After the unveiling, ID:X floor ~New floor-based digital amp modeler~ black star has given practice amp enthusiasts something new with their new Beam Mini desktop amplifier.
Designed for electric, bass, and acoustic guitar players with portability and intuitive controls without sacrificing tone, Beam Mini packs Blackstar’s advanced digital modeling and powerful DSP into a small, portable, acoustically tuned cabinet for classic Blackstar sound anywhere.
Equipped with two 60mm full-range drivers, plus two passive bass radiators and Blackstar’s Super Wide Stereo technology, the Beam Mini is said to deliver “spacious, room-filling sound that belies its dimensions.”
Blackstar says that by leveraging component-level modeling, the Digital Beam Mini even delivers the dynamic feel of a tube amp despite its small size.
It also features 12 amp models (6 Blackstar designs and 6 Ampton reproductions of classic amps), 3 bass amps, 2 acoustic voices, an acoustic simulator, and of course Blackstar’s patented ISF control, which essentially allows users to blend British-style and American-style voicings.
Intuitive operation is key to Beam Mini’s design, with a simple and large SpeedDial and light beam display that provides “instant visual feedback” without having to navigate through menus. However, the Beam app gives users deeper editing and creative options, a growing library of amp, cab, mic, and pedal models, and thousands of user- and artist-created patches.
Beam Mini also features XpressFX, which allows users to adjust the intensity of multiple effects simultaneously with a single SpeedDial movement. It also features a studio-quality microphone input for recording guitar and vocals together, and Blackstar’s IR-powered CabRig technology.
Portability is not only achieved through its lightness and form factor. The rechargeable Beam Mini also features an IP66 dust- and weather-resistant design and delivers over 18 hours of playtime on a single charge.
Beam Mini is currently on sale for $299.99.
For more information, please visit: black star.
Sam is the deputy news editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Immersed in music culture for most of his life, Sam played guitar for 20 years, studied music technology and production in college, and has written for Guitar World, Total Guitar, Metal Hammer, MusicRadar, and more.