HYDRI VE HX8108x10s are enjoying a resurgence, with several manufacturers offering their take on the classic configuration. I like Hartke’s approach, pairing lightweight neodymium drivers with a sealed cabinet. Sealed cabinets don’t go as low as ported cabs, but they can exhibit tighter speaker control and punchier, more articulate sound. Hartke lists an ultra-low 25Hz cut-off for the 8x10—an improbable spec, for a sealed cab. The HyDrive cones are intriguing. Paper and aluminum have different densities and resistance to flexing, so their tone and performance will be different than an all-aluminum or all-paper design. One aspect that’s tough to test is the long-term viability of the joint between the aluminum and paper in the cone, but Hartke sees no durability compromise.
The HyDrive HX810 was well made and ruggedly constructed, and it included many important roadworthy features, like a steel kick-plate, stainless-steel handles, big top handle with enormous bolts, and heavyduty casters. I especially dug the feet for positioning the cabinet on its side. The jack plate was simple, with Speakon and q" inputs and a 3-position switch for tweeter control (FULL, –6dB, and OFF). I generally prefer a continuously adjustable L-pad for horn management. The punched steel grille was solidly bolted into the front baffle, and the internal bracing seemed strong and substantial. The cabinet is divided internally into two 4x10 sections.
With the LH1000 head and a variety of other amps, including a few high-powered PA-style power amps, the HX810 was capable of exceptionally loud volumes. The cabinet throws deep into a room, so standing back from it was both prudent and necessary to get the full experience. It’s big in the mids, with an aggressive and punchy wallop that’s conveyed with assertive immediacy. The lows are not overwhelming; if anything, they’re a tad light, although the cab takes well to EQ-oriented bass boosts. The top-end extension is admirable and added decent sizzle to slap, but to me this cab was all about super-loud tone that cuts through a dense mix. It’d make a killer rock and high-energy funk cab.
LH1000The LH1000 is a major departure from the heads most commonly associated with Hartke: the 3500, 5000, and 7000. Each of those incorporated extensive EQ, compression, and blendable tube/solidstate preamps, but the LH1000 has a bare-bones EQ and tube-only preamp with a selectable LIMITER. I appreciate Hartke’s minimalist approach with the LH1000, and I think it sits well against similarly priced competition, some of which endeavors to tack on every available feature without an overriding sense of conceptual coherence.
The LH1000 is a true stereo head, with discrete power amps that can be bridged for high-power operation. There is a front-panel BALANCE control to govern the level of each side, but without a crossover, this feature is only useful if there is a substantial output difference between two cabinets. The Hartke’s simple design works in some ways, like in the straightforward tube-driven tone stack EQ (I spotted very few transistors on the preamp circuit board), but in other areas, a little more fleshing- out would have been appreciated (the DI has no ground lift, pre/post switch, or level control, and I always am pleased to see a mute switch). Interior construction was good for the price, and the huge toroidal power transformer and ample powersupply filter capacity speaks to an engineering commitment that belies the Hartke’s low price. The exterior look was clean and simple, although the removable (for cleaning) front-panel vent screen looked a little weird.
The Hartke’s simple EQ was surprisingly effective, although understanding its impact on tone is more involved than on less interactive, more precise designs. For starters, the knobs’ 12 o’clock position is not flat. With these designs, I have often found it best to invest some time in understanding the circuit’s curves and nuances. A single Sovtek 12AX7 buffers the LH1000’s input, and drives the signal through the tone stack. Preamp-wise, that’s about it. There’s a BRITE switch to up the treble tickle, but otherwise the LH1000 is a dead-simple amp. Paired with the HX810 and other cabs, the LH1000 was sweet and refined with good power delivery and a rich, complex midrange. The EQ may not offer razor-sharp accuracy, but the amp’s essential personality, quick and harmonically dense, was always suitable for a guy like me, who tends not to use the EQ on amps anyway. It was loud and propulsive, although I wish there were both a gain control and master volume to get the tube cranking for grittier tones. The LH1000 would be an excellent high-power workhorse head for a player that feels put-off or intimidated by buttons, sliders, and switches.
HX810
List $1,420
Street $1,000 Pros Innovative speakers yield loud tone that cuts; rugged construction
Cons Tweeter control limited to 3-position switch
Bottom Line Hartke’s take on the 8x10 is a winner, with tough construction and nifty new-fangled speakers.
LH1000
List $965
Street $650
Pros A no-frills powerhouse
Cons Missing a few key features
Bottom Line A uniquely simple approach to a value-priced highpower head.
CONTACT
www.samsontech.com (631) 784-2200
TECH SPECS
LH1000
Power rating Dual parallel mode: 2 x 225 watts RMS @ 8Ω; 2 x 320 watts RMS @ 4Ω; 2 x 545 watts RMS @ 2Ω; Bridge mode: 750 watts RMS @ 4Ω; 1,100 watts RMS @ 2Ω
Input impedance 100kΩ
Tone controls Tube-driven tone stack
Direct Output Differential op-amp driven
Power amp topology Class AB
Weight 32 lbs
HX810
Type 8x10 + tweeter, sealed
Frequency response 25Hz–17kHz
Power handling 2,000 watts RMS
Impedance 4Ω
Sensitivity 99dB SPL (1W/1M)
Speakers 10" Hartke HyDrive neodymium hybrid cone
Weight 135 lbs
Made in China
Warranty Three years limited