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The Best Desktop Guitar Amps - Guitar Amp Shootout
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Күн бұрынHead over to the Andertons website to find the products in the video! | tinyurl.com/27...
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👆 There are some new options to consider when buying a desktop amp in 2023, so let's compare them all to find the best! Which one do you think is the best amp and why, let us know your thoughts in the comments! | tinyurl.com/2x...
» Positive Grid Spark 40w Practice Amp in Pearl | tinyurl.com/yo...
» Positive Grid Spark 40w Practice Amp | tinyurl.com/yu...
» Positive Grid Spark Mini Practice Amp in Pearl | tinyurl.com/ys...
» Positive Grid Spark GO Ultra-Portable Smart Guitar Amp & Bluetooth Speaker | tinyurl.com/yu...
» Positive Grid Spark Mini Practice Amp | tinyurl.com/yo...
» Check out all our Positive Grid Gear! | tinyurl.com/yv...
» Boss Katana Air EX Wireless Guitar Amplifier | tinyurl.com/ys...
» Boss Katana Air Wireless Guitar Amp with Transmitter | tinyurl.com/2x...
» Boss Katana Mini Compact Guitar Amp | tinyurl.com/yw...
» Check out all our Boss Katana Amps! | tinyurl.com/yu...
» NUX Mighty Space Guitar and Bass Amp | tinyurl.com/yp...
» NUX Mighty Air Wireless Stereo Guitar & Bass Modelling Amp | tinyurl.com/yv...
» NUX Mighty Lite BT mkII Guitar Amp | tinyurl.com/ys...
» Check out all our NUX Gear! | tinyurl.com/yk...
» Yamaha THR30IIW 30W Wireless Desktop Guitar Modelling Amp | tinyurl.com/yv...
» Yamaha THR30IIW 30W Wireless Desktop Guitar Modelling Amp in White | tinyurl.com/yn...
» Yamaha THR-30IIA 30W Wireless Desktop Acoustic Amp | tinyurl.com/yl...
» Yamaha THR10IIW 20W Wireless Desktop Guitar Modelling Amp | tinyurl.com/yv...
» Yamaha THR10II 20W Desktop Guitar Modelling Amp | tinyurl.com/yv...
» Yamaha THR5 Guitar Amp | tinyurl.com/ys...
» Check out all our Yamaha THR Amps! | tinyurl.com/2x...
Guitar
» Sire Larry Carlton S7 Electric Guitar in Champagne Gold Metallic | tinyurl.com/yu...
» Monty`s Guitars Full Monty HSS Electric Guitar HSS Pickup Set | tinyurl.com/yl...
» Check out all our Sire Guitars! | tinyurl.com/yw...
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⏰ Timestamps ⏰
» 0:00 Introducing the Desktop Amps!
» 0:45 Why Buy a Desktop Amp?
» 2:15 Other Options?
» 2:25 The Positive Grid Spark!
» 5:16 Pop - 'Dancing in the Room'
» 6:14 Blues - 'Blues Ark'
» 6:43 Rock - 'Modern Stone'
» 7:20 Metal - 'Iron Hammer'
» 8:00 Adjusting a Blues Preset Rig
» 8:50 Other Features & Prices
» 11:56 NUX Mighty Space!
» 12:35 The Footswitch & Looper!
» 14:50 Jazz Clean
» 15:12 Deluxe Rvb
» 15:30 Class A30
» 15:45 Brit 800
» 16:05 Dual Rect
» 16:20 Mr. Z38
» 16:38 Super Rvb
» 17:22 Price?
» 18:05 Adjusting the Preset
» 19:05 Pete Shows off the Looper!
» 20:35 THR30II
» 23:10 Classic Clean
» 23:32 Classic Crunch
» 24:15 Classic Lead
» 24:35 Modern Hi Gain
» 25:04 Boutique Special
» 25:26 Thoughts on the THR
» 27:30 Katana Air EX
» 30:22 Clean
» 31:22 Crunch
» 32:16 Lead
» 32:43 Brown
» 33:06 Final Thoughts & Favourites!
» 35:30 Thanks For Watching!
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Please note that Lee Anderton has a personal financial share holding in the following brands - Victory Amplification, Chapman Guitars and Burns Guitars. The EastCoast, Landlord & Ordo brand names are used for Andertons’ own brand products.
#andertons #guitar #desktopamp
@Sheepleton 10 ай бұрын
I've had the Spark 40 for about a year I guess. I've lost all interest in any other equipment. It's just so convenient to search for and set a tone in seconds. No knobs,no tweaking, just fantastic tone so I can get to the business of playing and enjoying my little hobby in my precious free time.
@martingoodwin8884 10 ай бұрын
How loud? Is it I’m thinking about one
@KeithMilner 10 ай бұрын
I was quite disappointed with my Spark 40. I ended up giving it away to a family member. Currently using a THR10ii which, IMO, is much better. Out of the ones in the video, now I would go for the Nux.
@KeithMilner 10 ай бұрын
@@martingoodwin8884loud enough for home practice. Nowhere near loud enough for anything else. None of these units are.
@edwardjons8684 10 ай бұрын
@@BkBk-gy6vrSure, but there is always something ‘better’, in everything. Constantly searching for the ‘better’ thing is a long slow road to ultimate disappointment. Sounds to me like Sheepleton has found something he can sit with so he can just enjoy his guitar. Can’t see any ‘shame’ in that, far from it!
@fuzzb0x436 10 ай бұрын
@@BkBk-gy6vr the spark is amazing sounding if you know how to use it properly, especially through headphones for silent practice at home.
@mhw6160 10 ай бұрын
I personally think the Yamaha THR sounds the most natural and least digital. The Spark Go with all the features in a pocket size is great too.
@fernandes5986 10 ай бұрын
I agree, andf it's probably the least boxy of the pack, especiallu compared to the Katana.
@tostrmofo6686 10 ай бұрын
The Spark Go replaced 3 amps for me. The one in my living room, the one in my workshop which I just use to check if electrics are working and finally the one at my parents' house. Best of it: I can use the exact same Spark Go for all 3 use cases.
@hexaldecima6839 10 ай бұрын
Agreed!
@newshoesbigblister 10 ай бұрын
I agree! And I love that the Yamaha THR also works with bass and keyboards. I have a Spark Go, which is fine for my limited guitar abilities (and portability), but I am seriously going to have to consider getting the Yamaha as my all-rounder at home.
@notarealperson87 10 ай бұрын
another reason for desktop amps: getting your feet wet for home recording. they usually function as interfaces and you can use the amp models to directly record. if you want to start recording your own music but you have no idea where to begin, grab a desktop amp and just start by recording a guitar track, a bass track, and some kinda drum plug-in.
@garywescott1643 10 ай бұрын
As a blind person trying to learn the guitar it would be helpful if you guys could add an accessibility section to your reviews. For example, does VoiceOver work on the apps you are reviewing? An idea for next time.
@EHCreative 10 ай бұрын
I have had the THR30II with the wireless bug for a couple years and had the THR10 previously. Yes they are pricey but they have allowed me to play and practice more frequently than i was able to before. That has been priceless.
@DizzyKrissi 7 ай бұрын
I have a THR10 and wonder if they sound different to the newer one you own.
@Armagedon197238 6 ай бұрын
Have both. Yes agree. But i dont like much new sounds on the 30II. I miss the old lead sound of the THR10, plexi sounds. 😂 Not the same pleasure with new lead on the 30II. But good product.
@DizzyKrissi 6 ай бұрын
@@Armagedon197238 : thanx for your reply - you are the 2nd guy with a similar opinion on this topic.
@jonathanong4538 4 ай бұрын
The older THR are better than the newer ones
@jimmyjimmy951 10 ай бұрын
Still THR for sound , simplicity of use and looks for me.
@mudwiser1391 10 ай бұрын
Yamaha THR30II all the way. It always amazes me. I still have a THR10X and a THR5A that I still use as well. I conducted a extensive pre-purchase test prior to choosing the THR30II and for my money the Yamaha just couldn't be beaten.
@theoc7805 10 ай бұрын
And let's hope the THR Mk 3 has a looper and also switchable boosts (the Yamaha has no boost models, all of the other 3 do). Then I'm sold on the Yamaha. And the icing on the cake would be the addition of metronome, drums etc in the THR app. To my mind for Boss to release a the EX without a looper, at that price point, is a bizarre marketing decision, seeing as even the Dual Cube has a looper built in.
@mudwiser1391 10 ай бұрын
@@theoc7805 Agreed the looper could be a deciding factor for many. I use my THR's for recording and practicing, straight into my DAW, so I can loop anything and I import drums I have downloaded so the metronome doesn't matter to me, but I agree both would be would be beneficial for practice. The way I see it, the quick and easy recording with zero latency of the THR's is what sold me. Do the other brands use ASIO Drivers? Yamaha - ASIO - Steinberg... all one company.
@matthewwilson3673 10 ай бұрын
Pete is unreasonably good at grooving with whatever gear you all are doing a demo for, the nux jam was great
@DrFearCo 10 ай бұрын
@@BkBk-gy6vr What are you upset about?
@philfyphil 10 ай бұрын
@@BkBk-gy6vr No such thing as a bad product, it would just be a product you wouldn’t buy.
@nicholascrow8133 10 ай бұрын
@@philfyphil I like Linus's take, no such thing as a bad product, just a bad price
@jmabs5096 10 ай бұрын
Cloths don't make the man, give a good player beginner gear, they will make it sound good. Give a beginner an expensive rig, they are not going to sound any better. We live a lie thinking that new amp, guitar, pedal is going to make you "better" but in reality it's not, better off practicing or spring for lessons.
@jmabs5096 10 ай бұрын
@@philfyphillol wut? There are definitely bad products that died off because it sucked
@philipwpartain 10 ай бұрын
Pete getting impatient with Lee talking is my favorite recurring theme. 😂
@kravitz1999 4 ай бұрын
too much sugar :P
@skurge98 10 ай бұрын
I personally have the Yamaha THR30II WL in White. It has some great tones. I am all for options, but like with any modeling amp I find like 3 good tones at most and that is what it will be set to forever. I love the convenience and taking it to lessons to teach. So light weight and easy to use.
@KickAxe1000 10 ай бұрын
I go the same amp - not cheap - didn’t use for about 3 months or so, and now the battery is dead, will just not recharge. Also, even when plugged in, it will not work. I have the older Yamaha set, and just being able to plug into a socket and play is so much better. My THR30II WL is now a waste of money. Beware!
@skurge98 10 ай бұрын
@@KickAxe1000 I have had mine for a year with no issues thus far. Charges just fine. Battery life is pretty good. I even use a wireless system so when I'm out and about I have zero cables.
@trevorD1156 10 ай бұрын
First if it isn't working after three months file a warranty claim, Yamaha has never been anything but extremely helpful with customer service and it has a year warranty. Secondly, I've had my thr for 3 years and the battery has never gone dead and I use it more days than not.
@GabrielNacu 10 ай бұрын
Fellow teacher here - completely agreed with all that! It sounds great, really easy to cart around and the playback/blutooth speakers is the best for backing tracks :)
@billy4643 9 ай бұрын
Just ordered the exact same on white can’t wait
@michaeljcoulter 10 ай бұрын
I have the Yamaha and initially agreed about the lack of bass. Though changing the speaker setting on the app from open to focus seemed to really improve this. Fantastic amp!
@writewheel 10 ай бұрын
With respect to bass, I’ve found with my Thr that placement can hugely impact that. If it’s a few inches from your face (or mics for that matter) it doesn’t bloom. 6 feet away standing above (maybe even in a corner) the magic happens. Maybe this would be true with the other “desktops” too.
@michaeljcoulter 10 ай бұрын
@@writewheel oh yes absolutely. I get a very different sound (better to my ears) if it’s on the floor compared to on the settee or a table.
@gazzie12000 10 ай бұрын
I teach guitar and use a Yamaha THR C. Absolutely no idea why people say there is a lack of bass. I have plenty, in fact more than my gigging Fender Tube amps. At first I thought it was TOO bassy, until i dialed in my own settings. I always have it about a foot off the floor, and stand about 5 or 6 feet away. It fills the room and has lots of bass as and when I want it. Sounds like a great Fender blackface clean amp on the mode I use.
@michaeljcoulter 10 ай бұрын
@@gazzie12000 I agree!
@olimon63 9 ай бұрын
@@michaeljcoulter me too. Actually one thing that amazes me is precisely how such a fat bass sound comes from that tiny device.
@steveDC51 10 ай бұрын
Love my THR30W. It’s the lack of options compared to others that I like. Less fiddling more playing.
@jakesmith4506 9 ай бұрын
more good sound, and it doesn't need to be tweaked a lot. Less is MORE.
@paulburton5150 10 ай бұрын
I bought one of the first gen THR10’s when they came out. I still have it and play it almost daily. It sounds amazing and perfect for home use. My only wish would be for a looper or send/return
@peterklein5861 10 ай бұрын
With the THRII you can loop via the AUX input - if you search 'Yamaha THR looper' you'll see a video showing you how it works.
@NickJardine 10 ай бұрын
Just plug a looper into the input. That’s what I do, works fine. If you want to play clean rhythm and crunchy lead over top, use your volume knob
@MCMANDO1991 3 ай бұрын
@@NickJardineDo you also use other pedals like this with the THR? E.g. Guitar > Overdrive > Reverb > Amp. And if you do, how does it sound? 👀
@NickJardine 3 ай бұрын
@@MCMANDO1991 hey - no, I dont. The amp has every effect you could need built in. I have used a wah and tube screamer before but not anymore.
@felipelotas5609 4 ай бұрын
Almost two years with my Yamaha THRII30w...Not just one bit of regret. Though I installed the app in my compute to try some patches I got in the internet I´ve uploaded five to my unit and always play using them as a starting point...The aesthetics of this toy are amazing and I use it on a daily basis. Probably the users of other brands are as enchanted as me so in the end I´d say that all these desktop amplifiers are worth the price in terms of how much dopamine we all get from our playing time. Blessed all of us for living in this era of microelectronics, fast chips and infinite backing tracks from youtube...
@petermatos4613 10 ай бұрын
I was expecting a video like this. There are several good options here. Personally, I have owned a Spark40 for a while now as well as a spark Go and while they are amazing amps, I recently bought the NUX mighty Space because I wanted to try it and wanted a looper as well. I gotta say the Spark is sitting on a shelf collecting dust now. The Nux just sounds amazing and I love the looper and drum options. I was a bit disappointed here because while Pete and company here try to show what each product can do they failed to talk about several things that really set the NUX apart from all of these other models. For one the NUx is the only one here that has a built-in battery that lasts 7 hours! This is a very big deal and I use it often. I actually tried several different battery add Ons for my Spark40 but this NUX MIghty Space has this built in. The other thing is that the Nux also has a speaker direct output that you can power a cabinet with so the Nux acts like an amp head up to 30 watts. If you are busking or whatnot this amp is perfection. The basic amp is also quite loud and powerful sounding while not getting muddy like the Spark can ( there are ways around that with the spark BTW). I use my NUX MIghty Space to record almost daily now and it also has some very nice audio interface features like re-amping and dry and wet signal inputs that are all variable volumes. Something I struggled with on my Spark40. One of the nicest features of this amp is the AFTERMARKET app called the Mightier amp app that adds a lot of functionality to the NUX amps that anyone using one should really check out. It is awesome. It has some of the features of the Boss KZfaq stuff like ability to change presets automatically during a song and lots of other neat features. If you add a pedal like the Mvave Chocolate you can use the looper and change patches and drum settings all at the same time with a little tweaking. This thing beats all of the other amps easily when you add up these features. Most importantly it sounds amazing and sharing patches is a dream with QR code sharing. I do not work for NUX just love this product. It really is a game changer for me. Finally, this amp REQUIRES you to get under the hood and adjust settings and it will reward you with fantastic sounds. IR loading, the ability to move the pedal blocks order around, and other features to explore. The delays and reverbs are fantastic. I like making ambient guitar music sometimes and these effects are wicked cool and allow tons of amazing ambient sounds easily. I think someone should do a deep dive into this amp to show exactly what is possible as every one of the reviews I have seen barely scratched the surface of what it possible. Dave Simpson did a decent job but even he did not show what is possible. This little amp deserves to be explored to show people what it can do. Thanks for at least trying to give it fair shake in this video.
@jgfunk 6 ай бұрын
I have an old Behringer virtual amp from 2001! I use it with headphones. Looking to upgrade to one of these. I like being able to foot switch effects during a song, use headphones and jam to KZfaq backing tracks in the amp. I'm assuming that the NUX does all of that?
@njp2k914 10 ай бұрын
I know they’re ancient now but an old used Roland cube will still do a good job for a small practice amp! Plus there’s no app that’s going to get out of date and disappear at some point!
@rebelcat420 10 ай бұрын
The way to get the bass back on the THR30 is to go to the settings “gear” and switch it from “focused” to “open”. It’s like a whole different amp
@graycolors2879 5 ай бұрын
They made it as one of firmware updates. I tried THR30II twice and didn't like it, because it sounded to focused. When they introduced "open" setting I kept it.
@jaminjones8784 7 ай бұрын
I'm a big proponent for constraints/limitations in gear, especially for beginners. With too many parameters to control, a lot of people get super carried away playing with different sounds or tweaking settings instead of actually practicing/playing. Not that thats necessarily a bad thing for everyone, it's just a distraction that can easily slow progress and hold someone back from reaching their potential as a player. While the Yamaha doesn't have the vast feature set some of the others offer, everything their amps do, they do very well. And they pretty much covers all the bases, giving the user a model for any genre they want to work with.
@peternoble3691 7 ай бұрын
Absolutely! People get so distracted by the acquisition of stuff, rather than skills!
@mikebarnard2689 10 ай бұрын
Got an older THR10 and a THR5…. The 5 has no presets..,single tone control.. sounds so sweet.
@coolhand_leo 10 ай бұрын
I ended up buying the THR30II Wireless over the NUX Mighty Space. So easy to dial in a tone, there are great presets and you can tweak to your liking. I do not want option paralysis with the Positive Grid and NUX. I do have the the Mighty Plug Pro from NUX, so not really missing out on the NUX stuff. And my THR30II is complimented as well by a Boss WAZA Air :D Dial a flat setting in WAZA Air, plug it to the line out and you got the best of both worlds!
@SixString_J5 10 ай бұрын
I teach leassons at a studio and despite there being 2 combo amps in the room, I bring in my lunchbox/ desktop thr5 because: 1. I know how to dial it in everytime 2. The 5 or so different amp models have way more range than the combos in the room 3. it's loud enough for a 14'x20' room 4. It's super light.
@pothos9913 10 ай бұрын
Yes! I agree with Pete, please do a blindfold test of these amps!
@guitarafter40 9 ай бұрын
I’ve owned the Spark and still own the Yamaha THR30ii. The Spark has way more features in the app, but it was way too bassy for me. However, it appears they may have fixed that, as Lee mentioned. While the app for the THR is a bit behind the times, the tone is so much better. Also, while I don’t mind using apps, I much prefer using knobs and pedals to craft my sound. The THR takes pedals really well, but is also great on its own.
@dfrasu 9 ай бұрын
I have two of the old THR series, and I use them pretty much every day. I have a lot of amps, and such ,I am fortunate. The last thing you wanna do when your inspired is to fiddle about.
@marshallnoise3557 10 ай бұрын
I have been rocking the original THR10 and just did an update on it and those REALLY improved things to my ears.
@robbie12207 6 ай бұрын
What was the update ?
@writewheel 10 ай бұрын
I've found with my THR that placement makes huge difference in the bass and overall sound as opposed to where your mics are. Probably would for the other "desktop" amps, as well. My ears are happiest about six feet away and standing above it.
@littlerhodyguitar2169 10 ай бұрын
I got the Spark when it first came out and I still have it and use it all the time. It's a very convenient and good sounding desktop amp that's definitely worth the $. All the other ones you guys used sounded good also.
@d4rkblu386 10 ай бұрын
I just want to take a moment to appreciate this shot they used throughout the vid 3:24, with the app split down the middle. Really awsome idea, to split the shot, separate it to fit the app, and blend in the extra added space quite convincingly in the carpet and wall. Hats off to the editor, very cool
@philfyphil 10 ай бұрын
Aye?
@john.parker65 10 ай бұрын
@@philfyphilLook at the word Andertons in the background - how many letters are masked by the image in the centre?
@WScott-gd2mj 10 ай бұрын
Yamaha all day long. Sounds good at low volumes, looks cool, and, most important, gives you loads of tone options with no app needed thanks to onboard controls and presets. And props to Yamaha for putting those controls up front where you can easily see and use them. So over amps with controls buried on the back or not even available unless you use your phone.
@hopdig Ай бұрын
Does it have a headphone connector
@WScott-gd2mj Ай бұрын
@@hopdig yes
@philgraves4998 10 ай бұрын
I run my Yamaha Thr10 and Thr10x in stereo and they are the best amps I've ever heard!! They have a better mojo and vibe than the newer ones to my ears.
@moviesuae 10 ай бұрын
I have the THR with a bluetooth pedal to trigger the different channels in our living room. We use it as a bluetooth speaker for music and I use it to play at a reasonable volume. When the house is empty I may plug into the Katana 100 MKII as it honestly has a lot of fantastic tones and is fun to play loud. For everyday playing though the goto is the Yamaha. As someone commented here because of it's convenience I play more often which is a good thing!
@RRBish 10 ай бұрын
I bought my Mighty Air because it was affordable at the time. I'm with Pete, tho. The Space is the way to go!
@djangle67 10 ай бұрын
The spark 40 still sounds bass heavy to me and the majority of presets are not not my cup of tea but dial in your own tones and you might enjoy it. I have the GO and it doesn’t have the bass heavy problem that the 40 suffers from. The GO sounds good in the room but maybe a little thin and lacking low end however I mainly use it through headphones for jam tracks and it sounds great for that purpose. The Spark mini is probably the best of the 3 Positive Grid amps for balanced in the room tones. I ordered the Nux mighty air along with the spark GO and although the Nux sounded nice and fuller in the room I returned it because through headphones the Spark sounded better to my ears. Can’t go wrong with either just choose the one that sounds good to you.
@Bigfoot-px9gj 9 ай бұрын
As the old saying goes... "Put a sock in it!" Or a wash cloth or towel, anything like that will help cut the bass. Take a small flathead screw driver and *_*Carefully*_* pop the grill off, it's just connected with velcro strips, and there's a vent between the speakers.
@florianthys 10 ай бұрын
Bought the spark 40 a week ago second hand for €220 and man was it a steal for that price. I "upgraded" from a Boss Katana Mk.I (because it was very big for my setup, only ever used the 0.5W mode, also I liked the appeal of the app) and that was a great decision. Not having to connect my laptop to my amp via USB anymore is a blessing, preset changes are so quick and easy now. I have also been using it with a small pedalboard (wah - tube screamer - looper) and that has been great to practice looping and the spark absolutely takes them well!
@Rip-Van-Tinkle 10 ай бұрын
I bought the Spark 40, and I can't recommend it enough for the home player. It's so much fun, super easy to use... and it's made me a better player because pratice is fun now, plus it's a total bargain.
@stevenpipes1555 10 ай бұрын
I completely agree!
@hexaldecima6839 10 ай бұрын
It taught me how pedal chain works. It's a good amp, but also a good starting amp for anyone taking guitar to the next level.
@stevenpipes1555 10 ай бұрын
@@hexaldecima6839 one thing the Spark can teach you, that i never hear mentioned in the reviews, is you can play any you tube video through the app and it will show you the chords to play the song. I don't know of any other amp that can teach you the songs!
@I-Libertine 9 ай бұрын
Absolutely. Well said. Spark 40 for at home, learning, songwriting... great, will designed all in one solution.
@ryanboswell7578 6 ай бұрын
Once again you guys have managed to simplify my decision process greatly by adequately showing the important differences between these different brands/models. Thank you guys for all your education and help 👍🏻
@marekgitarzysta5193 10 ай бұрын
I will repeat here what I always say: people get caught by "the more options the better" trap. Wrong! Especially when it comes to desktop amps. I LOVED my prev gen THR and I love my THR30II - this is the type of amp when you have 15 minutes to practice you plug in and get rewarding sound immediately. It is hard to get it to sound bad because of its limited options. App? Yes but it's optional! This amp is to get you up and running quickly and not about crafting your dream tone, spending hours adjusting every possible parameter. Options paralysis is I guess the expression used to describe what happens if you sit in front of a piece of gear and start scrolling though hundreds if not 1000s of options. I prefer to just plug in and play! I get that YMMV - but for me THR30II is the amp I use 99,9% for home practising.
@petermatos4613 10 ай бұрын
Disagree I have at least a dozen different awesome tones on my NuX MIghty Space I use all the time and many more saved I use once in awhile. Looping with the drums is awesome and it sounds fantastic. IR Loading, built in battery and wireless, great audio interface setup. Its just a fanstastic amp. I don't even use my Spark40 anymore and I thought that thing was amazing.
@graycolors2879 10 ай бұрын
I bought Yamaha THR30II, best buy in my file, Kemper collects dust. Desktop amp is about practice, this what makes us better guitarists.
@gordospeti 5 ай бұрын
Hi! Let me have two questions please! Does THR30II also sound nice through headphones? Can you get gain sounds at lower volumes? My problem is I have tube amps that will break up at high volumes only, and now that I have two little babies I must be silent not to disturb them. Thanx very much!
@graycolors2879 5 ай бұрын
@@gordospeti I rarely use headphones, but the sound quality is as good as on speakers there. But most important gain structure is very good at low level volume.
@gordospeti 5 ай бұрын
@@graycolors2879 Thanx very much!
@JTB-- 10 ай бұрын
The NUX Mighty Space has a lot of cool stuff going on. It has a "Speaker Out" and you can even drive External Cabinets with it. Nice!!
@mikej6565 9 ай бұрын
I see a lot of people "defending" their Yamaha. I owned and compared both and strongly prefer the Boss Katana Air EX because the speakers/box give much better low-end response more like a bigger amp. The Yamaha sounded smaller with it's smaller speakers. I find it easier to "get lost" in the playing with the Katana while on the Yamaha my attention kept getting pulled away from the playing due to the "small" sound. On the flip side, I might slightly prefer tones generated by Yamaha over Boss but the package is what is it and I'll never play the Yamaha when I have the Katana Air EX. These are not the only amps I own. I actually have dozens of classic vintage/boutique amps, cabs + modern amp modelers, so my perspective encompasses everything big and small. I'm just trying to help offer a perspective other than the typical "Yamaha is best because that's what I own..." response.
@Win1forQuinn 10 ай бұрын
I've got a Yamaha THR10ii and I'm really happy with it. It's the amp I play through by far the most when I'm at home.
@julianhebbes 9 ай бұрын
Spark all the way for me I’ve had mine for ages absolutely love it flicking pedals on and off the interface etc is brilliant and the price is fantastic.
@user-sx2fg9wl8t 6 ай бұрын
Nux got the looper .so clear winner. As the amp is for practice.
@dmac3316 10 ай бұрын
I have 2 Sparks. One at home, one at office. The EQ pedal they’ve included with the firmware update is fantastic for tone sculpting. I had the Yamaha which was cool too but for me overall I like the Spark
@capwillard9156 10 ай бұрын
the only thing missing for me is the spring reverb...
@markward1803 10 ай бұрын
Absolutely love my Spark 40 best buy I’ve got for quite some time and the foot pedal is great. I agree in desperate need of a looper. Now PositiveGrid have said the foot pedal will have future software updates that allow more tricks and options in the future, so fingers crossed one is a looper option. Love your channel by the way keep up the good work.
@Andrey.Balandin 10 ай бұрын
Love Positvie Grid software, but Spark does sound "too warm" if not to say "boomy and muffled", doesn't it though, even with the latest firmware?
@AvidEric 10 ай бұрын
According to their own website and one of their videos about specifically that it has a looper - at least when used with the Airstep.
@markward1803 10 ай бұрын
@@AvidEric didn’t know about Airstep, yes they do a Spark edition that has a looper. I have positive grids own foot pedal might look to change.
@JoshRod 10 ай бұрын
Re: Lee’s note about desktop amps - Ive had a Katana air for almost a year, and i LOVE it! Theres a time and place for my Milkman amp and my giant pedal board, but living in an apartment, and just general practice the Katana offers so much. Bluetooth for jamming to my favorite tracks or a metronome on my phone and the app is great! The Katana has made me a better guitarist purely based on the virtue it is so much easier and accessible to use. I can play at any time of day or night
@tiagoramalhais5493 10 ай бұрын
I currently.own the spark 40 and the Nux Mighty air, i still have the 1st gen THR, the Spark is hard to setup but after you put on the work it has great cleans and drives, the THR has great drives and its easier to setup but the cleans are very anemic, the tiny Nux for me its the best practice gear a player can buy, sounds great for it's size, portable and totally wireless and it's cheap.
@tm5398 10 ай бұрын
The THR and Boss definitely sound the best, but I’m not sure which I’d prefer.
@jasonbates2687 10 ай бұрын
Positive Grid has the best, most intuitive visual schematic layout IMO, I have all their software.
@stratman9449 9 ай бұрын
Pete is right..."we" just want to noodle around on the guitar while there is the small time window to just play....and then we don'tneed all those features etc...3 or 5 presets are enough for me ...and i still have the Vox air whatever....but might get a Yamaha THR10 soon...cheers.
@stratman9449 8 күн бұрын
meanwhile i bought a THR10 whatever and its a lot better than the (not too bad) Vox adio air...cheers.
@Oklatucky_Guitarman 10 ай бұрын
I love the use case here. It’s really hard just from a physics standpoint to get “that sound” out of a smaller set of speakers.
@joeylodes 10 ай бұрын
Run the THR30ii to a couple of powered FRFR speakers. 👍 The two line outs is what sets it apart if you ask me. Can use it as a head
@j.rozman7016 10 ай бұрын
Great comparison! After 10 yrs of owning Yamaha THR 10 C still no need for an upgrade. Works perfectly fine as a PC speaker and guitar pedal platform! I wish only Yamaha would make it as a gigable combo with 12 inch speaker with FX loop and all the nowadays features of modern tweakability/gimmicks!
@jaquesels581 10 ай бұрын
I got the Yamaha. Fantastic for learning and taking around. I love it
@C0nnie 10 ай бұрын
Me watching this after just ordering my first 100w Tube head. Can’t wait !
@deanmccaskill5495 3 ай бұрын
You got my vote. I say Pi$$ on these desktop things. By an amp. But that’s just me.
@C0nnie 3 ай бұрын
@@deanmccaskill5495 idk what my comment was referencing lol but I did wind up with a 120w hand wired tube amp back in Feb lol
@nathanminert3119 10 ай бұрын
I use a tiny Joyo amp to teach lessons. For under $30 it sounds really good, it has bluetooth, and it fits quite nicely in my backpack. It's basically a bluetooth speaker that also works as an amp 😂
@basiltiffani8850 10 ай бұрын
Desktop amps are brilliant. I'd even be interested in a desktop cab with preamps that take pedals well.
@joeylodes 10 ай бұрын
THR30ii all the way. You can run the 2 line outs into 2 powered FRFR speakers.
@enthused7591 8 ай бұрын
I never bought the THR hype until I found a great deal on a used one locally. Ever since then I haven't touched any of my other amps because they just don't have enough articulation. They all sound like pure mud after playing the Yamaha THRs (I have the THR10 II 20 watt). It's not about power, it's about pure uncompromised sound quality, and the Yamaha is unbeatable.
@syn707 3 ай бұрын
As a busker I bought the Spark 40 because my Roland Street Cube Ex was lacking. I set up a clean sound and run a Roland GR55 thru it. Very happy for the tone.
@yiannisfaitakis 10 ай бұрын
I have the Spark 40 and had the Katana air. I bought a Yamaha THR30 and the difference between it and everything else is just way too huge. IMHO the THR is unmatched in sound quality and ease of use. Makes everything else sound like a toy in comparison and i could honestly say it’s the best piece of gear i have ever bought for playing and recording at home.
@tzmathew 10 ай бұрын
I'm considering getting a THR over the Spark and the Nux. Read in a lot of places that of all the desktop amps that have come out, the Vox Adio Air is the best sounding. It's butt ugly but sounds better than even the new THRs. Have you tried that one ? Also, does the THR sound tinny / thin compared to something like the Spark 40, which seems to have a better bass response ?
@yiannisfaitakis 10 ай бұрын
@@tzmathew I haven’t heard the Vox honestly. The THR sounds amazing. It doesn’t lack bass and can in fact be used with a bass guitar and deliver amazing bass ones. It’s just a lot more balanced than the Spark with sounds way too flabby and dark. I haven’t turned on the Spark in months while I play the THR daily.
@Andrey.Balandin 10 ай бұрын
I can only compare to Katana 50, but I love my Nux Mighty Space to bits. Between the amp models, custom IRs, speaker EQ and preset EQ I always get exactly the sound I want. Idk, maybe Yamaha is even better, but NMS is absolutely great. Can't go wrong with it. With the looper pedal and drum machine and battery operation, it's a super convenient machine.
@enthused7591 8 ай бұрын
Absolutely. I still have my THR10II (20 watt) and I hung up my tube amps because there's not a 12 inch speaker in existence, even with a good tube head that even comes close to the pure articulation and sound quality of a Yamaha THR. It's like listening to your favorite guitarist play through the best stereo ever, only not at crazy high volumes. It does lack low end thump because of the physics behind 3-inch speakers, but you quickly get over it. It's borderline perfect sound quality.
@eddbluesyfret 10 ай бұрын
Am I the only thinking that the old Vox adio air GT still has the best sounds for "vintage" and little "bluesy crunch" and probably "natural clear" sounds whatever the guitar you have ? IMO the Vox deserves to be in this shoot out
@zebulon39u 10 ай бұрын
I never forget Lee describing it as looking like a tart's handbag. I always laugh whenever I think of that. But he was right 🙂
@robertrozak1546 10 ай бұрын
A looper solution (internal or FX loop) is needed for each one of these, to really be used as a practice amp.
@petermatos4613 10 ай бұрын
NUX MIghty Space has built in Looper and drum loops
@mike_lowndes 9 ай бұрын
Ditto (sic)
@juanantoniomoreno9826 3 ай бұрын
The Positive Grid was not even able to find the Artist list on my iPhone to play along, but created a chaotic list. It was a mess and tomorrow goes back. Thanks for the video
@joclock2900 7 ай бұрын
I watched this because I bought a Spark in the presale a few years ago and I just can't stand how boomy it is, even with the bass port stuffed, so I simply never use it. Interesting to see how others compare, as I'm in the market for a better desktop amp. I'll check out that firmware update on the Spark, though, see if it helps (might save me having to buy a different amp)
@orsoncorson9083 27 күн бұрын
LOOPER. Use a phone app looper, record what coming out of the amp. Also use drummer from Garage band and play on phone through Bluetooth on the THR.
@thepennydrops. 10 ай бұрын
Ive used the original THR10 for years. I run my 4 years olds electric drum kit through it, both acoustic and electric guitars. For home use it sounds great!
@Art-zs6sl 10 ай бұрын
I have a little Blackstar Fly and it's a riot for what it is, but these are another level. Nux or THR for me. That boutique special sounded the best of the bunch. Tasty playing too!
@northernmonkey8652 10 ай бұрын
The nux can be used as a head. It sounds very good plugged into my 2x12. Nux can plug into your home stereo and you can then Bluetooth music to it from a phone. So many uses
@GTruck0 10 ай бұрын
Yeah great feature people forget to mention. Power up a 12" v30 speaker and your ready to rock with any practice band
@Andrey.Balandin 10 ай бұрын
How do you "plug into your home stereo", do you use the headphone out? It's a bit of a shame that there is no aux-out for recording or going to a mixing board. The headphone out mutes the speakers, so you lose the personal monitoring in a band practice situation if you use phone out to go into the mixer. It's not an issue for home recording though, as the USB-C output works great: full-duplex, low-latency with ASIO drivers.
@mofomartianp 10 ай бұрын
I still think the Roland Micro Cube is the best small desktop/practice amp. It sounds great at low volume but is loud enough for jamming on the porch and covers a nice variety of tones. It's also robust and runs on batteries so it's super portable. It's no longer in production, but you can easily pick one up used for super cheap.
@Mark-f7o 10 ай бұрын
Yep I have one and love it..I like that boss katana.
@M_C79 10 ай бұрын
I keep going back to my Micro Cube as well. Picked it up for 15 euros at a yard sale. The effects are bit limited though-- sometimes I'd really like to have both echo and reverb. But the presets are great.
@MrThecordeiro 10 ай бұрын
Always find that the room mic captures better the sound IMHO. It seems it represents better the sound the reviewer are hearing.
@grimsage4495 10 ай бұрын
I started with a Spark and it served me well! Nowadays it is used mainly as a Bluetooth speaker. It is worth mentioning that the Spark comes with recording software when you register it. However, these days I use a real amp and a 212 cab. If you need to dial the volume down I highly recommend the Laney Loud Pedal! It is all Solid-state. They have just released a few amp heads that are the same. Not quite the tube sound but still a great piece of gear!
@javimetalfan 10 ай бұрын
I have to say that, even though they are "desktop" or "practice" amplifiers, I have gigged with the Yamaha THR for 2 years now, and it really works out great. The cabinet simulation is outstanding and the sound really has that natural tones that bigger and louder amps have. Really recomend it for practice or for touring along with the external footswitch.
@joeylodes 10 ай бұрын
That’s amazing. I’ve had THR amps for years and now the THR30ii. Was wondering if it could be used live.
@javimetalfan 10 ай бұрын
@@joeylodes I would definitely recommend you to try it. I used it in a folk-metal environment and the sound is killer. I also use it in a cover band as a monitor with the tonex pedal for the drummer to have the reference, since I now run my guitar sounds through the PA. The sound quality is simply incredible.
@joeylodes 10 ай бұрын
@@javimetalfan thanks 🙏 Definitely will. One day. :)
@mckayuk 9 ай бұрын
I also bought the Yamaha THR30II WL and Line6 Relay and more than happy with the sound amplification punch and effects, first ever Amp to give me the closest to that awesome sound Neil Young had on songs and solos on the Zuma Album but also Harvest. Add it being totally portable, battery lasting hours, don't need a guitar lead, can feed in a pre-recorded backing track and play along, who needs a band, awesome. Good choice of video guys.
@DougMen1 10 ай бұрын
The Deluxe and Super on the NUX sound the best to me. They have the perfect bluesy Strat neck pickup tone that I crave.
@Andrey.Balandin 10 ай бұрын
Exactly this! I've slapped a studio compressor on top of the amp, tuned it to smash peaks only, added a Celestion GreenBack IR, fine tuned a bit with EQ and I am golden.
@guyduchet2537 10 ай бұрын
I’m still practicing with my old Danelectro nifty fifty, loaded with a Weber alnico 8”, no fancy presets or need for a phone, that’s all I need !
@johnladdsmusic 10 ай бұрын
I have the Spark 40 & Mini…..since getting the Mini I rarely use the 40….but I enjoy both. I tried the GO…it was awful….transistor radio basically…the Spark amps I have get me playing…mission accomplished
@shashunga 10 ай бұрын
I have the Yamaha Thr30 and it’s a great amp, very versatile and natural sounding. Kinda pricey but it’s worth every penny.
@jgfunk 5 ай бұрын
Have you tried linking a foot switch to it? I heard it's possible
@shashunga 5 ай бұрын
@@jgfunk no I personally haven’t but I’ve seen people use foot switches on it so definitely possible
@RaylanGivens123 Ай бұрын
Spark packs a ton of options, love it. For the price point its really unbeatable and sounds good. The perfect practice amp
@davidtaylar8870 10 ай бұрын
I would LOVE to have had access to this stuff when I was learning.
@rskirk22 10 ай бұрын
That NU-X has such a great clean sound, and the Yamaha and Boss sound amazingly close to a real amplifier.
@gamesguitarsandcars 10 ай бұрын
I few months back I was looking at getting a desktop amp. I was really leaning towards the Yamaha as to me they sounded just a bit better in all of the reviews. I ended up finding a Spark 40 for cheap new w/ bag on Reverb and decided to give it a try... SO glad I did! I love this little amp with how much it can do. Sound wise it is a tad heavy on the low end but that's okay for me just messing around on the couch. Its really amazing just how much they can put into these small amps today and you really can't go wrong with any of the 4 in the video.
@brianphelps1183 10 ай бұрын
I use the Spark, but use 2 studio monitors to play through. Makes all the difference in the world.
@hesch-tag 10 ай бұрын
Can you explain how that works to an absolute noob like me. I love Spark 40 but it sound much better through (cheap headphones). That blues ark here sound incredible but not when I play that preset.
@mattpearce79 10 ай бұрын
@@hesch-tagI’ve done this, I just run an aux cable out of the headphone socket into a pair of monitors. My monitors aren’t particularly hi-end, but the larger monitor speakers do make the sound fuller, but I find I have to dial out a lot of base or use the app EQ pedal to adjust.
@brucesadventuredivingbray1432 10 ай бұрын
Spark 40 I had one a couple of years just so much fun
@matzer8846 10 ай бұрын
Thanks a lot for reacting to this request (me had this request too ) ... love the selection Great definition of desktop amp at the start
@carlosdeno 10 ай бұрын
I’ve got a Spark 40 and use it wireless, I love it! It so versatile, the IOS software is superb. With respect I get bored of people who expect more, the clue is in the name of the product, Practice Amp. Headphones on its a blast, only negative is the tiny volume setting but that can easily be improved with a small O ring on it.
@duncanneilson9312 10 ай бұрын
I've owned a Vox Adio, Spark, and now have settled on a THRii. The Adio sounded the best to me and I always regret selling it, but aesthetically not my cup of tea so went looking for something else. Didn't like the boxy sound of the spark at all. The THR sounds great and wireless with rechargeable battery makes it super convenient around home. The new options from Nux and Boss look good. I would be very interested if Vox ever updated the Adio though.
@tzmathew 10 ай бұрын
You think the adio beats the thr30 as well ??
@duncanneilson9312 10 ай бұрын
@@tzmathew Yeh just based on sound I preferred it, and I really liked having more presets - think the adio has 8. But the THR is better for me overall, rechargeable, more options in the app, and the wireless transmitter
@kevinperreault8913 10 ай бұрын
I buy the spark and has a beginner this is awsome to learn what kind of tone ur into and not buy alot of thing u dont really want (pedal etc...) awsome product
@JackMcWegsteck 10 ай бұрын
If you want to have a better desktop amp, go USB Audio Interface -> Guitar Rig 6 or 7 and use all the Features your PCs has to offer. Guitar Rig 7 has the looper built in. Im more than Happy with that setup but i still miss a full blown 100W 4x12" tube amp. Even for playing alone and practicing it's just different
@jedivolt 6 ай бұрын
You have to mention the poor reliability of the Spark40. There are many videos of Spark users with TONS of comments of other people who have the same problem. The Spark40 stops working sooner or later and produces an extremely loud hissing noise that won’t let you use the amp anymore. Only fix is sending it in for repair. Mine has the same right now.
@onecarnivore 10 ай бұрын
I've owned three of these multiple times (Yamaha, BOSS, Spark). I think the Positive Grid Spark has always sounded the best. Everything else (that I've owned) was thin sounding.
@joethompson2910 10 ай бұрын
I agree..., my mini sounds GREAT for low volume practice and jams but I think it may be a bit overwhelming for beginners...Im a very experienced player with mucho equipment & Im fairly demanding about my tone! Love my little Spark Mini!!
@rushindragin361 10 ай бұрын
Been watching for years love Anderson’s n coffee in the morning
@mmiller6873 10 ай бұрын
Well done Gents. That looper with the drums on the Nux was pretty cool.
@nicholascrow8133 10 ай бұрын
I got the spark go after your video on the range. Personally I use it for a clean amp sound and use pedals rather than the inbuilt ones. It does lack bass being so small, but with headphones it sounds much better, I'm waiting on some aux extension cables to try to plug it into my logitec pc speakers but I reckon that should work pretty good. Side note, the battery life on it is very impressive!
@curefan28 10 ай бұрын
Got a Spark 40 a couple of years ago and there are new ones around but I don't need anything else for portable practice and decent sound. This form factor has been solved. Not to discount the others, I'm sure all of them are great. It's so cool we have this stuff these days.
@rabzo16 9 ай бұрын
had the spark ,couldn't get any kind of gain sound that did'nt sound muddy. the app great as it is, kept crashing, shame. Replaced with nux, sounds good out the box.Sounds like a proper amp plugged into a 1x12 or2x12 cab. this one's a keeper.
@colonelangus3826 10 ай бұрын
I’ve had the Spark 40 for a few months now. I use it with my mini pedalboard and a loop pedal and it’s amazing. Pretty much any song/artist I want to play someone has already made a great preset for it and I just make a few small tweaks. In 30 seconds I have my core tone. It takes pedals great as long as you like pedals in the front.
@PresensMS 9 ай бұрын
Hi, how did you set up the loop pedal? Is it possible to use a wha pedal?
@graphicartdude 2 ай бұрын
How did you get a looper pedal to work with the Spark? Everyone who’s tried a looper claims that the amp won’t allow multiple tones/effects to be used. Apparently as soon as they attempt to apply a new effect, it automatically applies that effect to every loop in the chain. Maybe this issue applies only to using the app’s tone library effects, but not when applying new effects via actual pedals? If you could elaborate please.
@colonelangus3826 2 ай бұрын
@@graphicartdude I have a mini pedal board with a looper on it that I plug straight into the front of the spark. So I only use the spark as my base tone and then all other effects are through my board.
@glencross7499 10 ай бұрын
I enjoy these comparisons and shootouts, but being a metal guy, I’d love to see all these products metal tested too. I know it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but as I play chuggy styles it’s what I need to see. Either way, it’s good to hear all the versatility of the products
@rkgaustin9043 10 ай бұрын
@OlaEnglund
@mr.d.572 10 ай бұрын
Some of us go out of our way to avoid that kind of video. There are so many Metalcore shred / chugga chugga products demos out there and if you don't play that style then you don't get much out of the review.
@glencross7499 10 ай бұрын
Oh I get that totally. I wasn’t complaining and like I said I get it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I love the fact there are so many different styles. Variety makes the world go round. Your point is a good one. I just still watch Andertons as it’s my go to music shop as it’s only an hour away from me. I like to support them.
@glencross7499 10 ай бұрын
@@rkgaustin9043 Yeah I love Ola’s channels and various series. I suppose I should have worded my first comment a bit differently. I still really enjoy Lee and Pete
@johnmm777 10 ай бұрын
We needed more “Slaps” from Pete in this video. Love it
@fallenshallrise 10 ай бұрын
I have a desktop amp that I use as a living room / coffee table amp. Honestly all these millions of presets and hundreds of options are kind of pointless. Maybe all the options were a selling point before I bought it but in reality I have one mid gain sound with a little bit of echo dialled in that will let me play for fun or note down any ideas and approximate a heavy tone or a cleanish tone with the volume knob. That being said I HIGHLY recommend having a guitar and amp parked at your sofa in case any ideas strike you.
@Tzadeck 9 ай бұрын
I was looking at all of these but ended up splurging on a Fender Vibro Champ tube amp instead. So glad I did, even if it might be slightly less convenient. The only unfortunate point is that you need a pedal if you want to play anything very dirty. If you play clean most of the time though, it's a perfect apartment amp.
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