That all sounded great - and Henning is always hilarious.

I have the 70s Grundig Mandello radio reccord player in the background.👏🏻👋🏼

Ago is as adorable as can be! I could listen to him speak all day -- very nice voice. In 1983 (not 1980) the DX7 was new and we didn't know any better. I loved mine and kept it until I upgraded to a TX802, which actually sounds a little better than the original, and I still have it, but nowadays it's such a hassle to program and load patches into. But as nice as the Arturia synth sounds, it doesn't let you split and layer patches like the TX802 and DX7II -- so for that alone, it still has its uses. I will say this, though -- the original DX7 sounded worlds away better than the Ensoniq Mirage at that time. Talk about noise! Now here's a funny thing I just discovered. A couple of years ago I bought a Roland JX-10 and had the whole thing overhauled and updated with the Vecoven mod, bought a programmer for it, blah, blah, blah. I was very proud of it. Then I got the new Behringer UB-Xa 2 months ago. It made my JX-10 sound like total weak garbage. ARGH! I don't wanna get rid of it, buuuuut.... Finally, I'm fed up with people slagging off the DX piano sounds. I thought they were awesome. Maybe you didn't like the songs, but stop ripping the sounds. It was fine.

Your best video so far. Mainly because you had Valeria and Henning!

Would this be OK for a rock band in your typical pub gig? Guessing you're gonna need 2 stacks though?

Someone may have already pointed this out. I agree with most everything you say in this video. However, I believe it is a little short in that there is a feature you seem un-aware of. The MIDI interfaces on the back allow for 2 Spark Lives to be linked together and controlled with a single Spark App. I have not tried this myself as my studio/practice space is too small and I also have dedicated PA with a Sub for my strike pro kit, and a Spark Cab connected to a Spark 40 with the Ulooper for guitar work "I also bought the Spark 2 on preorder". A single Spark live aligns with everything you point out relative to the use cases mentioned. However, when doing rock or metal music with drums getting beaten like they owe you money, one Spark live is probably not going to keep up as you say, but what about 2 of them?

Very fun

Great post James BUT. take that tuner off the headstock 😂😂🤬it drives me crazy 👍👍👍

Hey James, so great to see you chatting with Ago, and loved that you mentioned the "Ipswich" band! I remember it well and am still playing the same tenor sax! 😀

Loved the video! Spot on. I think old gear is just nostalgia, yet better is isn't always "better". Imperfections make it more interesting. Reliability in any recording session is what you actually need and you can always "distress" the sound in numerous ways if you want to.

The anecdotal evidence, even with iterations of the same synth - on everything from the Rev 1 Prophet vs Rev 3, to the original Virus vs the C - claims older tech sounds better.

Nice video. In any case if you compare hardware with plugins you need to choose the best plugin available which in the case of DX7 is chipsynth OPS7 and not Arturia. Only the noise is missing 😊

As a 19 yo musician/engineer the DX7 was coolest of cool new synths... When I heard the log drum patch, it was pure love... Too bad those chimey piano patches ruined 80's pop music...

That opening segment was ear cringe I can't hear anymore

best controller is the mouse .It is genius good .Throw this device away yo

Spark 2 has looper just came out

I enjoyed that…great video. 👍🏻🎹

thank you so much I was going to purchase one of these but after your review, I think I will try the new Spark 2 after it gets reviews and bugs worked out I don't think this one for me

it's good to see that PG is consistent with human relations. they have crappy customer service and crappy relations with content creators trying to help them go figure

Sounds beautiful.

Are those the AT2020 on the toms? I was thinking of trying them but I was afraid that they will get a lot of bleed from the rest of the kit. Can you give me some info and opinion there. Thank you!

The Line Audio CM4 is another nice affordable option. They're nice and small. And have a good smooth, but natural sound. Sort of like an affordable Schoeps tonality. Of these, I liked the Vanguard V1 the most. Second favourite was either the JZ BT202. Third the Shure KSM137, while bright, was also satisfying. The Slate ML2 sounded pretty decent, for the money. Not sure I loved the Lewitt air, I think the Line Audio CM4 is a better choice. I sourced mine from Jam, in Sweden. The Warm Audio WA-84 might be another mid-price contender, has a nice tonality too.

Really good

Are there any alternatives??? How does it compare to the JBL EON One Compact for example???

Thanks for the great review. I don't much about products in this area. What is the nearest equivalent product (portable combined PA + guitar amp) that actually would be loud enough for a rock band in a pub gig?

Great honest review! Can the MIDI DIN input take a MIDI out from a keyboard and be used as a keyboard amp?

What was the preset used in the intro of the vid? It had the perfect amount of light saturation that i like in my tone

I assume you could run guitar, bass, vocals and drums all the same time based of marketing

I owned a Spark Live for about 3 weeks. I didn't find it to be enough for my solo guitar/vocals with backing tracks gigs. It didn't provide enough punch as I play a wide variety of genres.

I wonder if you can help me with something here please; I understood from your review that Input 3 and 4 are individually mono, but can be combined as a stereo input. Like you I really can’t hear a difference in the stereo spread when I change the orientation (my Yamaha THR 10 manages a MUCH more impressive stereo spread and that’s a third the size) So I contacted Positive Grid and got a really confusing reply, telling me that if you plug something in to Inputs 3 and 4 they sums it as a mono input. Now this not only contradicts with my understanding from this video but it also contradicts with the Live user manual, and even the labelling on the back of the amp itself. But that info came from PG themselves - so now I’m totally confused!

Thanks, very good Vid !

Well, this channel is my Fiiiiinnnddd of the Weeeeeeeek!!! Also, gonna have to try my V67 on kick out now, thanks for the tip

Great video and nice to be able to compare the 4 stereo miking techniques this way. I was most surprised that the spaced pair sounded (considerably) better to my ears than the XY position. I've often used XY in the past but based on this video will now re-think that. Thanks!

I feel it all depends on the arrangement and the relative positioning of the tracked instrument. I was a bit surprised that the XY was so upfront and “in your face”; maybe it also depends on the distance to the source. Each one has its favorite, but just listening to the guitar alone I have a preference for the NOS technique (beautifully balanced between wide and upfront). Thanks for the video and the useful comparison.

The battery doesn't come with it?

SAF, that’s hilarious.

Why don't you just take the Spark 40 and run it to a pair of powered FR FR speakers? Head Rush, Yamaha, Mackie, JBL, EV, QSC ... they all make them. Yamaha's are the best IMO. And trust me, they're A LOT LOUDER than 150 watts, depending on what model you get. But I know, they're also expensive, especially for the high end ones. Did I mention they're LOUD? I have a pair of 2000 watt Head Rush FR FR powered speakers and the Spark 40 suddenly becomes the FACE RIPPER ASS SHREEDER GUT PUNCHER BALL BUSTER.

go on i will sub you, good video, are you getting the X controler and do a review?

I guess you could solve the input problem by buying a spark go and plugging the headphone out into the stereo line in input 3 and 4. This would give guitar with fx input 1, vox with fx input 2, and spark bass tone in 3/4. You get same spark tone all round and still all mains power free.

Where should I put this tone x one. Before my mxr DI Bass or after?

Sounds awful. Not a fan of this spark stuff.

Thanks for your review I think you answered the main question I had about this! As soon as I saw this amp my main and really only interest in using it would be as a standalone Amp/P.A for small to medium SOLO or DUO gigs possibly even busking. You answered quite affirmatively that YES it was perfect for that. I still want to see how it actually sounds with a MIC and Guitar played through it live…hows the tone etc… thanks!

I am a Spark Live „early owner“. I bought it as a practice amp for bass… and: Sound in channel 2 is perfect! Putting my padelboard in Channel 3 is perfect, too. Channel 1 needs some tweaking for a good bass sound - but then OK. I made sessions with gentle drums… Plus acoustic guitar in channel 1, Bass in 2 and keyboard 3. That was very good! It will act as a street PA system! Putting Bass with preamp in „4“ you even can add vocals. I have a decent sounding acoustic amp and electric guitar amp at home now, too. All this with battery to go to my balcony. And yes: we used it live on a garden party. Later in the evening it was a real good Bluetooth speaker and people danced. I have two batteries - but did only use one till now. In the end: This is still the best bass practice amp I ever heard ;-) + my wife accepts size and design in the living room. It is heavier than other systems… but the sound is with wood (not plastic). Ahh… and I can rehearse a whole set of my cover band to a Spotify playlist… Plus I have some drummers to spice up my bass training. I sold a Roland Mini Bass Amp and a Roland Street Cube. … compared to those the sound is much better! …plus the price is OK. There is no perfect system when it comes to mobility, battery power and rehearsal amp. But this one ticks many many many boxes.

Personally i dont mind the amp. I bought one myself and for the money its not THAT terrible. People think its supposed to compete with their tube amps and that's simply not going to happen. Good video though 🤘

BRavo.....sounds great!

not sure why I would even want this. If you have a Spark mini and a PA speaker it’s basically the same?

what about using it with something like an HX stomp? How would it work as an FRFR?

Great review and analysis, James. As one of those original purchasers of the Spark who waited interminably long periods of time to get the amp which then sounded terrible with glitchy software, I sold it and got a Yamaha THR (couldn’t be happier). Pos Grid has terrible customer service and support. Gotta hand it to them, they certainly can get a load of KZfaqrs to sing praises of these even though the reviews are full of caveats about issues with the amp. Better off with a good modest priced digital unit and run thru a PA, FRFR or Katana power amp in.

My app keeps crashing or somebody remote controls it from the app in their phone.. I have to revert back to the Boss cube street 2 as it is more reliable for solo gigs

Thx! Great overview! One question: how would it work to use loopy pro via iPad or iphone? Would this make sense? Thx