Roland Mobile Cube

120 Guitarist May 2009
ROLAND MOBILE CUBE AND MICRO CUBE RX
£139 & £209
GUITAR AMPS
Roland Mobile
Cube
PRICE: £139
ORIGIN: China
TYPE: Solid-state, battery-powered
amp
OUTPUT: Five watts stereo power
(2.5 + 2.5 watts per side)
DIMENSIONS: 177 (h) x 280 (w)
x 108mm (d)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 2.5/5.9
LOUDSPEAKER: Two Roland custom
designed four-inch speakers
CHANNELS: Microphone and
keyboard/instrument
CONTROLS: Power switch, tone
knob, delay/reverb knob, microphone
volume control. Keyboard/
instrument/guitar type switch and
volume knob, chorus switch, ‘centre
cancel’ switch
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Carry
strap, microphone 6.4mm jack input,
guitar L/Mono, stereo inputs,
auxiliary in, stereo RCA jack inputs,
battery compartment, DC adaptor
input
RANGE OPTIONS: Roland’s Micro
Cube range offers similar portability
and starts with the Microcube (£95),
Microcube R – a coloured alternative
to the standard Micro Cube (£95),
Micro Cube RX (£219) and Micro
Cube Bass RX (£219)
Roland UK 01792 702701
www.roland.co.uk
Test results
Build quality
Features
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
Roland Micro
Cube RX
PRICE: £209
ORIGIN: China
TYPE: Solid-state, battery-powered
amplifier with COSM modelling
OUTPUT: Five watts stereo power
(2.5 + 2.5 watts per side)
DIMENSIONS: 294 (h) x 296 (w)
x 207mm (d)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 6.4/14
LOUDSPEAKER: Four Roland custom
designed four-inch speakers
CHANNELS: One
CONTROLS: Master volume, gain,
amp type, bass, middle, treble, effects
select, delay/reverb select, Rhythm
Guide pattern select knob, start/stop
button, tap tempo, pattern variation
switch and rhythm guide volume
FOOTSWITCH: Accepts standard dual
latching type
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Carry
strap, stereo and mono auxiliary
inputs, recording out/headphones,
footswitch input, DC power input.
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: Ditto the Mobile
Cube
Test results
Build quality
Features
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
The Bottom Line
Mobile Cube
We liked: Excellent
versatility; value for money;
portable size
We dislike: Lack of DI/
recording out
Guitarist says: Pound-for-
pound the Mobile Cube – in
terms of sound and features
– is very, very hard to beat
Mobile Cube
We liked: Practical layout;
quality sounds; drummer
in-a-box feature
We dislike: Nothing
Guitarist says: Whether it
be practice, busking or
rehearsal scenarios the RX
delivers good sounds and
versatile features
The Rhythm Guide causes a
bundle of laughs, despite also
being a serious rehearsal tool.
It’s certainly fun and each patch
encourages you to practise
essential blues/rock/jazz and
everything beyond. Having a
dedicated volume control
means that the beat doesn’t
dictate playing volume – if you
want to play quieter with the
Rhythm Guide, simply match
the two output volumes. Tap
Tempo, despite being a great
feature, is a little clumsy in
operation and takes some
getting used to.
Verdict
It’s hard to mark down two
products like these, as any
criticism is immediately
tempered by their competitive-
price. Value-for-money is
inherent across the range and
none of this is lost with these
new additions. Being picky we
think Roland should have
included a recording/DI out on
the Mobile Cube, but it still
remains one of the most
versatile and portable amps in
its class. Both the amps on
review here delivered
impressive and surprising
sonics and would make an
excellent addition for busking
duties, small rehearsals, home
practice use. Maybe even the
Albert Hall, eh Mr ’Sick?!
The RX’s COSM technology reproduces both acoustic and electric sounds
GIT315.rev_boss 120 23/3/09 4:10:40 pm