The Blackstar Unity 250 is a 250 W bass combo with a custom-designed 15-inch Eminence Opus speaker, made to cover rehearsals, gigs and recording with one amp. Three preamp voices, three blendable drive types and a Response control that recreates three classic power amp stages give it a wide tonal range, and chorus, octave and a compressor are built in. USB audio sends four channels to a computer, and the FS-13 two-button footswitch comes in the box.

Voices, Drive and Response

Classic has a tube-inspired growl with vintage EQ, Modern gives high headroom with an advanced EQ, and Flat stays clean and transparent with studio-style EQ. Each voice gives the 3-band semi-parametric EQ its own character. The Drive knob blends Overdrive, Distortion or Fuzz in with your clean signal, and Response sets the feel of the power stage: Linear for a powerful, articulate sound, 6L6 for the compression and punch of 6L6 tubes, or 6550 for the dynamics and headroom of high-power 6550s. Effect Select chooses Chorus or Octave, with Chorus Level and Octave Blend controls on the back, and the Compressor has its own level knob.

Recording and Expansion

Over USB the amp sends four channels to a computer at once: stereo emulated left and right, the preamp signal without cab emulation, and the dry DI for reamping later. It takes a stereo return and a reamp input back from the computer, with no special drivers. The balanced XLR line out and the stereo headphone jack switch between the emulated sound and a DI signal. A series effects loop, a 3.5 mm MP3/Line In and a Cabinet Link output for Unity 250ACT active cabinets complete the rear panel, and with a 250ACT linked and Chorus on, the rig runs in true stereo.

Features

• 250 W bass combo with a custom-designed 15-inch Eminence Opus speaker
• Three voices: Classic, Modern and Flat, each with its own EQ character
• 3-band EQ with a semi-parametric Mid
• Drive blend with Overdrive, Distortion and Fuzz types
• Response control: Linear, 6L6 and 6550 power amp feel
• Chorus and Octave effects with Chorus Level and Octave Blend controls
• Compressor with level control
• Input Gain with clip light, and a Pad switch for active or passive basses
• USB audio with 4 channels to the computer and a reamping input, no drivers needed
• Balanced XLR line out and stereo headphone jack, switchable between emulated and DI
• Series effects loop
• Cabinet Link output for Unity 250ACT active cabinets, true stereo with Chorus
• FS-13 2-way footswitch included for Drive and Effect, optional FS-12 5-way footcontroller

Specifications

• Power: 250 W RMS
• Speaker: 1 x 15" Eminence Opus, custom designed
• Voices: Classic, Modern, Flat
• Drive types: Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz
• Response: Linear, 6L6, 6550
• Effects: Chorus, Octave (octave down and up blend), Compressor
• Inputs: 1/4" instrument, 3.5 mm MP3/Line In, effects return
• Outputs: Balanced XLR line out with ground lift, 1/4" stereo headphones, effects send, XLR Cabinet Link
• USB: USB Mini-B audio, 4 channels to the computer, stereo return and reamp input from the computer, USB cable sold separately
• Footswitch: FS-13 2-way included, optional FS-12 5-way
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 485 x 572 x 361 mm (19.1 x 22.5 x 14.2 in)
• Weight: 19.2 kg (42.3 lbs)

In the Box

• Blackstar Unity 250 combo
• FS-13 2-way footswitch
• Footswitch cable
• Mains power cable