Hotone Pulze Amplifier

[KingsXJJ]

I was able to score a new one of these for $299 on Amazon. Like Leon said, it sounds great and based on what I hear with the latest firmware, even better now.
I always assumed this had the same modeling as items like the Ampero Mini. It doesn’t.

A tasty nugget I found on it is Hotone’s next gen Mesa Petrucci models on the Pulze. That would lead me to believe the rest of the models are Ampero II level.
Either way, it sounds fantastic IMO. And smokes my Yamaha THRII 30.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Too bad it's got no battery.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Too bad it's got no battery.

If tones aren’t the priority, my Yamaha has a battery. I see this thing as a great desktop unit. The stereo+ feature sounds pretty killer and as a music or backing track playback unit it sounds excellent. It’s clear that Hotone spent some time engineering the enclosure and tuning the sound.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Got the companion Pulze wireless midi controller. I think I’ll set it up to manage the onboard drums. I like to riff along with those.

 

[Lysander]

Can you run it in flat mode? Wonder how the Pulze fares as a "FRFR" of sorts.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Can you run it in flat mode? Wonder how the Pulze fares as a ""FRFR"" of sorts.

Pretty sure “flat mode” is just how it runs. Drums and Bluetooth sound very clear. It’s basically a "FRFR" with a built in modeler and Bluetooth.
Here’s the sound setting in the app. The Global EQ is surprisingly sophisticated.

 

[Lysander]

Pretty sure “flat mode” is just how it runs. Drums and Bluetooth sound very clear. It’s basically a ""FRFR"" with a built in modeler and Bluetooth.

Nice, thanks!

I'm taking a second look at this one. Had high hopes for Mooer's F15i LI, but that one cannot be edited in-device

 

[KingsXJJ]

The more I play with it, I like it. Sounds great and even has power amp distortion when you crank the master volume. Unlike the Stage, which I hope get’s it in a firmware update. In fact some of the models I felt kind of meh about with the Stage sound great. Leon was right about the JCM800. It sounds super and hangs with the big boys. It’s a whole lot of fun much like the real amp. Some amps that have additional options are offered on the Pulze too. Here’s a Mesa IIC+

 

[Mikael Dez]

The more I play with it, I like it. Sounds great and even has power amp distortion when you crank the master volume. Unlike the Stage, which I hope get’s it in a firmware update. In fact some of the models I felt kind of meh about with the Stage sound great. Leon was right about the JCM800. It sounds super and hangs with the big boys. It’s a whole lot of fun much like the real amp. Some amps that have additional options are offered on the Pulze too. Here’s a Mesa IIC+

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It doesn’t have the EQ?

 

[KingsXJJ]

One cool thing I love… ever have OCD about a parameter value? You want in at 20 but the app slider hits 21, 19, 22… anything but 20?

Hold the knob and up pops the keyboard and you can put in your exact value in. Very nice! This should be on every product IMO.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Just a quick update! My Pulze bag is on the way from SW. Try as I may, I couldn’t find a price cheaper than $59 even at the Sonicake Store on eBay. So if someone finds a cheaper general replacement please share it.

On another note, this unit is very light. It’s not built out of metal like the THR so if that’s something that matters to you you may wish to consider that. It seems to be made of ABS with a metal screen on front. Another thing to mention is that the only input for external modelers to use it as a "FRFR" speaker in 1/8in. Stereo in. I do wish they had added 1/4 in. TRS on the back. On the other hand Hotone could rip out the modeler and touch screen and keep Bluetooth and add a couple of inputs and offer a killer compact "FRFR" that would completely smoke the HeadRush equivalent. I’ve tried both and they are not even close in clarity or power.

I know this may sound doubtful and you’d really have to hear it to believe it but the Pulze sounds beefy playing guitar through it. I have it on top of my TM Super and it sounds like a nice decent sized combo in all regards. Hotone obviously spent a good deal of effort on delivering a compelling stereo speaker product… modeler aside.

Speaking of the modeler, it continues to please me. Rolling down the volume on the guitar or picking dynamics are especially good IMO. I’m unsure if it is using the same exact models as my Stage and I say that because surprisingly the Pulze beats the Stage in some ways. I suspect it is because Hotone was in charge of the amplification and sound reproduction of the modeler.. bumper to bumper.

One really neat thing I noticed yesterday was something unique and welcome in the factory presets. There are three sets of John Petrucci tones built in. Each set is comprised of JP Clean, JP Crunch and JP Lead. The sets are Early JP, Mid JP and Late JP. The latter is comprised of Hotone’s next gen modeling or HQ as it’s called on the Stomp and Stage. The other two are based on the Mesa IIC+ and Mark IV respectively. It’s a cool concept and they executed it well IMO. I love to see a DLC pack for Eddie that offers the same. Heck, it would be neat for any great guitarist known for tone. Ty Tabor’s early stuff like Gretchen. Middle stuff off off FHL and later stuff off of Dogman would be Suhweet.

It’s certainly neat as is as an all-in-one desktop practice and recording tool. A person that plays during breaks in their office would love this puppy. I’ll try to report more as I get to know it better.

There’s 8 left on Amazon by whoever put them on sale at $299.