Best Bass Amp Under $400 (2026): 3 Picks Compared
Updated Oct 29, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank
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The Peavey Max 100 Bass Amp Combo leads this list as Best Overall, with 100 watts and a 10-inch speaker. The Orange Crush Bass 25 follows as Runner-Up with 25 watts and an 8-inch speaker, while the Hartke HD15 holds the Lightest Pick label at 15.4 lb.
The picks at a glance
| # | Pick | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best Overall | Peavey Max 100 Bass Amp Combo | Check on Amazon |
| 2 | Runner-Up | Orange Crush Bass 25W Bass Guitar Combo | Check on Amazon |
| 3 | Lightest Pick | Hartke HD15 Bass Combo Amplifier | Check on Amazon |
Which one should you buy?
- Players who want 100 watts and a 10-inch speaker: Peavey Max 100 Bass Amp Combo See pick 1
- Players who want 25 watts through an 8-inch speaker: Orange Crush Bass 25W Bass Guitar Combo See pick 2
- Players who want 15 watts and a 6.5-inch driver: Hartke HD15 Bass Combo Amplifier See pick 3
Want the full range? Best Bass Amp ranks the top bass amps for every buyer, or browse all 34 guides.
The 3 picks, ranked
1Best Overall
Peavey Max 100 Bass Amp Combo
- Power: 100 W, the most here
- Speaker size: 10 in, the largest here
- Headphone output
- 2-year warranty stated
It earns Best Overall with 100 watts, a 10-inch speaker and a three-band EQ with overdrive.
Who it suits
- Players who want 100 watts and a 10-inch speaker
- Players who want headphone output for quiet practice
Skip it if
- You want a speaker smaller than 10 inches
- You want more than 3 EQ bands
It has a three-band EQ with overdrive, contour, mid-shift, bright and Kosmos-C switches, plus a pre-gain control with TransTube gain boost. It takes a 1/8-inch aux input and has a 1/8-inch headphones output. It weighs 29.1 lb and carries a 2-year warranty.
2Runner-Up
Orange Crush Bass 25W Bass Guitar Combo
- Power: 25 W
- Speaker size: 8 in
- 1-year warranty stated
It holds Runner-Up with 25 watts, an 8-inch speaker and an EQ circuit inspired by the 4 Stroke Series.
Who it suits
- Players who want 25 watts through an 8-inch speaker
- Players who want Cabsim circuitry for silent practice
Skip it if
- You want more than 25 watts of output power
- You want a speaker larger than 8 inches
It has an active EQ circuit with up to 15dB of boost or cut on bass and middle frequencies and up to 20dB on treble. Its 8-inch speaker has a reflex port for improved low-end response. It weighs 20.3 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.
3Lightest Pick
Hartke HD15 Bass Combo Amplifier
- Power: 15 W
- Speaker size: 6.5 in
- 1-year warranty stated
- 15.4 lb, the lightest here
It holds Lightest Pick at 15.4 lb, with 15 watts and a 6.5-inch HyDrive driver.
Who it suits
- Players who want 15 watts and a 6.5-inch driver
- Players who want top-mounted Volume, Bass, Mid and Treble controls
Skip it if
- You want more than 15 watts of output power
- You want a driver larger than 6.5 inches
It delivers 15 watts through a 6.5-inch HyDrive paper and aluminum cone driver. It has a molded strap carry handle and works with most standard bass guitars. It weighs 15.4 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.
Side by side
| Product | Power | Speaker size | DI / XLR out | Headphone output | Built-in effects / amp models | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peavey Max 100 Bass Amp Combo | 100 W | 10 in | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | 29.1 lb | 2-year |
| Orange Crush Bass 25W Bass Guitar Combo | 25 W | 8 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 20.3 lb | 1-year |
| Hartke HD15 Bass Combo Amplifier | 15 W | 6.5 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 15.4 lb | 1-year |
How we ranked these bass amps
Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.
- Power weight 3
- Speaker size weight 2
- DI / XLR out weight 1
- Headphone output weight 1
Buying advice: bass amp under 400
Match watts and speaker size to your playing
Watts and speaker size set how much output a combo gives. The Peavey Max 100 gives 100 watts through a 10-inch speaker, the Orange Crush Bass 25 gives 25 watts through an 8-inch speaker, and the Hartke HD15 gives 15 watts through a 6.5-inch driver. Compare those figures side by side before choosing, since the watt and speaker figures differ across the three picks.
Check headphone output for quiet practice
A headphone output lets you practice without a speaker sounding in the room. The Peavey Max 100 has a 1/8-inch headphones output, and the Orange Crush Bass 25 has Cabsim circuitry for silent practice. If quiet practice matters, check that the pick you choose gives a headphone or silent-practice path before buying.
Compare EQ controls before you choose
EQ controls shape how you set bass, middle and treble. The Peavey Max 100 has a three-band EQ with overdrive, contour, mid-shift, bright and Kosmos-C switches. The Orange Crush Bass 25 has an active EQ circuit, and the Hartke HD15 has Volume, Bass, Mid and Treble controls. Pick the control set that matches how much tone shaping you want to do.
Frequently asked questions
Which pick leads this list?
The Peavey Max 100 Bass Amp Combo leads as Best Overall, with 100 watts and a 10-inch speaker. It has a three-band EQ with overdrive and a 1/8-inch headphones output.
Does the Orange Crush Bass 25 suit silent practice?
It has Cabsim circuitry which emulates the response of Orange stage-ready OBC bass speaker cabinets during silent practice. It also has an 8-inch speaker with a reflex port.
How much does the Hartke HD15 weigh?
It weighs 15.4 lb. It gives 15 watts through a 6.5-inch HyDrive paper and aluminum cone driver, with a molded strap carry handle.
Gear that goes with it
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Specifications and availability come from each Amazon listing on Oct 29, 2026 and can change. Check the listing before you buy.