GEAR REVIEW
BOSS CUBE STREET II : MORE THAN JUST AN AMP ! | Eric Dahl
KEY FEATURES
• 10 Watts / 2 x 6.5 ” speakers
• Plug-in or Battery Powered
• Built-in Harmonizer & Looper
• Multi-function small PA / Amp
• Several connectivity options
After many years of lugging around half stacks and heavy tube amplifiers , I now find myself seeking music gear that embraces and maximizes the most cutting-edge technology available today , while maintaining the sound that I ’ m seeking . I think we can all agree that less is more whether we are performing in the sanctuary , at a youth event , church picnic or other musical function involving praise and live music ! Many of the must current sanctuary stages use no on-stage amplification , in-ear monitors only , electronic drums and maybe a few reference monitors on the floor . It is very easy to lose your guitar in the mix .
The CUBE line of amplifiers has probably been Roland ’ s most successful series only usurped by their Jazz Chorus amps which remain an industry standard also . There is also a freedom in possessing an amplifier that can be powered by batteries that doesn ’ t require wall outlet power , unless you so choose . This year Boss decided to revamp their popular CUBE Street and give it some updates that it never had while under the Roland moniker .
The new Boss CUBE Street II is a portable guitar amp , PA , harmonizer , looper and dare I say reference monitor . The original model only provided 5 watts while the new model gives you 10 watts of power which is louder than you would think when driving 2 x 6.5 ” speakers . I immediately realized how much lighter the Street II was from the original and Boss achieved this by constructing it with an
ABS injection-molded cabinet making it light and stable .
This amplifier could have actually been launched as a totally different model thanks to how featured packed Boss has made this new amplifier . The cabinet is designed to lean back so that the sound is aimed at you instead of your feet . This is ideal for practice or monitoring sessions , so you don ’ t need to place a book or piece of wood under the front of the amp to achieve the appropriate angle ( which I have done many times in the past with other amps ).
All of your connectivity options are in the back of the amp , including the power plug in and AA battery installation . The CUBE Street II offers two primary dedicated inputs a ¼ ’/ Mic channel and a ¼ ’ only channel for guitar . The unit also delivers a 1 / 8 ” mini input ( for outboard music devices ), Line out for output to a PA system , 1 / 8 ” headphone or recording output , USB connection to interface it with your computer and footswitch inputs for Harmony and Looper