CX 5 : A Real Work Horse!

Okay I've waited a few months to do this review I wanted to give it a fair shot. I know when I ordered it I wasn't expecting anything too fancy because it was so cheap, but when it arrived I was very pleasantly surprised by its look and build (I was taken instantly back to my childhood and good old "Tonka Toys").

This thing has a robust tough plastic case and a durable metal front grill a solid handle for carrying around (you could even suspend/hang it by the handle). There are five inputs in total ample for most of my needs. It has a tripod bracket so that it can fit on top of a mic stand.

I've used this for small intimate restaurant type gigs where my voice doesn’t need much amplification

I put my VL3X pedal through it to carry the effects for my voice, guitar and running any backing tracks/loops through it.

At bigger gigs I use it as my personal (in my face) monitor for which it is more than ample.

I've used it to boost the volume of my uBass and my Acoustic guitar/bass at tiny pub garden events (it is perfect for this).

I've also used it to run my iPod through for some background music.

I've read other reviews where the reviewer wasn't happy about it not having any built in effects, well what do you expect for that price plus built in effect are overrated and have far less control.

Yes it does have sharp corners and I have noticed that the new thing these days is for music equipment to be sporting soft comfy corners like they've just stepped out of "Mothercare" I like the sharp corners if they hurt you then you are standing too close to my monitor so "get back into the audience with you". If it worries some of you too much one can always get the "Sugru" out and mamby pamby it for the softer types out there.

The thing is clear as a bell at all volumes and no feedback problems (unless you are a plonker and point your microphone directly at it).

No real cons as far as I can see other than I'd like to be able to buy a short mic pole to fit in the top so that the mic stand it sits on becomes a bit more multi purpose.

All in all it does what it says on the tin and I am seriously considering buying another.