Desktop Amps Shootout - Boss Katana Air, THR10II, Roland Dual Cube, Positive Grid Spark

[@Hickeroar]

That THR series is so impressive. Love them.

[@Veedesign7]

I acquired a lot of small amps over the years. Roland Cube and street cube. All of the original THR's. The cream version being the most versatile (best sounding Fender Twin Clean Tones) but the X version with the high gain is impressive, so when Yamaha came out with the THR 30 wireless, that includes all the tones from the 3 original THR's, I had to get one and I love it! BTW, THR stands for "third". Yamaha said this was designed to be your third amp. First is your large Marshall stack, second is you smaller wattage combo amp, and then the Yamaha is your third amp, your home desktop practice amp. Also, a pro to the Yamaha is when you do use it as a desktop amp to record with your PC, the Yamaha sends 4 channels, a stereo wet signal, and a stereo dry signal so you can always remaster later with any effects you want. I also own both spark amps, the 40-watt, and the mini. Hands down the Positive Grid has everyone beat when it comes to software. Everyone else has some serious catching up to do. Though I prefer the tones of the THR and if I just want to plug in and jam without using any software to dial it in, Yamaha all the way. The spark 40 is the best sounding as a full range stereo for listening to music. Its strong bass makes it more home hi-fi sounding and party speaker, but that strength is its weakness in sounding too bass heavy when playing guitar. If you own a Spark 40 and want to fix the bass from bottoming out, Purchase Dayton Audio PC105-4 4" Full-Range Poly Cone Driver. It drops in without any modifications and gives you a poly driver with a larger diaphram and rubber surround. You can find it on Amazon or from Parts Express. Yes, thats right!... I hot rodded my Spark 40! The easy fix is just dialing out bass with the built-in software eq, but you lose a pedal. Positive Grid should give you a global eq so you have more control over the audio. Maybe in a future firmware update? Positive Grid,... are you listening? The Spark's other strength is its audio jam tracks and access to play anything from KZbin and give you the songs basic chords, but they're most likely NOT the actual chords the musicians are using. Definitely best bang for the buck in features overall. And the Spark Mini just maybe even better not having the heavy bass of the Spark 40. If you already own a THR or the Katana and are thinking about the Spark, get the mini. For the price, it gives you everything the bigger 40 gives you but it's also probably the best-sounding portable Bluetooth speaker made, and it has a built in recharble battery while only needing a USB C cable! Brilliant! Real wood cabinets keep Positive Grid Amps feeling like high-quality speakers. Another advantage of the Spark amps no one mentioned, they make rechargeable Bluetooth footpedals to control them! Way cool! Of course, Airstep makes them for the THR and Katana. So you really can't go wrong with any of the choices in this video. Wait until AI starts to get embedded into these small amps. What i don't understand is where's Marshall? They make some of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers, it would seem they would be a competitor. I'm sure they could make one sound better than the Marshall code! Remember Line 6 amplfi? Spark copied what line 6 did in the amplifi but did a way better execution of it. Now Yamaha owns line 6, so I would think Yamaha could compete with Positive Grids software if they wanted to. I'm waiting for the Next-Generation of the THR! Maybe call it "THR Pro". Give it Positive Grid like interface, and a built-in Looper Pedal with a wireless foot controller! Take my money now Yamaha! Now is that really too much to ask! Lol

[@hexaldecima6839]

Do you use Android when using the Spark Mini or 40? I heard there's a huge latency problem when not using IOS.

[@Veedesign7]

@hexaldecima6839 No issues on latest firmware update. The only thing about the spark 40 is its a bit bass heavy. Can dial it out with eq, but it depends on the guitar as well. If you don't need the extra loudness and could use the portability, get the spark mini, it has the lithium ion battery to use it anywhere and it's not bass heavy like the 40. Also cost less. Still loud enough for practice. I use a 8 inch samsung android tablet to control both spark amps. Makes it easy to control. I use a small tablet stand and place it next to me while I practice. Good for tweaking and selecting backing tracks. I also have the wireless footswitch but not the spark branded version, I have the Airstep controller. Very cool. Use that and a pair of good wireless guitar Jack's and you have a completely wireless setup!

[@abaddonbolero9605]

Wow, that was a pretty GREAT comment! John S is a TRUE GREAHEAD, and would prob. be (or IS?) a great gear DESIGNER!! Told me More of what I needed to KNOW in just ONE PARAG!! Genius.🤟🤟🤟

[@richardjohnson4590]

Can you pair two Spark Minis for stereo Bluetooth music listening?

[@kay5676]

anything is a desktop amp if youre brave enough 😎

[@HenrikMoos]

Marshall with 2 412

[@planzed.2]

@@HenrikMoos that’s the spirit!

[@HenrikMoos]

@@planzed.2 and only a question of how big your desk is

[@dinosaursr]

You will go far with that badass attitude. 👍

[@planzed.2]

@@HenrikMoos who needs a desk?!

[@mb5o]

I still using my Roland Micro Cube, and after listening to this video, I don't think I need to upgrade. Great video again. Keep them coming. Thanks.

[@greg6162]

Lol… I just started playing few months back and got a new/demo Roland Micro Cube GX and it’s amazing for clean sound but I don’t know how to dial certain tones yet. I just bought the Yamaha THR10II for its 3/band EQ and the Jack of all trades tone capabilities. The Roland Micro Cube is awesome for battery life and portability with 20/hrs on 6/AA batteries. So I’ll probably keep it around just for the battery life and the build quality… the Roland Micro Cube GX is built like a tank and will last for years to come but I can’t wait for my Yamaha THR10II to get here in a couple days!

[@thiscorrosion900]

I have the Micro Cube the newest version, it's a phenomenal amp all around. Sits right up to my left on my desk here, always ready to rock! I have other small amps including my flagship which is a Vox VX50, which of course is more of a real tube amp, not just practice, but the Micro Cube can hold its own. I bought the Katana Mini last year and returned it because it had so little power. The Spark sounds good to me, I like warm bassy sounding stuff, depending on what i'm playing. It would be good for jazz, too.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I took the plunge on a Yamaha THR30II (black) and I absolutely love it. Perfect for what I was looking for, and the Sound Quality is Impressive. With the app, I was able to create 65 Fender Princeton-like Cleans: add gorgeous Reverb and hint of Delay = phenomenal.

[@tres311]

I want one, but I’m not sure I’ll buy it over a Katana. It cost 50% more than latest katana 50watt. More output and a 12” speaker VS not…and it costs more? I’m a huge Yamaha fan though, even own a Yamaha bike and bought my kid yamaha piano, they never miss but that price is ridiculous

[@sordel5866]

@@tres311 I have a THR30ii and it's the usability where it shines: firing up an mp3 and playing along, the recorded sound and the guitar sound match up very well and, of course, it can all be cable-free. I have a Katana II head as well and although it's a better guitar amp it's nowhere near as usable.

[@darkcranny3851]

@@tres311 THR definitely sounds better though. Especially in the home environment where you'd be using it. It's not a band practice amp though. At least not with a drummer.

[@graycolors2879]

@@tres311 but Katana is ugly, you cannot carry it around (play on batteries), it has 1 speaker, try playing backing track through it. THR wins for me any day, I could compare it to Katana, and for my application THR30II is winner.

[@dash4786]

Hey man I used the same amp could you send me some settings cuz that's what I'm looking for

[@supergoat94]

I've had a Spark 40 for over a year. Absolutely love it.

[@thomasraven]

I have a first gen THR10 and it does everything I need. The thing you need to bear in mind with it is that it doesn't sound like a guitar amp in the room with you. It sounds like a guitar amp in a studio next door that's miced up and being heard through studio monitors. That's a very different sound.

[@fabioragone22]

it makes sense, and that may be why I disliked it in this video

[@GuyNarnarian]

Good description of the sound. The 2 smaller speakers in stereo create that sound in the room.

[@greg6162]

Good way of putting it because you get all the tone definition and subtle details but it doesn’t have that warm feeling that a tube amp gives

[@edwardbelcher8612]

I bought a Boss Katana 100mkII head and use it in this role for practice with the built in speaker and then plug it into my 4X12 when I need a full power setup. Best of both worlds since I use the same amp with the same settings for everything and, the head itself was not much more expensive than a couple of the desktop amps here.

[@Rockerrobin]

Yeah the katana head is better than these because of the 100w headroom though I usually ran mine at 1/4watt or what ever. Also the cab out jack so you can use a cab, you could modify any of these probably to have one too I know some people have done it to the spark it's not very hard to do though I don't know if they have the power to push a cab. Only experience I have is modifying a blackstar tvp15 to have one didn't even need to solder anything using a custom back panel so It wasn't a permanent modification. I ran that little 15w amp through a 4x12 but eventually upgraded to a full 100W tube head which was overkill for my needs.

[@mirage2101]

I love the katana head. With a proper cab under it it’s all you need

[@thomaskendall6255]

I have played them all, and for me the Spark is in a class of it's own in this category. Even the pre-set tones have a full set of effects dialed in that sound convincing and do an amazing job of giving a lot of presence to your playing... It just makes you sound bigger, and it feels bigger. Definitely super bassy, but I think that plays well to the desktop scenario where you're playing on your own and the extra body fills some of the space missing from a lack of having rest of the mix in with you. Then the ease with which you can pull up a song you're learning on youtube and play along with it just makes it a really awesome practice tool.

[@funkmcfingers]

The spark is so much more than just an amp. It sounds amazing but it makes you want to play and practice, it's so interactive.

[@AvACyberSecurity]

It does! It's absolutely brilliant! The features are amazing and how it connects to a tablet and plays things in KZbin and automatically pics out the notes and makes tabs etc is just epic! Take time to use all the features but it's brilliant! And personally even though I have a Boss too, I preferred the sound of the Spark on this video.

[@BillyE5150]

Those extra practice features are giving the Spark an edge for me. I am currently researching these for myself.

[@erickfuga]

Got a Spark Mini a couple of months ago and have no regrets. It's enjoyable to use and this makes me practice more. Awesome little guy.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

The Spark is fairly sensitive to its placement/angle. Put a pencil or something under the front edge to angle it up just a little bit, and it sounds much better. I don't have 'excessive bass' issues with it.

[@milkandmeat]

We need more demos with in-the-room audio. It's the best way to hear how something truly sounds.

[@jonasbarbury4013]

Using my spark 40 for a bass preamp into a crown driving my mark bass cabinet. Sounds awesome.

[@jacobtewes5679]

One thing about the Spark that I can't tell whether you guys caught: all of those settings (every knob) jumps when you switch presets, so you very well might have accidentally put in some wah or other mod effect without intending to. It's great if you've got your presets figured out, but it's really hard to tell what the amp is actually doing unless you are looking at the app. I get why you didn't try to dive through the app in detail, but the next time you use it I'd recommend dialing in your tone using the app rather than the knobs.

[@harvey785]

I often keep all knobs on the amp at 12 o'clock then you add or takeaway. If you set the bass to 0 (whilst say on clean) if you then switch to "crunch" it will default to the app settings so you are then left only being able to add bass.

[@gohamm8629]

Agreed. It has some annoyances - like the fact that even if you have reverb/delay all the way off, when you turn the amp on, the effects are on unless you turn the knobs up and down again. But for what it is, it’s a fantastic leap into the world of effects when you have no idea how to achieve certain tones!

[@paulcowart3174]

Well said Facts

[@enthused7591]

Lucked out and picked up this THR 10II locally for $140 and man I'm so impressed at the sound quality. Sounds like everything you could ever want in a tube amp, scaled down and only lacking the very low-end deep thump that 12-inch speakers provide, but that's to be expected. It does everything flawlessly.

[@jremi]

Totally agree! Yamaha was first in that market and they nailed it! What I was most impressed with at first was the "size" of the reverbs. You would never think this huge sound comes out of these tiny speakers. It is as if the whole wall generates sound. Amazing!

[@garygrinkevich6971]

I bring the 30w yamaha with me to every party it always kills like a magic trick no wires, no cables, sounds like van halen in the room its everything i started practicing guitar for. I once set it up on my tailgate and hit a A chord and like 50 people appeared and started raging passing beers & nitrous balloons out. If i play any john mayor or chili peppers licks on it with the right amount of hall reverb and chorus women start taking clothes off its totally insane.

[@greg6162]

And where, pray tell… would this magical city of yours be? Asking for a friend Lol

[@abaddonbolero9605]

Sounds like it's Working to SPEC!!

[@JIAbbot]

I call bullshit, brother. Dream on.

[@Bobajobbob007]

Had a Sp[ark for a few years now and it is my go too amp at home despite sitting next to a couple of Marshalls and pedal board. Once you dial in a few presets you can assign them to the 4 quick buttons so you don't even need to use the app if you don't want to. When you can be bothered with the app its great for playing backing tracks.

[@bennyfriis601]

Thanks for that input. So valuable. With these amp types (for me) the focus should be a bit more on usability for practice than anything else - and then with price and sound in a respectable second place (of course price is always an important parameter, but you get my point).

[@tonedragon8616]

Had the spark for almost 2 years now. Absolutely love it! It sounds bass heavy true but eq fixes that. The recording and headphones it’s amazing great and so many cool features.

[@toddflowers8052]

I have the THR 30 and love it . Great demo gentlemen.

[@SixString_J5]

I have a THR5 and absolutely love it. I teach guitar lessons and i love bringing my amp I can dial in a close enough sound for almost anything very quickly and I don't have to go through and tone studio or app interface to get what I need out of it. If I were in the market today, given my experience with yamaha, I would 100% sway I'd get the top of the range thr10 that has the wireless capabilities.

[@JPG747]

I have the Yamaha TH30II with the Line 6 relay, a superb amp and very versatile. Used it at small pub gigs for guitar and bass, and at home use it all the time. There is a busker in town that has one and always stop and have a listen to his acoustic playing. My second choice would be the Katana as its very close. Not fussed about the Spark as its seems like a lot of faff with an app, but it's probably good for beginners. The tones out of the Yamaha are nothing short of excellent and all the amp models can be accessed from the top plate on the 30. So it would be the most expensive option but you get what you pay for.

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

I have the black Yamaha THR10 C first edition, and it is perfect for amplifying my laptop, my guitar and my keyboard for personal practice as well as lessons! I might upgrade to the latest edition one day, but this first version just keeps going well!

[@slashtrio]

Same here. I have the original THR10 and I still love it. Like any of these I’m sure, if you spend some time tweaking and using apps and editors you can dial in some great tones. I bought the newer THR about a year ago but returned it because I still preferred the older one.

[@stk7778]

I have the same one and also enjoy it in the exact same way. I can envision better, but not sure it would be an amp as much as dsp plug in pr something

[@slashtrio]

@@stk7778 I want a kemper but it’s quite an investment.

[@hfm2hfv]

Lee mentioned the Yamaha THR10IIW 20 won't charge the wireless adapter (26:11). My THR30IIW 30W does charge the wireless adapter (sold separately) if the adapter's plugged into the input of the amp. Maybe the smaller Yamaha ones don't charge it? Whatever the case, I went with the Yamaha even though I had to buy the adapter separate from the amp. Pricey to start, but I love the sound of the Yamaha amps.

[@harvey785]

I've had the Spark for over a year and think it's awesome. From practicing with headphones on to low volume band practice and everything in between. All the features on the app are great too - so simple to use.

[@bigtguitars7312]

Is there a wireless option for the spark?

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@bigtguitars7312 you can buy after market wireless bugs for $50-100 - and it’s still cheaper than the katana air. Made a video on my channel about wireless + spark if interested.

[@richardsandson]

@@bigtguitars7312 Amazon lekato wireless systems are faultless at £45. 2 sets here, both great.

[@fishfullness]

I essentially ended up buying the Spark because I wanted a headphone amp - it is basically that and so much more...

[@TiagoDanielM]

Is it good for gigs?

[@olafburgermann806]

Thanks for recording this with an "in the room" set up as this is more like what we will hear with our own ears at home

[@dadtimejamtime]

Having owned and tried everything but the dual cube my vote is for the Positive Grid Spark. It’s so versatile, easy to use, has so many ways to dial in tones, and you can just use other people’s awesome tones that they’ve already dialed in. I’ve got a slow dancing in a burning room preset that someone made that is absolutely killer. Honestly it’s not even a competition for me. The rest feel outdated and uninspiring by comparison. Also pick up a wireless dongle set for it for $50 and your still $100 cheaper than the thr and katana air. I’m not going for tone snob, purest analog tone in a tiny living room speaker set up - I’m going for ease of use, inspiration, options and light weight footprint. Made a video about it on my channel if you’d like to know more.

[@andocobo]

I have a katana air, never got a decent sound out of it - with the spark it’s so easy to get great tones, it’s so much better

[@strawman3059]

That's exactly why I like it, I'm not chasing the perfect tone and it doesn't take long with the spark anyway 🔥🎸

[@davidsollenberger2998]

Same. The Spark blows the others away. The factory presets with the Spark are blah. Once you dig into the app, you won’t use much else for home use.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@davidsollenberger2998 100% agree - aside from the Mustang Micro I play through my spark more than any amp I’ve got just because it’s right there and so easy (esp. with some wireless dongles). It sounds good at volumes your family is comfortable listening to as well.

[@carlos-olaechea]

I've had the Katana Air for a couple years now ... and it's pretty awesome. Great for bedroom practice and super convenient for jamming at a friend's house. It's hard to get a decent tone WITHOUT using the software, but using it can get you pretty darn good sounds for cleans and high gain metal tones ( what I like ).

[@chadwickhurlburt6529]

Tried them all, bought the Spark. I use it as a room speaker for playing music over Bluetooth as much as I've used it as an amp. It tends to have a bit too much bass response as a guitar amp, but that is easily mitigated using the built in EQ pedals. As a full-range bluetooth speaker, it excels beyond its price. It has been the sound system for school dances and has filled a gymnasium with loud music easily at an appropriate school-level volume. Loud enough to be a party, but not so loud that adults cannot communicate. The total package is perfect and I wouldn't trade it for anything else in its price-range. It's brilliant.

[@greg6162]

Nice, I was about to get the Spark but I don’t need loud… quite the opposite. Just need accurate tone at very low volume. As a beginner form factor also played a big part in my decision with the Yamaha THR10II, but I’m thinking that Spark app would’ve been quite useful for a player like me?

[@mudwiser1391]

I have a Yamaha THR10X and a THR5A both a great in every way. They sound great and zero latency while recording into a DAW.

[@nickx1754]

This is exactly the kind of comparison video I've been searching for. Thank you!

[@mrcrowley76]

I got the Spark 40 a year ago and it has transformed my practice-routines. Great sound and features.

[@alexdenton6586]

I'm suffering from psychosis due to a recent accident, and when I saw your comment I read "I got my first Spark 40 years ago" I thought what the ... 😂

[@jimmythefish]

Still rolling with my THR10c. Would like some of the features of the 10ii and considering it but the 10c is all I need really. I’d go with another 10 as mine is already plenty loud and it would fit in the case I have.

[@Napoleonwilson1973]

Agreed awesome amp

[@greg6162]

Yeah, that’s why I got the THR10II as a beginner player with an untrained ear. Currently using a 3w-Roland Micro Cube GX… but I want a 3/band EQ so I can get a bigger range of rock classic-90’s Alternative

[@22CranialRadio]

Hi guys! Love your work! I own the THR30II and I wouldn’t replace it with anything else. I’m completely satisfied. 5:06

[@tommedlicott976]

I bought the spark mini because of the rechargeable battery and you can take it anywhere. The tones available with the app and the jam along features are a great feature in such a small package. Sounds great when recording using the line out too. Hard to beat in its price range.

[@strawman3059]

I loved it because I can record and it comes back out the amp, I don't have monitors!

[@tommb]

i have both. The 40 and the Mini ... and i prefer the Mini. :)

[@richiebohr5421]

The Spark Mini is absolutely phenomenal. Sounds much better than it's bigger brother.

[@strawman3059]

I did initially think I'd miss the extra controls on top but once I got the four presets saved I don't use the app much anyway

[@RomainG6409]

I bought the spark mini after having seen tons of positive reviews and was quite disappointed compared to the yamaha thr 30w I have since years now ... I was really hoping to having found the new graal ... But no, so I wait for the latest Nux that seems to be a beast ...

[@gddion]

the addition of the EQ pedal in the Spark app has really helped tame the bass.

[@azimut2azimut218]

Il y a un égaliseur intégré dans l'application.

[@alasdairmunro1953]

I had an original THR10C, and loved it , but the THR II 30 is awesome, with the Line 6 Relay G10T transmitter. It’s used daily : it sit on top of my Fender Blues Deluxe! 😀 It goes on in the morning, is on all day, used as a Bluetooth speaker for the laptop, until I pick up a guitar and the G10T. You can charge the G10T by plugging it in the THR, contrary to what Lee says.

[@jwestl3y]

How timely, I was just searching for this on the Andertons playlists yesterday. To my ears out of my pc speakers the Power Grid is a clear winner

[@Sodacake]

the one thing i didn't like about the thr30ii was the lack of a boost option. having the various boost pedals on the spark really was a game changer for my sound.

[@popollo22]

I've mainly stuck to the Katana 50 and computer plugins for serious stuff. For just practicing, the Fender Mustang Micro is pretty nice with headphones.

[@richardsandson]

I have a Spark, it's just brilliant. I also briefly had the Katana air for my lads practice amp. Didn't keep it long though, it couldn't get close. Great video guys.

[@Caspabueno]

Same with me. I really prefer the Spark.

[@otfan522botjournalismisdea2]

I have a THR. I am not sure if this video does them justice (maybe due to the mic setup?)

[@Porl1024]

I’ve got the THR30IIW and absolutely love it. Once you’ve dialled in whatever cab and effects using the app it’s a beast. A friend has the Spark and loves it, but I think he does have a grumble about the bass heavy sound.

[@terranncegilmore]

The Spark app is such an absolute game-changer. It's hard to compare it to the other amps without getting into what it is capable of.

[@DudeMcGuybro]

I just remember trying to preorder one... ugh. lol.

[@trevorreniger5670]

Yeah. I love and respect Peter Honore, but when he says, "I just want a few presets to plug into" all I could think was that they chose the wrong team member. The whole point of the Spark is the ridiculous variety.

[@AngusNB]

@@trevorreniger5670 Then again, he does speak for a a lot of us that want the same thing. We still want to know what the amps are capable of. 👍

[@thesandman775]

@@trevorreniger5670 Just because it has a bunch of shit in it doesn't automatically make it better. To a lot of people, the point of these things is to be plug and play, easy to use amps.

[@cirisirpula152]

I don't know. For me it seemed impressive, but then I noticed that I barely used the "smart" features. For example the auto chords from youtube almost never worked because it doesn't work if the video has embedding disabled (so every music video ever). And also if you used bluetooth to connect to the amp, there was huge latency in smart features. So I think the idea is there, but the execution was lacking. Didn't help that I started to be annoyed by Positive Grid. Products are always on "sale", aggressive marketing, over promises. I have THR30iiw now.

[@ElJuli24]

Got the katana air for about a year now, is nice and very convenient the wireless connnection is amazing.

[@maxburton1750]

I'm really tempted with the Katana Air. How do you think it would cope with playing a small intimate gig whilst performing on a electro/acoustic guitar on the acoustic preset?

[@ElJuli24]

@@maxburton1750 Umm , I would say its a great praxtice amp for the wireless convenience . However it has very small speakers so it lacks on sound deepness and base, and also at the end is not much different than another solid.s amps when you go up in sound . Thats from my use case where i like more heavy/crunchy stuff where starts losing clarity . Also if you going to gig with other insturments maybe it is not going to be enough , if is you alone and probably with a base player it can be enough .

[@kysrsoze1]

The Katana Air sounds very good overall, and the Yamaha sounds pretty good too. I didn't care for the Dual Cube. The issue with the Spark is which amp models are being used (not just the defaults) and how they are dialed in. It is a much more sophisticated amp with a learning curve that's well worth riding. I have one and you can get some absolutely stellar sounds out of it, or ho-hum ones if you just use the stock amps on the selector knob or take some of the models uploaded by someone else. It takes a little while to go through all the available amp options and dial them in (before you ever get to effects), or to sift through a slew of user submitted patches. Once you get used to it, you can quickly dial in amp sounds an order of magnitude better than anything in this video, and you can save your tweaks and have them instantly recalled. Throw in on-the-fly jam learning ability, tons of available backing tracks, and it's a fantastic little machine for practicing and jamming. I have some great tube amps, but I spend the majority of time practicing on the Spark.

[@csumme7]

I have a Yamaha THR5 first gen if that counts. Still sounds great today as it did when I got it 10 years ago.

[@ozi76]

The Spark is definitely bass heavy but the EQ pedal in the app sorts that out.

[@fishfullness]

I think that was on purpose - so it had enough low headroom to handle a bass guitar input without crapping itself.

[@theKid87]

I have the spark 40. It's OK but the tone changes drastically when you turn it down. Also, if you try to back off the volume to clean up your sound the noise gate strangles the signal.

[@johncadruvi4834]

Most of the presets have a noise gate on due to the hum from the crappy power supply. Have you requested the updated one from PG? Once I got the new one I had no need for a noise gate on all but the heaviest of presets

[@theKid87]

@@johncadruvi4834 I've had it since they first shipped. Clean tones do not need the NG. Not getting any power hum there. I mostly play distorted and need it then. I appreciate the suggestion.

[@charlesmunden2009]

Got a Spark mini amp recently and am very impressed how good it sounds, it just makes you want to play more! Now selling my Yamaha THR

[@Michel-r6m]

Bought a Dual Cube lx about a year ago. Great little amp, in particular over line outs into mixer/monitors. Does about €180 ex BT module (another 49 credit). What ever amp I get next the Dual Cube is a keeper.

[@petercullen3862]

The positive grid has a built in equaliser pedal so you can shape the tone.

[@00punkroker]

I've had my spark for a year now and it does everything I could ask of it! Perfect for the bedroom, and it has a a foot switch!

[@simonmodig]

I have the older Yamaha THR10 C, the black one. I really love the Class A model on that one. It's supposed to be modelled after a matchless dc30. I wish I could get that sound in a way that's easier to record and bring to rehersal space .

[@acealvarez1038]

You can actually plug the older models into a PA and play live with it. The manual actually states that the "PHONES" input can be used as a line out jack. Unfortunately not many people know about this feature (I only found out about it this year).

[@justjames1138]

Well, you've sold me on the Boss Dual Cube, as it has that tight, dry, boxy crunch that I really warm to. I already have a MicroCube though, so maybe I should revisit that lol. Probably need a desktop amp for those 3 am jam sessions though.

[@ichibandude]

I've had Spark and Katana Air, and sold both of them. I ended up using my tube amps during the day, and Boss GX-100 or Neural DSP plugins at night.

[@MrRollDotHome]

I have the THR and the LX Cube. The Cube does take some work but I have now found some great settings for my Little Sister crossroads. Sounds ferocious! LX cube also has a very simple to use looper.

[@DizzyKrissi]

I also have THR10 but wonder if it makes sense to get a LX Cube since it has a line-out. Is the Cube louder than the THR?

[@MrRollDotHome]

@@DizzyKrissi I think the THR is a better sounding amp but the Cube is very convenient for the built in looper. If the THR had that it would be perfect.

[@DizzyKrissi]

@@MrRollDotHome : thanx

[@edgarkurm8148]

wow guys, you are just in time with your video. Choosing exactly between those options

[@brentporter9324]

I use a Boss Katana 100w head mkii as my desktop amp. It has the built in 3” speaker so I can use it that way, but then it’s also usable as 100w head, as a power amp for a pedal preamp, and connects direct to my laptop if I want. It’s $60 less than the Air, you lose the wireless, but it’s such a good amp outside of being a desktop amp that I’d recommend it to anyone looking at one of these solutions.

[@IamMusicNerd]

Exactly! Everyone forgets the Katana head has a built in practice speaker to go along with the 100 watt gigging head. Two in one.

[@music-writinglife1813]

@@IamMusicNerd 5in speaker ;)

[@grantblack1]

I have the spark and love it. Can't say I've noticed a bass end issue but I've already had a play around and have my settings and it sounds great.

[@jokermtb]

I kinda like the bass’y ness

[@leavingarizona3345]

I swear you guys post the reviews I need when I need them

[@dpas617]

The Spark has been a lot of fun. Tons to explore and get creative with.

[@LlamasRevenge99]

The Roland eBand JS-8 was released a few years before the THR. An underrated little practice amp/learning tool. It even shared some of the features of the Spark.

[@vojislavvoxmilosevicmile2129]

Spot on Booby! Thanks for the reminder of theat fact.

[@fishfullness]

I bought a Spark 40 when it was on special a couple of years or so ago. It sits on my desk and while I'm working from home it's my bluetooth speaker and then when I want to I can plug it into my desktop (with inbuilt controller capability) and plug my guitar or bass into it and connect to my iPad. The cloud uploaded sounds can give you to a short-cut to a specific sound (e.g. Dave Gilmour, Dire Straits clean, the Darkness etc.). It is so versatile and has a good overall sound - best purchase I've made for ages.

[@JimInCincy]

In the USA we have Larry Carlton guitars under the label "SIRE". Do you also have Sire's ? JImInCincy....

[@GeraldJoa]

I have an original THR10 and I also bought the Katana Air when it first came out. They both run on batteries, so taking them outside to practice is easy. The Yamaha sounds best with cleans and a bit of drive. The Katana Air sounds fuller and if you use the app, you can get some good tones out of it along with some good effects. I bought the PG Spark as well and use it for practicing often. I find it is quite heavy on the bass side and you need to use the EQ to tame it down. The effects are more limited than the Katana, but they sound good and it is fairly easy to dial in something usable. I find the easiest one to connect to a computer for recording the Yamaha THR10. The other two don't seem to work well with Studio One or Reaper DAW's and it takes some finessing to get them to work.

[@richardcooke452]

Had a Spark 40 for a couple of years now and it is awesome. Very easy to dial in great tone with the app. Particularly the lux verb with a little tremolo.

[@michaelforde4373]

Have the thr30ii robust great tones with and without the app. You can connect a looper it too.

[@Dodgyguitarist]

I’ve had all but one on the list (the sliver boss) and the spark wins by a mile. I also have the spark mini too which for size and price is even better. Literally blown away by the features and what it can do. I use it in a completely wireless setup too

[@renodavid]

I’ve cobbled together a system using a Nux Mighty Air plugged into a Blackstar Fly 3 with an extension cab. I actually think it sounds pretty decent, filling the room without sounding overly loud. Really, I wish an amp manufacturer would go into a partnership with Bose. The full, pleasing sound they’re able to get out of their tiny speakers is astonishing. I think their technology in a guitar amp would be amazing.

[@jremi]

Maybe they should have matched the volume on all 4 amps at the beginning (after all, they did turn the bass down on the Spark which is naturally more boomy). The Yamaha was not as loud, but it does sound great. Unfortunately, with the lower volume, it was hard to make that assessment. But great review regardless!

[@greg6162]

Went Yamaha THR10II…. as a new guitar player who just learned to play “Day Tripper” without looking at his guitar standing up low volume is enough for me?! I’m in my early 40’s and I’m actually pretty proud of myself… it’s all about the personal victories. At least that’s the lie that’s been working so far Lol. I have a 3w-Roland Micro Cube GX because I bought it used and it’s small. Great amp but doesn’t have a 3/band EQ and I wanted something that sounds good at LOW bedroom volume that I could get like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Beatles, Stones, 90’s rock tones etc. with more precision than just a tone knob, so I can learn how to use my ear and dial the tone I need… or close to it. I literally feel like a Rockstar playing that on my new Fender Player Plus Strat (which I got mostly because of the color Olympic Pearl tortoise pick guard) with my brown Levy strap I can’t believe it happened?! Never thought I’d be able to play anything standing. Started playing few months ago and stopped for 6/wks out of frustration and decided to keep going (I quit as a 16yr old in 1996 after like a month of frustration and didn’t try lessons and just sold my squire strat and Marshall DSL5 valve/tube practice amp) and push through using KZbin. Hopefully this Yamaha THR10II is a little better and will help me train my ear. Thought about the Spark, but heard of it’s heavy bass tone and decided on practicality over higher watts and volume. Though the Spark app seems like something that would be of great value to a beginner like me. I just watch KZbin tutorials on a song and do my best. But I feel like I had a breakthrough because I got my “string-ring” under control and realized I was playing too tense. Working on Sublime-Santeria solo which is easier than I thought and can play the intro to Sweet Home Alabama and a couple Rolling Stone’s riffs! I feel like that was a huge breakthrough for me and I play sometimes 3-6/hours a day three to four days a week.

[@catdaddy57]

Positive Grid Spark All the way boys.... the software app makes it so versatile to model so many different amps. At a fraction of the cost

[@Runoratsu]

Fraction of the cost as long as it doesn‘t break. Because then you can throw it away and buy another one, because their support will not help you.

[@azimut2azimut218]

Le Spark n'a pas la batterie ni le wireless. Les prix sont comparables.

[@puntmaster9896]

over kata cube? nah 😅

[@curefan28]

I have the Spark and I can't imagine a better practice amp. Especially if you want to play along with songs. It's amazing at that - you can pull up just about any popular song and it plays the video on youtube with a GuitarPro type playalong with tab. The tone of the free options is good enough to approximate any style for practice. Amazing what we have these days for playing at home.

[@guitarafter40]

Spark Mini is an awesome little travel amp. It’s my amp of choice when on the go. But the THR is a KILLER amp and even works well with my board. 🤘

[@tdu5777]

My primary need for a practice amp is that it sounds great at very low volumes in my small space (I am not a fan of using headphones). I also personally am not a fan of a ton of controls and don't really want to be overly reliant on an app. The THR meets my needs perfectly. I am still using an older THR10i

[@lancelotlink6545]

I bought the newer THR and sold my old one. Mistake. The older one is a little better.

[@mitchelljarvis2010]

Got the Spark Amp when it first came out! I’ve had a few different amps but just couldn’t find the tone I was after! The Spark fixed this! Best bit of guitar gear I’ve ever bought…….I couldn’t ramble on forever about this Amp but I won’t! …………….It’s just awesome!

[@rskirk22]

Love the switch between the amps in the middle of the intro. You could really tell the difference in the tones, and that Yamaha really stuck out during the switch.

[@Cohiba100]

The Spark is actually a very good sounding bass practice amp as well.

[@MrTurcz]

Very nice playing from the captain in the intro! Sounded really good

[@deesmusic9933]

Count me as a disciple of the Spark. Had mine for close to a year and for home use, it’s really amazing. My gigging setup never gets turned on at home anymore. It’s stupid easy to use as well.

[@gregrandallbtsr03]

Serious question: If you live anywhere near Anderton's, how do you not spend every day there??? I'm headed to London in 2024 and I guess I could go to the British Museum or see the House of Commons, but I think I'll just go to Anderton's every day.

[@rockon856]

Hearing great things about the NU-X Mighty Space too it has my attention

[@david_farmer]

Love your videos guys. Every morning with my coffee. I admit I struggle with the room mics on these though. I have a Spark and love it, and room mics just are always "off" somehow. I'm coming at this demo from a bit of the opposite end. As a hobbyist guitarist, the last 20 years or so have been modelers and plugins only. POD's V-AMP, Eleven Rack, Kemper, Ampero... and I got a Spark for the living room, just as the captain mentioned. However after all this time and with all the benefits of great direct recording, I still want to hear an amp speaker from time to time! So after having all these modelers and Spark, I just picked up a Catalyst 60 last week. I'm on the fence whether to keep it in my living room or not. It's certainly not a price problem at $249! It's a space & aesthetics thing. I'm going to keep playing with the Spark and the Catalyst and see if I'm getting enough of that "guitar-speaker" sound over the Spark to keep the Catalyst. But for sure the Spark is staying.

[@gcvrsa]

I would love to hear how these smaller amps compare with something like a Roland Jazz Chorus JC-22, which is competitive with the Yamaha THR30II. Also, the Phil Jones Bass Double Four.

[@MarcCoteMusic]

I got my Spark in November of 2019. It's probably one of the best home purchases I've made for music and is certainly the most used amp I own. My two Fender combos get the most use on stage, my Tech 21 is rarely used and my tube amp has been languishing for years now. The Spark, and likely any of these little practice amps, is just so easy to leave set up at home. Grab a guitar and practice or record... it's that simple.

[@renodavid]

What Fender combos are you using on stage? Just curious.

[@MarcCoteMusic]

@@renodavid - nothing special... a couple of Stage 112SE combos. They're rugged and a pretty good clean amp and take pedals well.

[@renodavid]

@@MarcCoteMusic Thanks!👊

[@Lovell93]

Man the Spark sounds so good. Only one I’d buy out of all of them. Picking one up today!

[@Bronco2Cj]

How are you liking it so far?

[@Lovell93]

@@Bronco2Cj Lol so I actually ended up trading my Spark 40 for a Boss Katana 50 Mk II. Spark was cool but just didn't sound that good in my opinion. I think its great for a beginner, though!

[@andreyvanakoff9412]

Why different EQ settings on each amp? All on 12 o'clock and then let them go.

[@barrydutton9900]

I have bee 28:12 n searching for the best small amp for years and have owned the Boss Air, the Spark 40, the Spark Mini, the Vox Air and others. I liked the sound of all. I have now purchased a NUX Mighty Space because it is battery-operated, built-in wireless guitar connector, has a looper and drum machine, can be used to power a cabinet and sounds great. The Spark products remain the best deal and the best for learning and sharing presets but don’t have a looper and you can only have a very limited number of presets and other features beyond cell coverage.

[@herroglop7411]

I know it is not exactly the same concept but I would like to see this comparision including a Iridium into a Studio monitor for example ( UA Dream 65, Walrus AC, Helix....) and for reference a little tube amp set at same volume as the rest. Also maybe in a more common situation room, that I suspect has a big influence in the benefits of these desktop amps.

[@droopymccool2383]

This is exactly what I'm trying to decide between so I'd love that. Dream 65, the orange pedal amp, iridium or one of these desktop amps.

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

Part of the problem you were having with the bass from the spark was because of its cabinet and the table they were sat on acting as a slave speaker of sorts. Because the cube's dimensions choke the bass frequencies, it translates through the tabletop as well, and the Yamaha faired equally weakly in that respect because of the nature of its construction. Players choosing between 'bedroom' amps such as these always need to take into account the environment they'll be played in (and on), as the physical structure amps are placed on can amplify or diminish frequencies which may in turn amplify and be heard elsewhere even though it doesn't feel so loud in that room.

[@paullewisjersey5469]

I have a spark mini and it's epic. For the cost and what it does I can't imagine anything else coming close. I do also use Bias FX2 through my studio monitors as well so, although different, I am familiar with the functionality. A mini for £200 is a steal

[@pjwright82]

I picked up the spark 40 for around £200 recently and it’s great

[@alexdenton6586]

In your opinion in the comments , Spark or katana for sound quality and presets ?

[@Chimp_No_1]

What guitar is the captain using in this video ?

[@michaelsandoval15]

I almost bought the Katana Air but it was just a bit out my price range. I eventually went with the Spark and I’ve been happy with my purchase. I bought a pair of wireless adapters and its been a good setup

[@pjserletic1696]

My wife got me a spark mini for Christmas! Really fun little amp. Best time ever? No, but fun for just jamming in the apartment!

[@tomeisenmenger7048]

Was the Fender Mustang LT40S not available? Would have preferred seeing it in this comparo instead of two Boss products.

[@normc8169]

I own Boss Kat Air and very pleased. It stays tight when play faster and sounds great.

[@karenc84121]

For the jamming along with songs with spark 40, many have commented that the chords are NOT accurate. For a beginner, I need help learning proper chords. I don’t need to learn the wrong chords. Perfect practice makes perfect!

[@thepennydrops.]

I've used a THR10 at home for years, really great sounding amp but i mostly use the Waza Air headphones these days if i've got to keep the noise down. Just wish the headpones had a record out facility for quick recording options at home.

[@robertrouleau1000]

The THR 30 ii has a line out for recording purposes...

[@thepennydrops.]

@@robertrouleau1000 yes but because I mostly use the WAZA headphones these days so I’m always plugged into those when inspiration strikes. The thr is in a different room and I’m just being lazy!

[@graemegourley7616]

I've wanted a little desktop amp for a while and just cent make up my mind. They all seem to have something that I dislike or don't need etc. But in this video, the only 2 i enjoyed hearing were the Yamaha and the Spark. So maybe that's helped me make it down a bit.

[@AvACyberSecurity]

You will NOT regret getting a Spark at all. It's brilliant and makes you want to practice. The App also unlocks so much stuff and presets. For the money, you will not regret it at all!

[@graycolors2879]

You guys should've waited for NUX MIGHTY SPACE, which will be soon available in UK. It's priced little less than THR30II but has ability to load up to 20 IRs, wireless transmitter is included, bluetooth in place, footswitch for internal looper operation (or switching presets) supposed to work 7h on batteries, can be connected to external guitar cabinet. BTW I am using THR30II and it's great practice amp. I am playing it daily. While Kemper went to closet. I love the simplicity and ease of use, and the sound coming from these speakers is very convincing.

[@sboistan]

I am looking forward to the might space, too. preview videos haven't been too promising, though.... maybe running it through some 3rd party IRs will help.