Darkglass Exponent e500: A smartphone controlled bass amp?
A bold move from one of the top bass amp makers?
5,0 / 5,0 | 
The new Darkglass Exponent e500 is completely operated via a smartphone using Bluetooth. But is this too bold a move? It does though give users a neat minimal control layout, as well as access to a host of effects. Maybe this is the future for bass amplification?
Darkglass Exponent e500
Rated at 500 Watts, and housed in a sleek and compact enclosure, the new Darkglass Exponent e500 is a bit of a revolution. It has the ability to load up effects that include: reverb, chorus, preamps, envelope filters, flangers, compressors, EQs, noise gates, delays, octaver, and the Darkglass CabSims. According to the company, the list will grow steadily with firmware updates.
Darkglass Exponent e500 an app controlled bass amp with effects
Minimal Look
First, let’s take look at the control panel on the front of the Exponent e500. In addition to controls for input and master, you will find other knobs with the sparse designations a to e. They are all illuminated by LED rings to give the user an easy way to see where they are set, especially on darkened stages.
I couldn’t imagine any other solution without using one or more displays. 5 presets can be stored on the amplifier itself. With most factory sounds, the basic functions such as gain and EQ are occupied in the usual way. But overall, functions of the individual controllers can be assigned completely freely. By the way: When pressing the mute switch, a tuning mode turns on at the same time, which is a neat and useful feature.
Darkglass Exponent e500 rear panel connectivity
App control
The back of the amp, on the other hand, remains fairly standard. Next to the USB Type-C port is a MIDI input to operate the device remotely. Of course, the XLR connection also includes the CabSim settings of the patches. Elsewhere you’ll find a headphone jack, a send/return and a Speakon connection.
One thing is clear, without the associated Darkglass Suite for iOS or Android, you won’t get far, because you would lose too many functions for it to be a worthwhile purchase. What are your thoughts on the Darkglass Exponent e500? Would you buy an amplifier that is completely dependent on an app and a smartphone? Let us know in the comments section below.
More Information on Darkglass
Darkglass Exponent e500 Demo Videos
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2 responses to “Darkglass Exponent e500: A smartphone controlled bass amp?”
It’s a neat thing, but I’d rather have analog effects in a bass amp than digital ones. It would make more sense if they added these digital effects to their headphone amp pedal, to have as a bedroom practice setup (or portable FX rig you can plug in to whatever amp/PA).
Impressive amp. A lot to like. Can’t they increase the character font size? Hard to see the labels.