The Sonicake B Factory is an analog bass preamp pedal from Sonicake that puts three bass-essentials in one box: optical compression, a 3-band EQ and an overdrive channel. It is built to run a bass signal straight into a mixing desk or audio interface, with a high impedance input on the front and an XLR balanced output on the back1. Sonicake sells it as model QDS-05 for $79.99 USD, and it was in stock as of the maker's listing21.
What it does to your sound
The B Factory is a preamp pedal aimed at bass players who want one pedal to shape tone, control dynamics and add grit. Its signal path stacks three stages, each with its own controls1:
- Optical compression: a compressor stage Sonicake describes as having a "Classic optical compressing sound, it preserves the original signal transients perfectly"5
- 3-band EQ: tone shaping with a PRE/POST selection for where the EQ sits in the chain5
- Overdrive channel: a drive stage covering a wide tonal range, from overdrive to distortion5
Optical compression is a design where a light-sensitive element reacts to the signal level, a style long favored for smooth, musical dynamic control. The EQ section's PRE/POST switch determines whether the EQ acts on the signal before or after the other stages, which changes how the overdrive and compression interact with the tone shaping. Sonicake calls it a "Powerful 3-band EQ with PRE/POST selection for enhancing and shaping your bass tone"5.
The overdrive channel
The overdrive side covers a wide tonal range, from overdrive to distortion, according to Sonicake5. That spans the territory from a light growl that keeps a bass note defined up to harder-edged distortion, and players comparing options can read more on the overdrive pedal and distortion pedal type pages. The compression stage is covered in more depth on the compressor pedal page, and the EQ on the equalization pedal page.
Sonicake also makes the Sonicake A Factory, for players looking at the maker's other preamp designs.
Power, bypass and connections
The pedal runs on DC 9V through a 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative connector and draws 70mA. Sonicake notes it works "with 9V Center Negative Regular Pedal Power Supply (not included)"1. There is no battery option, so a supply is needed from the start.
The B Factory has no battery compartment and no power supply in the box. Its 70mA draw at 9V needs a pedalboard supply output rated to deliver it.
Bypass is buffered rather than true bypass. Sonicake describes a "Special Design Buffer Bypass Circuit Keeps the Sound Pristine"1. With a 1M Ohm input impedance and 100 Ohm output impedance on both the standard and XLR outputs3, the buffer is designed to drive longer cable runs without the high-frequency loss a passive circuit can suffer.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | QDS-053 |
| Circuit | Analog3 |
| Input impedance | 1M Ohms3 |
| Output impedance | 100 Ohms3 |
| XLR balanced output impedance | 100 Ohms3 |
| Power | DC 9V, 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative1 |
| Current draw | 70mA1 |
| Bypass | Buffer bypass1 |
| Dimensions | 124mm (D) x 90mm (W) x 54.8mm (H)1 |
| Weight | 395g1 |
What reviewers and buyers report
The pedal carries 7 reviews on Sonicake's own listing, with 86% of them at the highest rating (6 of 7) and 14% (1) at a lower rating, none at the lowest5. No independent published reviews of the B Factory are covered here.
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Questions
Does the Sonicake B Factory take a battery?
No. Sonicake states the B Factory works with a 9V center negative regular pedal power supply, and that a power supply is not included with the pedal. There is no battery option, so plan on a dedicated supply or an isolated output on your pedalboard power brick, drawing 70mA at DC 9V through a 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative connector.
Is the Sonicake B Factory true bypass?
No, it uses buffer bypass. Sonicake describes a specially designed buffer bypass circuit that it says keeps the sound pristine. A buffered bypass means the pedal's buffer stays in the signal path when the effect is off, which can help drive long cable runs, but it is not a true bypass design.
Does the Sonicake B Factory have an XLR output?
Yes. The B Factory is a bass preamp with a high impedance input and an XLR balanced output, according to Sonicake's product page. The XLR output impedance is listed at 100 Ohms, the same as the standard output, so the pedal can feed a mixing desk, audio interface or powered speaker directly.
What power supply does the Sonicake B Factory need?
Sonicake specifies DC 9V through a 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative connector, drawing 70mA. A regular pedal power supply works, but one is not included in the box. Because there is no battery compartment, you will need a supply from the first session, and a standard daisy chain or isolated brick output rated for at least 70mA will do.
Is the Sonicake B Factory analog or digital?
Analog. Sonicake describes the B Factory as an analog preamp with compression and overdrive. That matters for players who want their bass signal to stay in the analog domain, and it pairs with the balanced XLR output so the preamp can run direct to a desk without a digital modeling stage in between.
