Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

[Icarusfire]

I just ordered a Blackstar HT5-R head..it has a cab emulation output..I was happy about my purchase and dreaming the recordings I will make via direct into my soundcard and how amazing tones I will get also using some cabinet impulses from computer(apart from its own 4x12 cab emulator)

Then being a newbie to tube amps I start reading in some forums that you must always keep a cab connected to a tube amp head otherwise you will damage the amp, start a fire and burn whole city together with the amp..I said F@CK!

Is this true for all amps or old school amps? I couldn't find any info about this on the user manual of Blackstar HT5-R, So please some tell me that I don't need to buy a damn cabinet so I can safely use the amp through headphones, computer..etc?

bonus question: assuming everything is safe is it a good idea to send the signal to computer via effects loop send and put a dummy jack to receive? or using a converter from speaker out to line level is better? I may need this to bypass the cab emulation of HT5 and use cab sims in computer.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

Old tube amps need a load on the output. The power being put into the speakers needs to go away, or it runs back into the amp and fries the power section.

Think about it as taking a dump in your bathroom. You want a toilet, and one that functions. When your toilet backs up, like when your speaker load is messed up, bad things can happen. Taking a dump in a bathroom with no toilet has no good side effects unless you're into that sort of thing. Having no speakers on an old tube amp is like a bathroom without a toilet.

I guess a dummy load, which uses either resistors or deconed speakers to diffuse the energy of the amp, would be like a bucket with a hose running out of the window.

LOOK, I'M TRYING TO GET OUT OF A HORRIBLE ANALOGY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SOMEONE HELP ME


Anyway, that's OLD tube amps. I think the Blackstar has a dummy load built in. I would not be surprised at all, since it's such small wattage. If it does (look it up on Blackstar's website or downloadable manual), you're green. No speaker necessary. You can make a quick and dirty cab by finding an 8ohm speaker and a speaker cable, cutting one end off the cable, getting a couple alligator clamps and soldering them onto the two wires hanging out, then clipping them to the terminals hanging out the back of any speaker with the ohm rating you need.

I did a little research on Blackstar's site and it didn't say much. From other parts of the interwebs, it sounds like that you can run it out of the emulated line out with the amp on STANDBY only if you have no speaker load. This will activate the preamp while not activating the power amp. If you run your head with standby off and power on and no speaker...turds on the floor.

 

[dominus]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

Pick up a loadbox just to be safe. Should be able to get something in the $50 range.

For using cab IRs, it's best to use the effects out.

 

[Icarusfire]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

I did a little research on Blackstar's site and it didn't say much. From other parts of the interwebs, it sounds like that you can run it out of the emulated line out with the amp on STANDBY only if you have no speaker load. This will activate the preamp while not activating the power amp. If you run your head with standby off and power on and no speaker...turds on the floor.

Ok I just found in the manual with small letters there is a warning "always connect a loudspeaker before you turn on" and about the standby mode it says the text below, but it does not say "standby works IF you have no speaker load"

This switch enables the operation of the power amp stage and speaker output.
Always turn this on at least 30 seconds after the Power switch (15). For silent
recording or practise this switch should be put in the standby position. This will
disable the power stage, but the emulated output will continue to work"

So I ordered a 1x12 8 ohm cabinet now..so I can listen with headphones, hilarious..loadbox was not that cheaper than the speaker..so I think this is a betetr shot. I cant believe I just ordered a stack today life was simple and cheap when I was using my good old boss micro br 80..sigh

 

[Icarusfire]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

For using cab IRs, it's best to use the effects out.

do you mean effects "send" into soundcard and dummy cable to effects "receive"?

 

[dominus]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

do you mean effects "send" into soundcard and dummy cable to effects "receive"?

Effects send to the soundcard, nothing in the receive.

and again, loadbox, so you only hear what you're doing on the computer rather than having a cabinet going.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

This switch enables the operation of the power amp stage and speaker output.
Always turn this on at least 30 seconds after the Power switch (15). For silent
recording or practise this switch should be put in the standby position. This will
disable the power stage, but the emulated output will continue to work"

that's pretty cool

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

Typically, with the power switch set to on and the standby switch set to off, the pre-amp stage runs and the heaters in power stage are warmed. The Blackstar HT-5 will emit a signal from the Effects Send jack on the rear panel but this will not have undergone loudspeaker emulation filtering.

In my opinion, it would be a good idea to buy a loudspeaker cabinet. This need not be the matching Blackstar 1x10 item. The head is perfectly capable of driving bigger cabinets. Try a 4x12. My favourite is an old Electro-Voice EVM-12L in a MESA/Boogie 1x12 cab.

 

[dominus]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

Typically, with the power switch set to on and the standby switch set to off, the pre-amp stage runs and the heaters in power stage are warmed. The Blackstar HT-5 will emit a signal from the Effects Send jack on the rear panel but this will not have undergone loudspeaker emulation filtering.

Which is fine, he's using cab sims on the computer. I've run plenty of tube amps that way. I just use a loadbox to be extra careful.

 

[MikeAlves]

Re: Blackstar HT5-R usable without cab connected?

I just ordered a Blackstar HT5-R head..it has a cab emulation output..I was happy about my purchase and dreaming the recordings I will make via direct into my soundcard and how amazing tones I will get also using some cabinet impulses from computer(apart from its own 4x12 cab emulator)

Then being a newbie to tube amps I start reading in some forums that you must always keep a cab connected to a tube amp head otherwise you will damage the amp, start a fire and burn whole city together with the amp..I said F@CK!

Is this true for all amps or old school amps? I couldn't find any info about this on the user manual of Blackstar HT5-R, So please some tell me that I don't need to buy a damn cabinet so I can safely use the amp through headphones, computer..etc?

bonus question: assuming everything is safe is it a good idea to send the signal to computer via effects loop send and put a dummy jack to receive? or using a converter from speaker out to line level is better? I may need this to bypass the cab emulation of HT5 and use cab sims in computer.

Hi! Maybe this will help (if you hadn't already). You can definitely power on your HT5 without a cab plugged in, I've tried after I read in Blackstar's FAQ's page. Here the quote of that page:

"CAN I USE MY BLACKSTAR AMP WITHOUT A SPEAKER CAB CONNECTED WHEN I'M USING THE EMULATED OUTPUT?
We would normally recommend keeping a speaker cab or equivalent dummy load connected to your amp when using the emulated output. If the amp is used without a speaker cab or dummy load connected there is a possibility of damaging your amp.

Some of our amps are designed for use without a speaker load when using the emulated output for silent recording. When used in this configuration, the amp should be in standby and there should be no loudspeaker leads connected to either of the loudspeaker output jack sockets of the amplifier. Please refer to the handbook for more details.

The amps in the Blackstar range that can be used without a speaker cab connected when the emulated output is used in the way described above include:

- HT-5 range
- HT Venue range
- Series One range
- ID: Series"
https://www.blackstaramps.com/uk/faqs

:headbang::headbang::headbang: