BOSS KTN500B HD Katana-500 Bass Amplifier Head

The BOSS Katana-500 Bass Head is a compact bass amplifier head designed for players who need substantial stage power without committing to a large, heavy amplifier rig. It delivers up to 500 watts peak into a 4-ohm speaker load and provides 250 watts peak into 8 ohms. This makes it a practical foundation for a bass cabinet, PA-connected stage setup, or recording-focused rig.

Its refined preamp and Class D power section are built to preserve bass definition while giving players useful control over feel and response. The AMP FEEL selector offers Vintage, Flat, and Modern voicings to suit different musical approaches. A four-band EQ with selectable low-mid and high-mid frequency ranges helps target fundamental weight, punch, articulation, and top-end detail.

Front-panel tone tools let bassists shape a working sound without relying on external pedals. Three compressor types, three drive types, and selectable FX provide core processing directly from the head. The Blend control can mix dry bass back into the processed sound for retained note clarity.

The Katana-500 Bass Head includes BOSS Cab Resonance calibration, which adjusts the output-stage response for the connected cabinet. This feature is intended to help the amp work effectively with different bass speaker cabinets. Additional controls such as Bottom, Shape, and Hi Cut provide practical ways to refine low-frequency definition and overall voicing.

For expanded setup flexibility, the head includes locking speakON speaker outputs, an XLR line output, a headphones/recording output, USB connectivity, and foot-control connections. BOSS Tone Studio for Windows and macOS provides deeper editing and access to more than 60 effects. An optional BT-DUAL adapter adds Bluetooth audio and MIDI functionality for compatible mobile-device use.

Key Features

• Class D Power Section: Delivers 500 watts peak at 4 ohms or 250 watts peak at 8 ohms.
• Cab Resonance Calibration: Adjusts output response for the connected bass cabinet.
• AMP FEEL Voicings: Select Vintage, Flat, or Modern tonal character.
• Four-Band Active EQ: Shapes bass, low-mid, high-mid, and treble response.
• Built-In Bass Effects: Includes compressor, drive, blend, and selectable FX controls.
• Expanded Connectivity: Supports speaker cabinets, PA systems, headphones, USB, and foot control.

Design & Installation

The Katana-500 Bass Head uses a compact, low-profile amplifier-head design measuring 11-3/4 inches wide, 8-3/8 inches deep, and 3-13/16 inches high, including its rubber feet. At 6 lb 3 oz, it is suited to portable rigs while retaining dedicated front-panel controls for gain, EQ, effects, line output, cabinet calibration, and master volume. Its layout is designed around direct access to essential bass tone adjustments during rehearsal, recording, or performance.

Connect a bass guitar to the 1/4-inch input and use a compatible bass cabinet with a total impedance of at least 4 ohms through the locking speakON speaker outputs. The XLR line output can feed a mixer or PA and offers Direct, Pre, and Post signal selections; the stereo 1/4-inch Phones/Rec Out supports private practice or recording use. For deeper editing, connect the USB-B port to a computer running BOSS Tone Studio, or add the optional BT-DUAL adapter for supported mobile-device Bluetooth functions.