Gearank High Notes
Gearank Recommended
Cons
- Very heavy – weighs twice as much as similar 1×15 bass combos & needs two people to lift it safely
- Lack of certain output options, like a 1/4″ jack for an extension cabinet
Pros
- The tweeter gives it a detailed high-end
- The 15″ woofer moves a lot of air
- Wheels make it easier to move around
- You can get a surprisingly wide range of tones using the 7-band EQ
- Completely gig worthy
Hartke is a well-known brand for producing great-value bass amps, and the Hartke HD150 combo is another good example of this.
Earning the top spot for the best bass combo amp between $300 and $500, this amp has a 150W amplifier with a 15″ speaker and a 1″ tweeter. These features are quite unique for an amp in this price range.
The addition of a tweeter, paper, and aluminum cone on the speakers gives this amp a bit more high-end emphasis, which works with many styles of bass playing. For more control over your sound, Hartke equipped the HD150 with a 7-band EQ.
Other features include a built-in limiter and effects loop, and it even has built-in rolling casters for added mobility.
This bass amp combo has a lot more trebly sparkle than the other ones above. The combination of 7-band EQ and a dedicated tweeter really allows you to create great scooped sounds or to simply jack up the high-end as you hear in some slap playing. I’ve seen other reviews that say the top end is too bright, but that’s probably just their personal taste, as I find it quite pleasing. You can also tone it down to get something that sounds a bit like an upright bass.
The big 15″ speaker moves a lot of air. This amp has no trouble keeping up with a loud band, and you can even gig with a full band in small to medium venues without having to go through the PA.
The downside is the weight. While it’s easy enough to move around on its casters, it’s a two-person job lifting it in and out of the band van.
If you’re looking for a good-value 150W stage amp, then do check out the Hartke HD150.
Features
- 150 watts of output power
- 15” HyDrive paper and aluminum cone driver
- 1” tweeter
- Controls: Top-mounted amplifier with Volume, Bass, Mid, and Treble controls + 7-band graphic EQ
- 1⁄4” input for active and passive bass guitars
- 1/8” stereo Aux input for stereo line level devices (MP3 players, drum machines, etc.)
- 1⁄4” headphone output
- XLR direct output
- Built-in limiter
- Effects loop
- Perforated metal grille
- Side carry handles
- Casters included
- Weight: 66 lbs.
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| YouTube | J H | 92/100 |
| Talk Bass | cgull | 80/100 |
Demo