N Audio 8x7 Amp Switcher | Review

N Audio 8x7 Amp Switcher | Revie

I love valve amps, and I have quite the collection of them in my studio. To my shame though, I used to only use one of them (my Victory Super Kraken), because re-cabling amps that are in a shelving unit like mine is such a pain that I just didn’t bother.

Enter the N-Audio 8x7 Amp Switcher. This device allows you to connect up to 8 valve amplifiers (or solid state if you prefer) to up to 7 speaker cabinets (with the option of using up to 3 cabs simultaneously), and switch between them in real time using either the front panel buttons or via MIDI. 

You could switch instantly from a JTM45 through a Greenback-loaded 4x12 to a 6505 through a 2x12 with Vintage 30s, or any combination you can imagine. There’s also a loop to insert a power attenuator or load box or your choice, which is also switchable.

What sets the N-Audio 8x7 Amp Switcher apart from similar switchers on the market is not just its sound quality and craftsmanship, but the sheer lengths that creator Niki Hristov has gone to in order to ensure the safety of you and your amplifiers. Whenever an amp is not active, it’s automatically sent to a resistive load, meaning your amp can never see a “no-load” situation. It’s also impossible to select an amplifier without first selecting a speaker cabinet. It also uses a standard 3-pin IEC power cable instead of a proprietary barrel-style PSH, which ensures the unit (and by extension, your amps) are always earthed.

While the 8x7 Amp Switcher has most certainly improved my studio workflow immeasurably, it’s done much more for me than simply providing a lazy man’s way to switch between amplifiers. Audio memory is incredibly short, and you can only really hear (and more importantly, feel) the differences between amplifiers when you can switch between them in real time. I’ve discovered differences in response between amps that I was convinced sounded basically identical, and similarities between amps that seemed worlds apart at first glance. 

In terms of selecting the perfect amp for any job - be that remote session work, re-amping, recording a client or reviewing a pedal - it’s never been easier. If you own more than one valve amp, this is a piece of kit that should 100% be on your wish list.

For more information visit: n-audio.com