exhibit virtually no tendency toward microphonics. High-quality vacuum tubes are only part of the key to a great-sounding tube preamp. The Twin Tube Classic employs a fully encapsulated, toroidal (try saying that three times fast) transformer to achieve the high plate voltage required for true tube amplification. The 100% vacuum tube signal path with a high-voltage power supply allows the tubes to operate at their fullest potential. The result is maximum dynamic range, the most gain, the smoothest tone, and the low-order harmonics one expects from a great tube preamp. The Twin Tube Classic also features true bypass with gold relays, up to 90 dB of gain, a silent switching circuit designed to eliminate pops and clicks when changing channels, and a heavy-duty chassis with a candy copper paint job and stylish "chicken head" knobs. A 16-volt AC transformer is also included. Okay, if all of that means something to you, then you my friend, are more than a bit of a nerd. But if you'd didn't get it all, I'm sure you got the gist: this is an awesome sounding pedal and you need one! Seymour Duncan SFX-03 Twin Tube Classic Pedal Application High-quality, two-channel, guitar preamp. Uses a duet of premium, mil-spec, subminiature, USA-made Phillips-Sylvania® 6021 dual triode tubes. Great for country, blues, su

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DBX 1066 Dual Compressor Limiter Gate Review

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(More customer reviews)Sometimes I think alot of people don't have a clue as to the use or how to use a compressor. I like this for all around use for vocals, guitars, some bass and even mastering tracks on my software sub mix bus, this can smoothing out the peaks if set correctly, can fatten up guitar tracks if attack and relaese and threshold are properly set...Its worth its money for all around use and is clean if set up properly....good deal

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After producing the world's most renown series of compressors, the task of producing a new compressor worthy of our reputation would be daunting for most engineers. Not for dbx. Our engineers know audio like no one else in the world. Now the fruits of their talents are available to you in the form of the 1066 Stereo Compressor/Limiter/Gate.Want to instantly add that classic dbx response to your mix? It's there at the touch of the "Auto" button. Or use the independent Attack and Release controls to tailor the 1066 to your specific needs. Unwanted frequencies or mic bleed in the signal path? Frequency dependent gain control is a snap to set up and execute with our Side Chain External button (SC Ext). Use the Side Chain Monitor button (SC Mon) and your favorite EQ to dial in the specific frequencies you want to trigger the device. As has become our standard, the contour switch allows entire mixes to be easily smoothed with soft compression while keeping low frequencies from punching holes in the overall mix. Selectable input and output metering allow you to make sure that everything is matched up level-wise, maximizing your signal-to-noise ratio.

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Pro Tools Mbox Mini (3rd gen) Review

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(More customer reviews)First let me say, I have no idea what the other guy is talking about. I just got my Mbox Mini the other day and had zero issues installing the program.
As for using the Pro Tools, it can do everything and sets the standard. I wish it came with more plug-ins, but those that are included cover all aspects of sound production. I was surprised to see a trimmed-down Guitar Rig 4 plug-in included.
While the learning curve for Pro Tools is steep, once you get the hang of it, there isn't anything it - and you, can't do!

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Professional around the world have long been using Pro Tools recording systems to create award-winning music and sound for film and TV.Now you can get the same professional results in your personal studio with Pro Tools Mbox Mini - a complete, integratd, computer-based music creation and production system.The ultra-portable Pro Tools Mbox Mini features everything you need to easily compose, record, edit, and mix music-including studio-standard Pro Tools LE software.You get over 70 stunning effects and virtual instrutments, plus other tools and features to help you create music quickly and easily.Mbox Mini also delivers premium sound quality, plus rock-solid compatibility with nearly every popular audio recording application.

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Aguilar AG 500SC Bass Head Boss Brown Review

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(More customer reviews)The Aguilar AG500SC is simply a fantastic bass amplifier, hands down. If you are looking for a warm, punchy, deep sound, you can't go wrong with Aguilar. It gets very loud, certainly loud enough for mid-size venues and cuts through a mix very well. The construction is VERY solid. I've never seen a more neatly and carefully wired machine in my life. And I really dig the aesthetics, with the rich brown color and simple, easily readable EQ and knob layout. Ultimately, I would rather have gone with the dual-channel model, but for the moment I just can't afford it. But trust me, there's not a hint of regret in my purchase. I am VERY happy with this amplifier.
Props also goes to Amazon, which has not only the best selection of Aguilar products (pretty much every model in every color combo under the sun), but also the best prices (and FREE shipping to boot). Delivery was quick and professional and I have had no problems with the product after purchase. Highly recommended!

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The AG 500SC is a high powered, lightweight head that combines an easy to use yet versatile EQ with 500 watts of power to create the perfect amp for the gigging bassist. Four bands of active EQ with bright and deep switches provide a variety of tones that can go from funk to rock to jazz. A flexible FX Loop and pure sounding D.I. are easily accessible on the front of this amp. Great features, tons of power and an affordable price make this amp a classic.This model in "Boss Brown". Looks great with Tweed cabinets. *Optional: Headcase or Carry bag

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Mackie SRM350V2 10-inch 2-Way Compact SR Loudspeaker BLACK (Single Speaker) Review

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(More customer reviews)These Are Awesome Powered Speakers.Friend Of Mine Had A Pair Of These And
I Loved Them So Much I Bought My Own !!!

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Sharing the same design as the SRM450v2 but more compact, the SRM350v2 Active loudspeaker is perfect for when space is at a premium. Packing way more power, clarity and punch thanks to its signature Mackie Active design with all-new drivers and Class-D fast recovery amplification, the SRM350v2 delivers pure studio monitor performance at full-on loudspeaker levels.

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Palatino VE-500 Electric Upright Bass, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I think this is a great bass for beginners to learn on. I wouldn't suggest using it in a band. There are a few things you need to adjust. I had to put a piece of styrofoam at the bottom (below the bridge) to prevent the G string from vibrating to much. You also need to sand down the piece of wood where the strings meet to the board. Its a little too high and it makes you press harder than you really need to. I chose this one to practice because its inexpensive compared to others and later down the road, if I'm still doing it, I'll be looking into getting a higher quality one which costs in the thousands.

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The Palatino VE-500 Electric Upright Bass is the answer to many a bass player's prayers. With sweet sound, great looks, and light, portable design, the VE-500 bass has a chambered body of select spruce. The slim, maple neck and curved ebony fingerboard emulate an acoustic upright bass. The Palatino VE-500 bass's adjustable maple bridge rests on the piezo transducer pickup, giving the VE-500 electric upright its large, booming tone.Geared tuners with metal buttons offer easy, accurate tuning. The Palatino VE-500 bass's black-finished metal tailpiece is sturdy and practical. The lightweight endpin offers an infinite range of adjustment with a positive locking mechanism.The Palatino VE-500 is an extremely versatile electric bass with active tone and volume controls and a headphone jack with preamp. Palatino includes a rugged combination leather/plastic carrying bag with backpack straps.The low, effortless action appeals especially to fretted electric bass players making the transition to an upright bass. The Palatino VE-500 Elecric Upright Bass has big tone, much like an amplified acoustic bass. It's an electric upright bass that's sure to please professionals looking for a bass they can travel with.

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T-Rex Gristle King Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using my Gristle King for 5 years and it has never let me down. It's solid.
The Boost and/or Overdrive options make it very versatile. The overdrive can be set for pre- or post-boost, increasing versatility. It sounds great, from straight boost to light overdrive to crazy-sick overdrive. I'm not really a "distortion" player, but I love overdrive.
It gets used regularly for practice, and I gig with it at least once a week. Solid. I've got other pedals that I use on occasion, but rarely, since my Gristle King is SO # 1.

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The Gristle King is a combination of the DGTM and the Luxury drive with additional tone shaping options.

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Steinberger Spirit XT-2DB Standard Bass with DB-Tuner, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Been interested in the Steinberger since the mid-eighties but could never afford one. Been playing bass since the mid- 70s, off and on, and was playing regularly by the time the original Steinbergers came out. I was concerned about the construction and the sound, but they are both excellent. I was surprised how good this thing sounded right out of the box. I picked it up as a travel bass and have found myself playing it on a regular basis. The only minor issues are 1) due to the design the frets are 'shifted' making it a challenge to play without looking at your fretting hand, and 2) having to be stuck using the double ball strings. I've been using Rotosound and Dean Markley strings for years and it would be nice not to be limited to the double ball strings. The ability to drop tune is great. The XT2-DB detuner allows you to drop all the way down to a low B and it rivals the HipShot detuner on my custom P/J Hybrid bass. I don't use the feature much, but its good to know it's there if I need it. All things considered, this is an excellent bass for both beginner and mid-level players. For advanced players, this is a great travel bass to keep up your chops or play in small venues. Highly recommended!

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The Spirit XT-2DB 4-string bass guitar is a breakthrough for contemporary bassists. It features the patented Steinberger DB-Tuner, which extends the range of the E-string from Eb to B. This electric bass also features a 3-piece, hard maple thru-neck construction with the patented Steinberger Double-Ball Tuning System that provides rock-solid tuning, stability, and tone. At only 38.50" in length, it is among the most travel-friendly and convenient full-size, professional basses on the market...

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M-Audio Studiophile BX8a Deluxe 130-watt Bi-amplified Studio Reference Monitors Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up a pair of BX8a Deluxe speakers on Amazon for a great price. I did some reading online and read about speakers randomly dying after purchase, but the price was just too good and I decided to roll the dice.
Well, 2 months in, my right speaker went bad and never would work properly again. When I would turn it on, the woofer would pop, go full throw, and emit a 60Hz hum. Very bad stuff. I looked at my return / repair options and found I had to return them to M-Audio to get it repaired.
I looked at the M-Audio forums and read quite a bit more about M-Audio speakers failing, and decided I'd take my chances and crack open the speaker to see if I could figure out what was wrong instead of suffering through a potentially long and painful RMA cycle.
3 hours later I had discovered the problem: a short circuit on the main amplifier board, underneath the tweeter's power amplifier chip. The amp is a TDA2052 made by STMicroelectronics. You can look at the datasheet here: http://www.st.com/stonline/products/literature/ds/1585.pdf
The short was between pins 4 and 6 of this chip, so it was connecting the negative power supply voltage to the audio input pin on both the tweeter and woofer amplifier - very bad! This explains why I could hear 60Hz power line noise on the speaker every time I turned it on.
I was about to start probing each pin on the TDA2052 to see if I could figure out what wire on the circuit board had a problem when I discovered the short between pins 4 and 6. I carefully removed the solder flux and other debris between the two solder pads and plugged the circuit board in, and the problem was gone. You can see a picture of my circuit board and the location of the short here: http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3357/img0054un5.jpg
As to why the short-circuit suddenly occurred 2 months after purchase - I can only speculate. One possibility is the dreaded "tin whiskers" problem that has been plaguing electronics manufacturers for years. You can read about it here: http://nepp.nasa.gov/WHISKER/
Since lot's of people are reporting random failures of these speakers, this is a possibility. There are a couple ways to remedy this, but they all involve tweaking the manufacturing process of the circuit board, and this might not be an option because it would impact the cost and profit margin on these speakers. The other possibility is that the assembly quality control is not good enough on these circuit boards and they are not adequately stress tested / verified before being put into the finished product. Again there is a cost issue and I'm just speculating.
Overall I must say the speakers are an excellent value for the price. The speaker box construction is solid, the speakers are decent, and the electrical design is good enough - simple and effective. I am impressed with this product, and it is unfortunate such a great product is subject to such a high failure rate from what looks like a manufacturing/quality issue and not a design problem. I just hope M-Audio can remedy the issues long term as I'd like to see them continue to develop quality products.


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Recording professionals around the world trust M-Audio Studiophile reference monitors for exceptional sonic accuracy. The new Studiophile BX8a Deluxe system builds on this legacy with new waveguides and enhanced driver integration for greater high-frequency clarity and refined sound. The magnetically shielded monitors feature 8-inch curved Kevlar low-frequency drivers plus high-temperature voice coils and damped rubber surrounds for durability and fidelity. The 1-1/4-inch natural silk, waveguide-loaded tweeters deliver a high end that's both clear and easy on the ears. Custom-tuned crossovers distribute 130 watts of bi-amplified power for optimal frequency handling by each driver.

Deluxe Edition The Studiophile BX8a Deluxe monitors update the best-selling M-Audio BX8a system with a variety of enhancements. The new waveguide delivers a cleaner sound. Custom amplifier tuning enhances the integration between the high and low frequencies, delivering refined spectral balance and a smoother response. An elegant new industrial design completes the package.
Kevlar Low-Frequency Drivers To insure a lifetime of service, we constructed the BX8a monitor's 8-inch low-frequency driver from woven Kevlar. Kevlar's high mechanical and thermal resilience makes it ideal for use in speaker cones. Our engineers also created a curved conical design that improves room dispersion. High-damping reliable rubber surrounds provide percussive musical bass, and insure that the cone reaches its optimal excursion for accurate reproduction. And our high-temperature voice coils reduce power compression, guaranteeing that your monitors will deliver full performance hour after hour.
Silk-Dome, Waveguide-Loaded, High-Frequency Drivers Our high-frequency domes are made from natural silk to counter the high Q ringing that is inherent in the poorly crafted metallic materials often found in other monitors. In addition, our new waveguides refine the high-frequency response. M-Audio's FerroFlow technology uses ferrofluid liquid cooling to dissipate heat for maximum efficiency and extended usage.
Bi-Amplified Efficiency Active monitors have a distinct advantage over unpowered monitors because the built-in power amps are specially designed to work with the drivers and crossovers in a tuned system. Bi-amplification further refines the concept by dedicating separate power amps to the highs and lows. Combined with a finely tuned crossover, this design insures that both the high- and low-frequency drivers are asked to deliver only the frequencies they are most efficient at reproducing.
Rear-Ported Cabinet Design The Studiophile BX8a Deluxe monitor's cabinet is integrally designed with its other components for optimal performance—right down to rounded corners for reduced edge diffraction and superior imaging. Custom rear-port design audibly reduces the turbulence and resulting distortion caused by poorly designed ports.
Magnetic Shielding Unchecked, the electromagnetic waves emanating from your speakers can wreak havoc with your computer's video monitor or a nearby TV. The BX8a Deluxe is magnetically shielded so that all of your electronic equipment can coexist without interference.
What's in the Box Two BX8a Deluxe Speakers, Two Detachable AC Power Cords, User's Manual

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Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Cutaway Sunburst Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased a Takamine EAN10C from guitar center in San Diego 5 years ago and I will NEVER sell it... Out of every guitar in the place, this one was the one and only... Sounded better than all of the Gibson's, Martins and Taylor's that were there that day and even better now that the wood has aged a bit. Best part is that I paid $950 with a factory hardshell case out the door then... but the price shown here is well worth it... They don't really come along this nice very often, get one of these while you still can... Highest Recommendations! I love my guitar...

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Washburn AB10 Thinbody Acoustic Bass Review

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(More customer reviews)I got one of those since 1998 and I'm very happy with it. If you want to rock, you got it. If you want to play blues and/or jazz, you got it too. Ten years and still cruisin'...

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A favorite in coffeehouses around the world as well as on MTV Unplugged, this affordable, professional acoustic bass from Washburn offers a thin-bodied cutaway design and is fitted with Washburn's Equis Crystal preamp for a natural amplified sound. Its Florentine design gives it a distinctive appearance, while also allowing easy access to the instrument's upper register. It also features include Grover chrome die-cast for precision tuning and great consistency in tone. This bass comes with a gig bag.

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Pignose G40V Tube Amp Review

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(More customer reviews)There are a lot of glowing reviews of this amp all over the internet. Chances are, if you're reading this right now, you've read other such reviews. So rather than say what has already been said, let me give potential buyers some useful knowledge so that you know what to expect from this amplifier....
First of all, I find this to be soundly constructed and I will not hesitate to gig with this amp. I have no reliability issues. The amp is quite sturdy unless you are a reckless person by nature. It is loud enough for full-band rehearsals and club gigs. With an extention speaker cabinet, it is more than loud enough for large outdoor gigs. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE.
Second of all, why is this amp only $199? If you're wondering why it's so cheap, it's because (a) labor is cheaper in China and (b) Pignose compromised on cosmetics and cheaper enclosure materials so that they could produce a GOOD SOUND in an inexpensive amplifier. So don't worry about your tone based on the price.
Third of all, be aware that this is 40 watts of tube power (i.e. LOUD!!!) coming out of a single 10" speaker. The speaker is a little mismatched because it's difficult to get a full spectrum of sound when you combine that much power with such a small speaker. As a result, you lose a bit of low end. This problem will obviously go away if you take the manufacturer's recommendation and run the amp through a speaker cab (the amp comes with both 4-ohm and 8-ohm output jacks, which I think is a very good feature for a small amp). If you are used to playing detuned heavy metal, you will find the speaker to be a little brittle. But it is a very good speaker. Give it a week or two of playing before you judge it, because it's factory-fresh and needs to be broken in a bit.
Fourthly, about the tone. You can definitely achieve sparkling cleans with infinite headroom if you back off on your GUITAR's volume knob a bit. The amp's speciality is producing those rich and punchy in-between, mid-gain tones. I typically leave my gain volume between 50 and 60 percent. For full saturation, this amp can definitely achieve it, but I recommend getting a cabinet with 12" speakers for it. I'm afraid the amp is just too powerful for the little 10" speaker when it comes to saturated gain. (BUT REMEMBER -> SMALLER SPEAKER = LOWER COST. THIS IS A GOOD COST-SAVING MEASURE DONE DELIBERATELY BY PIGNOSE TO GIVE YOU A WONDERFUL-SOUNDING AMP AT A CHEAP PRICE.)
Finally, this is a vintage-sounding amp. Don't expect Mesa or Hughes & Kettner tones from it, because it's not that type of amp. One channel, no reverb, no footswitch, etc.... People like me appreciate the simplistic setup, but other people prefer amps with multiple channels. Be aware that this is a one-channel amp. If you want more than one channel, look for a different amp.
I highly recommend this amplifier, and I will not hesitate to buy another one should I need to in the future. Full range of tones and savvy construction at a low price.

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The Pignose G40V Tube Amp is a technical marvel that puts out a screaming 40W of power through a special design 10" speaker. Features two 6L6s and three 12AX7s and has controls for volume, treble, mid, bass, and presence. As is, it's perfect for the bedroom or practice sessions, and it can drive a 4x12 cab with ease at the gig.

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Roland GK-KIT-GT3 GR-Synth Driver Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)The description suggests this can be installed in any guitar. Well, maybe. But not without some serious hacking and cutting. On further research, yeah... I know. I should have done the research first, but I'm an idiot. Anyways, it takes an experienced luthier to install this system. So add a couple hundred bucks to the cost of this project. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out which guitar to put it in at this point. Each guitar will need different modifications. My tech guy is scratching too, not sure if he wants to take on the project.
I know Roland makes great stuff. I have one of their guitar synths and a nylon string RMC to drive it. I am hoping to have a steel string as well. I can't really rate it as I haven't installed it yet. I'll rate it in the middle for now, fully expecting it to work. The instructions are minimal. I haven't given up, but beware.

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The Roland GK-KIT-GT3 pickup kit for guitar synths includes all the parts you need to permanently install a GK-2A guitar pickup into an electric guitar: a GK-2A Divided Pickup, circuit board, switches, power indicator LED, 13-pin connector, wiring and hardware. Professional installation is required.

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Apogee Duet - Audio input adapter - IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Duet to use with my Aluminum iMac and Logic Studio 8 and have had zero problems with the unit. The interface is very streamlined so you have to get used to using a single, multi-function knob for everything. The quality of conversion between analog and digital is head and shoulders above anything else near this price level. It sounds as good as units costing 3 times as much due to the designers' emphasis on quality sound. To get the high quality conversion at this price you are limited to the line outputs and headphone output levels being permanently linked. Some people find this a drawback, so be aware before you buy if this feature is something that is a deal breaker for you.
The small form factor is nice because as anyone with a home studio can attest to, space is not a luxury we have. I didn't pick this for its portability but as it is the size of a paperback book I can imagine it being very easy to tote around with a macbook/pro.
The included Maestro management software is straightforward and lets you set the unit up in seconds with a very easy to understand user interface. Configuring my iMac to use this as the audio input and output took less than a minute from reading the instructions. Making Logic label its mixer to match is equally simple. One thing I found convenient is how OSX lets you still use the iMac's built in speakers for the system alerts so that an error message gong sound isn't sent out through your 100watt studio monitors. You can set the output level of the system alerts separate from the duet's outputs.
The breakout cable is securely attached and the plugs are labeled with big, clear markings so changing hook-ups is easy. It has phantom power if your mics require it, which is set using Maestro.
Most audio interfaces in this price range try to win you over with more I/O channels or other add-ons instead of making the best sound conversion. They trade quality for quantity with predictable results. Apogee decided on doing a simple 2 channel interface, a single physical control and top shelf A/D/A converters so the result is the best 2 channels you can get. When you want more channels without sacrificing quality then you can step up to their Ensemble line.

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The Duet is a two-channel FireWire audio interface that features the amazing sound quality that made Apogee Electronics famous. With control functions built directly into Apple's Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro and GarageBand software, Duet empowers you to create professional recordings effortlessly on your Mac.With Duet, you can plug in guitars, keyboards, and microphones to record your music, or simply experience how much better your favorite tracks in iTunes sound. Duet is compact and powered by FireWire, so you can pack up your studio and go anywhere your music takes you.Its dual, 1/4" high impedance inputs allow you to combine and record your two favorite instruments, whether it be two guitars, one bass, one guitar, etc., simultaneously using your favorite Core Audio-compatible application. You can also capture vocals with two microphone inputs that have phantom power and 75dB of gain. Whether you're noodling out new ideas, completing a personal tune, documenting a podcast, or recording a live performance, your new little buddy can handle it. The flexible breakout cables come with icons to make it easy to know what goes where, keeping everything in order, out of the way, and properly connected for maximum input and output, with minimal mess. Duet's bus-powered FireWire interface frees you from the traditional four-wall studio setting. So grab your laptop, find a spot where inspiration takes you, whether it's in the solace of a park or in the echoey confines of a subway tunnel, turn it on, and start doing your thing.If you don't have Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro, Garageband, don't panic. Apogee's includes it's own Downloadable Maestro software, so you'll still be able to work with any Core Audio-compatible application. Maestro allows you to turn the Duet's multifunction control knob into a one-click manager.

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