Darkglass Alpha-Omega 500 Bass Head Overview
The Darkglass Alpha Omega 500 is, what Darkglass describes as, a beautifully brutal bass amp, packing a meaty punch and dynamic tone, that’s become synonymous to this relatively new brand. Darkglass was introduced to the scene in 2016, and have already established themselves as a premium amp manufacture, providing a bass tone that is becoming essential for the modern bass player.
The Alpha Omega, despite is compact size, has a whopping 500-Watt of power RMS with a custom-designed, highly-efficient, class D power amp. This second version of the Darkglass Alpha Omega has been designed to be as versatile as possible and the ability to use of a wider range of speaker cabs, now including cabs with an impedance as low as 2Ω, as well as compatibility with 4Ω and 8Ω cabinets too, is testament to that.
The Alpha·Omega 500 features Darkglass’ celebrated Alpha and Omega analog drive engines. The Alpha drive engine is perfect for the modern bass player, offering punchiness and tightness, with a lot of definition. The Omega is simply brutal and raw, making it a bit more “vintage” sounding. It offers a different flavour to the famous Microtubes circuits, allowing Darkglass to solve many bass player’s tone woes. The Alpha Omega 500 also features a proprietary Mod control, allowing you to blend between either drive circuits.
Darkglass have listened to the great feedback they have received from their users, and have implemented a new internal cabinet simulation feature, which improves on the technology from the Darkglass Electronics’ Cab Sim/IR Module. The Alpha Omega 500 has three slots available for you to use your own hi-res impulse responses, which are active on both the headphone and balanced XLR DI output. This not only makes the Alpha Omega 500 a great device for recording but also the ideal tool for silent practising, as you are able to add in audio from the auxiliary input, as well as the Alpha Omega 500. This means you can play along to your favourite songs, without having to buy any other equipment.
Darkglass have added a studio-grade one-knob VCA compressor with intelligent makeup gain, ensuring there is a consistency in levels. Darkglass has also upgraded the 4-band EQ, that was found on the previous 500 model, to a new ultra-quiet graphic 6-band equalizer.
For more information on the amazing capabilities of this little powerhouse, check out the Features/Spec section.
Overview By Darkglass
Introducing the Darkglass Alpha Omega 500 - beautifully Brutal 500 Watt Bass Amplifier.
Darkglass Electronics may only have been in the bass amplifier market a short while, but what started out as a daring, experiment in a highly competitive industry segment in 2016 is now a thriving and celebrated family of powerful and flexible amplifiers that fulfil a multitude of desires for the modern bass player. With the Alpha·Omega 500, this new legacy is sure to continue and allow even more bass players to get the latest developments. Plus, with its sleek package with the instantly recognizable Darkglass design on the outside, this amplifier packs a real punch on the inside, despite its seemingly inconspicuous size.
Alpha·Omega 500 features Darkglass’ celebrated Alpha and Omega analog drive engines. A deliberate, yet distinctively different flavour to the famous Microtubes circuits, Alpha is punchy and tight with a lot of definition, whereas Omega is simply brutal and raw. With the proprietary Mod control to blend between either drive circuits, earth-shattering tones are only a step away.
An all-new and custom-designed Darkglass high-efficiency class D power amplifier module sits at the heart of this innovative 500-Watt amplifier. This superior module enables the usage of speaker cabs with impedance as low as 2Ω, adding a new level of flexibility for your cabinet options.
The new internal cabinet simulation is a much-requested feature, which utilizes an improved version of Darkglass Electronics’ Cab Sim/IR module. With three slots for hi-res impulse responses, which are active for both the headphone output and the balanced XLR DI output, Alpha·Omega 500 is a great device for recording. Add in the auxiliary input and the Alpha·Omega 500 is also the ideal tool for silent practising too.
On top of all that, Darkglass have added a studio-grade one-knob VCA compressor with intelligent makeup gain for level consistency, while a new ultra-quiet graphic 6-band equalizer now replaces the 4-band version on the previous 500 model.
All of these features combined, as well as the others listed below, place the Alpha·Omega 500 among the most versatile amplifiers on the market. Hardly ever before has such a powerful sonic tool been packed into such compact and light-weight format.
- Custom-designed Darkglass high-efficiency class D power amplifier module
- 500 W RMS Power Output
- 8/4/2 Ohm load compatible
- Analog preamp with Passive/Active input switch
- Switchable Alpha and Omega analog drive/distortion circuits
- MOD control for blending between Alpha and Omega distortion engines
- Drive/Clean Blend control with separate Bite and Growl switches
- Three speaker cab Impulse Response slots, selectable via the Cab Select switch.
- Built-in adjustable studio-grade VCA compressor
- Ultra-quiet 6-band graphic EQ
- XLR DI Output with ground lift
- FX Loop
- 3.5mm Auxiliary input
- Headphone output with cabinet simulation
- USB to connect to free Darkglass Suite (for Mac/PC)
- -Loads Impulse Responses
- -Control for the VCA Compressor (programmable on/off per channel)
- Compatible with Intelligent and Super Intelligent Footswitches (sold separately)
- The Alpha·Omega 500 is a 500W amplifier equipped with an all-analog preamplifier, two distinct distortion circuits (Alpha and Omega), a custom-designed Darkglass high-efficiency class D Module, an ultra-quiet graphic equalizer, and a digital impulse-response cabinet emulator for DI outputs or headphones.
- Front Panel Features
- Input
- Use this jack to connect your instrument via a standard ¼” mono cable.
- Passive/Active
- Use this push-button switch to change from passive to active mode. If your bass is active it can have a hotter signal making the amp to distort early (feel free to use if such additional distortion is desired).
- Distortion
- Use this push button to turn on or off the Alpha·Omega Engine™ to add natural compression, organic harmonic enhancement, and saturation ranging from mild overdrive to high gain bass rage. The Alpha·Omega Engine operates before the clean section (you can therefore use the 6-Band Active EQ for additional tone shaping).
- Bite
- Boosts high mids (2.8kHz) for additional presence and definition.
- Growl
- Shelving Bass Boost for a fatter tone and increased low end saturation.
- Compression
- This knob controls the amount of dynamic compression added to the Alpha·Omega Engine. The make up gain is adjusted automatically. The compression can be turned off or assigned using the Darkglass Suite.
- Drive
- This knob controls the amount of distortion that the Alpha·Omega Engine will deliver. It will change from a soft, warm overdrive to a massive and modern distortion sound.
- Level
- Use this knob to control Alpha·Omega Engine’s output volume.
- Blend
- Use this knob to mix between the Clean signal and the DIstortion signal (Alpha·Omega Engine).
- Mod
- Selects or mixes between the two distinct distortion circuits: Alpha is punchy, tight with a lot of definition, whereas Omega is simply brutal and raw.
- Bass
- +-12dB at 80Hz. Use this knob to change the low-end content of the signal.
- Mids
- +-12dB at 250, 500, 1.5K and 3Khz. This graphic EQ control the mid content of the signal.
- Treble
- +-12dB at 5kHz. Use this knob to change the high content of the signal.
- Master
- Use this knob to control the overall volume of the amplifier.
- Mute
- Use this push button to mute the amplifier.
- DIMENSIONS
- WARNING
- · No user-serviceable parts inside the amplifier. Do not open the amp.
- · Never use the amp at a high moisture environment or near liquids.
- · The Alpha·Omega 500 can deliver more than 115 dB of power. Exposure to this level of sound can damage your hearing. Use proper hearing protection if you will be exposed.
- · The Alpha·Omega can deliver more than 500 Watts. Be sure that your speaker cabinet is able to deliver that power.
- · Do not cover the vent holes. The Fan and vent holes are part of the cooling system of the amp. Covering the vent holes can damage the power amp by overheating it.
- · Don’t use an instrument cable as speaker cable. An instrument cable is not designed to deliver the type of power signals sent from the amplifier to the speaker.
- Back Panel Features
- Speaker Output
- Use this connector to connect the amplifier to your cabinet. This Speakon combo jack allows for either Speakon or ¼” speaker cable operation.
- WARNING: Do not use an instrument cable with this jack. Using an instrument cable can damage your amplifier.
- Send
- Use this output to send the signal to effects pedals.
- Return
- Use this input to receive the signal from effects pedals. Master volume control is after this input.
- Ground Lift
- Use this control to lift the ground of the DI XLR output. If you are experiencing ground noise in your DI signal try changing the setting of this control.
- DI Output
- Use this connector to send your signal to the console, mic preamp, interface, etc. Both signals are available (Bypass and the amp signal with cabinet simulation) and are switched from the cab select switch.
- USB
- The USB connector allows you to use the Darkglass Suite to load different cabinet impulses or change different parameters on your amp.
- Headphone Output
- Connect your Headphones and enjoy the impulse based cabinet emulation.
- AUX IN
- Use this connector to provide to the Headphone output music from your laptop, cellphone, mp3 player, etc.
- Cabinet Select
- Use this switch to navigate between the 3 different cabinet impulses or the clean DI signal.
- Footswitch
- The Intelligent Footswitch is a proprietary digitally controlled device that allows you to remotely engage and disengage the Alpha·Omega Engine. You can also hold the footswitch to Mute the amplifier. You can also hold the footswitch to Mute the amplifier. The distortion push button will remain operational with the Intelligent Footswitch plugged in..
- · You can use a regular mono instrument cable to connect the amplifier to the footswitch.
- · You must remove the cable from the footswitch jack in the rear panel if you want to control the amp from the front panel.
- AC Socket
- Use this connector to feed electric power to the amplifier. 100 - 230 VAC, 50Hz-60.
- AC Power ON/OFF
- Use this Switch to release the audio energy from your bass.
- Disclaimer
- In the interest of continuous improvement, specifications are subject to change without notice. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at www.darkglass.com
- The manufacturer claims that the above product fulfills the requirements as set by EN55013, EN55020, EN60555-2, EN60555-3, RoHS, WEEE.
