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Bass Guitars > Bass Guitar Amps > Bass Guitar Amp Heads > TC Electronic RH450 Compact Bass Head

TC Electronic RH450 Compact Bass Head

Item ID: RH450

450-watt Bass Amplifier Head with User-assignable EQ Settings, Tube Emulation, Rehearsal Inputs, Tuner, and Built-in Compressor

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From Our Research Team:

Big Bass Wattage from an Ultra-portable Head!

The TC Electronic RH450 bass amplifier head gives you more than just a powerful, great-sounding head. One look at this ultra-compact, easy-to-use head and you won't believe the RH450 puts out an astounding 450 watts - and that's just the beginning! You get analog and digital direct outs, programmable EQ, selectable user memories, tube-emulation circuitry, and an integrated compressor. A rehearsal input for music players, headphone jack, and tuner are also built into the small-but-mighty RH450!





TC Electronic RH450 450-watt Bass Amplifier Head at a Glance:
  • Powerful and portable
  • Rehearsal inputs and integrated tuner
  • User memories and direct outputs
  • Straightforward but incredibly versatile tone controls
  • TubeTone and Spectra Comp

Powerful and portable
The 450-watt high power output level of RH450 is accomplished by using Class D amplifier technology in combination with TC Electronic's Active Power Management (APM). APM effectively means that the amp behaves very much like a tube amp when getting close to maximum performance by optimizing the power impact, contrary to the hard-clipping tendencies of transistor amps and most other Class D amps. And this head is incredibly portable, to boot!

Rehearsal inputs and integrated tuner
Playing any instrument on its own can be a little dull, but everyone needs time to practice, which is why RH450 has rehearsal inputs. This rear panel-mounted feature allows you to plug in your iPod, phone, computer or MP3 player via the supplied mini-jack to RCA cable adapter for easy practicing and playing along with recorded music. The headphone amp is a high quality model taken straight from TC Electronic's Studio Konnekt 48 and includes a speaker filter on the bass signal.
The onboard tuner is amazingly convenientSimply push the Mute button to get a full-resolution tuner 'light ring' to help you tune your instrument quickly and accurately. You can also use the RebelControl for easy remote access to this functionality.

User memories and direct outputs
You might not use presets, but only because you've never had the chance! Anyone who's used different basses on stage knows that a few user memories on your amp would be welcome. With RH450 you can easily switch between, for example, your 4- and 5-string basses, or your Rickenbacker and Fender Jazz. Just plug in the bass and use the 'car radio'-style Store & Recall controls to easily switch between presets for your chosen model. There are three bass user memories, remote control access and visual indicators for Mute and the Tuner. A transformer-balanced line out gives you stellar live-sound DI and direct-recording performance - even with long cable runs! Speaking of direct recording: a built-in AES/EBU connector lets you plug straight into your DAW.

Straightforward but incredibly versatile tone controls
The RH450 features straightforward controls, much like those you'd find on traditional amps. Voiced to give you plenty of tweaking options to nail the perfect tone. Chances are that this is all you're ever going to need. However, if you're not fully satisfied with the default frequency areas, fear not - TC Electronic has given you the option to change the focus of each of the tone controls. This functionality allows you to pinpoint a frequency you either want to remove or boost for each tone control and then store the settings.

TubeTone and Spectra Comp
Most transistor designs have tried to replicate the tube sound using one small pre-amp tube, but they generally fail as they don't take into account the crucial characteristics of the full pre-amp and power amp sections - both of which are essential to the sound. TubeTone emulates all characteristics to deliver the full tube sound. Likewise, integrated compressors generally don't sound that good. A regular compressor tends to be dominated by the lower string, but RH450's SpectraComp technology allows virtually 'per string' multiband compression that evens out the compression across all strings.

TC Electronic RH450 450-watt Bass Amplifier Head Features:
  • Input connector: 1/4" jack
  • Input impedance: 1 Mohm/100 pF
  • Gain range: -96 to 32dB
  • Tone controls: Bass - Center Freq: 280Hz (range: 71-1120Hz, Gain: +15/-24dB); Low Mid - Center Freq: 400Hz (range: 100-1600Hz, Gain: +15/-24dB); High Mid - Center Freq: 800Hz (range: 200-3150Hz, Gain: +15/-24dB); Treble - Center Freq: 1600Hz (range: 400-6300Hz, Gain: +12/-24dB)
  • Tube emulation circuitry
  • 3-band spectral compression
  • User Memories: Three memory locations storing all front panel controls except Mute and Master Level
  • Tuner: Chromatic, constant on A0 (27.50Hz) to E5 (659.26Hz)
  • Mute: Mutes speaker out, Phones out and Balanced out
  • Master Level Headphone output
  • Studio-quality headphone amp
  • Impedance: 40 to 600 Ohm
  • Mains supply: Universal 100 - 240V 50/60Hz (80w at 1/8 power)
  • Speaker out: Combined Speakon/1/4" jack
  • Power rating: 450W (800W Peak)
  • Balanced output: Transformer-balanced XLR, pre/post pre-amp
  • Optimal Load Impedance: 600 ohm
  • Preamp out: 1/4" jack, balanced output, max output level = +8dBu
  • Power amp in: 1/4" jack, balanced input, impedance = 10 kOhm, Max Input Level = +8dBu
  • Rehearsal input: RCA, left/right input, works with iPod and other music players
  • Digital Recording out: Balanced XLR, AES/EBU, (24-bit)
  • Remote connection: 5 pin DIN, cable with shield
  • Dimensions: 10.8" x 11.4" x 2.6"
  • Weight: 8.8 pounds
  • Finish: Sandblasted die-cast aluminum

The TC Electronic RH450 packs an astounding amount of power and features into a very compact bass head!
Specification Detail
Type Solid State
Number of Channels 1
Power 450W
Effects No
Compression Yes
EQ 4-band tone
Amp Modeling No
Number of Models 0
Number of Tubes 0
Preamp Tubes 0
Power Tubes 0
Inputs 1 x Instrument; 2 x RCA (CD)
Outputs 1 x Speaker; 1 x digital; 1 x line
Footswitch I/O No
Effects Loop Yes
Height 2.6"
Width 11.4"
Depth 10.8"
Weight 8.8 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number 990000011

RH450 Compact Bass Head Image Gallery

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Reviews

based on 3 reviews

Awesome Sound!

by Art Narvaez from Marshfield, WI USA
October 15, 2011
Music Background: Semi-Pro Musician
Unbelievable sound - just watch the videos on YouTube. I agree with Steve Bailey and can't believe how loud this sounds for the rating (bass player for Public Enemy was gonna use two RH450 heads runn... read more [+]ing 2 RS212 cabs each, but it was too loud and opted for 1 RH450 running 3 RS212 cabs).

You can run 3 tc electronic 8 ohm RS cabs with this head (for a total impedance of 2.6667 ohms) or two 8 ohm cabs from another manufacturer (total impedance of 4 ohms). I am currently using it with a RS 212 (which is amazing as well and it has plenty of bottom and overall volume). There is a review out on the internet somewhere that stated that the overall volume was around 230 watts but that it felt like a 450 watt amp, thus the 450 watt rating. I usually can't turn it past 9 or 10 o'clock when I'm at home (and that's just using the RS212, let alone with the RS410 also).

I love the preset option and use the optional footcontroller with it as well. I use the headphones with the RCA inputs in the back of the amp to play along with my iPhone or laptop. The TubeTone is great as well especially since you can save the level as part of a preset. So, I can have a slap tone, finger funk tone, and a picking rock tone saved and switch back and forth. The tuner is handy as well especially with the foot controller since it also displays the tuning notes and has the mute switch to engage silent tuning.

I cannot say enough good things about this amp. My EBMM Bongo 5HH and Carvin SB5000 both sound amazing through this amp. I get full useability of my onboard preamps on both basses. And if that isn't precise enough, I can make use of the semi-parametric EQs for each of the 4 bands (I think they overlap from 75Hz to 6kHz, so they cover alot of frequencies).

If you live in central Wisconsin, feel free to look me up and I'll let you hear how good this amp sounds (and how loud it is!)

If you really need something louder than this amp, go with the RH750. close [-]

Great piece of gear!!

by Robert from Corning, NY USA
March 29, 2012
Music Background: Jazz Bassist. Home recording enthusiast.
Sounds fantastic. the compression is the best integrated compression I've ever heard in a bass amp. the EQ is infinitely tweakable. There is plenty of power for a small to medium gig. The overall s... read more [+]ound is beefy but clean. I play electric and upright bass which have completely different EQ and compression requirements. I've been looking for an amp for quite some time that will accommodate both my needs. Now I can switch my settings by hitting a button and calling up a preset. How easy is that? This thing is a major step up from any other amp in its price range.
Criticisms: 1. The shift button allows the user to change the center frequencies of each EQ band but there is nothing that tells the user what frequency he/she has selected. You can use your ear of course but if you're looking to dial in a specific frequency you can only guess. Not a show-stopper but a little inconvenient. The manual does supply you with the default center frequencies and ranges.
2. Not a big fan of the tube tone so far. Maybe as I familiarize myself with it I'll grow to like it. Even at the lowest setting I get distortion as opposed to 'warmth'. When it is completely off the tone is clean and full/balanced.
This was definitely money well spent. close [-]

236 Watts for real

by Charles from
August 23, 2011
Music Background:
Wow, TC advertises this as a 450 watt amp. Some companies fib a little and fudge specs but TC has taken it to a new level. 236 glorious watts at 4 ohms, people. That's right, just over half of what TC... read more [+] claims. Perhaps if I had paid half the price for mine I wouldn't be so sore about it. Will not deal with TC again. close [-]

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See Also: Bass Amplifier Heads , TC Electronic , TC Electronic Bass Guitar Amp Heads

TC Electronic RH450 Compact Bass Head

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