Harley Benton Block-800B vs bugera Veyron 1001M

[KinkMaster]

Hi folks, any one with experience with both of them? 

Looking for a clean amp, basically for power amp, that can double as a full amp if needed, mainly to plug the Line6 hx stomp, and for plug aux in, to jam with backing tracks. 

[Bolo]

I have the Harley Benton as backup amp. No experience with the bugera. It's clean, pretty small and light. Class D 800w power section as used in so many others, so no fuss just good. Whatever pre you use wil come out louder and loud enough.

[SuperSeagull]

I've just started using the HB as a power amp with my sansamp in front and going in via the FX return. Bags of headroom, very giggable. Sounds pretty good going straight in as well. Silly money too.

[jezzaboy]

Andertons are doing the Bugera for £229 which is a bargain.

[stewblack]

Hi, I have both and they are both superb.

Both are compact, light, and powerful. I honestly could not choose between them. Two top quality amplifiers at unbeatable prices.

You'll be happy whichever you choose.

[Chienmortbb]

I have the Bugera and an Ashdown Retroglide 800, both the Ashdown and the HB Bass Block use the 700 watt ICEPower 700AS1 module. Bypassing the preamp in either, works fine.

[Bolo]

A fun preamp is an absolute must to get any kind of flavour out of it though.

[KinkMaster]

3 hours ago, stewblack said:

Hi, I have both and they are both superb.

Both are compact, light, and powerful. I honestly could not choose between them. Two top quality amplifiers at unbeatable prices.

You'll be happy whichever you choose.

Thanks, I can only buy one, and the price difference between the two is irrelevant, that's why my doubt!!! 

[stewblack]

7 hours ago, KinkMaster said:

Thanks, I can only buy one, and the price difference between the two is irrelevant, that's why my doubt!!! 

Where are you based?

[KinkMaster]

3 hours ago, stewblack said:

Where are you based?

Portugal 

[stewblack]

9 hours ago, KinkMaster said:

Portugal 

If you'd been closer you could have borrowed mine. But Portugal is a little bit far.

[KinkMaster]

From what I understand from all the comments I've read, the power amp is different, If there is an advantage even if slight, it's to hb, I think that's the one I'm going to invest in

[Chienmortbb]

I am not sure whether the HB still has the same pre-amp but many said that it was not that great. So if you had to use the pre-amp, the Veyron would be better.

 

Incidently despite the specs on each, the HP uses a 700 watt module and the Veyron is just over 700. No noticeable difference. 

[stewblack]

I have gigged the HB both using the preamp and bypassing it. 

Never noticed any problem with the pre. Excellent compressor on board too. 

I'm always wary of the repeated online criticism of more affordable products. I recall Behringer bass cabs getting hit with 'my mate had one and the speakers all blew at the first gig' line back in the day. Almost every time they were discussed someone repeated it. I used mine for a decade or more without any problem at all. 

[neepheid]

2 hours ago, stewblack said:

I have gigged the HB both using the preamp and bypassing it. 

Never noticed any problem with the pre. Excellent compressor on board too. 

I'm always wary of the repeated online criticism of more affordable products. I recall Behringer bass cabs getting hit with 'my mate had one and the speakers all blew at the first gig' line back in the day. Almost every time they were discussed someone repeated it. I used mine for a decade or more without any problem at all. 

 

It's mostly BS, I reckon - mostly people parroting some vague scare story they've heard and wanting to be seen to join the internet dogpile.  I used and abused a RedSub BT5110 (Ibanez Promethean's more down-at-heel sibling) as my main amp for nearly 12 years.  Twice weekly rehearsals at war volume, hundreds of gigs.  Left it in car boots over winter, brought it into hot venues dripping with condensation (only a couple of times and I was absolutely bricking it).  It finally crapped out but it even had the decency to wait until the very end of a gig.  I was quite sad when it went pop.  Would have bought another one if they still made them.

Edited February 8 by neepheid

[stewblack]

12 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

It's mostly BS, I reckon - mostly people parroting some vague scare story they've heard and wanting to be seen to join the internet dogpile.  I used and abused a RedSub BT5110 (Ibanez Promethean's more down-at-heel sibling) as my main amp for nearly 12 years.  Twice weekly rehearsals at war volume, hundreds of gigs.  Left it in car boots over winter, brought it into hot venues dripping with condensation (only a couple of times and I was absolutely bricking it).  It finally crapped out but it even had the decency to wait until the very end of a gig.  I was quite sad when it went pop.  Would have bought another one if they still made them.

You illustrate the point with an elegant  poignancy.

[Chienmortbb]

2 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

It's mostly BS, I reckon - mostly people parroting some vague scare story they've heard and wanting to be seen to join the internet dogpile.  I used and abused a RedSub BT5110 (Ibanez Promethean's more down-at-heel sibling) as my main amp for nearly 12 years.  Twice weekly rehearsals at war volume, hundreds of gigs.  Left it in car boots over winter, brought it into hot venues dripping with condensation (only a couple of times and I was absolutely bricking it).  It finally crapped out but it even had the decency to wait until the very end of a gig.  I was quite sad when it went pop.  Would have bought another one if they still made them.

There was a long and involved thread that went very deep into the design on the German Bassists Forum. It was after a lot of criticism on there from German players. There was also a series of mods published to improve the EQ. So yes, it was heresay as I did not try it myself, but it was more than just the opinions of the chattering classes. I can confirm that the Veyron has a good EQ section as I have used one for 4 years or so  over 100 gigs.

 

I will repeat though that the HB has an excellent power section and is worth the money for that alone. https://www.soundimports.eu/en/icepower-700as1.html

Edited February 8 by Chienmortbb

[SuperSeagull]

5 hours ago, stewblack said:

I have gigged the HB both using the preamp and bypassing it. 

Never noticed any problem with the pre. Excellent compressor on board too. 

I'm always wary of the repeated online criticism of more affordable products. I recall Behringer bass cabs getting hit with 'my mate had one and the speakers all blew at the first gig' line back in the day. Almost every time they were discussed someone repeated it. I used mine for a decade or more without any problem at all. 

I actually quite like the pre amp on mine and it's probably only a bit of brand snobbery (and the drive control) that has me keeping the sansamp in front. And as someone who has never got on with a compressor it's the least offensive one I've come across. 

[lemmywinks]

4 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

It's mostly BS, I reckon - mostly people parroting some vague scare story they've heard and wanting to be seen to join the internet dogpile.  I used and abused a RedSub BT5110 (Ibanez Promethean's more down-at-heel sibling) as my main amp for nearly 12 years.  Twice weekly rehearsals at war volume, hundreds of gigs.  Left it in car boots over winter, brought it into hot venues dripping with condensation (only a couple of times and I was absolutely bricking it).  It finally crapped out but it even had the decency to wait until the very end of a gig.  I was quite sad when it went pop.  Would have bought another one if they still made them.

 

 

There's one of the original Prometheans for sale on FB marketplace at the moment if you're still after a replacement, spotted it yesterday.

[neepheid]

58 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

 

 

There's one of the original Prometheans for sale on FB marketplace at the moment if you're still after a replacement, spotted it yesterday.

 

Thanks for the heads up, but I had to replace it all kinda "now now now" and I had the good fortune of stumbling upon a killer local second hand deal on a Markbass Mini CMD121P IV.  Hopefully that's me sorted for at least the next dozen years

 

[crazycloud]

On 09/02/2025 at 02:33, Chienmortbb said:

I will repeat though that the HB has an excellent power section and is worth the money for that alone. https://www.soundimports.eu/en/icepower-700as1.html

There was some mention on TB a while back that the HB had changed from the IcePower. Does anyone have any idea if that's true or not?