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Headrush MX5 Amp Modeling Guitar Effect Processor

Guitar Amp Modeling/Multi-effects Processor with 4" Touch Display, 3 Footswitches, 46 Amp Models, 15 Cabinets, and 63 Effects
$399.00

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Headrush MX5 Amp Modeling Guitar Effect Processor
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Pint-sized Powerhouse Processor with Limitless Sonic Options

By combining stellar-sounding amp models and cabs with an impressive collection of pedals and effects, the Headrush MX5 Amp Modeling Guitar Effect Processor gives you the functionality of a fully stocked rig with grab-and-go convenience. The MX5 is loaded with an optimized quad-core processor, with a wide variety of vintage and modern gear options at your disposal to create custom rigs. Its 4-inch touchscreen is bright and easy to navigate, making it a breeze to swap out models and switch between presets. When you’re ready to hit the stage or use it in the studio, the MX5’s I/O options supply you with all the connections needed to showcase your sound, doubling as an audio interface when used with a computer. Throw in expert-level additions like a dedicated onboard looper, an assignable expression pedal, and a global EQ, and the Headrush MX5 Amp Modeling Guitar Effect Processor bottles convenience and quality at a steal of a price.

Crystal-clear 4-inch touchscreen

Headrush boards and processors are known for their accessibility, and for good reason — their user-friendly designs ensure that players of all skill levels can quickly find and design studio-grade sounds with only a few presses. To achieve just that, the MX5 is outfitted with a highly responsive 4-inch touchscreen. Taps, swipes, and drags are pulled off with zero latency, letting you adjust tones in real time. This is an exciting feature for many gigging guitarists at Sweetwater, which is made even better with an ultra-bright HD display that shines clearly on even the darkest stages.

Grab-and-go functionality with effortless portability

Much like its heftier, pricier siblings, the MX5 packs all of the amps and effects you crave into a fully stocked gigable board — this time more portable than ever! It’s perfectly sized for backpacks and bags of all kinds; it weighs a mere 3.5 pounds yet it packs the power and fury of tube heads and cabs that typically tip the scales. Whether you’re constantly hopping on planes or you’re in need of an all-in-one solution for Sunday services, the MX5’s extensive feature set and portable design solidify it as a first-choice modeler for the discerning player.

Mix and match amps and effects to tonal perfection

With 46 amplifiers, 15 cabs, 10 mic emulations, 300 IRs, and 63 professional-quality effects on board, the MX5 conjures seemingly endless sounds and textures pulled from beloved vintage and modern gear. By using the 4-inch touch display, crafting your own rigs is accomplished in seconds — just drag and drop amps and effects to your heart’s content to nail whatever sound you seek, then save your rig as part of a Setlist for instant recall whenever you need it. Best of all, Headrush’s consistent updates ensure new models will be added all of the time, with options for loading your own third-party IRs via USB to Mac or PC.

Easily access expert-level features

Aside from the MX5’s incredible array of gear and rig-crafting capabilities, Headrush loaded it with even more versatility. Its trio of footswitches is capable of much more than meets the eye, tackling everything from toggling models and Scenes to swapping rigs and accessing Setlists. Want to give the hands-free mode a spin? Simply hold down footswitch 1 to access this mode, allowing you to select models to tweak, choose the parameter, and then use the built-in expression pedal to fine-tune your sound. You can even toggle multiple effects on and off from a single switch when in Scenes mode — this kind of instant access is critical when needing to swap rigs on the fly when playing live. And since the MX5 features gapless preset switching, reverb and delay tails will continue to ring out after switching presets. Appointments like this give the MX5 a boutique feel that belies its budget price.

Built-in looper for practice and performance settings

The MX5’s built-in advanced looper handles up to 20 minutes of layered audio, with a maximum length of five minutes per loop to ensure it’s perfectly suited to any playing situation. Singer/songwriters who frequent coffee shops and small venues will appreciate the looper’s compatibility with MP3 and WAV files, allowing you to load in backing tracks or save your own loops for future projects and performances.

A processor and audio interface in one

In need of a simple solution for all of your performance and recording needs? The MX5 checks all the required boxes, serving as a high-quality 24-bit/96kHz audio interface when connected to a computer. It’s perfectly compatible with all of your favorite DAWs, with an incredibly convenient Reamp option to color any audio with the MX5’s amps and effects. When in Reamp mode, pre-recorded audio signals are sent through the MX5 and then recorded back into your DAW — this applies the tone of the MX5 to a previous take without needing to play parts over and over.

Extensive I/O for ample connectivity options

Headrush outfitted the MX5 with connectivity options that seamlessly integrate into any guitar setup. Labeled Guitar In and Right/Left output jacks let you connect your instrument and amps to the MX5 just like any other pedal or processor, with a built-in effects loop to throw external pedals into the signal chain at any point you choose. A 1/4-inch expression input lets you use your favorite expression pedals. You also get 1/8-inch headphone and aux jacks, as well as a pair of 1/8-inch-to-MIDI adapters for added functionality.

Headrush MX5 Amp Modeling Guitar Effect Processor Features:

  • Ultra-portable amp and effects processor with 4-inch touchscreen
  • Zero-latency touchscreen responds to taps, swipes, and drags
  • Ultra-bright HD display ensures you know exactly which rig you’re running
  • Weighs only 3.5 lbs.; fits comfortably in backpacks and bags of all kinds
  • Comes stock with 46 amps, 15 cabinets, 10 mic emulations, 300 impulse responses, and 63 effects
  • Drag-and-drop models to craft your own rigs; cycle through a wide variety of presets to get started
  • Load your own third-party IRs with a Mac or PC over USB
  • 3 footswitches toggle models and Scenes, swap Setlists, and more
  • Hands-free mode lets you choose and tweak amps and effects with your feet
  • Scenes mode lets you swap entire rigs on the fly
  • Gapless preset switching allows reverb and delay tails to continue after switching presets
  • Built-in looper layers up to 20 minutes of loops with 5 minutes for each layer
  • Can load in MP3 and WAV files for backtracks; save your own audio files for future projects and performances
  • Doubles as a 24-bit/96kHz audio interface when connected to a computer
  • Reamp mode colors audio files with MX5's amps and effects, and records them back to your DAW
  • Assignable expression pedal with Classic and Advanced Modes
  • Global EQ caters your sound to venues and spaces of all kinds
  • Extensive I/O options ensure compatibility with a wide variety of rigs

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Tech Specs

  • Pedal Type: Multi-FX
  • Analog/Digital: Digital
  • Presets: 11 Slots per Rig, Group Rigs within Setlists
  • Number of Effects: 63
  • Effects Types: Distortion, Dynamics, Modulation, Reverb, Delay, FX Loop, Expression
  • Amp Modeling: 50 x Amp Models, 15 x Cabinets, 10 x Microphone Emulations
  • Impulse Response: 300 x IRs, 3rd Party Support
  • Looper: 20 minutes total, Up to 5 minutes per loop
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4" (instrument), 1 x 1/4" (FX return), 1 x 1/8" (aux)
  • Outputs: 2 x 1/4" TRS (L/mono, R), 1 x 1/4" (FX send)
  • MIDI I/O: 2 x 1/8" (In, Out/Thru)
  • USB: 1 x Type B
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/8"
  • Expression Control: Built-in Pedal, 1 x 1/4" TRS (expression pedal)
  • Features: 4" Touch Display
  • Compatibility: Mac, Windows
  • Power Source: 12V DC 3A power supply (included)
  • Height: 2.75"
  • Width: 11.6"
  • Depth: 6"
  • Weight: 3.46 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: MX5XUS

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

VERY capable unit. Learning everything, just like every other multi-effects-pedal, is a process

I bought a discounted demo model on a Thursday, and with free shipping, amazingly, it already arrived just two days later on Saturday. That is just outstanding! Sweetwater is just the best.
As I made the purchase, I did hope my decision to buy used wouldn't bite me in the end. But The unit looked brand new, it came in the original box with ALL the cords and the power supply. There was no manual, which is no biggy, that is online. When I found the online manual I was amazed by the capability of this unit. (I will just leave it to the reader find the manual and discover this for yourself). Finding everything on the unit and making it work for me is a work in process.

Because this was a used unit I hoped that the firmware update would already be done, but it was not. Updating the firmware was pretty easy though. There are a lot of support videos online for virtually anything you want to do on this, but that is just it, there is a lot to learn, and that is not a bad thing. It is a very capable unit.

Because this was a demo model there are a lot of really horrible rigs set up on it AND there are 270 rigs on the unit as it sits now. All I can do is; delete, delete, delete and make my own. Oh well, no big deal, this is what I get for saving $ instead of buying a new unit. I WILL suggest buying the new one to avoid all this, oh well, I am on a budget, and again it's just a process and I knew it would be going into this, so I was prepared.

Although the unit IS intuitive to use placing your pedals in specific orders, using multiple chains of effects, etc etc, but finding exactly what I am looking for and making all of this work for me, altogether it is still a work in process. I just want to re-iterate, THAT, is not the units fault, that is on me. The Headrush MX5 seems to be SO capable that the learning curve is just naturally longer. It's just as simple as that. It's a process. Have patience. Its worth it.

1.) The First thing I learned was that I didn't like ANY of the presets. I have heard this is typical. I went through abnout 150 of them the first day. But when I wore headphones the second day I plugged into the back of the MX5 so I wouldn't disturb my wife because she was working, and to my surprise there was this great sound on the heaphones that I was hoping for. Hmm curious. Why not through the amps?
2.) So The second thing I learned out was why it sounded so much better through the headphones than it did through my amps. I researched this and found a video saying, "It's because the unit is using amp simulations and if you are already running through an amp it is doubling the amp and making it sound bad." The video also suggested that If I build my own rigs and leave out the IR's, Amp simulations, cabinet simulations, and microphones, I'll get a better result. I have not investigated this yet but, it sure makes sense and I do believe that this will turn out to be true. It is a little disappointing, amps are all I have right now.

This unit seems to be made more for powered speaker setups, going straight into the board, and the portability of this type system. That is very understandable, but also disappointing too. All I have are amps but I wanted to have all those choices too. Oh well.

ONE BIG HEADS UP! Make sure your MX5 unit's volume is turned down BEFORE you power up your system. I had not noticed my Demo unit MX5 was cranked all the way up to 10. Because it is a preamp turned to 10, I could have fried my amp or speakers. It made an absolutely terrible screeching noise when I powered up the first time. My first thought was that the unit was defective, my second thought was, OH NO!, There went all my amps! IO turned the MX5 down and the whole right side was not working at all. OH NO! Luckily non of that happened and everything was fine. On my previous processor unit, I had to use a split cable with a stereo plug plugged going into the single stereo output of the Digitech. That cable was crucial to splitting the signal from my old Digitech processor out to each amp. The Digitech simply would not work any other way and I had gotten used to hooking it up this way. Not realizing that on the MX5 there two separate outputs, one for each side, (Which makes much more sense really), I just found another cord plugged it into the right output and hoped that, that would do the trick and no damage was done. Before powering up this time, I turned down the MX5 volume powered up and, was relieved to find out the right side was working. I had my stereo system back, "No harm no fowl" so to speak, but, I sure didn't like that first powerup. So Just make sure your MX5 is turned down when you first power it up.

One more small heads up; after successfully powering up and stereo restored to my system, there was a very noticeable "Hiss", and my First thought of course was, oh no, what happened?! I tipped the back of the unit up to check out the hookups and on the back of the MX5 unit there is an amp and board switch. Just make sure its in the right position. When I switched to amp, the hiss went away. We are all good to go now, No harm no fowl, but three times I thought that I had damaged something, was more than enough in this endeavor.

Hooking this used demo unit up was definitely a new learning experience process.
Learning how to use the MX5, will continue to be a process, but that exploration is the fun part.
I Hope your initial experience goes better than mine did. No harm no fowl wasn't really a good way to start...
BUT even after all of this, I do recommend this unit,
just maybe do your self a favor and buy a NEW one...just sayin...
Music background: 51 years of fun
Rated 5/5

Had low expectations, but BOY, HOWDY!!!

Basically, I'm getting older and I was tired of dragging around heavy cabs and heads. Also, I was uncomfortable toting my 22 year old JCM 900 around from gig to gig. Add to that the nightmare I just went through with a BRAND NEW Mesa Boogie tube head (not from Sweetwater) and I was ready for a change. A friend plays HeadRush products and loves them, so I thought "why not?" My SW rep, Cody Krauss, put together a sweetheart package deal on the MX5 and a pair of HeadRush FRFR108 wedge monitors. I've never really cared for modeling amps…always found them lacking. I figured this would be the same, but I was willing to compromise for the sake of convenience. I could NOT have been more wrong!!! I plugged in and I was blown away by the tone I was getting, instantly! This unit has everything I'd ever need. Killer amps, cabs, and effects. I added some custom IR's and I haven't looked back. I've barely cracked a manual and I'm already putting together my own digital rigs. I would have never in a million years thought I'd find "my tone" in a digital product! Well, not only that, but now, my whole guitar rig fits in the front seat of my wife's Hyundai. I'm a believer!
Rated 5/5

Gig pedal Dream!

Small, easy to carry, incredible flexibility, uniform compatibility with the other headrush boards.... With a bit of tweaking and knowledge it sounds better than the real deal and you couldn't afford a trailer big enough for all of the sonic options or amps you can create. Fantastic touch screen and huge community to help support set builds and set ups...... In 30 years the best pedal option I have ever used.... And I have bought all kinds of stuff....
Rated 5/5

Great little unit!!

This is a great little unit. Has all of the internal capabilities of its big brother (Headrush pedalboard) in a much smaller package. Very sturdy build. Great touchscreen. Love the amp models. Love being able to import rigs from the bigger unit. Well done Headrush.
Music background: Weekend gigger
Rated 5/5

Great Bang for the Buck and Perfect for my needs

I use this primarily with my acoustic gigging set up: guitar with K&K pure mini-->MX5-->Looperboard--PA. I also use a small external midi foot controller to toggle fx on and off. It works great, allowing me to play arrangements of songs that would sound kind of flat if only played with the acoustic guitar. I just created a few basic patches with different fx configurations and it's got me covered: e.g. delay, reverb, compression, tremolo, wah, volume, clean boost, tap tempo, tuner. It's all right there and I can switch individual fx on and off anytime, just like I used to on my gargantuan Pedaltrain with individual pedals.

Like I say in the title, great bang for buck with quality sounds in a nice, small package that has been serving me without problem for the past two years of regular gigging and recording. I have a backup just in case.
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