Spark LIVE - First Impressions

Pre-order Spark LIVE: bit.ly/3vQwbdG
We touched down in Nashville to get Spark LIVE into the hands of real, gigging musicians like you. Here's what they had to say (and play).
What's Spark LIVE?
Spark LIVE is much more than an amp. It's everything! A portable, multi-channel, all-in-one experience is here. Plug in guitar, bass, vocals, keys-or all at once. Fueled by Sonic IQ Computational Audio, this 4-channel smart amp and PA system is packed with amps, effects and a mixer. Miraculously compact and loud, with optional battery power, Spark LIVE delivers big, adaptive sound for any event.

[@bradfuller84]

I refuse to believe guitar influencers until i get to try one out in person.

[@brianbivens6476]

I hear you, and I have been skeptical of the Spark stuff too. I bought the spark mini and it is one of the best little guitar amps I’ve ever played. The tone is incredible. I would definitely be willing to try this thing out, especially given the fact that recording a band playing has been a huge challenge for me. If we all run through this and out to a Mac, that might eliminate many of our problems.

[@deenys]

Latence au changement de preset ?

[@Rex-golf_player810]

I like the spark 40 a lot but i havent tried any of the other ones so i dont really know how this one is

[@positivegrid]

Playing is believing

[@brianbivens6476]

@@positivegrid y’all just let me know if you need a person to demo and test this thing, :). I lead worship professionally twice a week and have for the last 20 years, very familiar with live sound and equipment.

[@bradleyshuppert3393]

Just played this tonight…… I am blown away!!!! My buddy built a Gary Moore jacked up distorted high powered blues / Ac/DC style gain that felt and sounded as great as any amp I have ever played in 40 years!!! He play a backing track for Shape Of Things and the sound was so perfect for what I would have originally said would be a practice amp….. then he turned it up in Guitar Center and the next thing you know…. I had an instant audience….. 7 people standing there asking so many questions I had no idea even how to answer!! It is arena rock to blues to metal to anything you program in!!! Simplified and to the point and great beyond expectations

[@AstorSkywalker]

Positive grid is single handedly changing what we expect from effects/amps/mixers/audio interfaces/app/cloud. Gotta say I love my Spark.

[@winihh]

Lucky me! Got the Spark Live yesterday (plus battery pack). I am "only" a bass player. And yes... I was convinced after five minutes! Sold my (Roland) battery powered equipment beforehand and financed the Spark Live. For Bass in the living room (and I bet for street, park and small gigs) this is so great. Tried the guitar part, too.... perfect for me... this is what I expected (maybe I grab my guitar more often now). Tried the stereo in as a mono with my paddle board (with Ampeg SGT DI)... what can I say: it works great... like this it really can be for three instruments: Guitar, Bass, Vocals... Next thing?: A rucksack or good Gig-Bag, please... I guess this amp will be enough at least as a monitor for small gigs... will try that next. (Only thing: I did not get Spotify to work... within the app... ) I guess especially for bass players this will be one if not the amp of choice for rehearsal and more. Thank you positive grid. (I will not tell my friends... because they will give me a call if they need a perfect bluetooth speaker for their garden party...) No one paid me to write this... and I paid myself for the Spark Live... ;-)

[@digiwaves]

Can’t wait to see these on the back line at a stadium concert. HA! 😎🎸

[@limftw1565]

Damn guys, why did you not integrate a looper in this thing as in the grid spark 2 :( Unfortunately a deal breaker for me

[@jasonthemason1971]

Preordered. I really like my Spark Go.

[@jrstinkfish]

Would be nice to see how it holds up with a full band on something other than leads, since leads are going to cut through better than rhythm playing. Interested, but not pulling the trigger until there's some proof that it's practical in a band situation.

[@karnbroad8504]

Given the bass was going through it too in the video, it certainly has potential. There will always be that ridiculous drummer though...

[@Julius_Seizure]

Positive Grid is killing it lately, They just get it.

[@jasonswitzer1748]

What is the wattage on this thing? EDIT: I googled it and it says 150 watts. Does this have the low hum when not playing like on the Spark Cab? Hopefully that’s been ironed out because the Cab was a great idea that was plagued by a minor annoyance. Hopefully this is even better than the Cab. On to the hopefully not paid reviews by other KZbinrs!

[@benoitquinton]

Adding channels to something that didn't already have a lot of headroom? I doubt that this will be better. For kitchen/living room jam without drums maybe but in a live gig with a drumset? Let's be honest here. It won't be able to keep up.

[@kittgs]

I sent my Spark Cab back for that reason. I'm hopeful this is better. My understanding was the noise floor being high on the cab was something to do with the connection from the Spark 40 with a 3.5mm plug. We shall see.

[@michaelkrizmanich8010]

Why cant speak to anyone in customer service for several days? Just purchased and firmware update failed after I followed all the instructions numerous times. I might have to return the item if I cant get resolved

[@mnmsdaddy]

My buddy John Zocco. Dude is a beast! 🤘

[@jaymelynnmcintyre8574]

Really digging this,as a gigging musician I'm really looking for something that is lightweight but still Heavy WEIGHT IN PERFORMANCE ! that I can if necessary lug on public transit to a performance with my guitar ! I can't wait to try it

[@terrybowen9810]

Skepticsl. I already have to eq the spark 40. The speakers are not jensen or celestion. For $549 it beeds to be something better than they are putting in the practice amps

[@taliesinechoes4513]

Wow!!! a 140 so soon after you sold us on the Spark CAB for the other Spark amps...Oh well...if I get this I guess I'll be selling my new Spark CAB, and my original Spark...or should it be my Mini...no, no, my Go. Or should I hold out for the Spark Stack.

[@JohnnyMegabyteCanada]

Laney just made this ---> 2600w powered 4x12 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYanfIKbirJpq6s

[@JohnnyMegabyteCanada]

This is where I decided that I don't need this model. If you have everything you listed, like I have ... why shell out more $$$ ? Now, a Spark in a pedalboard ... that's what I want.

[@positivegrid]

Hope this helps! FAQ: Spark LIVE is an all-in-one Spark smart amplifier and multi-channel PA that comes with its own built-in cabinet. Spark CAB is a powered guitar cabinet designed to support Spark amps and other amps to provide them with louder volume. In simple terms, Spark LIVE is an actual multi-channel amplifier and PA system that processes tone for guitar, bass, vocals and more. Spark CAB is a speaker system to provide loud volume to your current amplifier.

[@taliesinechoes4513]

@@positivegrid Do you really think I don't know that, but thanks for putting it in "simple terms". So let me put this is simple terms... I won't be spending another dime on another Spark, or anything else from Positive Grid. Simple enough for ya?

[@taliesinechoes4513]

@@positivegrid Seeing that you're responding to my post with a FAQ response, how about answering the post that I placed, before my initial post on this video (the one I posted on your 2nd video you posted for the Spark Live, Spark Live: Born To Play)? For those that may have missed it, here it is... As a person who's bought the original Spark 40 watt, the Spark Mini, the Spark GO, and the recent Spark CAB (which, even though advertised to stand up to a live drummer, doesn't stand up to mine...even at max volume)(check your records, first name Veto), I've decided to slow my roll with this one. To put this out so soon after the Spark CAB is suspicious to me. It feels like a rapid money grab. Why put out the Spark CAB a few months ago if you knew you were coming out with this? Next, I notice in your quick edit point videos for the Spark Live that you have scenes with a guitarist, bassist, probably keyboards (i'm not sure, cause the images in the video seem to jump ever 2 seconds), and a vocalist. The video(s) give the impression that you can have guitar, bass, keyboards, and vocals going for live gigs, but, upon looking on your site, I notice that if you have the guitarist plugged into the input on the front, you can only have either the vocalist or the bass, or a acoustic plugged into the multipurpose input (channel 2) at a time. The acoustic a side, this video would give one the impression that you can have your guitarist, vocalist, and bass player all using the same Spark LIVE at the same time. I'm sorry to be coming down so hard on this, but it reminds me of the days of buying into different formats of the same movie. First there was VHS/Beta, then DVD's of the same movies that you bought on VHS, then Blu-ray's, now streaming. It's not just double dipping, it's quintuple dipping (dipping 5 times). P. S. I also have Bias Amp 2, Bias FX2, Spark Control, and the RIFF interface, so I'm not just some nubie to your products. And please, don't just focus on the not a nubie part of my statement in what I'm sure will be a defensive response to what I'm saying.

[@javi_1859]

Will 2, 6 inch speakers even compete with live drums? 🤔

[@positivegrid]

That’s where computational audio (Sonic IQ™️) comes into play. The adaptive software in conjunction with the 4 speaker hardware configuration makes it possible.

[@ahelmste]

Where is the looper? Or is there a way to insert one after the effects and before the power amp?

[@2007andrewg]

Yeah wish I saw this before I bought the 40 and the Cab

[@TheOnlyDalenHD]

Can you pair this with the cab or is it separate entirely?

[@maikuirock8015]

Can you link 2 of these for a 2 speaker live setup

[@MintFX0]

Yes

[@PLAYINGTOGETHER-nj8jt]

what is the beafiest amp/ effects set up available???

[@rodhan6478]

Do you ship to Mexico? I want to preorder one but says address is invalid. I bought a spark 40 in the past

[@Raidx184]

Does it support phantom power

[@anthonynorris2065]

They are 150 watts, for those wondering.

[@chrismoore2733]

Awesome!

[@ronrprouty]

Looper... or still no looper...

[@chrishyde1216]

U Looper

[@paulafranceschi]

What does it weigh? That's my number one consideration.

[@barry-baxmusic4628]

It's 12 kg / 26.45 lbs.

[@paulafranceschi]

Thanks.

[@Raidx184]

Can you put effect per channel using your spark phone app?

[@jellyboy123]

yes you can . you can put everything through the speaker even E-drums

[@karnbroad8504]

You get different options on the channels. You don't get serious processing on the stereo (3&4) input, but get vocal, bass and acoustic processing on channel 2.

[@-cobainism-]

so it’s a spark and a pa system

[@dhrandy]

I like it!

[@daledawson1102]

I'll wait for the "shill-free" reviews to drop.

[@grapht06]

i need to do a review of this one before the release , hope you'll see my post positive grid !!!

[@JimWiggin]

Through my computer's speakers it sounds just about like my Spark40 and SparkGo. I'm sure it's wonderful (but people will still be bitching if it doesn't have a looper).

[@dkdk5942]

I keep the one guy on you tube that decided the app eq was too much trouble, so he stuffed a sock in the cabinet port. Can't spell engineer, but me am one?🤪

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

how many people thought that was chevy chase at first?

[@MOAB-UT]

Soudned muffled. Far better off getting two 12" cabinets- separate by 10 feet. Use a tube amp to power it and a few good pedals. It will sounds SO much better. I did this. I bought a 5w tube amp for $400 lightly used. The Hughes & Kettner is a good option. Used Tubemeister head can be had used for $400. Sounds and looks 100 times better then the Spark IMHO. It even has Clean or Gain on-board. Just grab a reverb pedal and a looper and you are off to the races.

[@ConditionZero76]

Such a corny video lol 😅 come on spark your better than that 😂

[@SugarTouch]

You promised REVOLUTIONAL. But this is the same just bigger. :(((. Boring.

[@user-sn3jn4uv7h]

Customer support is terrible. Good luck if you need any customer support. No live online chat support or no phone contact number to be found anywhere.

[@geoffarnold8723]

Lets be honest - this will be shit!

[@arthritic]

I hear no bottom whatsoever.