Great job Ryan! There have been a lot of changes over the year to the various 5150’s so making an amp that tries to cover them all is a big task. For instance, the Presence control on the Iconic uses a Reverse Audio taper (which comes up faster), like the popular EVH 50w 5150 III, while the Block and 100w 5150 III have a slower Audio taper that doesn’t really change till above 5….so as you found you’d have to reduce the Iconic presence to match those. We also made some choices on the Iconic to make it more flexible, and instead of Burn just being More Gain, we also reduced the gain a little on the non-Burn, so it’s more like an in-between Blue and Red 5153 channel tone, and then the Burn gets the thicker attack of the block letter, and even a bit more gain. So at non-Burn Gain setting of 4 the Iconic IS tighter and has a bit less gain/low mids and would match closer at about 5. Thanks for showing the comparison!!

All the people who talked crap on the Iconic would probably feel pretty stupid watching this video, hearing how close they really are when you compare them. There’s a little more high presence, but that doesn’t matter in the long run. I think the amp sounds great and has lots of great features packed in for under $1000. Good work EVH

The Iconic sounds the most mix-ready of the three. There you go. So many people bashing the fucking amp and in the end it sounds great. Different (which justifies its creation) but still great.

I think the Iconic sounds great. A blind test with these amps would probably make a fool out of a lot of the tube snobs. Especially adding drums and bass tracks

I know it wasn’t your purpose for making the shoot out, bit I think this video highlights how the Iconic has the “bang for your buck” factor. It sounds terrific, especially for the price.

To my ears, the block letter and the 5150III sound nearly identical but the Iconic sounds a little more scooped.

call me crazy but I like the Iconic without the boost the most of them. The brightness, the more controlled lower mids. it's my jam.

I actually think I prefer the Iconic for this kind of music. Dare I say the hybrid circuit gives it a focus and clarity the other two don't have. Might get one now.

My first thought when you switched to the Iconic: That one sounds the best. That brightness is welcome next to that typical medal tone for me. But it seriously sounds amazing!

Being a Marshall fan, I like the high end of the Iconic. I love my signature 5150.

Well, I actually prefer the Iconic. It had more clarity and attack. I'd like to hear them all in a mix.

I just picked up an Iconic Combo new with free shipping for like $700 with full warranty, because it was blemished. Someone pried the speaker access off and left some marks. Big deal. Best purchase I've made. I've been eyeballing the 5150 iii since before they shot up a few hundred. And now you've proven me right in my choice! Thanks!

All three are GOOD and i cannot understand how many say that the Iconic cannot do modern metal, i must be deaf, OG still wins thought

The iconic has a specific lack of 400-500hz that the other two do have. I think it sounds the most "finished" of the 3. The block letter and III sound super similar but there is something about the block letter, maybe psychologically, that feels instantly the most classic on the top end. The boosts made the III and block letter sound way better whereas the boost didn't help the Iconic that much.

They all sound killer, I feel like you couldn’t go wrong with any of the three!

Gotta say, I'm surprised that I like the Iconic best. It's brighter, tighter, and more articulate with its distortion. Definitely a more modern amp. The only detraction for me is it might be a little too 'clean.' I can imagine it might not sound 'rude' enough at times. Still prefer it to the others, though.

This may be your best video to date. REALLY good stuff here. I can't believe this but I like the Iconic the most!!

SIIIIIIIIICK!!!!!! I am really liking this Iconic... thing sounds massive for the price. In fact, in order... 5153, Iconic & Bloc. Once again, killer tone and demo! Might actually get the Iconic to replace the Stealth I sold like an idiot!!

Thanks for doing this shoot out . This was the most comparative example of the iconic versus the others that have seen so far picked up a lot from it thanks

It's amazing just how close they sound. They all definitely share the same DNA. Thanks Fluff!

Hi. Thanks for making this review, excellent format. And to have James Brown chime in on the comments thread and actually reply to people is amazing, in this industry where most technical people seem to hide from the public. Says a lot of great things about the man behind great musical instruments (amps)!. Regards.

To be 100% honest, the iconic sounded by far the best, but in fairness, and likewise honesty, I can't ignore that I know that the other two can sound better than that. It kinda sounded like only the iconic was optimised, and then the others were not really made to sound like what I'm pretty sure they can. And then they were compared to each other's non-optimized sounds. Not sure what to think, except that the iconic does indeed sound good. I'll probably be buying one.

With headphones on, I preferred the Iconic. Even though the other two amps delivered, my ears gravitate towards the brightness and clarity of the Iconic. Great comparison and thanks as always for sharing.

I now hear why the Block letter is the Holy Grail of metal amps..the III is really close, and the Iconic is definitely in 3rd place...IMHO!

Killer shootout. I actually like the EVH 6L6 best. The Iconic sounds great with nice top end but the 6L6 seems right in the middle of the 5150 OG “dark” vibe and Iconic “bright” qualities

What I learned from this is that the EVH 5150 III sounds almost exactly like the Peavey 5150. The Iconic almost sounds more like a boosted Marshall DSL in the way that it is much brighter than a normal 5150/6505 (I am referencing comparison videos I have previously seen for the marshall comparison).

Not going to lie im seriously impressed how well the iconic hangs! Damn it sounds good

Great work Ryan. Very professional very thorough video. 👍🏻

The Iconic rolls off the boxiness and mud that you were going to EQ out of the other two anyway.

Block letter 5150 sounds the most "open" and the iconic seemed to come to life with the boost and when the EQ went to 12 o clock...Gain structure is there though!!! 🤘🤘

Wow. How lucky are we to have such tonal choices! I like the original Peavey 5150, followed by the 5150 Iconic, and in third place.... The EVH/Fender 5150.... I love my 5150II i bought brand new!

The iconic sounds more scooped and therefore modern, but I like mids because they cut thru in a mix.

The Iconic sounds more scooped than the other two. I think with an EQ in the loop you can get them all to sound pretty much identical.

Thanks for giving so many of us our tone mr Brown good job on the new amp

As an owner of a 5153 6L6, I never realized how close to the OG amp it sounded (and don’t have access to one to compare). Cool!

Man great work….. The iconic was sounding more bright and thinner than the other 2 but when you brought the Presence up on the 5150 Iconic 11:25 that made it sound identical…. Wow

Really love the iconic sound. It's got a brighter more open sound that would pair really well with a precision drive pedal.

For under $1000, the Iconic sounds like a beast. For the money, defiantly worth it. Of course the Block Letter and the 5150 III sound great but we are talking about the little brother here. The Iconic has more of a scooped sound but to be honest, I like that sound. It's a Win-win-win in my opinion.

Peavey - muffled. 5153 - barks. Iconic - tears your face off.

Such a great video idea. Really appreciate the great comparison!

I completely lost it at "doin' the lord's work"! Bwahahahaha! Great demo Ryan. I'm honestly seriously tempted to nab the 40 watt combo version of this amp.

My favorite is the Iconic without the pedal. It has a very tight and modern tone while also being really close to how a guitar would sound in a final mix. The OG Peavey is my 2nd fav, while the III comes in 3rd. I do like all of them though. The only thing that I didn't care for was the III with the pedal turned on, that option didn't sound right to me. But overall each of the 3 are solid amps, can't go wrong with any. But factoring price, the Iconic has the advantage.

That iconic will be a bargain used when these eventually flood the market.

I love the high mid range of the block letter and that’s what I like better about it in comparison

Didn't expect this, the Iconic sounds best. Much more pleasing mids that will cut through the mix better. Also tighter low end. Amazing.

I honestly like all 3. I miss my old Peavey 5150, but currently own a Evh 5150 III and love it.

Best review. I play mostly 80’s but seeing the tone between the OG and the iconic really helps with making a future decision. Especially for half the cost

Been shopping and likely going to get the el34 5150iii and the matching 2x12. But for this, to me the Peavy was boxy and the Iconic was fizzy. Also literally FB dm’ing with Elroy about some AIRSTEP content I’m doing when coincidentally watching this vid at the same time. Will have to learn this wiring setup. Great video and great timing! 🤘🏻🎸

In my humble opinion, the OG is still the best. The OG is the OG, the real thing.

Excellent job! Thank you for doing this!

It’s a real testament to the bones of this design how versatile its in all its forms. I have both a block letter and a III, and I use them a ton in my studio. The fact that we have another version that once again delivers pro level all tube tone for an entry level price - $900, are you kidding?? - continues a tradition that all metalheads should celebrate.

Surprise!! They all sound awesome I’d be happy with any of these Eddie put his stamp on them all

The 5050III is clearly my fav. Its a perfect blend of the good sides of both of the other amps

This is so unbelievably helpful as I'm currently looking to get a 5150 after selling my old 5150ii years ago and for me the iconic head and 4x12 for the cost of a 5150iii makes more sense (personal preference!)

I've had an original 5150 since the mid-90s I think is when I bought it brand spanking new way more amp than I ever need but I love it!

The iconic sounds great! All these do of course but I was surprised. I'd love a comparison with the invective too. That is in a way another successor to the block letter.

Great demo! 5150 Iconic is definitely brighter, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just a slightly different 5150 flavor! I dig all 3 amps!

Cheers from Texas! 🤘😎🤘 Great video! And that's just some, of the models; amazing. Lovin' that guitar, wow!! PS I can't think of another channel which has such a killer sounding, highly effective, front bumper song. You rock! M

Iconic sounds good here, like a more trim and tight 5150, maybe a more "modern take" on what a 5150 would be like if it were released for the first time in 2021

I'm barely going to unbox my Iconic 5150 combo that I got for Christmas. This video has me pumped, can't wait to crank it up.

I really like the modern tightness of the iconic. 🤘

Good review bro. Wow the 5150III and the Iconic sounded pretty close. I’m thinking I’m actually gonna buy the Iconic now you have done this! Greetings from NZ 🎸🤘🍻

I love my EVH 5150 III 50 watt head! Everyone who hears/plays it says it's the Best Amp they've ever heard! I'm running a ISP Deci-Mate into the front of the amp, into two 8ohm V30 Randall 112 cabs. Every guitar I plug into it sounds delicious 🤤 My favorite thing about the tone is that it lacks any uncomfortable/cringe frequencies no matter how loud or distorted you go. Great Video as Always

I'd be interested to see the same done again but with the other channels. One of my favourite things of the evh is how versatile it is.

Fluff you Always put out this fabulous content (tone, edits, lighting) . Im personally a 5150 3 guy but all of em sound solid. Ivonic is a lil bright BUT panned opposite an Uberschall or Triple rec I bet would sound fabulous in a mix

I like how all of the evh amps do a fantastic job of capturing all the tones Eddie himself would of used. They all sound like each other but with a minor twist. That twist could be recovered/achieved with a 6/10 band EQ. I don't gig anymore. Just play for my own entertainment and I can make my lbx stealth sound like all of these with my ten band mxr. Of course not as loud. What I can't do is make it sound like a marshall/mesa amp. EVH amps share a component that captures the essence of all the tones that Eddie would of used.

Comparison is pretty close …with the right boost and eq what one lacks the other can pick up in tone pretty great comparison fluff as always nice work

Very happy I have the iconic on pre order. I'm liking the sound

The iconic is brighter yet more mid scooped than the others which is something we often do for metal with 5150s

The video we all needed, thanks fluff x

On its own, I think the Iconic sounds best, but there's something about a boosted block-letter that just sounds so evil and menacing that I can't help but love it. It must be a result of the amp's woofiness battling with the pedal's bite.

Excellent video, man...THANKS A LOT!!! Cheers from germany.

This is a great comparison. I’m hearing a little more on the upper mids with the iconic while the other amps have a little more thicker resonance.

I can't decide my favourite between the 5150iii and the block letter, but the Iconic still holds up well, given the price!

Great shootout. I like how you clicked around so we could really hear them up against each other. I had a Peavey 6505+ 120 watt head. "They say" it's identical to the 5150 III? All I know is it was a weapon of mass destruction coming out of a Marshall 1960 4/12. I downgraded to an ENGL Ironball with a single V30. Sometimes I actually play on the 1 watt setting. I like the white one (Iconic) the best. Thanks again, great channel.

I love the sound of the block letters. This video shows how similar to 5150 series 3 and block letter sound. I own a series 3 5150. I love it. To me it sounds like the iconic is missing some body. It doesn't sound bad it just sounds like it's missing some of that pump that the other two have.

I liked the iconic the best honestly, sounds the most clear but still super gnarly

I feel like the iconic and the block letter would sound awesome together in a mix. It seems like they knocked it out of the park in terms of price and tone

Great video, Fluff. I was a little critical of your last video on the iconic, but this video was very helpful and insightful. I think that many high gain amps sound the same on these videos (such as Euge Valovirta and Sonic Drive Studios) so I am wondering how much it comes down to style of guitar playing. Kyle Bull seems to get amps sounding very different from each other though.

EVH 5150 III with the overdrive sounds best to me. Low end sounds super under control and those mids are 👌

Great demo. Kind of surprised at how close the Peavey 5150 and EVH 5150 III sound to each other and helps reinforce my purchase decision. The Iconic is noticeably brighter, which is a bit more pleasing to my ears. For me, it would be difficult to choose between the 5150/6505 and the Iconic. At the price of the 5150 III, I would go with an Invective 120, which I did.

The Iconic is very thin in the mids and fizzy in the top end. Both EVH and the OG Peavey have a more pleasant midrange.

Such a great review/demo 👏

This is what ive been waiting for. Edit: To me the Iconic almost sounds like if you were to take a 5150 and pair it with a diesel. i bet for some people that would be perfect, but for me I just want to get some good Prog/djent tones. It does sound like it would be the perfect amp for some killswitch engage tones. The III and Peavey sound a lot better to me, but it all comes down to personal preference.

i liked the iconic best and honestly i had no idea there was so much hate being thrown at this

The 5150 III and Iconic sounded the most similar to me; the block letter sounded more middy than the others. They all sounded great and I think you could dial them in to sound pretty much identical.

I think you've saved many young (and old) brighteyed lads some serious coin. the price of 5150 is crazy at the moment, but that iconic sounds very similar. You dialed them in very well to sound as close as possible. I feel you are right about the iconic being between the 5153 and the OG. good vid

A lot of people are picking the Iconic, because it's got a more modern/bright sound kind of built in. But to me, if feels a lot more sterile than the Block or the III. Much more richness with those heads. I'd definitely pick either of them over the iconic for studio work, because I can EQ the signal going into the amp, EQ in the effects loop, and EQ the mics as needed. Shaping those into the more "modern bright" tone the Iconic gives out, will end up a richer/fuller yet still crisp product. The iconic sounds better than I expected though! Looks like a great amp for a modern metal band, especially for live. And especially for tighter budgets. A worthy edition to the lineup! But I definitely don't like it more than the other two.

The Iconic definitely has that "Scooped Recto" kind of tone compared to the upper midrange of the other two. I thought they all sounded great!

Stoked on this shootout bud. Thanks !

Man, these were all so similar. And so good. Amazing crazy gaine tones. I know you can change the voice in the Iconic with the Burn switch. But yeah, they all sound on the same ballpark. Close enough to just be different shades of awesome. Honestly can't tell which I like more. Or even if i like any one of them more... and not just... they're all good. Crushing, honestly.

Awesome comparison video. Been watching a tonne and this is probably the best. Like that you test without any pedal first. Maybe you could also put them in a mix. Sometimes i find it interesting how the perceived tonne changes when in a mix.

I’d go for the iconic. Nice demo.

I really love the 5150 series and for a low budget amp, the 5150 ICONIC is the go to amp for most people

The resonance knob is on the back of the EVH 5150iii, and the blue channel boosted is magic on the 5150iii.

Damn, I really wasn't expecting them to be that close! Each amp had its own character to a degree but they're definitely all in the same ballpark. The Iconic probably stood out the most by being a little brighter and more 'crispy' than the other 2, which were a little 'chunkier'. Personally I like the 5150 III the best out of all of them, but if I were on a budget the Iconic would be a no-brainer- those 3 extra preamp tubes and smidge of extra midrange thump aren't worth another $1000.

Your videos always sound so good! 🤘🏼😎🍺

Awesome, The iconic does have some cool features that I'm not sure the 3 does or not but having the power amp mute, emulated cab out and pre out should be standard on amps here on out! Great Demo!

Resonance on the 5150iii is on the back :)

Great job on the reviews bro. My wife gets so Pissed at me for buying these heads but I love the EVH tones.