HARTKE LX5500 | 500-watt Lightweight Bass Head with Tube Preamp

The LX5500 is a compact 500-watt amplifier that weighs just eight pounds and responds dynamically to any playing style. The Class A 12AX7 tube-powered preamp allows you to dial in an unlimited number of bass tones, while the lightweight Class D amp delivers 500 watts of true continuous power—enough to make any cab sing.

Features

• 500 watts of continuous power @ 4 ohms
• Class D bass amplifier that weighs 8lb
• Classic 12AX7 Class A tube preamp circuitry
• Tone stack EQ with Bass, Treble, Shape and Frequency controls
• Brite button for top-end presence
• Drive circuit for added distortion effect
• Compressor knob controls bass dynamics
• 1/4″ input jack compatible with active and passive instruments
• 1/4" and twist-and-lock speaker jacks (compatible with Speakon® connectors)
• 1/4" Effects Send and Return jacks
• 1/8" Aux input
• 1/8" Headphone output
• 1/4" Tuner Output
• Balanced XLR direct output with pre/post switch
• Output Mute switch

Hartke Tone Stacked

Capture the character of your bass guitar as soon as you plug it in with the Hartke Tone Stack EQ, designed specifically for rich bass tone. The preamp includes the familiar bass and treble controls, plus a Frequency and Shape knob for extensive midrange control. The Brite button can be engaged to boost high frequencies, bringing out the top end of the bass and highlighting natural harmonic overtones for a distinct, vibrant sound.

Total Control

The LX5500 features two essential onboard effects designed to enhance your playing and add additional options to your sonic arsenal. An integrated Drive control gives you the option of mixing in a comfortable amount of grit or maxing it out for a healthy dose of fuzzy goodness. Dial in just the right amount of compression to add punch and presence to your attack, or smooth out transients for players who use slapping, tapping, and thumb picking techniques.

The Ins and Outs

Lightweight enough to take anywhere and versatile enough to use in any setup, the LX5500 is the ideal amplifier for stage and rehearsal. An XLR direct output with pre and post EQ selection allows direct connection to a PA or recording console. An 1/8" headphone output is ideal for quiet practice sessions, while an 1/8" auxiliary input can be used to connect phones or MP3 players.

Specifications

Continuous Average Output Power 500 watts @ 4 ohms, 330 watts @ 8 ohms

Preamp Class A, with 12AX7 Low Noise High-Mu Twin Triode

Input >1MΩ unbalanced

Compressor Ratio Fixed 2:1

Compressor Threshold Off to -30dBu to Input

Mute >80dB (100dB typical) at Direct Output & Speaker Output

Brite Switch 10kHz, +8dB Gain @ 2 o’clock; +5dB Gain @ min

Bass Knob +8/-14dB @ 80Hz relative to 12 o’clock

Shape Knob +11/-3dB relative to 12 o’clock

Frequency Knob 200Hz-800Hz

Treble Knob +5/-20dB @ 6kHz relative to 12 o’clock

FX Loop Send 200Ω impedance balanced

FX Loop Return 20kΩ balanced, 5.5dBu for Rated Output Power

Tuner Output 100Ω unbalanced

Direct Output 210Ω balanced

Stereo Aux Input 3kΩ unbalanced, -10dBV

Headphones 80mW max @ 32Ω

Dimensions 14” x 10.6” x 2.6” / 355mm x 270mm x 73mm

Weight 8lb / 3.6kg