Desktop Amp Comparison - Boss Katana Air vs Yamaha THR10iiWL

In this video Tim and Nick put two of our most popular desktop amps side by side and compare features and sounds.
The Boss Katana Air has the tone characters found in the Katana Amps and comes packaged with the Wl-T wireless unit.
Yamaha's THR series was one of the first in this category and has been the leader in this field almost uncontested until last years release of the Katana and the Positive Grid Spark. The Yamaha THR10iiWL is wireless ready, but the Line6 G10-T is an optional add-on.
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[@johnhurley2395]

A better comparison might be the THR30 versus Katana Air. I have both. The Katana air is a fine practice amp. The THR30 sounds much better to me. Both will do the job just fine. The THR30 is stronger metal and though I wish it was not yellow ish has a better feel than the Katana which feels a lot more plasticky ... the built in rechargeable Yamaha versus Katana that you have to deal with changing batteries or recharging them yourself taking them in and out. For me its a win for the Yamaha your mileage may vary.

[@adilO.o]

I have a THR30 and it sounds gorgeous. I like the look on my musician friends face when I demo the amp with a clean tone. They are always schocked and wonder if I am not fooling them. However these gorgeous tones when I am alone and want to learn new songs, it's a disadvantage. I tried a Foo Fighters backing track and I couldn't hear myself. I had to boost the mids, treble remove the bass and change in the app to a 1x12 cab to hear myself. There is no presence knob. When I have listened to the tone in isolation it was harsh, gnarly. Worked perfectly for the mix but in isolation, no words... I love my THR30 but I ordered a Katana air to practice new songs and backing tracks. THR defeats the Katana air for isolated tones, but in the Mix with Rock backing tracks. Katana wins by miles.

[@AbdelhamidZekri91]

@@adilO.o for someone who wishes to practice mostly Blues/Jazz songs and wants to go for a more accessible amp, would the thr10 (not the ii) be fine ? Have you guys tried it ?

[@emmanuelangelakis2569]

@@adilO.o I've had a similar experience. At a recent jam one of our guitarist played a Katana Air. I was amazed at how good he sounded in the mix. Cut through really well.

[@carlensbasement9147]

I am on the cusp of deciding between at Katana 50 or THR 30. I feel the hard sound is better on the THR. Glad to see I’m not alone there. Also I want to find something that provides great sound while recording.

[@RomainG6409]

@@carlensbasement9147 Yamaha ... if not already bought 😉

[@WScott-gd2mj]

Thanks for the A/B...to my ear Yammy better in every sound except possibly acoustic, which is not going to be main use anyway. Fwiw I'd say same for THR vs Positive Grid...I also like the simple onboard controls that let you switch mods and reverb without your phone.

[@greg6162]

Yeah having physical knobs is clutch IMO. For me it’s the deciding factor for any amp. I’m sure there are set it and forget it options but a lot of these solid state amps require a PC to get the full range of sound. I personally don’t own a PC anymore and if the amp was worth I wouldn’t mind dialing in the sound with an app as long as it was a one and done thing. But I’m old (42) and just started playing again so these solid state amps are new to me

[@nomadman123]

Very helpful review for a guy that is shopping.

[@underfeed]

at 3.22 you show the top of the THR30 ll, yet you are reviewing the THR10 ll correct? just curious why, or do I have it the other way round? Cheers

[@sergeytitov8444]

Loved the video! Shows how the amps will sound when I will play them in real world. Much better than the polished videos made by companies that sell amps etc.

[@lasse2d]

I have the thr10ii and i love it. It definitely made me play much more at home. BTW was that a PROPAGANDHI riff???? NICE!

[@tinpea]

Hey! Great comparison. Just wondering which riff you were playing at 8:50?

[@danielmarti]

08/03/2022 If you are looking for a Bluetooth pedal that controls the Katana Air, you can clarify something here: When switching the sounds, the Xsonic Airstep BW needs up to 1 second to switch from clean to lead sound, that's too long for me personally! The Airstep Update App does not work stably on Android either! The update keeps failing!!! I can only recommend the Airstep BW if you accept that the switching time is 1 second until the Katana Air is switched! The problem is not with the amp but with the Xsonic Airstep BW Bluetooth controller pedal! Question for you musicians: Have any of you tested the Boss EV-1-WL with Boss FS6 or FS-7 and what is the switching time until the Katana Air is switched? Thank you for your willingness to help. (guitar teacher and repair service)

[@Slavetskiy]

Is strat connected with katana air wirelessly? Someone tells, that this is impossible without adapter for transmitter jack

[@andreil1234]

Sound wise, there's hardly a comparison. I blame it on the Katana Air's speakers and housing / sound projection design in general, as in the headphones, Kat Air actually sounds awesome. But you don't get a desktop small hifi amp to mostly use the headphones out...

[@josephclarke6770]

As sentimental as this sounds, my money’s with the Yamaha; they took the home amp from passable to infallible. It would feel wrong for me to then buy the slightly cheaper option when it’s based off something they created.

[@Ohalexsimmons]

the difference really comes out when you demo the bass guitar. Yamaha has way better lows.

[@aperezdeal]

Yamaha should really include the wireless dongle. I have a thr 5 but went katana sit for the living room since everything you need is in the box.

[@aperezdeal]

@@doublewhopper67 no they charge a separate fee, they have the built in receiver and support wireless and sport a rechargeable battery but the part you plug into your guitar is not included.

[@Strato13]

Yamaha far far superior. I had the Kitana Air for a few days, and couldn't muster a good tone with their outdated editor. With the Yamaha THRii Wireless, I was able to get exactly the tones I heard in my head (How cliche lol) immediately, using their editor on my imac. It's not even a fair contest imo, tbh with you.

[@ralphington8441]

Yamaha sounds and looks miles better.

[@Strato13]

I agree. The few days I had the Kitana Air, my thoughts on its looks was "Ew..thing looks cheap, and dated" because it's so plasticky. Now with my Yamaha THR10ii Wireless, it looks miles better, and more importantly, sounds far far better. I can actually take it anywhere and know it just looks cool!

[@yiannisfaitakis]

Yamaha wins for sure. It makes the Katana sound lifeless…

[@steveluth3139]

Yamaha sounds more natural to me

[@Alfredo78666]

Bossy is Beeeeessssy

[@redcomn]

But can you use the boss wireless with thr?

[@TJISLA]

Yamaha.

[@edgarkurm8148]

How you play bass on Katana Air? There is no bass amps in Katana

[@cranbournemusiconline]

All amps can be bass amps. It’s just that some of them prefer to not be.

[@edgarkurm8148]

@@cranbournemusiconline so what was Katana settings to play bass?

[@guitarjams1008]

Yamaha sounds way better in all the sounds

[@raymondbates898]

Too much talking compare the amplifiers

[@artfte]

5,000,000 ERMS o NOOOOOOOO

[@DMSProduktions]

OK boys! Here is how I HEAR it: Both amps are pretty comparable, however in most areas the Boss had the edge! In the clean & slightly crunchy setting the Boss SOUNDED like a big amp thru its speaker. The Yammy was more thin. However, the higher up the gain spectrum you went, BOTH started to sound more & more like a cardboard box! I think the speakers start to show their limitations, with trying to put out the frequencies required with lage amts of distortion! Tho, I guess BOTH amps would sound HUGE plugged into proper external speakers or recorded thru their USB audio output! In the accoustic, again the Boss killed the Yam for clarity and body of tone. In the bass amp, again Boss actually sounded LIKE a reasonably sized bass amp, and was full bodied & clean! The Yammy was more mid focussed and over driven! MY 2c! Cheers!

[@ErraticFaith]

They aren't remotely 'comparable'. You're just tone deaf.

[@electropentatonic]

That's a strange take. As repeated by every other reply except for yours, the Boss sounded extremely thin and the Yamaha was very open and full

[@DMSProduktions]

@@electropentatonic Not every1 has the EARS for it! ;o)

[@electropentatonic]

@@DMSProduktions I guess you don't! 🤣

[@DMSProduktions]

@@electropentatonic Actually...

[@dwalmz]

The Yamaha has a more robust sound.

[@cranbournemusiconline]

It’s crazy isn’t it!?

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

Why does every guitar or amp video I watch have 90% talking and just 10% playing?

[@cranbournemusiconline]

Because we’re trying to inform you of the features rather than just sit here stroking our own egos.

[@asensibleyoungman2978]

@@cranbournemusiconline It's not about ego, it's about hearing the damn thing. It's like describing the taste of something to someone instead of just giving it them to eat.

[@steveluth3139]

@@asensibleyoungman2978 You can just skip to the playing part......

[@colhutchins]

I found the amount of talking perfect, stop your whinging

[@sipius22]

Clean tones Boss wins....Crunch Yamaha wins.

[@guitarjams1008]

No Yamaha sounds way way better in all sounds

[@romanlakes]

I don’t think he did a good job with the clean tone, he had the gain too high. I had the first THR and the THRC and these amps have beautiful clean tones.

[@gordonstafford1929]

Boss acoustic was WAAAAY better than the THR, wish there was more comparison with acoustics