The Blackstar Unity 500 is a 500 W bass combo with two custom Eminence 10-inch Opus speakers, made for bassists who want one amp for rehearsals, gigs and direct recording. Three preamp voices, three blendable drives and Blackstar's Response control give it a wide range of tones. USB audio, a balanced XLR output and a Cabinet Link output connect it to a computer, a PA or extra cabinets.

Voices, Drive and Response

Classic gives a tube-inspired growl with vintage EQ, Modern adds headroom and a more advanced EQ, and Flat stays clean and transparent with studio-style EQ. The Drive knob blends overdrive, distortion or fuzz in with your clean signal, so the low end stays in place as you add grit. Response sets the feel of the power stage: Linear for a direct, articulate sound, or the compression and punch of 6L6 or 6550 tubes.

Recording and Expansion

The USB port sends four channels to a computer at once: a stereo cabinet-emulated mix, the preamp signal and a dry DI track. With no instrument plugged in, the amp takes that dry track back from your recording software for reamping. The XLR Line Out sends either the emulated sound or a clean DI to the PA, and the Cabinet Link output drives one or more Unity 250ACT active cabinets, each adding up to 250 W.

Features

• 500 W RMS into two custom Eminence 10" Opus speakers
• Three voices: Classic, Modern and Flat
• Three footswitchable drives (Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz) with a blend control
• 3-band EQ with semi-parametric Mid, voiced to suit each preamp voice
• Response control: Linear, 6L6 and 6550
• Chorus and Octave effects with rear-panel level controls, Octave Blend from octave down to octave up
• Compressor with one Level control and an on/off switch
• Input Gain with clip LED and a 0/-10 dB Pad switch for passive or active basses
• 4-channel USB audio output and reamping input, no special drivers needed
• Balanced XLR Line Out with Emulated/DI switch, Line Out Level and ground lift
• Series effects loop
• 3.5 mm MP3/Line In and 1/4" stereo headphone output
• Cabinet Link XLR output for Unity 250ACT active cabinets
• FS-13 2-way footswitch included, optional FS-12 5-way footcontroller supported

Specifications

• Power: 500 W RMS
• Speakers: 2 x 10" Eminence Opus, custom designed
• Voices: Classic, Modern, Flat
• Drives: Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz
• Response: Linear, 6L6, 6550
• Effects: Chorus, Octave (down and up), Compressor
• Inputs: 1/4" instrument, 3.5 mm MP3/Line In, effects return, footswitch
• Outputs: Balanced XLR Line Out, 1/4" stereo headphones, effects send, Cabinet Link (XLR)
• USB: Mini-B, 4 channels to the computer plus reamping input (cable not included)
• Footswitch: FS-13 2-way included, FS-12 5-way optional
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 485 x 612 x 361 mm (19.1 x 24.1 x 14.2 in)
• Weight: 22 kg (48.5 lbs)

In the Box

• Blackstar Unity 500 combo amplifier
• FS-13 2-way footswitch
• Mains power cable

Optional Accessories

• Blackstar FS-12 5-way footcontroller
• Blackstar Unity 250ACT 1x15" active cabinet