With its distinct angled baffle design and dual 8″ speakers, the Peavey MAX 208 easily stands out visually when lined up with other conventional amps.
And it’s not just about looking unique, because the speakers inside the cabinet are actually angled like a tilted amp, so the sound is aimed towards player’s ear. And unlike actual tilt back cabinets, the MAX 208 retains its stable grounding and helps get more of the low-end out.
In addition, this amp has plenty of other features, including onboard Overdrive effect along with tone shaping controls that include contour, bright and mid-shift.
Moreover, it features Peavey’s Kosmos-C, which enhances the lower frequencies including the harmonics and sub-harmonics.
Other features include dedicated inputs for active and passive bass guitars, DDT limiter for protecting the speakers, and effects loop.
Finally, at 32.2 lbs, this amp is relatively light for what it can do.
Features
- 200-Watts
- 2 x 8” Speaker
- Controls: Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume, Overdrive, Contour, Mid-shift, Bright, Kosmos-C
- AUX-In, Headphone-Out, DI-Out, Effects Loop
Pros
Common among the comments are owners who are satisfied with this amp’s good balance of power and portability. Ease of use and tone flexibility are also highlighted by reviewers. Those who upgraded from smaller or older amps are pleased with its overall performance, and those who down-sized from bulky amps are just as impressed. There are plenty who vouch for the amp when used in small venues, and some have even used it on bigger venues while plugged into a PA.
Cons
There are some who caution that the amp may not be loud enough for musical styles that require deep thumping bass. Others worry about the finish of the amp and recommend getting a cover to protect it.
Overall
With Peavey’s reputation for value for money and reliability, and the MAX 208’s versatility, it’s going to be hard to go wrong with this amp.
Although this was previously on our recommended list, there are now more highly rated options available which you can see in our guide to The Best Bass Amps Under $500.
Can this be used as a passive speaker while hooked to a PA ?
It can’t be used as a passive speaker but it can be used as an active speaker by sending a line level signal to its Aux In port.