Behringer V-Amp 2 Review

History:

Purchase: I got mine at Lentine's Music in Akron, Ohio, for only about $120 after a coupon. They have gone up in price since they first came out, because people are finally realizing how huge of a deal this unit is. About a week after I got mine, the other guitarist in my band went out and got one.

Pros: I was able to test the V-Amp 2 side by side with the POD 2.0 and play with the amp models and effects of each. After messing around for about 20 minutes, I was convinced that the V-Amp should make Line 6 pretty scared. The V-Amp 2 gives you plenty of control over the amp models and tweaking of the gain, bass, midrange, treble, and presence. It seemed to have a more intuitive interface than the POD. You have to mess around with combinations of effects and reverb to get just the right tone, just like you would in a real amp setup. 125 presets can be stored in it, which you can switch between with the included footpedal. I've also used it with my acoustic-electric, and it adds some very nice reverb and warmth! Also comes with a gig bag. Altogether an amazing deal that will add some sparkle to any rig, in the studio or live.



Cons: Strangely enough, it has no power switch. That wouldn't be much of a bother, except that Behringer adds a little warning in the manual about being sure to plug the AC adapter into the V-Amp before plugging the cord into the power source. I had ignored this caveat for awhile, until one day all my presets were totally screwed up and I had to reset the unit. It's not that big of a deal though...just remember to plug stuff in the right order. One other little thing: some players really familiar with the classic, warm tube amps may notice a slight 'metallic' sound from some of the tube models. I can only tell because I also have a vintage Twin Reverb.

V-Amp 2 Quality: It seems to be very portable, durable, and well-built. The quality of the amp models and effects is great for the price. I'll admit that there was a slight difference in tone realism between the V-Amp and the POD, but, like I said earlier, I don't think it's worth spending double the price...

Behringer Summary: An excellent little unit for a breakthrough price. Behringer has continued to stun me with their quality and price-effective products. If your ear is already well-trained to the sound of high-end amps and equipment, you'll probably want to check out the POD XP or something like that. But for the masses who just want to produce great-sounding music, the V-Amp 2 is it!

Rating of this product: 5

This Behringer Recording Gear Review Submitted By: Mike of SolidfoG

Date: 2002-12-13

Usefulness Rating: 4.52857 out of 5. 70 reader(s) voted.