NAD belated Laney Digneth 500h

[la bam]

I've really really wanted one of these since they came out. I really think they're the best looking amp range, possibly ever. 

 

So a few weeks ago I managed to pick one up second hand.  They're fantastic in the flesh. Real quality finish, quite substantial for a smaller amp and a nice weight to them. 

 

So far I've played at home, in an oasis tibute band into a gk 15 cab, oasis tribute into a Laney old school 4x10, u2 tribute into a cheap hartke 4x10 (probably the worst cab I've ever used) and used it as a Di pre into our pa direct for a party band. The combo with the Laney cab was definitely the best. 

 

All bands needed a slight adjustment due to different set ups, music and cabs as well as rooms. However it was so easy to do with either the 4 position mid selector or the quick adjust tilt dial (which is my favourite thing ever on an amp). It simply makes it lean more to the bass side or treble side without just boosting one frequency. Simple but genius. Also, what I liked was Laney actually describe what each mid selector does in both a diagram on the amp and in words in the manual. Nice touch. 

 

In every band the sound was brilliant whether using the solid state channel, valve emulated channel or both together. Really rich sound. It has that old skool presence like an old ampeg rig where it has the indescribable depth to the sound. 

 

Add to this the main specs including Di out, aux in and headphone socket and I think this is my favourite amp head ever. It sounds great no matter what, is easy to adjust, totally flexible and a one hand carry. 

 

The only thing I will add is these will benefit from a 4ohm cab - which the acxompanying digbeth cabs are designed for. An 8ohm is fine but you will need to push it a bit. Or use 2

 

For £395 I don't see a better amp on the market, I really don't. 

 

Cab wise now, I've wanted one of the vertical 4x10s but they're out of my price range at the moment. As soon as I can though I'll b e having one for a great looking, small, powerful quality rig. 

 

 

 

 

[Merton]

Thanks. Didn’t need to read this but now I’ve put this back on my “amps I must own” list.

😄

[fretmeister]

These sound interesting!

 

I’m going to have to try one!

[JottoSW1]

The looks alone give it a market (see ersatz Vox).

The Laneys are both excellent

In the end a 200w bass amp doesn't NeeD to fit in a pocket. Why does it need to weigh less than an ultra light cabinet.

These ought to be strongly marketed in regions like Japan Germany USA. 

Pity the previous Nexus range didn't set the world alight saleswise, la bam could testify about many more of them being excellent. 

Edited August 5, 2023 by JottoSW1

[fretmeister]

Do these have a fan? 

[la bam]

On 05/08/2023 at 08:52, fretmeister said:

Do these have a fan? 

 

Mine is really silent. I'm not sure it has a fan? It has vents like on a valve amp, not sure if there if there's one behind there? 

[fretmeister]

I’ve been listening to YouTube demos and it sounds great. Particularly the blended tones.

[MartinB]

The Digbeth pre-amp sounds great and is really versatile, so if the heads are the same but louder then I bet they're superb!

[2elliot]

Check this review out, it's very useful and very well done. The amp sounds really good.

 

 

[la bam]

Yeah, he does a couple that guy, really good sound and to be fair the amp sounds like it (ie not really doctored from core sound). 

 

Every review I've seen they love it - bullythakidd, jaycee, Anderton (but they love everything) and the bass channel. 

 

Lots of endorsees now including mcfly and Nathan East. 

[nilebodgers]

Anyone opened one of these up yet? Icepower module?

[MungoBass]

Congratulations and thanks for the little review.
 

I saw one of these in GAK and was highly impressed with the looks and build quality. Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to plug it in!