A More Flexible Way to Use Your Tube Amplifier
With the Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box, you can play your favorite tube amplifier at its sonic sweet spot at any volume level. And that's just the start — featuring UA's Dynamic Speaker modeling technology, you'll be able to access dozens of spot-on mic and guitar cabinet emulations. Premium analog components and one of the world's best reactive load circuits ensure you'll hear all the dynamics and harmonic complexity your amplifier has to offer. The OX Amp Top Box is a powerful solution for recording, allowing you to achieve those cranked-amp tube tones at any volume level. Many recording guitarists at Sweetwater prefer this recording method for maximum sonic control. Instead of a speaker cabinet, plug your tube amp into the Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box to explore a whole new range of tonal possibilities.
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What's New for Firmware v1.2
A free firmware update tops off your OX with the latest speaker models and artist RIGs (presets) from Universal Audio, as well as some live-ready amp and footswitch support. Here's what's included:
Five new speaker cabinets
- 4x12 UK Vee 30 — A modern closed-back cabinet with four 12" speakers; great for heavy, distorted, and scooped amp tones.
- 4x12 CA Vee 30 — This vintage closed-back 4x12 cabinet is one of the industry standards for rock and metal.
- 4x12 GB 30 — A basketweave closed-back cab whose 30W "green" speakers exhibit loads of definition and a tight bass response.
- 2x12 JBF 120 — Punch and articulation in a late ’60s-era cabinet; perfect for loud and clean tube amps, especially within the realm of country, surf, and psychedelic rock.
- 1x12 JBG 125 — Loaded with a rare speaker that found favor with most famous boutique amp builders of the ‘70s and ‘80s; similar to the JBF 120, but warmer overall.
27 RIGs inspired by legendary stage and studio tones
Universal Audio's latest RIGs pay tribute to some legendary tones by the likes of Eric Johnson, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Kansas, Metallica, Steve Vai, Mark Tremonti, Deep Purple, Pat Metheny, John Frusciante, and more.
Expanded footswitch control
In addition to the expanded tones, the latest firmware also gives you hands-free control over the OX's onboard FX using your 1-, 2-, or 3-button footswitches.
Solid-state amp support
OX has proven itself with tube amps. Now it's time to put its solid-state amp support to the test. Just be sure to check your amp's output rating so as not to exceed the OX's maximum input power handling of 150W RMS.
Reactive load circuit for realistic speaker response: no cabinet required
Universal Audio claims OX features the best reactive load circuit in the world, allowing you to crank up your amp for harmonically-rich tone while keeping volume at practical levels. Reactive load circuits respond to your amp's signal the same way a real speaker cabinet would. That means you'll hear — and feel — all the sonic nuance and harmonic complexity your amplifier has to offer, even when you're playing at neighbor-friendly volumes. Or even through headphones. You'll feel like you're playing through a real speaker cabinet because the reactive load responds the same way — and Sweetwater is sure that will inform your playing for the better.
Accurate speaker breakup and cone cry sets OX apart
Because OX is a reactive load box, it responds in a complex and non-linear fashion to the signal you're sending it from your amp — just like a real speaker cabinet does. That means you can achieve realistic "cone cry," which is the generation of additional harmonics in a speaker cone that occurs only at certain frequencies and volume levels. And you'll hear lifelike speaker breakup as you crank your amplifier, even when OX is keeping the volume at bedroom levels. Not only will you hear these sonically-sweet complexities, you'll feel them as OX responds to the nuances of your personal playing style.
The ultimate recording tool for guitarists?
With dozens of microphone and guitar cabinet emulations to choose from, OX offers a ton of flexibility in the studio. It's like having a world-class microphone placed in the perfect position in front of a premium speaker cabinet, in a great-sounding studio space. Except you don't have to set up a mic, manage acoustic reflections, fight noise, and so on. Just plug in your amplifier of choice, use the Rig control to explore mic and cab combinations, and you're ready to record with stellar tone at any volume level.
Remote control over Wi-Fi with app for Windows, Mac, and iPad
With the OX app for your PC, Mac, or iPad, you have full control over OX's parameters from your local Wi-Fi network. Access key parameters, change mic and cabinet combinations, and much more, from anywhere within Wi-Fi range. Don’t want to carry a computer or iPad to the gig? No problem! UA allows you to load 6 full rigs to the front panel selection switch so you can change from a small combo to a full stack with just a twist. This includes every single, tweaky parameter available within OX’s huge range of control. Note: OX requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection (5 GHz bands are incompatible).
Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box Features:
- Reactive load box for tube amplifiers with built-in speaker emulation
- Dynamic Speaker modeling emulates the nuanced behavior of real moving speakers
- Access dozens of mic and guitar cabinet models
- Allows you to achieve cranked-amp tones at any volume level
- "Rig" controls elects six customizable mic/cab/FX combinations
- "Room" controls the ambient room sound of the Rig emulation
- Footswitch input for additional control options
- Selectable 4-, 8-, or 16-ohm operation
- Built-in EQ, compression, delay, and reverb effects
- Headphone output for silent practice
- Balanced line outputs and S/PDIF digital output for recording
- Use Windows, Mac, and iPad apps over Wi-Fi for remote control
- OX requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection (5 GHz bands are incompatible)
