Blackstar HT5R vs Marshall DSL 5CR - 5 watt combo shoot out

[@mercigoku]

You prefer marshall obviously 🙄. But for me blackstar is best overall amp ready for any sound style with great clean tone and decent crunched overdrive too. Ht5 all the way for me

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Lol, eye roll emoji? I do like blackstar and currently have the HT20 Mkii in rotation but in this case, between the 5 watters, I preferred the DSL because of the way it takes pedals and the searing lead tone. I think both are really amazing with the features they offer, it comes down to sound preference. Thanks for swinging by the channel and leaving a great comment \m/

[@mercigoku]

​@@oldguyjammin9732 thanks for your reply hahaha both are great amps though

[@mercigoku]

may the force be with you

[@MP-wb6gz]

Ane you prefer Blackstar obviously

[@jessetate9701]

Yea the Blackstar was more focused didn’t sounds fizzy harsh like the dsl

[@oldguyjammin9732]

After spending a few more days with these jewels I have to say they’re both great. Players preference is the factor really. If your preference is chimey cleans and bluesy crunch to classic rock (but can go hard) the Marshall is your amp. If you like decent cleans (pretty darn nice actually) but want that tighter sound for hard rock, leaning toward lower tuned mayhem than go with the HT. Stick it on top of another 1x12 cab and crank it.

[@bruzrkgro-malog2953]

Thanks for the reviews. Both sound great, but with all the features, I think the Blackstar is the winner.

[@kernalkarma4752]

Tried both . Both sound good ,found black star has more versatility in a recording context.

[@sayantanutbe]

Great, objective video. I prefer the sound of Marshall to Blackstar and it's fairly obvious.

[@hafstrat]

Back watching this one again. I now have both of these Amps. Awesome. Just need to check the phasing of them when used in a two amp rig. Love your style knowledge content and enthusiasm. Thank you. ❤

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Well thanks so much! Enjoy the toys \m/

[@agustine.barillaro4867]

fell in love with that marshall clean, I need that amp

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Agustin E. Barillaro - LUSH is still the word I’d use to describe it. Fantastic little amp.

[@agustine.barillaro4867]

@@oldguyjammin9732 I see! How does it handle low volumes? Would you recommend it for bedroom/practice use?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Agustin E. Barillaro - it’s about the PERFECT bedroom amp! Quiet enough to still drive the tubes with bothering the neighbors, plug I think I remember it having attenuation down to 1W... or half power mode or something. It’s great for low volume playing. Many amps lose all the tone when turned down but not this one. Buy with Confidence my friend!!

[@andynowacki7673]

nice comparison - they both sounds great - enjoyed yer cast keep it up

[@antonstoyanov9665]

The Marshall no doubt

[@guitarplayer2846]

I ordered a DSL 5 and an HT-5 and, with my LP and in my house, the HT-5 with Celestion 2 x12's sounds waaaaay better. I sent the Marshall back before my 30 days was up.

[@trulyoffensive446]

DSL5C or DSL5CR?

[@alexdostoievsky5550]

7:15 8:41

[@niptodstan]

I’ve had loads of amps and have an HT5. It’s a great little amp. I run it into a 1 x12 and sometimes into a 4x12 which is great, but last year I picked a Yamaha THR 10 up. What a brilliant little amp. Great for recording etc. The only snag is no footpedal

[@oldguyjammin9732]

LarryUK - I’ve heard a few those when checking someone else’s guitar for sale, you know something they had on their bedroom nightstand and every time have thought “damn, that sounds really good” but I’ve only checked one out myself once and that was at a loud guitar store. Any reference to how it stacks up against something like a Katana 50? I’ve played that as well, owned the bigger one but I’m a sucker for tube stuff. I keep hoping that I’ll someday find a solid state amp that I really like... maybe the Yamaha is that one...? I’m gonna see what some used ones are going for \m/

[@necurrence1776]

I keep seeing those Yamaha THR10 on sale on my local guitarist community. Sorry to bother you but how do you use it if for example you want to loop 4 clean chords and then practice an overdriven solo on top? I have read the manuals and it does not have FX Loop for that. So I'm guessing you loop into your DAW installed on your laptop . But if you use a laptop for practice, why even bother buying an amp? There's tons of software guitar effects to be used as an amp alternative.

[@TLMSif]

@@necurrence1776 buy a loop pedal

[@rangerdoc1029]

Holy shit! That little Marshall has some gigantic balls.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Jason Smith - lol, I know right? I remember thinking the same thing when I listened to the playback :) It just wasn’t quite loud enough to scratch that itch when no ones home and you want to crank it!. After ward though I wished I had tried a clean boost in front to see if that would take it there... oh well. I ended up with the 40W and it more than satisfies.

[@rangerdoc1029]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Bigger tube amps will touch you in places you've never been touched before. Pretty sure mine can dissolve kidney stones.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Jason Smith - lol, Yes! I ended up with the DSL40CR and your are soo right! I can’t say it any better than you did so I’ll just give you one of these \m/. Cheers :)

[@rjgalloway9425]

Good comparison although would have thought the ISF feature on the Blackstar should be all the way to the right to be better aligned with Marshall tonality for a true comparison? Both great amps, have a HT5R and gigs well in pubs. A TC Electronic Spark Booster is worth considering for either of these or similar smaller amps.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Yes, you speak a good word for sure. I thought the same thing about a week later, lol "you dumb sh*t, why didn't make that HT as Britain as possible!?!?!" Good catch!

[@guitarocd9984]

My HT5 I only use ISF to the right.

[@METALOZON]

The Marshall sounded a little smoother at high gain. Also you can switch to a 1 watt power, to play at night without bothering the neighbors. I just wish the the cable input wasn't in the front like that.

[@1thess523]

I bought a used Blackstar HT 5r head and it was really muddy, I returned it. I do habe a Blackstar HT 60 2x12 and that thing sounds pretty good 👌,ni do run it through a 4x12 vintage 30's cab

[@oldguyjammin9732]

That’s awesome Eddie, I’m a bit jealous, lol. If I didn’t already have the BStar and was shopping for one of these I’d go with the Marshall too. SW is hands down the only way to go. Rock on \m/

[@davidadam285]

I recently compared the HT20R mk2 and the DSL40CR. Apart from power tubes and wattage, these two are comparable in many ways (2 channels, 4 voicings, digital reverb, tone shaping etc). I chose the Marshall over the Blackstar for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Blackstar has more bottom end, which can be hard to tame on the clean channel due to a missing EQ section and a rather onedimensional tone knob. However, on the crunch voicing and both OD voicings, I noticed that the gain knob behaves more like a dry/wet mix rather than increasing gain, the gain structure would remain pretty much the same, it just would be more. This seems to be the result of the gain being produced by an opamp in the circuit and not the preamp tube. Same on the crunch channel. The Marshall however is producing the type of unpredictable savagery one expects from a cranked tube, and it just sounds amazing. I also tested the HT5 before and I initially liked the sound, that’s why I wanted to check out the HT20. The HTs are in my opnion a good choice, if you want Fender style cleans and controllable crunch or distortion, but these don‘t have rough edges (character). You certainly will get a good amp though, the gain will be more flexible than on an equally priced Fender amp (Blues Junior). The Marshall does a great Marshall sound, it doesn’t even try to be anything else but a Marshall. To my ears, crunch and distorted channels sound a lot better, they have more character and bite.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Dude! You absolutely nailed it. Just sold my HT50 MKII for the exact reasons you outlined, that and the Blackstar’s don’t take being kicked in the face with pedal very well. I love my Marshall and would get another if it blew up tomorrow - if you don’t have it already, you must get the 6 button footswitch! I also found the RED voicing on Channel 1 a nuisance until I tried with Teles and Strats and decided that perhaps the designers may have set it up that way...? Clean Green for humbuckers Clean Red for single coils... dunno. Another amp I’m really, really enjoying is the Ibanez TSA15. Kind of a sleeper out there but talk about a proper 6V6 amp! It gives new life to some of my OD pedals. Thanks for the great comments, we’ll stick a pin in it!

[@davidadam285]

Oldguyjammin Thank you for responding to my comment, didn‘t expect that all, I feel a bit humbled 😊 Yep, the red channel on classic gain can be a bit hard to handle with humbuckers, but I love it and it‘s my go-to channel for classic rock and blues stuff. Angus would approve... I actually didn’t try any pedals with the HT, but some of my thoughts were „Ok, so I‘m gonna HAVE to use a Tubescreamer to tighten up the sound and get some nice overdrive“ and that’s where I started to accept that the amp‘s not for me. I haven’t had a chance to try the TSA15 and also haven’t deliberately watched any demos on it so far, can’t really say anything about it.

[@SO-bp2uc]

I have the HT5. You nailed it,. The gain is very papery like fuzz and it's like you're controlling the intensity and not the gain level. I need to ditch this for a Marshall!

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I believe its common knowledge that the Blackstars use a clipping diode as part of their gain circuit rather than an additional tube. Even their Club 40 MKII has only 2 preamp and 2 power tubes unlike the PRS MT15 that has 6 pre and 2 power! One thing I have really noticed is that the “tube amp tone” is mostly appreciated live. Once the sound has been sent through an A/D box or some recording program it’s really hard to tell the difference between tube versus SS.

[@kimmolingonheimo]

yes! one prob arising these days for me is to find a good solid state amp at a reasonable price...Made in China...

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Kimmo Lingonheimo - I’m with you man. I’d like to find one that compete tonally with these little tubers. Pete and Rabea really like the new Fender Champion 50XL (better than katana) only $200 but no fx loop :(

[@guitarplayer2846]

Marshall has been using LED's since the DSL900.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

ozlo houser brickballs - nicely put!

[@tamasbalog5641]

@@guitarplayer2846 That "DSL900" (or rather JCM900?), but this is the DSL5CR, which is a completely different amp and doesn't use LEDs.

[@68simplejay]

I am so sorry to all the blackstar fans out there but to my ears the dsl blows it away

[@oldguyjammin9732]

68simplejay - yep, one of the best sounding 5 watters I’ve ever played. I’m looking for a used one as a keeper \m/ takes pedals better than the Black Star too.

[@MelodyCarroll-rx8tk]

Best review of the marshall 5 watt I have seen. I also appreciate being able to see the settings you are using. Thank you so much! Do you think I could get a good clean sound on the 1 watt amp or do you think I would have more breakup due to the fact that there is no gain control on that channel?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Cleans are “Marshall cleans” which are not Fender-ish if you get what I mean. Clean channel is “clean” pretty much up to almost full volume.

[@ckallaher]

Great comparison. As with many things, shows the value you can get for not tons of money. I have the Blackstar and love it. As others have noted, I think it’s a bit more versatile. It’s also the first two channel amp I’ve had where I really use the gain channel rather than using a pedal ( like the OCD) in front of the clean. The Marshall sounds so much like a Marshall - in all it’s awesomeness - that you really have to be looking for that sound, which isn’t exactly what I’m looking for. Sounds great though.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Yep, you said it very well - both are great, it’s just a matter of preference. I KNOW what you mean, lol I picked up yet another HT5R (head this time) and this time I wont be selling it. The MKII line is pretty darn good \m/

[@rainerlewa3253]

Thank you for your review. Now I see a some aspects clearer. Greatings from Germany...

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Thanks for saying from whence you hail, haha. Always fun, wow Germany! My dad’s father was full blown German and married a Welch lady named Elna... so sweet. Take care and thanks for coming by :) Both amps are great. Nice to have so many options these days.

[@rainerlewa3253]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Hey, that sounds great. Bought the Marshall and am very happy with it. Thanks again for your great help! Alles Gute!!!

[@kevinwolf3154]

Great playing and great review! Thanks

[@petermesaros3839]

Are these combos suitable for home practice? I live in flat with two roommates. I don't want to disturb them during day or night. I have Marshall Code 50W and it is overkill for home practice. I want to sell CODE and buy something much smaller but with great sound. Thx for answer 🙂.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Peter Mesároš - the Marshall 5CR is PERFECT! And with a great FX loop you can start collecting a few pedals which does cost some extra dough but also gives all the effort we put into earning it some meaning :) The 5CR really delivers great tones both clean and dirty - it’s a wonderful little amp \m/

[@petermesaros3839]

@@oldguyjammin9732 thx for answer 🙂 I wondered if it is too loud for home practice. I don't want to buy it for rehearsal room because I don't have any band. Just home practice.

[@Siam_Thai.]

Marshall 6:54 7:09 Blackstar 8:22 8:37

[@Siam_Thai.]

Where do you turn the isf knob to get the sound characteristics Closest to Marshall? 🙂

[@oldguyjammin9732]

All the way to the right, clockwise.

[@Crunchifyable2]

I still have the HT-5R, and I think its a more usable amp due to the independent tone control on the clean channel (its more than just tone...its also a mid adjustment...a dual ganged pot IIRC). The DSL is shrill on the cleans and fuzzy mud on the lead... HT5 just more overall control and a true two channel amp. So you can have warm clean and bright leads if desired.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I definitely have BStar love and have settled on the HT20 as the amp for me. The HT5 is great, as is the DSl5 imo... different enough to both be appreciated and features galore! I think the guitar being played makes a big difference on the overall experience. Thanks for swing by! Pinned your comment

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Do you have the older HT20 or the new HT20 Mk.2?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@mattgilbert7347 - I scored a mint MKii on Reverb for $350. I’m still getting used to it but I’m really liking it and with only 4 total tubes inside I don’t feel bad turning it on for just 20 minutes or so as opposed to my Mesa which has something like 8 inside it. I’m also finding a few pedals that work very well with the HT, a punch in the front without it getting all mushy.

[@suqies]

that riff at 6:53 is badass...especially with that...jesus man

[@InfiernoSupremo]

Marshall is perfect, but take note, Blackstar is using a standard speaker in my opinion, if you replace by celestion vintage 30, sure you will find Blackstar sounds much better. but this video, Marshall is absolutely cool amp.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Inferno Supremo - I hear what you’re saying and I’ve wondered about that BlackBird speaker... think that’s the name, lol. But every one of the 6-8 speaker swap vids I’ve watched for the HT5 have ended with my preferring the stock speaker! I’ve also plugged the combo into my Greenback 2x12 and while noticing a difference there didn’t seem to be enough to go through the hassle. And the Blackstar does sound just as good imo, just different :)

[@guitarplayer2846]

I'm running an HT-5 through V-30's and its delicious.

[@miquelmarti6537]

I,d liked you to have shown the low wattage option from the marshall. Big selling point. But to me the marshall sounded too raspy, probably due to the 10 speaker.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I fitted mine with a 12” Greenback without too much trouble. For even more “Low wattage” the DSL1 thru a cab is just as good and for whatever reason, the reverb is better. The Marshall does have a little more top end sizzle (fizz) than the Blackstar, but imo it takes pedals way better.

[@miquelmarti6537]

@@oldguyjammin9732 thanks a lot for the extra info. I finally decided on a 5150 iconic 15w combo, wich can be set down to 3w. Hopefully it won't be too loud for the livingroom.

[@Michel-r6m]

​@@oldguyjammin9732Hello (old geezer here too 😅). Can you recommend a cab for DSL-1 I got the combo but am looking for either another combo or cab?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@Michel-r6m - I’d stay with an open back cab and look for an oversized (larger) one like the Peavey, Friedman or Solano… however those cabs are gonna cost you plenty. How about making your own and spending your dough on a Celestion G12M-65 speaker? If you want to have your stuff match, which is really nice (I like it too) the Marshall 1x12 cab is fine but the speaker leaves a lot to be desired. You’ll have to stick with a 16 ohm cab. If you have space you can sometimes find Marshall 4x12 cabs for almost the same price as a single cab - maybe that?

[@Michel-r6m]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Thank you for your quick reply 🤠 Well a 1x12 would do since I live in an appartment 😅 The MX112 seems ok but nothing to rave about yet goes for about $299... Open back yes I totally understand your point. Just looking for either a cab (16ohms) or another combo and sell the DSL-1. Two suspects are a Roland JC-22 (ch/rev/serial & parallel fx loop, stereo 🤫) as the bigger DSL-5 (2ch with gain control, fx loop, pedal included,reverb, 10" Celestion, power att. 5/ 0.5 Watts). The cab $299, DSL-5 $369 and JC-22 $499 the DSL and JC sound totally different yet I like both.

[@eddiecancelmusic]

Great review! I'm stoked to get it! It's on its​ way from SW.

[@glenharland5287]

I was deciding between these 2 amps but went with the ht5 mkii because I couldn't get past the fizz of the Marshall.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

That's a good call, the trick with Marshalls is reducing preamp gain and getting the master volumes up.

[@andyyarrington6401]

i have an htr5 ,,im not into it really,,the gain reminds me of the old solid state peavey backstage,bandit sound, imo

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Andy Yarrington - yaaaa, exactly. The bandit 65 was a pretty kick ass amp though! Freakin’ loud, lol.

[@silverbrada9735]

Very nice comparison! What to say about tonal quality and versatility. Since I tried both and Vox ac10c1, does it make that both? :-) Oh, my, Vox shines on the cleans, I just needed to hear that. Nothing more, because I want both, pronounced legit cleans and pushing sustainable gain for having a little bit of everything. Nope, you're not gonna get it from these amps, as much as you want it. So, what is your preference? If you want nice warm cleans and fair amount of dirt on drive channel and good articulation, old school voicing go for Marshall. But, if you want addictive, kind of modern cleans, very pleasing and pronounced, open sound( 12" does make a difference ) and modern( not talking about metal ) gain with solid versatility go for HT5R. I will, til I convince my dealer to give me amp that works, not buzzing saw on zero gain potentiometer and no lame electric environment excuse!!! OH, MY GOD! AND PEOPLE GO TRY IN PERSON A COUPLE OF TIMES IF YOU NEED! Best regards, OLD GUY! :-)

[@Siam_Thai.]

How do you set the bass, middle, and treble of the Marshall amp? In the clip I can't see clearly.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Bass at 2:00, mid at 11:00 and treble at 11:00 for cleans, 2:00 for the dirt :)

[@outsidethepyramid]

Your vid was valuable to me so thanks. With your recordings the Marshall sounds obviously better to my ears. It sounds like you have brand new strings on your guitar with the Marshall as opposed to strings that are 2 years old on the Blackstar. ORRR it sound like you placed the mike behind a piece of room furniture when recording the Blackstar as opposed to directly in front of it with the Marshall. (and then made the recording equally loud) I have a Line6 15w and I'm looking to upgrade.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

No disrespect intended but either will be an upgrade over your Line6. The Marhsall is super nice just not real loud, but could be enhanced nicely with a clean boost. If you never want to play real loud, go for the Marshall.

[@J0nny61]

I bought an HT5R a couple of years ago and it just didn't sound like a valve amp, neither does the Marshall come to that matter. All the drive seems to come from the pre-amp on both these combos. I'm not a fan of either and I'd still like a small amp that produces great harmonic distortion at low volume. Not sure where to look next, a Vox AC 30 would be great if I wanted to make my ears bleed.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Jon Matthews - small output transformers perhaps, but personally I much preferred the new 5CR by Marshall over the HT anyway. I wish you luck finding the tone that’s in your head. I really love the DSL40CR and it sounds surprisingly good at lower volumes, when you have a chance to turn it up a bit - effenA! For a more Fender-ish sound I’m REALLY liking the Ibanez TSA15 - damn fun! - for grittier stuff I’m hearing LOTS of love for the Jet City JCA22 Custom modeled after the Soldano amps. Reasonably priced too, I plan on checking one out soon. The Bassbreaker has it’s own thing going too that many people find appealing...? Part of me is excited for you, the other part is feeling the weight of your journey, lol \m/

[@J0nny61]

@@oldguyjammin9732 www.vintageandrare.com/product/Selmer-Vintage-1960s-Selmer-Truvoice-Little-Giant-Valve-Amplifier-Combo-71117 My mate had one of these in the early 70's and it sounded great. If you listen to the Shadows Man of Mystery, that's the type of harmonic distortion I'm talking about. However it could be the sound of the tape echo preamp driving Hank's Vox. Guess we'll never no. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3nNoJyVZb6bfaM Listen to Hank's riff at 1.16, that's what I'm talking about.

[@elihue_redneckreview]

An often overlooked 5 watt sleeper is the Epiphone Valve Jr.... With just a single volume knob, I am consistently surprised at the full bodied tones it produces, maybe what you are looking for? It's​ not sparkly like the blackstar, or crunchy like the DSL, but quite warm, and takes pedals beautifully, which allows for endless tone shaping while maintaining the harmonic overtones of power amp distortion of a cranked tube amp goodness.. And through a good cabinet it can easily keep up with a band (I'm pushing a Fender Bassbreaker 2x12, and it's painfully LOUD!) This was an excellent demo of 2 fantastic amps! I could easily find a place for both in the music that I enjoy. My amp collection includes Marshall (Origin 50 quarter stack), Peavey (5150 half stack, Valveking 12" combo, Transchorus, TNT bass amp, Vypyr VIP 1), Fender (Super Champ X2 head, Champion 100, Acoustisonic 90) Vox MV-50 Rock, Crate Power Block, Orange Terror Stamp, and the Epiphone Valve Jr. I'm really interested​ in the HT5RH for it's routing options, boutique voice, and amazing reverb.

[@andreaberteotti5999]

Ht5/20 questions blackstar: I m Sorry DO I NEED A LOADBOX FOR LISTENING the sound' s amp THROUGH THE HEADPHONES IN A HEAD HT 5MKII?AND WHAT DOES IT CHANGE WITH NEW VERSION mkiii? I d like tò know if i can buy a head and listen without buying a CAPTOR for the load because i know tube amp broker themself .

[@oldguyjammin9732]

You should be able to listen through headphones without a speaker cab hooked up, but I’d consult the manual to be sure. Funny thing is… the manual isn’t really specific…? blackstaramps.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ht5r-mkii-handbook.pdf

[@andreaberteotti5999]

I haven t the amp buy i d buy

[@wojtekn6411]

Blackstar🤘

[@jdl2180]

Nothing wrong with either amp

[@joanmoss7040]

The Blackstar has that USB out to DAW. How about the Marshall?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

The Marshall has a 1/8” jack out to DAW rather than USB

[@rollerskater]

What are you using the record the amp? It sounds like it's either distorting on the recording at high volume / high frequencies or perhaps even being introduced by KZbin's compression.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

rollerskater - I’m using a stereo USB mic straight into Quick Time with after production processing. I think what you’re hearing is a little signal clipping on the sections where I strum harder (dominant beats). Overall it sounds pretty good, but I hear what you’re talking about.

[@scampthelazycat9891]

the ht5r is a real nice head to use with a cab, but the combo version here sounds dire.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Scamp Thelazycat - it’s probably my EQing but, ya... the BStar is a tad bit more anemic. The 5CR is pretty sweet. The Blackstar needs to be turned up a bit more before it really shines but I was limited by the USB mic.

[@mattgilbert7347]

I'd definitely consider the Bstar HT5 Mk.2 Head. It's affordable, versatile, and sounded good thru my Bassbreaker 112 and my direct to mixer/interface setup. I own the older HT20 Mk.1 and it's a fantastic platform. But for a little, portable, amp I can crank and/or run DI with IR/Cab em, the 5watter is appealing.

[@pakujewpiwnicy6701]

hi :) marshall dsl is better made than blacktar? easier to fix marshall dsl ?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Many techs won't even try to fix a blackstar, too much surface mounted micro electronics.

[@pakujewpiwnicy6701]

@@oldguyjammin9732 :)

[@jamiedavies1305]

What about the DSL compared to the Bugera Infinium?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Good idea but I don’t have the Bugera :( however, the Bugera is reportedly VERY much like the HT5, so... both amps are great, it’s a matter of taste.

[@jamiedavies1305]

@@oldguyjammin9732 thanks! There are some good used deals (at least in Europe) for the bugera 22, the Marshall less so. I’m looking for something to pair 4 cable method using a PodGo l, the Bugera has a great clean channel but struggles more with higher gain it seems to me which the Marshall handles better.

[@guitarstella1]

ht sounds thin like a blues grass or hillbilly amp or is it just the settings

[@oldguyjammin9732]

nick 55555 - must be the settings. Lol, hill-billy amp :) that’s funny. The HT is every bit the amp that the Marshall is but tighter and darker and louder too. If you never want to really crank it the Marshall is pretty sweet - superb lead tone and pedal muncher. For whatever reason (lack of tubes in the gain structure?) the HT doesn’t like OD pedals into the dirty mix, clean boost is fine though. Clean channel takes pedals great.

[@xaj1543]

Oldguyjammin, did you try headphone monitoring with these amps? Blackstar don't mention the headphone option much in their literature, although it does say," headphone" next to the emulated out, on the back of the unit. I have heard that the Blackstar sounds pretty bad through h/ phones. Marshall on the other hand do make a bit more of a deal about using h/ phones from the emulated out, and talk about the new SOFTUBE software that was part of the development, and claim very good sound quality. I know that for most of the time no one wants to use h/phones with their tube amp but these small amps are used a lot at home in bedrooms and sometimes there may be no choice, so may as well have one that sounds good. Could you perhaps give it a try and let us know what you think?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

XAJ - I no longer have the DSL5 but did just pick up the DSL40CR. I have not tried headphone monitoring with either of them. I always mic for recording, probably because I’ve never liked the sound of any direct out. But I hear many of them are getting VERY good. If I try it, I’ll post it.

[@81ghale]

I have one of the anniversary edition class A 10 watt Artisans, and the headphone out is really good. I live in an apartment and it's my only amp atm so it gets used a lot with headphones. I had one of the dsl 20's for a short time but returned it mostly because the headphone out on it was atrocious. I'm not positive it wasn't defective it was so bad. Super muffled and flat sounding without enough volume with everything dimed. I'm now looking for a 5 watt tube amp or something solid state I can use without headphones at home because it gets old after awhile. The Artisan can work but only clean and it's still just a bit too loud for me to be comfortable playing without worrying I'm being heard by neighbors.

[@lawyerbt]

The emulated output for headphone use on the HT5R is exceptional. It almost sounds better than playing without headphones. I use mine almost exclusively with headphones for silent practice. If I want to wail I have a 1978 JMP 2204 stack.

[@danieltv123]

The recording in clipping a little

[@RapttorX]

more than a little :/

[@KillerKlous]

Faeces m9

[@davidmerlin3344]

Now, is that the newest version of the Blackstar HT 5?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

David Merlin - nope. The newest one just released has two voicings per channel :)

[@andrewslads]

nah its the mk1 - which have a good drive channel . Sound very plexi. blackstar now have the mk3's which sound more like a soldano . Tighter sound

[@vinnier6]

If you’re looking for Marshall sound then there is only one Marshall

[@mike1967sam]

Marshall kills it on both channels, Blackstar make good amps but they're kind of cheap on parts.

[@rockcastlemusic]

This particular marshall model have cheap parts too.

[@xavlepaladin9559]

Very disappointed with this test. You probably prefer Marshall, to adjust the Blackstar HT5 like that. You do not touch the Blackstar ISF button. The marshall has a very good sound but you lower the Blackstar with this bad setting. Too bad :-(((

[@tonzokinawa]

Honestly the Marshall seems to get more "fizzy" at higher gain settings that I didn't like. Could've used a bit more bass from the blackstar but overall not bad

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Tonzokinawa ! - I get what you’re saying, but with the gain turned down and a good OD pedal pushing the front end the fizz turns into chug. Both are nice little amps that can rock.

[@blkjakk]

I had a Blackstar HT5c & it made so much noise it was unbearable. It should come with a built in noise gate! Needless to say, I sold it. Nice playing!!

[@felipesalazar4803]

i had the same problem with the Backstar HT5r, then i change the power cable and no more noises.

[@tonya4157]

I was expecting a bigger difference than what I heard. I like the Marshall better but the Blackstar wasn't that different. As of this comment the Marshall is $799.99 vs $549.99 for the Blackstar. I hear what you said about funds and, as much as I'd like to have the Marshall, I can't justify that much for a 5 watt amp. Ampflation is killin' me. lol I could buy an AC15 for that. New. But I'm not really into that sound, it's more than I need and, it's twice the weight. Almost. Think I'll order the Blackstar and hope it holds up. Thanks

[@oldguyjammin9732]

You’ll love it. They are both really nice, it comes down to individual preference and you’re saving a bunch of dough - good job. The Blackstars have a unique tone and good tone to boot, that’s why I’ve had 4 or 5 at this point and settled on the HT5 MKII head. Great, Great little amp. Imo, as they get louder, the difference between BS and say Mesa or Engl or Marshall becomes more apparent but at lower volumes they’re really hard to beat. Rock on \m/

[@mikeboxler759]

I have the dsl 15...i sure wish it had an effects loop. Id probably rather have a Fender Blues jr. With some good pedals.

[@JudgeFredd]

Marshall sounds rounder to me

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I’m assuming rounder is good? I might have been able to dial in the BStar to be a little more like the Marsh by trimming the treble and cutting the mids a bit more, but hey... If I had neither and was looking at both as options I’d grab up the Marshall.

[@guitarplayer2846]

Try both at home. Environment makes a lot of difference.

[@hadeseye2297]

Somehow I felt like listening to Nirvana.

[@jorgetome7089]

I wish they have a crunch Chanel. None of them have it

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I find a pretty good crunch tone with the gain all the way up on the classic side, no? Luckily there are literally hundreds of really great crunch pedals out there. Lately I'm all over the J Rockett Audio stuff. The $50 Soul Food still holds it's ground after all these years, great little pedal \m/

[@sohar146]

does it stay clean in low volumes ?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Sohar 14 - the Marshall does stay very nice and clean at lower volumes. It’s the perfect bedroom player’s amp.

[@KillerKlous]

Ive just got back from Andertons UK having just tested the Marshall against the Blackstar. I found the Blackstar had a much cleaner tone and a more 'detailed' tone. The Marshall sounds just like any other Marshall (wich isnt a bad thing!), but if a decent clean tone, more David Gilmore with a hint of Slash, is what your after then the Blackstar is the way to go. Obviously if that classic awesome Slash sound is what your after then theres no question to take and tame that Marshall goodness 👌

[@oldguyjammin9732]

KillerKlous - you probably tested a Blackstar HTR MKII...? With multiple voicings? I’ve heard great things and in fact had the larger HT50R MKII and have to agree with you that the clean was pristene! Much better than the Marshall. Thanks for commenting \m/ How’s ol’ capn’ Lee? :)

[@KillerKlous]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Yeah it was the Mk2, seems to have all the rite upgrades in all the rite places 👌 I bet the 50 sounds incredible on full wack!! Unfortunately ol Rob and the Cap'n wern't about but yeah great staff there, more than happy to help with unbias opinions, unless you ask for it 👌

[@oldguyjammin9732]

KillerKlous - that’s cool, I’d like to visit Anderton’s someday... bucket list thing. Thanks for commenting, you’ve got me itching to try the HT20 head - MKII of course - the 50 was a beast, couldn’t really crank it though. They’ve got a swanky good twangy tone too and the best digital reverb out... imo.

[@andrewslads]

that blackstar sounds more like an older marshall ( Plexi) but with more gain which is a very different amp top modern marshalls

[@phenixreturns]

i think the one which sounds 100%tube is the Marshall

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I suppose you have a good argument there. The Blackstars all have a digital characteristic or nuance, for some people its a selling point, for others a turn off. Gus G sure likes them!

[@guitarplayer2846]

Neither one is tube distortion. Blackstar use diodes for distortion and Marshall uses LED's for distortion.

[@dantrag2890]

@@guitarplayer2846 I have an HT Metal that I like more than the regular HT5, but it lacks highs which can be corrected with a tube screamer.

[@pablo9364]

phenixreturns the Marshall has 3 tubes. The blackstar has 2.

[@iam_dominic_kim]

why don't you use ISF nobe?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Dominic Kim 도미닠 - I know, oops, thought about that when I watched it back, lol. Should have turned all the way right for that “British” tone. Still though, imo the Dsl5cr is head and shoulders better than the HT.

[@samedgonul4149]

Obviously marshall sound is more deep

[@jojototo336]

I had ht5 but prefered buying Marshall... Sounds more bluesy, ....HT sounds too neutral...no personality especially for clean sounds...Marshall sounds great

[@oldguyjammin9732]

jojo toto - you will absolutely love it. A nice clean boost does a nice job of increasing volume while maintaining that rich glassy tone. Best of luck!

[@brunojacq5473]

Exactly: the HT5 is much too round in the sounds... No personality ... and quickly annoying. The new serie 2019 seams to be a lot better. (I had the same problem with the ENGL GigMaster 15 --> The RockMaster has more personality and a more interesting tone)

[@johncecilia4517]

Would love to see a video comparing EL34 Blackstar to this Marshall amp

[@lazyguy3555]

Marshall all the way for the scooped, smoother tones. The Blackstar sounds very harsh.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

There you go, I prefer the Marshall "open tone" too.

[@lippymuff1871]

Both sound great, you just can't beat tube amps, solid state sux

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Right!? I keep hoping to really like an ss amp for their ease of use and dependability but they just don't have it when it comes to the dirt; cleans are really nice though :) I've tried the VOX, the Katana, and Spiders (not the new V) but I always end up selling them.

[@sam127001]

@@oldguyjammin9732 - have you looked at /tried the Quilter SS amps? i've seen demos on youtube but haven't heard one IRL.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

sam127001 - hey dude, I had NOT heard of Quilter until you mentioned it. Checked out a couple of reviews and the prices - WOW $$$ - pretty high dollar for SS, but the little heads seem to be loved by those that buy them. I only checked out combo reviews, none for the mini-heads. I keep trying new SS stuff as it comes out and just can’t get used to the sound vs tube amps. I am curious about the new Fender Champion 50XL - Anderson’s did a review and the guys thought it better than the Katana 50...? I will say that SS cleans are really hard to beat, especially with a tad of chorus and delay added :) cheers \m/

[@shkwave99]

@@oldguyjammin9732 What do you think of the Orange Crush series? The 20rt, 35rt, etc.?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

sam127001 - the Quilter Block... Power block? Anyway, the little head series actually sounds really good and on the gearpage forum a lot of guys said they were preferring the Quilters to their collections of tube amps :o the one I’d be interested in (has an fx loop on the front) was pretty pricey at around $500 - yikes. They seem to be about 6 years out and yet KZbin isn’t too loaded up with review demos and that makes me wonder a bit. I’m curious enough to start looking around on used gear sites though :)

[@stankers4952]

You are a hard man.

[@ricperry8743]

I'm HARD.

[@TwistedIdentity]

I've owned an HT1, HT5, and HT20. I didn't jive with any of them. They all sound way too scooped (even if you tweak the ISF) and they also all sound like there is a blanket on the speaker. Bought a Marshall DSL5CR and..sorry but it destroys the Blackstar HT series. o_o Just my opinion but eh. Thought I'd give my two cents.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Preachin’ to the choir brother - I totally agree. Thanks for swinging by and tossing a vine ;-)

[@TwistedIdentity]

@@oldguyjammin9732 :P I mostly commented because I noticed a few people whining about the Blackstar

[@steveyankees1]

To me the Marshall sounds better all around. I wasn’t liking the sound of the Blackstar. Im thinking it might be due to speaker in the HT .

[@aminali4625]

You turned treble almost to the top on the HT5. I think it was not a fair shootout

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Just trying to get them to sound as similar as possible ~ the HT has an overall darker tone... thought I’d brighten it up a bit. Both amps are great, fans of either will not be disappointed. I prefer the Marshall but just as many folks go for the Blackstars.

[@davidwright184]

It's amazing how many videos out there proving that cheap crap sounds like exactly like expensive crap and click below to buy it!

[@Merrillizer]

MARSHALL.

[@TheRobsantos777]

Clean and crunch = Marshall Dirty channel and solos = Blackstar HT5.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Robinson dos Santos Teixeira - right on, it’s so interesting to hear what people prefer :) that Marshall lead tone is soo good, but I hear ya, love the Blackstar amps. My mic‘ing and levels must have been right on that day cause the Marshall crunch sounds HUGE, lol. Thank for checking it out \m/

[@tamirkeren6750]

Clean- It's pretty close with the marshall abit better. Dirty- BlackStar wins big time

[@brianm9902]

Marshall sounded more defined, something about the Blackstar was missing, , Marshall wins this easy to my ears it's !

[@seventwistsclockwise]

Think that could be the bright cap in the marshall

[@compactegon]

HT5 - Metal Powaaaaa!

[@johncecilia4517]

They don't sound similar in person. In this video they sound closer

[@oldguyjammin9732]

John Cecilia - there’s a bit of fidelity lost in the youtube process, but I’d agree. IMO the Marshall, while on the quieter side is by far the nicer sounding amp, undoubtedly when pedals are introduced.

[@guitarocd9984]

HT5

[@papakralle9157]

Das duell gewinnt der Marshall in meinen Ohren, habe beide auch schon im Ladden getestet und das Ergebniss ist das gleiche, der kleine DSLer hat die Nase vorn. Dürfte allerdings an den verwendeten Speakern liegen, wenn man die Topteile vergleicht gewinnt zwar auch der DSL, allerdings mit deutlich geringerem Vorsprung. Letztendlich trifft der eigene Geschmack die Entscheidung, kenne durchaus Gitarristen die dem Blacki den Vorzug geben^^.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Papa Kralle - trying to copy and paste your comment into a translator but can’t a ‘copy’ out of my iPad.

[@papakralle9157]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Marshall has win this Match. But if you want, please test the same Amps as a Head with the same Speaker, the Difference will be smaller as by the Combos. Please excuse my bad English, i hope you understand what i mean^^.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Papa Kralle - got it! Unfortunately I don’t have ready access to equipment for demos. Anything I present I intend to keep if I like it. I never buy something knowing I’m not going to keep it if I like it. I’ll pardon your bad English if you’ll pardon my lack of ANY secondary language :( Good for you \m/

[@kwilde2387]

The Blackstar sounds like it's in a soda can comparatively.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Ya, the DSL is just way more open sounding and takes pedals better. I recently crammed a 12” Greenback in mine and got a Seymour Duncan Killing Floor to go with it, and damn.... it roars :)

[@kwilde2387]

@@oldguyjammin9732 I was really debating between the 5 and the 20. Will the 5 suffice or should I cancel and bump it up? It's just for house play

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@kwilde2387 - if it’s just around the house, the 5 will be perfect. When you get a few more extra dollars consider the Seymour Killing Floor for an Always On boost - it kills, ha ha. The 20 has quite a bit more inherent ‘noise’ because of the extra wattage. I’d suggest changing the preamp tubes to 12AY7s to reduce a bit of the gain. I find it worthwhile for the added Crunch goodness to be had. Have fun!!

[@kwilde2387]

@@oldguyjammin9732 I couldn't decide between the 20 and 5, and didn't really want to upgrade the speaker any time soon, so I sucked it up and got the 40 :D Good demo on there though. You were one of the reasons I picked it up so thank you!

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@kwilde2387 - The 40 is a BEAST for sure, start looking for the 6 button footswitch that goes with it... it really makes that amp.

[@davidharvey8812]

Finally found a guitar video where the guitar playing is worse than mine 👍🏼

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Thanks... i guess!?!?

[@bruzrkgro-malog2953]

He's attitude is definitely not worse than yours...

[@willredelsheimer5919]

Marshall's are more of a one trick pony especially because their tones are so iconic in rock. I'm gonna differ here and say I prefer the Blackstar. I think it held up quite well against a more expensive amp. Furthermore Blackstar is it's own thing. So the tones are going to differ.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

You're right of course, it comes down to style, taste and the music we all grew up with. They're both great little amps.

[@willredelsheimer5919]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Agreed! Myself, I've got the HT5R MKII coming next week. I'm excited. Combined with my pedal board I've been fine tuning I'm really excited to hear the tones. Should be perfect too for my practice area. Thanks for the thorough review.

[@SamuraiBud]

if you shot your video in same angle sound will be identical

[@oldguyjammin9732]

My camera is independent of the mic, so ... dunno. Both are great and it comes down to a matter of taste I think.

[@SamuraiBud]

@@oldguyjammin9732 so i guess marshall is fizzy

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@SamuraiBud - yep, the Marshall is characteristically more ‘fizzy’ no matter what size amp you seem to get, the Marshall tone has a bit of top end sizzle it seems and lack of bass too some would say.

[@markkosa1]

I have this Marshall 5cr and my new Blackstar MKII HT5 blows it away...better louder clean with 2 voices and less buzzy overdrive also 2 voices. Not even a contest and for the same money. My Marshall has premium tubes and even an upgraded Celestion VT jr speaker and still sounds meh compared to the Blackstar.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Nice to have gear you’re stoked about :) lots of people like them - and how can Gus G be wrong, right!?!? Cheers

[@markkosa1]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Thanks for reply..I would say the Marshall still rocks when maxed out and I will keep it. My main complaints are not enough volume on clean channel (no breakup when maxed) and OD side needs to be really cranked for warmth, hard to get those old school early Marshall tones. I am using a Les Paul standard and a Strat with Dimarzio injectors plus a Firebird with p90s.

[@pauld1568]

No comparison...the Marshall is way out in front!

[@brianewert6667]

I think I'd agree with you there but the Marshall is just so quiet... me thinks a clean boost would take care of that.

[@darrellbrock4788]

The guitar you used would have been helpful.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Given the floating whammy bar stuff I’d say it’s my Slime Green Jackson Soloist.

[@Suzumebachigr]

Can i have your EVH for free?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Suzumebachigr - hell no but thanks for asking \m/

[@andrewslads]

DSL sounds fizzy. owned a HT20 and HT5 and HT40 . when I got the dsl series , i went dsl 20, 40 then in the end got the jubilee as live on stage the jubilee absolutely ripped apart the dsl's . they are stiff and fizzy and the gain is unuseable past a certain point if you need detail and responsiveness . The blackstar are better live amps than these dsl's .

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Thanks for chiming in, so interesting to hear everyone’s opinions. I had the gamut of HTs and found that they just didn’t take pedals as well as the DSLs. I was able to take a lot of the fizz factor out of the DSL with a 12AY7 in V1, cold biasing or using a Creamback. I had the Studio JCM and it was just ok. I always heard there was a Nasally aspect to the Jubiee ~ aka Slash’s tone.

[@doomerius1300]

Marshall

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Dustin Balog - nice! Votes have been split but that little Marshall really growls! And really nice glassy smooth cleans. Tons of fun, just wish it was louder - like 15 watts instead of 5. The 20 watt combo wasn’t nearly as nice or fun to play.

[@rafalbroncel5792]

HT5 to bright, too much treble

[@dashadowpicklesquad4109]

Second

[@dryocum]

The Blackstrar sounds more flat and unmusical to me...

[@oldguyjammin9732]

BIlly The Kid - I hear that too in the video but just last night I played that little HT5 for 2-3 hours and DAMN if it wasn’t just a blast. The best thing about having more than one amp is that every time you go back to “whatever” it sounds awesome, lol. I’d say you’re right though, the little Marshall really sings. I think you need one :)

[@dryocum]

Oldguyjammin Thanks for the reply. I have to many amps.. lol my main amp I play through is a Freidman BE100, Marshall, Synergy...Etc.

[@samward9641]

HT-r-5 does not sound as good as the HT-5 with out reverb.. and get the head not combo...and run game cabs the blackstar would sound better cleans.. and but hey?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

sam ward - I’ve read that on several ‘gear’ sites, that the HT5 was a super sounding little beast. Because these little amps are so often ‘grab and go’ types a little on board reverb can make the jam with friends a little sweeter. I’m with you on heads... I should have secured a really nice cab and just bought heads a long time ago.

[@samward9641]

@@oldguyjammin9732 yeah but how can a Reverb make the amp sound not as good, doesn't really make sense but that's what I noticed too... the newer version of any amp is Never As Good As the older version or something, I don't know? the new hot rod is superior to the older ones!!

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@samward9641 - I was gonna say, "that's a pretty bold statement" . There are 'give and takes' over the decades between tone and reliability and features.I sure think the new DSL40CR is superior to its predecessor but then I don't know how far back that line goes. I agree regarding the Hot Rod. I had one before but couldn't use it in a small area without knocking everything over. I hear they've tamed the volume ramp and that the dirty channel has been improved a good deal. Later - OG

[@samward9641]

@@oldguyjammin9732 that older dsl40 wasn't as good as my Peavey red stripe Bandit oh...., I just thought Marshall wasn't very good with combos..

[@BroTechGaming]

No matter they try to sound like Fender tube amps they just don't cut it Fender rules

[@oldguyjammin9732]

bro care - lol, unless of course you’re a “Marshall guy” then Marshall Rules! They don’t want to sound like Fender, they want their own unique tone, albeit a pleasing tone, a tone that deep pocketed working axe men are willing to fork over their hard earned cash for!! Tone is totally objective my friend, if it sounds good, then it sounds good! I even know folks who think Bugera amps have the best tone ever!! Lol, \m/ Cheers

[@BroTechGaming]

@@oldguyjammin9732 you mean like the old Fender Bassman?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

bro care - actually thinking about how nice the Princeton Verbs are, but Fender dirt has never really appealed to me. For the filth I’d go elsewhere; Marshall, EVH, or Blackstar.

[@guitarocd9984]

Marshalls not that great at making combos. They should stick to what they do best.

[@andrek7302]

first

[@Sam-n2f5q]

U have to change to Russian valves. Most of all u need to put a greenback speaker. Then by the time u pay for all that. U mose well buy a real amp

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Naaa, if it sounds ‘good’, it is good…

[@sman222222]

3rd

[@davidledford6482]

marshall is a little fuller,an osunds better..........