NAD: Bogner Helios 50 watt - Short review, and issue...

[SavageRiffer]

I put some 6CA7's in my Helios recently and opened up a whole new dimension. It's smoother, more low end, more headroom on the high input, and a quicker pick response. Some of the mids seem pulled back, but since the Helios seems to like the bass above the 12:00 mark, it seems to work very well. Cleans are stellar and more lively. Crunch is slightly preferable with EL34's only because it sounds grittier, but some people may not prefer that. High gain, whew! 6CA7's are awesome.

Having said that, I tried KT77's prior. I'm on the fence about whether I prefer KT77's or 6CA7's, but I might drop back in the KT77's only because they are slightly more similar to EL34's. I highly recommend experimenting with power tubes in the Helios 50. I have never experimented with tubes in the Helios 100, but I wouldn't imagine it would make as much difference as in the 50. The 100 seems a bit more opened up than the 50, but the 50 is a bit sweeter.

If I had a do-over, I might have chose the 100 only because it has a little stiffer feel. Sometimes the 50 feels a bit spongy. However, the tube replacement has cured all of that though. Who cares man. If you can score a 50 or 100 it doesn't matter. The only real big advantage of the 100 is that you can get a little louder headroom than the 50.

might give that a punt
to what level did you bias (not used those tubes before)?
which brand of 6CA7s do you recommend?

I got a pair of JJ 6CA7's in a trade. Not sure of the technical details as I had a tech bias it. I only bias cheap amps with my bias probe. Not comfortable biasing my handwired Bogner. The JJ's are good to me. I've tried some EHX 6CA7's before but couldn't tell you if they were better or worse. They sounded mighty fine though.

Keep in mind that 6CA7's are quite different. Helios cleans are great, but even greater with these tubes. It will have more low end and slightly pulled back midrange. Bogners are warm amps, and the Helios is kind of on the bright side, so 6CA7's will smooth it out a bit so that the high mids aren't as spiky, and the highs will be nice and airy. The lows will be deep but tight. It's really a matter of preference, but if you do try 6CA7's, you should keep them in your Helios for at least a few weeks or a month before deciding if you've already gotten used to EL34's.

 

[tonedog]

I have Both! Intention to keep one but a month in can't part with either. The 50 has KT77s and is glorious sounding. It is slightly more compressed and sweeter sounding. A little friendlier and smaller sounding in frequency range and girth. Not that similar but certainly of the same sonic family. I love both and I have not been able to decide which one to keep or if I should keep both for a while. Had the 100 since they came out and I dig it a bunch. The 50 is absolutely amazing.

Haha, you must have bought my 50? I put the 77s in it.

Must have been if like brand new with footswitch still sealed. Great amp. Thank you!!

 

[cecilbag]

I have Both! Intention to keep one but a month in can't part with either. The 50 has KT77s and is glorious sounding. It is slightly more compressed and sweeter sounding. A little friendlier and smaller sounding in frequency range and girth. Not that similar but certainly of the same sonic family. I love both and I have not been able to decide which one to keep or if I should keep both for a while. Had the 100 since they came out and I dig it a bunch. The 50 is absolutely amazing.

Haha, you must have bought my 50? I put the 77s in it.

Must have been if like brand new with footswitch still sealed. Great amp. Thank you!!

I have a few 50w I'm watching. Hoping some of my gear sells this week.

 

[WIRED]

I've only had my Helios 50 for a week, but I am loving it. Ordered the Helios 2x12, but hasn't come in yet. Have been running it through my EVH 2x12 w the EVH greenbacks in it & it sounds amazing.

Have been bouncing back & forth between the N & B2 voicings on ch 2 (high input). Definitely more gain & mids on the B2 setting, but I like how it cleans up better on N. Which voicing do you guys prefer?

 

[psmith68]

Has anyone figured out a way to use the Ch 1 in Plexi input and Ch 2 in Hot input via a mod?

 

[peckhart]

I've only had my Helios 50 for a week, but I am loving it. Ordered the Helios 2x12, but hasn't come in yet. Have been running it through my EVH 2x12 w the EVH greenbacks in it & it sounds amazing.

Have been bouncing back & forth between the N & B2 voicings on ch 2 (high input). Definitely more gain & mids on the B2 setting, but I like how it cleans up better on N. Which voicing do you guys prefer?

B2

 

[Beandust]

I've only had my Helios 50 for a week, but I am loving it. Ordered the Helios 2x12, but hasn't come in yet. Have been running it through my EVH 2x12 w the EVH greenbacks in it & it sounds amazing.

Have been bouncing back & forth between the N & B2 voicings on ch 2 (high input). Definitely more gain & mids on the B2 setting, but I like how it cleans up better on N. Which voicing do you guys prefer?

B2

Pardon the uninformed, what are N and B2?

 

[flimz]

I've only had my Helios 50 for a week, but I am loving it. Ordered the Helios 2x12, but hasn't come in yet. Have been running it through my EVH 2x12 w the EVH greenbacks in it & it sounds amazing.

Have been bouncing back & forth between the N & B2 voicings on ch 2 (high input). Definitely more gain & mids on the B2 setting, but I like how it cleans up better on N. Which voicing do you guys prefer?

B2

Pardon the uninformed, what are N and B2?

Voicing switches...N (neutral), B1 & B2 (bright 1 & 2). B1 & B2 also have an impact on upper mids and gain.

 

[Beandust]

I've only had my Helios 50 for a week, but I am loving it. Ordered the Helios 2x12, but hasn't come in yet. Have been running it through my EVH 2x12 w the EVH greenbacks in it & it sounds amazing.

Have been bouncing back & forth between the N & B2 voicings on ch 2 (high input). Definitely more gain & mids on the B2 setting, but I like how it cleans up better on N. Which voicing do you guys prefer?

B2

Pardon the uninformed, what are N and B2?

Voicing switches...N (neutral), B1 & B2 (bright 1 & 2). B1 & B2 also have an impact on upper mids and gain.

Ahhh,, thank you kindly sir!!! I've dug thru threads on the H50 vs the F smallbox and keep finding the SB is smoother sounding and perhaps more compression, however I cant find any clips with that tone of a SB that is produced by the H50 ,with the German gent. Sounds awsome with those mids and distortion

https://youtu.be/am8bLU877y0

 

[flimz]

I've only had my Helios 50 for a week, but I am loving it. Ordered the Helios 2x12, but hasn't come in yet. Have been running it through my EVH 2x12 w the EVH greenbacks in it & it sounds amazing.

Have been bouncing back & forth between the N & B2 voicings on ch 2 (high input). Definitely more gain & mids on the B2 setting, but I like how it cleans up better on N. Which voicing do you guys prefer?

B2

Pardon the uninformed, what are N and B2?

Voicing switches...N (neutral), B1 & B2 (bright 1 & 2). B1 & B2 also have an impact on upper mids and gain.

Ahhh,, thank you kindly sir!!! I've dug thru threads on the H50 vs the F smallbox and keep finding the SB is smoother sounding and perhaps more compression, however I cant find any clips with that tone of a SB that is produced by the H50 ,with the German gent. Sounds awsome with those mids and distortion

https://youtu.be/am8bLU877y0

He also demos the Eclipse here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zooNebEko

 

[Beandust]

Yup. Definitely can tell the strat is distinguished as well as the LP in the 50 watt vid. That vid sounds good too. Just way to much talking, doesnt seem to play the amp much, does kind of tweak the settings a bit which is cool. Definitely a difference in the mids, 50 watt seems a bit warmer. Cant be 100% on that tho as guitars are different. Great tones

 

[motorboy1]

And you just bought another one and selling after 2 days. Lol.

 

[napalmdeath]

And you just bought another one and selling after 2 days. Lol.

First off, you sure went to alot of trouble to bump a 5 year old thread, for no reason, other than to be a dick, (or you're just too stupid to realize I posted that in 2017).

Second, I only considered selling it because a 100 watter popped up much cheaper and I thought I'd go for the extra headroom and pocket $500. So, (as if I owe anybody an explanation), mind your own fucking business.

 

[PDC]

This is one of the amps that I bought, played, loved, sold, and wished I had back. I was in a VH act LONG before Ed passed and LONG before it was all the rage to cover their stuff. I had been through multiple amps - including a Bray 50 Deluxe - and I was having a hard time getting ‘that’ sound. I plugged into the Helios 50, ‘HOT’ Input, 80’s Mode, ‘Punch’ engaged and ‘Bottom’ Dimed. And it just NAILED ‘that’ tone. But it also had enough gain and tightness to handle all the mid 80’s Dokken / Ratt / Scorps you could throw at it without breaking a sweat, and all without losing that organic, woody, glassy, ‘Plexi’ vibe it had going on. I boosted it with a single knob TC Spark Mine for leads - which added zero compression, distortion, gain or color - it just added that bit of ‘oomph’ to shove your leads up over your rhythm sound. I was fine with the simple footswitch and found the clean channel to be totally ‘workable’ - especially with a touch of chorus and the volume knob on the guitar rolled back a touch. It was an incredible amp that I wish I had back. I have ‘heard’ that the 100 watt version is absolutely everything you love about the 50 - just more of it. I could be easily talked into snapping up a 100 Watt Helios any time I see one turn up…

 

[napalmdeath]

This is one of the amps that I bought, played, loved, sold, and wished I had back. I was in a VH act LONG before Ed passed and LONG before it was all the rage to cover their stuff. I had been through multiple amps - including a Bray 50 Deluxe - and I was having a hard time getting ‘that’ sound. I plugged into the Helios 50, ‘HOT’ Input, 80’s Mode, ‘Punch’ engaged and ‘Bottom’ Dimed. And it just NAILED ‘that’ tone. But it also had enough gain and tightness to handle all the mid 80’s Dokken / Ratt / Scorps you could throw at it without breaking a sweat, and all without losing that organic, woody, glassy, ‘Plexi’ vibe it had going on. I boosted it with a single knob TC Spark Mine for leads - which added zero compression, distortion, gain or color - it just added that bit of ‘oomph’ to shove your leads up over your rhythm sound. I was fine with the simple footswitch and found the clean channel to be totally ‘workable’ - especially with a touch of chorus and the volume knob on the guitar rolled back a touch. It was an incredible amp that I wish I had back. I have ‘heard’ that the 100 watt version is absolutely everything you love about the 50 - just more of it. I could be easily talked into snapping up a 100 Watt Helios any time I see one turn up…

Yes, I thought I actually wanted the 100 watter. But, I put Tungsol EL34B's in the 50 today, and forgot all about the notion..

I'm digging the SD-1 after doing tube swap in 80's mode, and the Xotic EP in 70's mode. Both modes sound so damn good, its hard to pick one. So I go 80's with the SG, and 70's with the Tele.

 

[bubucci]

Those 70/80 modes on Helios are golden. It is like two different amps in one. JTM30 mode on 100 another great option which gives amp different feel.
This is the amp a miss the most. I already had an Eclipse but it missed some of the mojo the original has. What is intresting on Helios is master volume. Its taper is oposite of the most amps, very gentle on the begining, manageable on gig/rehearsal volume (around 12'-2' oclock) but real thunder comes after 3'oclock, there are Your 100 watts The thump is comparable to almighty 100W Wizard.