Behringer Ultra Metal UM300

A "high-gain" distortion in the spirit of modern saturations

The UM300 belongs to the family of "high-gain" distortions designed to deliver a dense, thick, and highly compressed saturation, with that "incandescent" feel reminiscent of amps pushed to their limits. The goal is clear: to achieve a rich and powerful texture capable of holding a tight palm-muted riff as well as a singing solo, while maintaining an impressive sustain reserve. If you're looking for a direct metal distortion pedal focused on big sound, the ULTRA METAL UM300 goes straight to the point.

Who it's for and in which contexts the UM300 makes a difference

The BEHRINGER ULTRA METAL UM300 is aimed at hard rock, heavy metal, and related style guitarists who want a pronounced distortion that is easy to dial in and immediately usable. It suits both beginners who want quick access to a "metal" sound and more advanced musicians looking for dedicated saturation for a high-gain oriented pedalboard.

In rehearsals and live settings, its 3-band EQ helps adapt your tone to the room's acoustics and the band's mix: more mids to cut through, more bass to thicken, or more treble to enhance bite. In the home studio, it allows laying down consistent saturated guitars with a naturally smoothed dynamic thanks to the high gain level, useful for tight rhythm takes.

Controls, EQ, and design: metal, but with precision

The UM300 combines essential controls with a very practical tone section. The Distortion / Level pair lets you manage the amount of saturation and output volume to balance your level with clean tones or push your amp's input harder. The 3-band equalizer (bass, mids, treble) is a real asset: it's not just about "darkening" or "brightening" the sound, but about choosing where to place your instrument in the spectrum depending on your guitar (single-coils or humbuckers), your amp, or the space left by bass and drums.

For usability, the pedal includes a blue status LED indicating switching and battery status, handy to avoid surprises. The switching relies on a high-quality electronic switch, claimed to preserve an intact signal in bypass mode: an important point if you want to keep a clean and reliable chain on stage.

The sound

The BEHRINGER ULTRA METAL UM300 delivers a thick and highly saturated distortion with a modern grain, featuring a "density" sensation that easily fills the space. The tone naturally emphasizes sustain and a big-gain style compression: ideal for solos that hold, singing bends, and riffs that stay solid even at high saturation levels.

The 3-band EQ lets you fine-tune the color: boosting bass gives a heavier low end for heavy rhythms; shaping mids moves from a scooped, more aggressive sound to a more present tone to stand out in the mix; adjusting treble controls attack, brightness, and sharpness. Depending on your playing style, the UM300 reacts particularly well to clear attacks and articulated rhythms: it's made to deliver a consistent, homogeneous, and immediately usable "metal" sound.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Distortion	Type	sector
Format	Pedal	Use	electric guitar
EQ	3 channels	Color	Pink

Sound orientation	hard rock / heavy metal, thick "tube-style" distortion	Blue LED	indicates switching and battery status
Potentiometers	Distortion, Level	DC power adapter	not included
Equalizer	3 bands (bass, mids, treble)	Required power supply	9 V (9 V battery or DC power adapter)