Amp Comparison PART 2! (BIG 100-120W Heads)

Thanks for checking out this second episode of my new tube amp comparison series. This episode focuses on 100/120 watt tube amp heads that have 3 or 4 channels. The previous episode featured 7 100/120 watt amps with 2 channels. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Episode 1: • Amp Comparison PART 1!...
Gear used in this video:
- ESP LTD EC1000T CTM Vintage Gold Satin
- ENGL Powerball II
- Randall Diavlo 100
- Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
- ENGL Savage 120 MKII
- Peavey Invective 120
- Blackstar HT Stage 100 MKIII
- Marshall JVM410H
- RedSeven Amp Central Reactive Load
- OwnHammer Rockbox V30EN-1999A IR
- Steven Slate Drums 5.5
- Cubase 12 Pro
Thanks for watching! Please subscribe along with the bell and follow SDS at:
/ sonicdrivestudio
/ sonicdrivestudio_official
/ jon_symons
#amplifier #comparison #highgain
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Gear And Signal-Flow Details
01:35 ENGL Powerball II
03:39 Randall Diavlo 100
05:43 Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
07:50 Blackstar HT Stage 100 MKIII
09:54 Peavey Invective 120
11:54 Marshall JVM410H
14:08 ENGL Savage 120 MKII
16:01 Isolated AB Back To Back Comparison
21:04 Conclusion

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Which amps were standouts for you? Also, have you seen episode 1 with 7 more 100-120w amps? Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nauTiIltpbeGn6c

[@johnmturi4155]

The standout amps for me are 1) Engl Powerball II 2) Marshall JVM 410H 3) Engl Savage 120 Mk II 4) Peavey Invective Actually the Marshall JVM sounds really good in this shootout. What this is proving to me is that Engl amps are really good. As always great demos and playing.

[@janekbananek8146]

Hi Jon! Peavey and Savage in this comparison for me, but! after one year of using Randall Diavlo RD45H with Randall 412 cab and Jensen Raptor and Electric Lightning speakers in it I will stick with Randall :D If you like to find new sounds you should defenietly try those speakers. PS I've put BBE Sonic Maximixer copy in a loop of Randall too and it sounds awesome!

[@ekincn]

Both ENGL's sounded crazy on this comparison, followed by JVM for me.

[@shredgd5]

I was about to comment the exact same thing! The Powerball was the real benchmark for this comparison

[@69fabricio]

Both ENGL amps are the best sounding and the clear winners, at least to my ears. Marshall JVM is the honorable mention.

[@konstantinosernestoeconomo3265]

The Diavlo has this awesome gnarly midrange that I love and a super cool texture to its gain. Really impressed me

[@jfredricks2394]

the used price in the US is really good atm too!

[@D14V0R05]

I like the sound of the Invective 120 the most from those amps.

[@necroticpoison]

I am consistently blown away by the invective. Truly a step-up in the 5150 bloodline imo. Stealth and EL34 III's are really good too but man the Invective is versatile in its sounds even in one channel it seems. Your tones are always crisp af 👌🔥

[@AndrewWukusick]

Biggest regret in my life is selling my Diavlo 😮‍💨 Those things sound wicked

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Pretty mean and tight sounding. I'm open to selling mine...

[@jessebillson]

You're not doing too bad in life if your biggest regret is selling an amp.

[@Ilikeloud]

Your ear for a syncopated rhythm is brilliant. Fantastic playing.

[@ARCHIE_GRISH_]

1. Powerball 2. JVM 3. Diavlo 🔥🔥🔥

[@felixgehrke3493]

I find it quite amazing how the invective remains tight and very clear in more complex chord voicings without getting super noisy hiss or harshness. A very modern and controlled, yet extra aggressive take on the 5150. My overall favourite was the Powerball to my big surprise I must say. The chugs sounded so dialled in with a pleasing but still tight bloom in the low end. Very satisfying indeed. 😄 The question that remains unclear is how I’ll ever be able to afford a collection of 120W amps but yeah, keep posting man! :’)

[@KreativeDevices]

The Blackstar amps sound the most transparent (surprisingly)

[@negromister]

That Marshall had no business sounding that sick. Unexpected.

[@yomamaa13]

It was a clear winner. The gain is still very defined when pushed. High clarity and attack. JVM all the way. I was surprised as well.

[@paulberak4030]

Thanks for the video! Aside from the Savage, which I have and love, I really like the Randall!

[@cjwallgor]

Savage and Invective all the way surprisingly! 🎉🎉. Thanks for the video man! Always excellent content ❤

[@Procyon58]

Please keep doing these comparisons! First of all that guitar/pickup combination sounds absolutely amazing! Would love to hear PRS Archon with this setup. That being said, I'm in love with the way Powerball sounds.. That's literally all I ever wanted from a guitar tone. Aggressive and in your face mids without any weird peaking frequencies around it. Dream tone right there!

[@cornholy69]

Excellent job as always! I think that the Engl amps were the most consistent of the bunch, covered all of the different sections with ease. The only one that stood out negatively was the Blackstar. Would love to hear a blended compilation of some of the standouts.

[@LucasLeCompteMusic]

I liked the one with the high gain

[@SonicDriveStudio]

That's a coincidence! Me too!

[@gentlewolf1279]

Diavlo and Invective for me. Great job.

[@Margilio5150]

Looking fwd to see the 100W high gain pedal-sized amplifiers comparison video cool 😎

[@michaelrichardson8343]

Yeah that one! Dude, they were all dialed in so well it’s just so hard to say. I’m partial to the Dual Rectifier but dang that Powerball is sic too. Awesome fun 🤘🤘🤘

[@stevp372]

The Engl Powerball stood out to me, it was perfect. I'm surprised I liked it over the Savage

[@GregMerritt-ws8tq]

And that chord vocabulary continues to evolve. The sense of articulation has leveled up in a couple contexts.

[@filipnocznicki7107]

For me it's always Peavey but Powerball is a runner up

[@burtsgurt]

Savage wins this shootout!

[@HeathanzSinzBand]

I have the ENGL Powerball E656 Steve Morse. Absolutely love it!!

[@piptyson5512]

Randall Diavlo and Marshall JVM did it for me here. The Blackstar was nice too.

[@zanshin09]

I have absolutely no need for a massive 100 watt amp head. But I *really* wish I did. Great comparison! Highly useful. I think the ENGLs were my favorites. The Randall and Marshall sounded killer too.

[@drrodopszin]

For me the winners are: ENGL Powerball II: most controlled, the right frequencies are in the face. Second one is the Marshall (what a surprise): probably it shines the best for other type of riffs, but it had good frequencies and the quick notes came through. ENGL Savage was great as well but it had some lower sounding "whoosh" behind the riffs, which I think will make it harder to mix. The Peavey Invective had a higher sounding "whoosh" on the other hand. That should be ironed from the sound, otherwise would be very great.

[@kadestorm]

Nice one! No underperformers here. My personal picks, just by a margin and for personal preference, will be the JVM, the Diavlo and The Invective; I'm very partial to the midrange and distinct voicing on these amps.

[@NasserSharaf]

Hi John, love your channel and demos... you do great work. I'm very surprised though that you have not featured a single video with the Soldano SLO 100. This is such an iconic and important amp in the history of high-gain amp building that not having a single video on it seems like a huge oversight. Especially since the release of the newer updated versions of the SLO 100 (along with the SLO 30) which were only around 4 years ago. You really should try and get these amps on to your channel.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I would love to but I just can't afford one tbh

[@NasserSharaf]

They are wicked expensive. Maybe try getting the SLO 30 in? It's still a good chunk of cash but a little more manageable price wise the the SLO 100. Or try maybe even borrowing some SLO's. @@SonicDriveStudio

[@BecomingProductions]

I do love that Invective!!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

It's underrated!

[@germanmu84]

Savage 120 mejor sonido para mí, después el Powerball, JVM y por último el Rectifier. Gracias Jon!

[@krailanuar]

Love ENGL Powerball ll N Savage 120 n Peavey Invective n JVM

[@zunk4435]

im partial to the dual rectifier sound, but man that Powerball II has been on my wishlist and this cements it

[@dandytube4897]

Thank you John 🙏

[@SonicDriveStudio]

My pleasure!

[@keolahutchinson7687]

Invective for the win!!! Jon kind of eluded to it post playthrough. I hear a rawness that retains so much clarity.

[@j.-m.d.8380]

Engl Savage ❤(The Invective also sounded great !!!)

[@michlshrudz3850]

I liked the Engl Savage way more than all the rest. Very nice mids

[@samwoodward6417]

Always looking forward to the amp comparisons on your channel! Looking forward to one that includes the beautiful ol' Orange Rockerverb. Love the way that amps sings with more complex chords. For this test, to my ears (using headphones with sound ID profile to flatten EQ Curve): 1. Randal Diavlo - The most satisfying balance (primarily with the upper mids) to my ears for this mix. The palm mutes are sooo satisfying. Still sounds beautiful and open (not too congested in the mids) for chordal section (section with the more extended/non power chords). Fits like a glove for both sections, yet (unlike some other tight tones) has a character and texture that stands out in a satisfying way. 2. ENGL Savage - Dense, aggressive, and at the same time, fits into the mix tightly. Palm mutes are tight, but opens up very nicely for chordal section. 3. ENGL Powerball - Always seems like a great amp for many styles of heavy riffs. Palm mutes nice mids are in the right spot to be clear in the mix - give a sense of aggression, yet is still balanced enough at the same time for the more extended chordal moments. I prefer the Savage in this mix slightly because Savage seems like it is more "album ready", maybe because of the Savage's mids being slightly more scooped in a specific area. 4. Peavy Invective - Similar vibe to the Rectifier in its perceived width, but a looooot tighter. Massive and wide. A little wooly in the mids for my taste in aggressive section (maybe hearing a little too much in the 300-600 kHz range?), but that might be a part of the sound character for most Peavys. 5. Marshall - Has slightly congested/honky mids for my taste in this mix. Sounds way better than Blackstar for the chordal section (not nearly as harsh for that part). Has a nice texture to it, might be good for blending in if quad tracking. 6. Blackstar - It has congested-sounding mids to my ears for this track, which actually sounds pretty good (albeit more on the old school side of things) for the more aggressive/chuggy parts, but is too harsh to me for the chordal section Maybe Recto plus Blackstar being tightly quad tracked would be cool? 7. Dual Rectifier - I don't know if it is this particular revision, or if it's just because it does not have a boost/OD in front, but it is lacking the necessary upper mid meatiness and meaness (perhaps lacking too much in 1.6kHz to 4kHz range). Lows and lower mids make it sound tubby. Still, sounds decent for chordal section in mix (even then a little to wooly in the mids to my ears), but not satisfying for aggressive parts in this case imo.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Great in depth review!

[@yomamaa13]

JVM was absolutely outstanding and the most versatile.

[@reereelization]

Epic. Your vid’s absolutely crush. I’m always so inspired after watching. …is that LTD ‘full weight’? Aka, kinda similar to a Gibson LP Standard 50s?

[@alegutierrezmusic]

My favourites 1. ENGL Powerball 2. Peavey Invective 3. Marshall JVM

[@metalvisionsongcontest7055]

Sounds like most people here have the Powerball II as their first preference, followed by the Marshall JVM. 😁 I went with the JVM back in the day, because of its greater versatility (the Powerball’s clean sound always came off as a little aggressive to me, with a lot of bite, where the Marshall was warmer). I’ve never regretted having picked the JVM over the Powerball - it has served me well over the years. However, if I ever get myself another additional tube amp, it’s going to be the Powerball II.

[@frnkytherockstar7760]

Man! For me the dual rectifier, the JVM and the savage 120 sound brutal! Love them 🤘🏽

[@mikerossi3397]

To me the Randall and the Engl Savage sounded the best. What I did notice was that all the amps were EQ’d except for the Blackstar. It was set flat. That kinda doesn’t represent the Blackstar very well since it wasn’t dialed in. Other than that it was a great review.

[@md4man]

This and the prior video have made me feel great about the 2 amps in these videos that I have, the Savage and Fireball. Those just sound best to me in these shootouts. #2 in this one is the Powerball with the Marshall #3. I didn't like the others much at all, but I do think that Diavlo would be cool to use for '80s heavy metal ( for example, Racer X) type stuff.

[@thomasashley369]

I like the Savage Mk2. Best low-mid clarity IMHO. Thanks for the video, great to hear them side by side.

[@ericday492]

I dig the Invective the most. It has the most pleasing EQ curve and distortion, and tightest chug. Followed by the Engl amps. I did not enjoy the Blackstar or the Dual Rectifier. The Diavlo was a worthy contender. The Marshall is meh.

[@jgmopar]

For the music I play I liked the Blackstar and the Powerball 2. All sounded great and I would take any of them.

[@Hoscitt]

I'm a Marshall guy, but the Savage for me by a country mile! 🤘👍

[@jeyrizzy6780]

The Engl's and the JVM were standouts for me.

[@jashan4900]

ENGL Powerball II is the standout for me. Bite and Clarity.

[@ExiLeZH]

The JVM is my favorite, such punchy mids and nicely rounded top end with zero fizz going on. The PBII also sounds very pleasant, a bit more modern/scooped (in a good way), with a more detailed top end than the Marshall.

[@a_cautionary_tale]

The Marshall has an upper-mid open-ness that helps it shine in a way that others don't seem to have. It can bark as well as the rest, but also sing.

[@jean-francoisnadeau1335]

Big crush on Powerball 2 !!! in second position for is JVM. Worst for me was Invective and Blackstar. Invective sound a bit too much gain, no attack and a bit "un-natural sounding". Good job!

[@thehoppo]

Absolutely had too much gain dialed in for the red channel

[@asnark7115]

Powerball is nearly perfect out of the box, but I'm imagining that cheap Blackstar with a transparency mod. That's the beauty of amps like EVH, 6505 and Blackstar: You can always save a couple of grand with few hundred dollars of alterations.

[@TheHerodotus]

17:17 Powerball 17:28 Diavlo 17:39 Dual Rectifier 17:49 HT 100 18:00 Invective 18:11 JVM410 18:22 Savage 120

[@soundhealer8661]

For this guitar, tuning and riff I would say Powerball 2 and Savage.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Great choices!

[@burtosu86guitar]

Mesa is friking Mesa. But I still prefer the Savage MK2. Impressed by the JVM 410h, nice one 2. I have the mesa and the engl, but 90% of the time I use amp1 iridium. Great video and the riffs as always, friking headbanging 🤘🤘🤘

[@Beastrider80]

I like the Sound of the Peavey Invective 120🤘! But a killer Amp is missing from this Comparison!! The Marshall 2555X Silver Jubilee 😎

[@kinglord5163]

1. Peavey invective 2. ENGL Savage 3. JVM and Boogie 4. Randall Diavlo 5. Blackstar

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

Engel Powerball is my choice, in the first video it was the Driftwood... I'm surprised about my choices because I thought I would like the Mesa and Marshall most. 🤘

[@brycedunn8059]

all were great except for the Blackstar it sounded terrible imo and i listening through headphones. great vid as always!

[@lucwilson1]

Can’t beat the Recto man! 🤘

[@jessebillson]

Almost everything beat the recto here

[@marshall5560]

definetely loved savage, diavlo, invective and jvm, first one is definetely the cleanest of them all in terms of distortion structure(which i really damn love) but also has a huge low end, diavlo has very beautiful and unique dynamics and frequensy responce(kinda evil sounding), invective is pretty close to savage, but has very beautiful fuzziness in the top end(and also upper midrange is really soft which i like) and jvm sounds unexpectedly close to peavey, but has a clean top end and a nice barky midrange. others didn't really shine in this one to my taste(especially blackstar), but also cool(in fact i am a rectifier guy)

[@charlesb7831]

I would pick a Revv Generator 120, but I was surprised one wasn't in this shootout lol!

[@ianlahaye9476]

Really surprised by the Randall and Blackstar! Also the Invective sounds a lot different than a 6505 to my ears too even though they're the same? ENGL is always king though 🎉.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

The boost on the Invective is probably what makes it sound more different

[@tj1486]

Man I wish someone would do these with more room micing incorporated. It's hard to distinguish some of the character I think with the up close. Absolutely love this channel though!!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

These results are less obscured!

[@attilatapolczai9541]

Another vote for the two ENGLs here.

[@josephrusso7069]

The ALL sound wonderful the ALL sound great........

[@ashwanthjerry2210]

Marshallll 🤘🏻

[@MadMagicPaul]

I'm surprised at the lack of low end flub on the Dual Rec without using a Tube Screamer in front of it. I've had 3 Dual Recs and never managed that without a pedal!

[@rickreddler]

Both ENGL amps, JVM and Randall ))

[@yousocrazy1199]

Randall all the way, i can feel its talking to me. i just sold my 45 watts what makes me sad. i miss the low end of this amp its shakes the floor. 😢

[@MegaAndyGG]

I think the Randall is the most brutal, but my fav is still Engl. But i think all these sounds awesome!

[@yousocrazy1199]

@@MegaAndyGG all of this amp are just the best of the best out there, but we just have that favorite one, soon getting a fireball 100 or the powerball 2 just selling some amp for space 😁

[@CraigCrider]

To my ears, the ENGL's and the Invective are tops. I'm surprised by how wooly the Dual Rec sounds.

[@sv650ftw4]

I think the rectos got a lot of undeserved attention in the past, but now that we can hear them all back to back with high quality recordings like this they fall behind.

[@jcmmnx]

The ENGL's were tops for me followed by the JVM.

[@clod33]

JVM and the Savage

[@joeantolak4629]

For what I play it’s the Marshall , the mk2 sounds really close to the Marshall and I liked the peavy. Really anyone of these is a good choice , this song gave a good range for sound quality

[@lucwilson1]

1- Recto 2- JVM (surprising) 3/4 - Toss up between Savage and Invective

[@free_electron]

Powerball II came out on top to me followed by the JVM.

[@geomusicmove]

3. ENGL Powerball II 2. Marshall JVM100 3. Also Rans

[@7riXter]

2:31 oh by god i literally cried when this 2:40 chord in the fourth measure of this part came in 😭

[@alexe426podymako5]

@SonicDriveStudio, how did you get such sound of Mesa? When I'm going to studios, it sounds much worth

[@davidcastonguay2927]

The ENGL Powerball takes the cake followed by the Savage MkII.

[@mattsbo]

Crazy! How did ENGL manage to fit over 6 and a half thousand power tubes into the savage MK2? Most amps only have 4!

[@EDWINPIERCE168]

JVM and Savage 120 were maybe my favorites Dual Rec - I LOVE my badlander 50. I’m sooo glad I didn’t get a dual rec. idk if fizzy is the right word Diavlo when palm muting has a lower mid or lows buzzy sound that I don’t love. Blackstar - I should learn to describe better what I am hearing. For lack of a better way to describe it, I don’t love the high mids. Edit: the invective kinda sounds like a big mess at times, but at other times it sounds killer

[@irenesulbo5122]

ENGL Powerball 2, Marshall JVM and ENGL Savage

[@ookookook]

Powerball 2 sounded really good to me. Never owned a ENGL amp

[@emmallica]

After watching this video I have come to the conclusion that the dual rectifier is the perfect amp for open cords. Don’t get me wrong it does all of the Chugging on point, but the way it growls when hitting big open chords is amazing. With that being said, my three contenders would be (and no particular order): Both ENGLs, Dual rect, Marshall 410. Engl amps have to be one of the most metallic sounding amps I’ve ever heard. On the other hand, the Marshall 410 has the perfect mix of organic over driven gain. I really don’t know which one to choose, the only thing I am very sure about. Is that the black star sounded awful 😂

[@Knight-brolaire]

Engl Savage was my favorite by far. It was articulate and cutting but not too spikey (maybe in the upper mids but less than the invective). The Powerball was second place for me. I liked how it was a bit throatier and more aggressive in the upper mids than the Savage but still pretty clear. I thought the Invective was a bit too spikey in the high mids/high end for my taste but I do like how aggressive it sounds compared to most of the others. The DR was too fat/fizzy for my tastes but I have always loved that kind of throaty sound they have. The blackstar seemed fine but didn't really stand out to me. A little darker than I personally like. The Diavlo seemed muted on the high end and kind of dull tbh. I've played those in person I would never want one. They're much lower gain than I personally like. The JVM is fine but I don't think I'd pick it over the ENGLs tbh.

[@user-tm5oy9ff5l]

JVM 410 and Savage 120 MKII top, IMHO.

[@metalinsights9664]

The Engl sounded like the Marshall. The Peavey is very precise, big midrange. The Randall sounded quite boxy in the mids. The Blackstar was the weakest in the bunch, in my opinion, due it sounding fuzzy and a little thin. The Mesa, well, sounded like a Mesa-extremely scooped.

[@GillRigged]

What brand light strips are those on your shelving?

[@ja5304]

Powerball 2 all day.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Wonderful amp!

[@flprmn9448]

There seems to be so something wrong with the dual rec... which is why I like it. It has so much character, it just sounds different from the others. I'm not even sure Mesa designed it this way on purpose. They might have lucked out by releasing a weird amp, which then made it popular in the late 90s/early 00s

[@jp8628]

Both Engls were great with Marshall very close. Blackstar sounds super fizzy, as if it was defective

[@christophgrubor7365]

What's wrong with that Rectifier? It doesn't sound okay. At least in my ears. But, I like the Engl Savage 120 really really much!

[@gab.lab.martins]

The Savage unsurprisingly sounds awesome. But as a JVM owner, you reaaally have to spend some time EQing it. Everything @ 12 is absolutely not the best way that amp can sound. What did surprise me somewhat was the Recto. It sounds like a Big Muff. Mixed with something like the JVM, it would provide some low end thump that could be nice. But by itself, it was the worst, along with the Blackstar (which sounded like AM radio).

[@EDWINPIERCE168]

🤘🤘🤘

[@stephenpertesis7710]

I'm surprised at how similar the ENGL and JVM sounded. The JVM, here, had a bit more low mids, but the characters could be practically interchangeable. I might have to explore some ENGL stuff now just to see what happens =D