The Behringer HM300 is a Behringer distortion pedal, currently around $29.75. Close alternatives include the Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion and the NuX Brownie. It pairs well with the Roland Cube Street and the Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp.
Behringer HM300
Behringer · pedal
The Behringer HM300 is a heavy metal distortion pedal modeled after the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal circuit, famous for producing the extreme buzzsaw-like high-gain distortion associated with Swedish death metal. The HM-2 topology uses four distinct band controls covering high, low, and two mid frequencies, allowing extreme scooped mid voicings. Full saturation with all controls maximized produces the chainsaw wall of sound most closely associated with Swedish bands like Entombed and Dismember. At lower gain settings the HM300 provides 1980s-era metal rhythm tones. A budget alternative to the original Boss unit and boutique HM-2 clones.
What stands out
“Extreme buzzsaw-heavy distortion with a hard scooped mid character made famous by the Boss HM-2 circuit, most associated with Swedish death metal and 1980s heavy metal rhythm tones”
— from the community notes
“At moderate gain settings the HM300 delivers usable rhythm tones for hard rock”
— from the reviews
“and two mid frequencies”
— from the listing
“Used predominantly for high-gain rhythm guitar in metal and extreme metal contexts;”
— from the community notes
“Full saturation with all controls maximized produces the chainsaw wall of sound most closely associated with Swedish bands like Entombed and Dismember”
— from the listing
- distortion
- death metal
- rhythm
- mid
- high gain
- scooped
- gain
- rhythm guitar
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Behringer HM300 is commonly used in
- Death Metal
- Alternative Rock
- Blues
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- Hardcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Behringer HM300
Roland Cube Street
Roland
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Roland Cube Street takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp
Laney
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Stack Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Roland Cube Street EX
Roland
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Roland Cube Street EX on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 4x10 Bass Combo Amp
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 4x10 Bass Combo Amp pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Ceriatone HRM 50 on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward
ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a scooped signal into ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a scooped signal into Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Behringer HM300
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
22% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Browne Amplification Gritador pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
J. Rockett The Dude
J Rockett
22% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
J. Rockett The Dude takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Orange Series Phaser
Orange
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Orange Series Phaser after Behringer HM300 in the signal chain, clear of Behringer HM300's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Wampler Ego Compressor
pedal
13% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Behringer HM300's own mid-forward character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep MXR Analog Delay after Behringer HM300 in the signal chain, clear of Behringer HM300's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Universal Audio Golden Reverberator
Universal Audio
9% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Universal Audio Golden Reverberator after Behringer HM300 in the signal chain, clear of Behringer HM300's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of Behringer HM300 — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Browne Amplification Gritador Classic Overdrive
Browne Amplification
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Feed a scooped signal into Browne Amplification Gritador Classic Overdrive and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Boutique & premium upgrades
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
64% similarityShared character: high gain settings, noise, response
Amptweaker Tight Rock 2
Amptweaker
58% similarityShared character: high gain settings, hard rock, thickness
MXR Fullbore Metal
MXR
58% similarityShared character: high gain settings, noise, hard rock
ISP Technologies Michael Sweet Signature Empyrean
Isp Technologies
58% similarityShared character: hard rock, response, distortion
Pigrtonix Bob Weir's Real Deal
Pigtronix
58% similarityShared character: gain
Dunlop MXR Dookie Drive 30th Anniversary DD30
Dunlop
56% similarityShared character: circuit, middle, alternative
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion
Behringer
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, noise, hard rock
NuX Brownie
Nux
54% similarityShared character: high gain settings, hard rock, thickness
JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion
JHS Pedals
54% similarityShared character: high gain settings, hard rock, alternative
Caline CP-15
Caline
53% similarityShared character: hard rock, middle, alternative
Joyo Uzi Distortion
Joyo
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, noise, hard rock
Joyo British metal
Joyo
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, circuit, noise
See all alternatives to the Behringer HM300 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Behringer HM300?+
The closest matches in character are the Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion, the NuX Brownie, the JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Wampler Dracarys, Amptweaker Tight Rock 2, MXR Fullbore Metal.
What pairs well with the Behringer HM300?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Roland Cube Street, Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp, Roland Cube Street EX — Roland Cube Street takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward.
How much does the Behringer HM300 cost?+
Around $29.75 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).