TEST: Hughes & Kettner Era 2

 Would the workforce of the company based in St. Wendel have dreamed of such success? One can only imagine, but the success of the award-winning Era acoustic guitar amplifier made the completely redesigned amplifier mutate into one of the main sales drivers of 2017 alongside the high-flyer Grandmeister 40 Deluxe. With the Hughes&Kettner Era 2, the company is consistently continuing the product line and giving the successor some innovations compared to its predecessor.

The construction of the Hughes & Kettner Era 2

When you take the Hughes&Kettner Era 2 out of its packaging for the first time, you should make sure that there is no percussionist or expandable drummer nearby. He will immediately sit on the amplifier made in Germany because he thinks it is a Cajon. In fact, the housing made of high-quality birch plywood with dimensions of 350 mm x 475 mm x 290 mm (W x H x D) looks like the percussion instrument that has now mutated into the mainstream, although the weight of just under 14 kilograms will make even a drummer think twice .

It looks pretty, the amplifier and so that the visual impression is retained for as long as possible, Hughes & Kettner, as with the Model 1, provides a very solid protective case, which cushions quite strong external influences and allows the user to purchase a case until further notice can be laid at the back. The protective cover also has two generous pockets in which you can, for example, B. can store the power cable and the included tilt adjuster of the amp.

The amp can be moved comparatively comfortably via a deeply recessed carrying recess, with the four rubber feet on the underside of the housing ensuring stability. An integrated 35 mm flange provides additional flexibility, which enables high stand operation. Compared to its little brother, the Hughes & Kettner Era 2 was given an additional 8 inch bass/midrange driver and its output was increased from 250 watts to 400 watts. A 1 inch dome tweeter does its job in both amplifiers. In terms of price, the two products Era 1 and Era 2 are almost 200 euros apart.

The frequency response of the amplifier is specified by the factory as 75 Hz - 15 kHz, which is more than sufficient for the transmission of acoustic instruments and vocals. Even though the Hughes & Kettner Era 2 is the focus of many acoustic guitarists, one should not forget that the amplifier can also amplify a wide range of other acoustic instruments, such as: E.g. accordion, string instruments or even a zither.

The amplifier section of the Hughes & Kettner Era 2

In order to be able to store the amp easily, all controls were installed recessed, which allows them to be stacked at right angles in the trunk or van. In terms of design, the Hughes & Kettner Era 2 has 2 identical channels, which, in addition to the gain control, have a 3-band tone control and an FX selector control for the internally installed 16-way FX device as well as an FX control. On the far right of the panel is the input control for the AUX-In, which is referred to as the third channel and to which, as expected, smartphones, MP3 players, etc. can be connected.

Using an EQ switch, the tone control can be changed in its center frequencies, whereby the designation Mode 1 was conceptually designed for harder basic sounds in the style of steel-string instruments, while Mode 2 was designed for softer sounds in the style of nylon-string instruments. If the Hughes & Kettner Era 2 is used for vocal amplification, Mode 1 should harmonize better with male voices, Mode 2 should harmonize better with female voices. The following center frequencies can be edited: Bass control 80 Hz (Mode 2 at 110 Hz) to +/-10 dB, Treble at 10 kHz (Mode 2 at 12 kHz) to +/-10 dB, Mid control at 700 Hz (Mode 2 at 1200 Hz) up to +/- 6 dB.

In addition, each channel has a clip indicator, which indicates that the input signal is too strong, a shape switch, which slightly lowers the mids and emphasizes the bass and treble, and a mute switch, which mutes the individual channels if necessary. The mute switch is particularly useful if you are playing with two guitars and want to prevent the second guitar from vibrating during the performance, or if you want to change an instrument between songs. This switching action can also be carried out using the FS-2 foot switch, which is not included in the scope of delivery.

In order to get all kinds of drone frequencies under control, the amplifier has a notch control in the master section, which can be adjusted proportionately from 40 - 180 Hz. The filter is deactivated when it is turned to the left. However, I don't really understand why this controller is used as a sum and not each channel is controlled separately with a controller.

The signal management of the Hughes & Kettner Era 2

For practical and probably also visual reasons, all inputs and outputs of the Hughes & Kettner Era 2 are located on the back of the case. The elegant wooden casing certainly doesn't deserve dangling cables, possibly in crisp colors like green or yellow, so discreetly laying them on the back is a much better option. Actually, this variant should also make a lot more sense for electric guitar amplifiers; the cable at the front of the housing is always routed to the back anyway, as it only interferes with the microphone, etc.

Lockable combination sockets (XLR / TRS) are available as input sockets for channels 1 and 2, with the option of connecting 48 V phantom power. Channel 3 provides a mini stereo jack and can be used together with channel 4 (TRS) to feed MP3 players or high-level instruments. Channel 4 also has a separate volume control.

The switching of the FX send via channel 4, with which an external FX processor can be used, turns out to be very practical. If this loop is used accordingly, the internal FX processor is deactivated and the FX knob controls the external processor. In this case the external processor must be set to 100% wet. In order to transfer the signals present to a P.A. To be able to continue conducting, the Hughes & Kettner Era 2 also included a D.I. Out in XLR form, which can be tapped either before or after the tone control and has a ground lift.

As if that wasn't enough, the Hughes&Kettner Era 2 also has two other special features in the form of an optical output and an auto sleep function. The optical S/PDIF Toslink enables direct access to a computer interface if necessary and, as an optical fiber, is known to be insensitive to all kinds of ground loops. The auto sleep switch takes over the order according to 1275/2008/EC on the energy saving regulation for products manufactured in Germany electronic devices where the device must deactivate itself after a certain period of time in idle mode. However, if this function causes confusion, you can deactivate it if necessary.

The Hughes & Kettner Era 2 in practice

When you turn on the Hughes&Kettner Era 2, you don't hear anything at first, the amp is so quiet in terms of background noise. The amplifier is therefore also suitable for locations where absolute silence is sometimes required on the stage, e.g. B. at theater performances. To test the sound, a Framus Legacy FD 28 with Fishman preamp was used, which was recorded via a Golden Age Project FC1 MKII microphone.

Of course, the microphone pickup does not create a true reproduction of the ambient sound, which would ultimately only be possible with an artificial head recording, but it is still much better suited than the D.I. Output that completely bypasses the sound of the speakers. Even with a neutral filter setting, the amp impresses with a very soft and pleasant reproduction of the instrument. If you add the filters, they work very discreetly and tastefully, so that even heavily turned up filters do not produce the infamous treble-as-treble-can click sound, which also makes high-quality instruments appear in a bad light due to the artificial sound. The shape switch in particular proves to be a frequency-technical secret weapon to better assert itself in a band context.

You should always keep in mind that the Hughes&Kettner Era 2 will ultimately be used either as a personal monitor or, for very small pub gigs, as a room sound system. Anything over 20 people in the audience has to have a more or less large P.A. anyway. managed, where the corresponding D.I. Outs come into play. The amplifier fulfills this task excellently, with the higher output power compared to Model 1 and the greater air movement through the second midrange driver coming into play.

No matter what volume you demand from the product, the amplifier never changes its basic sound and neither tends to oscillate nor gets into unpleasant saturation, even at high volumes. The sound is always powerful, refreshingly neutral and very detailed in resolution, which always gives the guitar the necessary touch of finesse that is particularly appreciated with high-quality acoustic sounds.

Conclusion

With the Hughes&Kettner Era 2, the company from St. Wendel raises the bar for acoustic amplifier quality once again. While the Saarlanders were able to firmly establish themselves in the top league of acoustic instrument amplifiers with the Era 1, they will continue on their chosen path with the Era 2.

Anyone who has an acoustic instrument to amplify should definitely try the product out.

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Additional Informations:

Introduction:
Hughes & Kettner, a renowned name in the world of musical amplification, has a rich history of crafting innovative solutions for musicians across genres. While the company is widely celebrated for its electric guitar amplifiers, its foray into acoustic amplification has also made significant waves in the industry. This article embarks on a detailed exploration of Hughes & Kettner's acoustic amplifiers, tracing their evolution from inception to the present day.

Origins:
Founded in 1984 by Hans Stamer and Lothar Stamer, Hughes & Kettner initially gained recognition for its groundbreaking electric guitar amplifiers. However, the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound technology led to the development of acoustic amplifiers tailored to the unique needs of acoustic musicians.

In the early stages of acoustic amplifier development, Hughes & Kettner sought to address the inherent challenges of amplifying acoustic instruments while preserving their natural tonal characteristics. This endeavor marked the beginning of a journey towards engineering acoustic amplifiers that offered exceptional sound quality, versatility, and reliability.

Innovation:
Central to Hughes & Kettner's approach to acoustic amplification is a relentless pursuit of innovation. The company's engineering team drew upon decades of experience in amplifier design to develop cutting-edge solutions that catered specifically to the nuances of acoustic instruments.

One of the key innovations introduced by Hughes & Kettner is the incorporation of advanced signal processing technologies into their acoustic amplifiers. By leveraging digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms, Hughes & Kettner was able to enhance the sonic performance of their amplifiers, delivering pristine sound reproduction with minimal coloration.

Additionally, Hughes & Kettner's acoustic amplifiers feature intuitive onboard controls and connectivity options, allowing musicians to fine-tune their sound and seamlessly integrate with external audio equipment. Whether performing on stage or in the studio, musicians can rely on Hughes & Kettner amplifiers to deliver consistent, high-quality sound reproduction.

Product Range and Features:
Over the years, Hughes & Kettner has expanded its lineup of acoustic amplifiers to cater to a diverse range of musical styles and performance settings. From compact practice amps to powerful stage rigs, the company offers a comprehensive selection of amplifiers to suit every need.

One standout feature of Hughes & Kettner's acoustic amplifiers is their versatility. Equipped with multiple channels, onboard effects, and adjustable EQ controls, these amplifiers empower musicians to sculpt their desired sound with precision. Whether seeking warm, natural tones for folk ballads or crisp, articulate sound for fingerstyle guitar, Hughes & Kettner amplifiers deliver exceptional performance across the board.

Furthermore, Hughes & Kettner's commitment to quality extends beyond sound reproduction to encompass durability and reliability. Built to withstand the rigors of touring and frequent use, their amplifiers are constructed using high-quality materials and undergo rigorous testing to ensure long-term performance and reliability.

Recognition and Legacy:
Hughes & Kettner's dedication to excellence in acoustic amplification has earned the company widespread recognition and acclaim from musicians and industry professionals alike. Their amplifiers have been praised for their superior sound quality, innovative features, and robust build quality, cementing Hughes & Kettner's reputation as a leading provider of acoustic amplification solutions.

Looking ahead, Hughes & Kettner continues to push the boundaries of acoustic amplification, exploring new technologies and refining their designs to meet the evolving needs of musicians. With a legacy built on innovation, quality, and a passion for music, Hughes & Kettner remains at the forefront of acoustic amplification, inspiring musicians around the world to achieve their sonic aspirations.