Guitar Reviews 4U - Boss Dual Cube LX 10W Desktop Modelling Amplifier review
The Boss Dual Cube LX 10W
Need a convenient small amplifier you can run an amplifier modeller on with flat response so you hear the modeller uncoloured by the amplifier?
I saw this Boss Cube unit and what appealed to me was the facility to be able to connect an amplifier modeller like a Vox Valvetronix SE and an Ipod to the Boss to use for playing against backing tracks at low volume at home.
note the typical Boss control knobs used here
In this 'flat response mode' (selectable as a position on the amplifier models control), the amplifier modeller would come through with the sound 'as played' and not influenced by the base amplifier tone controls or efffects. It means you can in most cases avoid using an external mixer as an input device before the Cube, for most playing along to tracks situations.
With an 8 AA Battery bay, you can take this onto the street to play or outside as a small PA, there is Bluetooth connectivity via an optional module so you can stream music to it. And with 2 small 5 watt speakers it should be loud enough not to annoy the neighbours!
The main inputs are stereo left and right 1/4 jacks so you can use the left as a mono only if using a guitar for example or both if the external effects unit has two outputs so you can get true stereo.
The unit is very easy to use, with the benefit of Boss style pot knobs as you get on the famous guitar pedals, so the controls are easy to set without having to use push button menus. The only slight issue perhaps is there is no on-board tuner for the guitar, but if like me you'll use it for amplifying a modeller unit, chances are the modeller will have a tuner built in there, as my Vox units have.
The effects are good for a small unit and the amplifier types of which there are 9 on a rotary knob control include an acoustic guitar simulator, a Roland Jazz chorus amplifier, Fender Twin and a range of higher gain units are modelled. Plus the dedicated microphone and flat response as the last two settings on the rotary switch.
I have mainly used the Roland setting for guitar to do some song writing and the sound is good, it goes down low so you can play along without disturbing people and up to 5W so it is fairly loud for a room.
Its a very versatile unit and does just what I want and I think it is good value for money.
The rear panel with foot switch, USB & Blue tooth connection
(This stereo input section also allows you to use a mixer, if you want to change the tone of the modelling input device - rather than put say an Ipod into the aux input, you can output signal sound to a mixer and then bring that into the Cube - giving you more control over the tone.)
Besides that, the Dual Cube LX10W is a small programmable amplifier you can connect via USB to a computer for recording with 3 presets you can save per amplifier model.
The Dual Cube LX offers many ways to play along with backing music from a mobile device or computer, via a stereo aux input, USB and i-CUBE Link Loopback, and an optional Bluetooth® adaptor.
With the Phones/Rec jack and mic volume control, you can capture your voice with a headphones mic and send it to the USB and i-CUBE Link outputs along with your guitar sounds. You can also add the optional foot controllers for the sample Loop option.
Here are some great features of the Boss Dual Cube LX:
- Ultra-portable stereo guitar amplifier with professional sound and features
- Two custom-designed 4-inch speakers
- 10-watt stereo power amp (5 watts x 2)
- Eight newly developed guitar amp types plus one mic preamp type
- Seven onboard effects with deep editing via the DUAL CUBE LX Editor app
- Stereo input mode with wide, immersive sound for modelers and stereo pedals
- Three-band equalizer
- Store amp and effects settings in 27 memories (3 memories for each amp type)
- Powered via AC adaptor (included) or eight AA batteries
- Stereo line output with mic’d cab emulation
- Phones/Rec jack with support for an inline headphones microphone
- USB audio for direct recording and livestreaming
- Control jack for up to two external footswitches
- i-CUBE Link/Aux In jack for audio playback
- Selectable Loopback function for USB and i-CUBE Link/Aux In
- Onboard looper (requires optional footswitch)
- Connector for optional Bluetooth® Audio MIDI Dual Adaptor (BT-DUAL)
Optional accessories:
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