Laney Digbeth Preamp vs Nux MBP-5.

[dave_bass5]

Has anyone managed to compare these two in a band settings? I know Andertons have a shoot out with both in it (and totally wrong info about the tube), but id like to hear from actual users if there are any. 

I just got the Nux and other than the software/connection side i think it’s really nice. Very usable tones. My worry is that the IR’s are making it sound great, but without that turned on it sounds just ok. I dont think id use the IR’s with a bass rig but will at home. The Digbeth seems to be more versatile, but larger and doesnt have the IR. I like the idea of the Tilt knob. 

 

Any thoughts? Not looking for recommendations for anything else, just wondering about how these two compare. 

Edited July 4 by dave_bass5

[Mcgiver69]

It all depends on what you will use it. I have the NUX and tried the Digbeth, both are great on their own. I believe The NUX is better for going straight to the house P.A. and the Laney excels as a preamp. If I'm you I would consider what is the situation I'll be using it and buy the one that will suit it.

 

I got the NUX and I only use it to go straight to the house P.A. and for that it is absolutely phenomenal.

[dave_bass5]

Thanks (and for your other reply). I now have both at home and feel the NUX is going to stay. I cant see me going direct to house at the moment, but i do use headphones all the time at home. The NUX just feels warmer and rounder, even without the IR on. It has a kick i couldn’t get from the Laney.

The Laney just seems a bit weak to me. The EQ is quite subtle. As you say, it’s probably a better front end for an amp.  

 

I also like the fact that the NUX is simple to use. Very much like my BDDI. The Laney is easy to use but i found i was messing about with the switched and Mid controls a bit too much. 

 

The NUX will stay. 

[Mcgiver69]

4 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

Thanks (and for your other reply). I now have both at home and feel the NUX is going to stay. I cant see me going direct to house at the moment, but i do use headphones all the time at home. The NUX just feels warmer and rounder, even without the IR on. It has a kick i couldn’t get from the Laney.

The Laney just seems a bit weak to me. The EQ is quite subtle. As you say, it’s probably a better front end for an amp.  

 

I also like the fact that the NUX is simple to use. Very much like my BDDI. The Laney is easy to use but i found i was messing about with the switched and Mid controls a bit too much. 

 

The NUX will stay. 

I too kept the NUX, it is a great little amp and the IR's do really change the sound which makes it very versatile.

[Linus27]

I bought the Laney and I was massively disappointed in it and returned it. I also found the EQ to be very weak and subtle and if anything, it sounded very sterile and bland.

[dave_bass5]

2 hours ago, Linus27 said:

I bought the Laney and I was massively disappointed in it and returned it. I also found the EQ to be very weak and subtle and if anything, it sounded very sterile and bland.

Yeah, i did see your post, but i had to give it a try. I got some nice sounds out of it for my use, but compare to the NUX it sounded bland and flat. 

[dave_bass5]

Well the Laney has gone back and im really getting in to the NUX. Im surprised  at how useful the IR part is. 

[dave_bass5]

And now the NUX has gone back. 

Back to the BDDI again. I just brought another v2. Exactly a year and 2 days after I last brought one😂

[Supernaut]

Love the Laney. Subtle EQ and options that benefit the player in a live situation. It doesn't force a baked in sound - it lets you dial in how you want it. 

[dave_bass5]

11 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Love the Laney. Subtle EQ and options that benefit the player in a live situation. It doesn't force a baked in sound - it lets you dial in how you want it. 

only you cant get the tone of a BDDI 😀

[Supernaut]

Buy a BDDI if you want that tone? None of the other preamps here are trying to be an SVT. 

[dave_bass5]

1 hour ago, Supernaut said:

Buy a BDDI if you want that tone? None of the other preamps here are trying to be an SVT. 

Well first, i had both and so well aware of what they can do. Thanks for confirming it though 😏.

After a few weeks with both, and never once trying to get an SVT tone, i just missed the BDDI. i gigged with one for at least 20 years. Never did i want an SVT tone, i just like what it does to a P bass. If thats close to SVT fair enough, but it’s certainly not what a real SVT rig sounds like in my experience and ive never wanted that sound. The BDDI does much more than an SVT sim anyway.

I dont run with the blend higher above 10 o ‘clock so it’s not a hugely coloured sound. 

 

The NUX has at least 2 SVT IR’s, so i disagree that both aren’t trying to do SVT. The NUX is way more versatile than the Laney as far as features. 

 

The Laney on the other hand sounded bland and weak. EQ is subtle and drive is cold. Probaly why they arent as popular as other preamps. Nice enough i guess but a bit lacking tone wise. 

 

Edited June 28 by dave_bass5

[Merton]

Personally don’t find the Digbeth “weak” or “bland” at all - for me it added just a nice subtle “something”. I was getting tired of the BDDI and Darkglass models on the HX Effects and this is nice flavour of different which works really well for my Americana gig and my pop/punk gig. I guess a lot depends on what bass/amp/cab combo you have, what you’re playing and what you’re trying to achieve. For me, the Digbeth seems to be a good preamp with a voicing which works but I guess if we all liked the same thing the world would be hugely dull

[dave_bass5]

15 hours ago, Merton said:

Personally don’t find the Digbeth “weak” or “bland” at all - for me it added just a nice subtle “something”. I was getting tired of the BDDI and Darkglass models on the HX Effects and this is nice flavour of different which works really well for my Americana gig and my pop/punk gig. I guess a lot depends on what bass/amp/cab combo you have, what you’re playing and what you’re trying to achieve. For me, the Digbeth seems to be a good preamp with a voicing which works but I guess if we all liked the same thing the world would be hugely dull

I guess I didnt realise I liked a coloured tone so much when I started this thread. I still think the NUX is much better as it has amp sims and IR's, but after using them for a few weeks I just missed the colouring I get with the BDDI. I dont go full on with the blend, but that too adds a little bit of something to the sound that appeals to me. 

I dont use an amp at home so I guess the 'bland' comment could be in relation to that. I really did like it, and think with a bass rig it might have worked, but the BDDI does the underlying tone and the 'something' on top in one box. As did the NUX. 

 

I think the other factor to go back to the BDDI was I really didnt want a main powered box. This bugged me a little. Not a deal breaker, but all in, I went with what I know works for me. Maybe it was just GAS after all. 

[BlueMoon]

I like the Laney Digbeth pre. For me it provides just enough, especially with a passive P bass and Markbass head. I don’t care so much for what I get from it when using active basses though. I have a BDDI in the drawer, which comes out from time to time. I’ve not tried the Nux.

[dave_bass5]

On 30/06/2025 at 17:18, BlueMoon said:

I like the Laney Digbeth pre. For me it provides just enough, especially with a passive P bass and Markbass head. I don’t care so much for what I get from it when using active basses though. I have a BDDI in the drawer, which comes out from time to time. I’ve not tried the Nux.

The reason I got my first BDDi was to warm up my MB LM3 years ago. took me a while to get used to it but ive pretty much used a BDDI ever since, and I play a lot of varied music.

I can see how the Laney would work well with MB, and I may one day try another, but im hoping to go amp less asap, and the BDDI gives me a bit more character. 

Edited July 1 by dave_bass5

[dave_bass5]

Christ, it's never easy is it. Ive now ordered another Nux. I had a rehearsal with the BDDI and I love the tone, but I have a few gigs coming up where I'll be using an Ampeg. Can't see the point of using the BDDI, but I do want a bit more drive on some songs. There is no way to add this with the BDDI without the blend being up, and I feel things could start getting messy. The Nux can be used just as a drive and without colouring the sound. For now this will work better. Im keeping the BDDI though 

[Baloney Balderdash]

I love my NUX.

 

Tried other solutions, not the Digibeth though, but nothing else seems to work as well.

 

Also it seems like I can't get any other cab IR, and I tried a lot, to work, other than the stock Ampeg SVT-212AV IR cab sim on the NUX.

 

I have considered investing in an analog Tone Hammer pedal, since that is the amp emulation I use on the NUX, and then using the NUX for IR alone, but not sure it would actually be an improvement.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Baloney Balderdash

[dave_bass5]

4 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

I love my NUX.

 

Tried other solutions, not the Digibeth though, but nothing else seems to work as well.

 

Also it seems like I can't get any other cab IR, and I tried a lot, to work, other than the stock Ampeg SVT-212AV IR cab sim on the NUX.

 

I have considered investing in an analog Tone Hammer pedal, since that is the amp emulation I use on the NUX, and then using the NUX for IR alone, but not sure it would actually be an improvement.

 

Strange about the IR's. All mine work, plus a couple of 3rd party ones. I tend to stick to the Aguilar one though (top of the list). Also use the Aguilar Amp sim. It sounds really nice to my ears, although ive never tried any of their gear. 

I really like it, it's a keeper....for now. 

[Baloney Balderdash]

9 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

Strange about the IR's. All mine work, plus a couple of 3rd party ones. I tend to stick to the Aguilar one though (top of the list). Also use the Aguilar Amp sim. It sounds really nice to my ears, although ive never tried any of their gear. 

I really like it, it's a keeper....for now. 

Well, the IR function of my pedal does work exactly as it is supposed to, what I meat was that no other IR really work for me and my tone.

[dave_bass5]

25 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

Well, the IR function of my pedal does work exactly as it is supposed to, what I meat was that no other IR really work for me and my tone.

Ah right. cool. I found them all to be quite varied but like you, only one really works for me. It's a shame there isn't an iOS app I could use to change these over when away from the house.