If you're in the market for a new bass amp, you may be surprised to find so many options for bass amp heads that offer a lot of watts in very small packages.
This is mostly—but not always—thanks to Class D amplification, a kind of circuitry that allows power amps to amplify your signal far more efficiently than previous circuits. A standard tube amp, for example, uses a lot more energy, which can lead to bulky construction, heavier weight, and higher prices.
We won't go into all the details here, but, long story short is, with a Class D amp, you're able to get lots of power at very little cost—whether that cost is in energy or cash. While you will be able to find some small tube amp heads, along with hybrid amps that combine a tube-preamp stage with a Class D power amp, more times than not the most affordable and lightest bass amps will be Class D.
In our video above, Jake Hawrylak shows off five portable, affordable bass amps, including one all-tube amp—the Ampeg PF-50T—that still packs a punch in a relatively diminutive size. The Orange Terror Bass BT500H, also featured, is an example of the tube preamp/Class D power amp hybrid.
But these five options are certainly not the only ones for bassists looking for power and mobility. Head over to our brand-new buying guide for portable bass amp heads to find more options and recommendations so that you can get the right amp for your needs.