Why don't you compare the NUX MIGHTY AIR to the SPARK MINI instead or in addition to the SPARK 40....they are closer in price. How does the mighty compare to the mini????????
I've owned the Spark for 6 months and I love it. It's versatility is amazing but a week ago I picked up the Nux Mighty plug and as far as a travel amp it rocks. All in one amp that simply plugs into your guitar input
I bought a NUX Mighty Air two weeks ago and also own a Spark Amp. The little NUX is one of my best guitar gear purchases this year or even in a few years. Makes me grab the guitar more often than anything else. Not having to deal with cords makes it so convenient to play. Or maybe just one cable, if I decide to put on phones. This is the reason why this one is played and the Spark is collecting dust. Plus, the Spark has that boomyness... However, there are a few things which would make this awesome practice amp even better and more useful. - I wish they added compressors someday. One Dyna Comp style one and perhaps one Boss and/or LA style one. Under the EFX tab would be good, a separate tab before the other EFX would be even better. - Then it would be great if the different styles shared the amps. So that it would be possible to store a BigMuff into Tweed Amp sound under overdrive or distortion... - Then it would be very very useful if it was possible to store more than four guitar patches within the app! Less important features which would be appreciated: - 7-band graphic EQ (or even a simple 3-band EQ after the amp+cab or within the IR tab) - Loading of external IRs I bet these are not impossible things for NUX to do and the hardware would actually be able to deal with it. Let‘s see what the future might bring. But even without those things, this is a hell of a useful piece of gear! :)
Vinnie Classroom I will post this little feature request list on fb and perhaps comment a couple of other yt vids. Since NUX don‘t publicly offer ways to contact them, that is all I can do. Btw. your video made me aware of the Mighty Air :)
Had the Boss Katana Mini, Spark, THR10X, THR10ii, Nux Mighty Lite BT, and Nux Mighty Plug. The Spark comes last for me, even though it has killer features I cannot justify the size to sound ratio. It is boomy with average speakers inside it, making all of the unlimited tones sound good at best. The grounding issue, and other caveats made me sell mine, however, the app and tone options are the best. The best amp IMO is the Mighty Air, Mighty Plug, and THR10ii. I like having the Plug for extreme portability while having the same DSP as the MG200 and Mighty Air, making it pretty much unbeatable in terms of portable performance. For home use I use the THR10ii due to the speakers and easy tone control, would have used the Mighty Air, but I felt it was too big to be portable (compared to the Plug), and a bit too small for daily home use (could be done, but a bit lacking), so the THR10ii gets played there. If you cannot have the Plug and THR combo, then get the Mighty Air.
Great review! I’ve got both, after purchasing the Nu-X Mighty Air to keep me entertained while waiting for my Spark to be delivered. The Nu-X produces some fantastic tones but is let down by the tiny speakers. This should not be a surprise and plugging in a good set of headphones produces some really nice amp, IR and pedal models. The Spark is great, for all the reasons everyone knows about. It’s great fun to jam along with and it sounds big for its size. It’s just a bit too gutless to hang in the mix with a drummer and bass, but I’ve got an old Bandit for those occasions. If I was doing it all again I’d probably not worry about the Spark and just get the Mighty Air and a set of good phones, then look at something bigger with tubes (although I LOVE my old Bandit).
Anybody have tried the Spark Mini and Nux Mighty Air? Between those two, which one would you recommend and why? I'm playing to buy either of those but I can't decide
I kept a open mind while watching. After hearing both amps, I see what your point. It is cool what Nux was able to do fir such a small amp and I would maybe use it for travel purposes where I need to put in in luggage. With that said for an actual practice amp it is the Spark for sure....it just sounds so much better. The Nux sound sounded small and you could tell it was a very small amp. I am glad I’ve already ordered the Spark for my practice amp. Hearing them side by side did not do the Nux any favors!
It depends a bit on what you want to play. Most amps can play metal or hard rock fizzy, treble pickup stuff. What's difficult is to do anything else which is what the spark does. So you can play a light rock with long singing sustain and have it not be fizzy.
the Spark and Boss apps allow you to film yourself playing to a backing track. also the spark has foot controller for the app. yet the Air foot control works on amp channels so i think it would be great if they came out with an amp that has channel switching and app foot controll and and effects loop
I look at the mighty air as a mighty plug with intergrated Bluetooth speaker (with added limited controls) obviously the bigger speaker of the spark is going to blow it away (and the katana's 12"speaker will blow that away). That said, getting a good active speaker with the mighty plug might be an even better option
@@guardianobserver6593 I actually ordered the Spark... but according to tracking website I have probably one month of waiting until it's getting shipped out. Which means I can still cancel the order, get a refund and buy something else
Spark sounds better, but I love the form factor of the nux. Just looked at the price. So tempting for 100. I ordered a spark two weeks ago, but the nux is so cool! A must buy if travel a lot.
I have the Spark and a NUX Mighty Lite BT. I think the NUX sounds better. I made a comparison video. Its hard to get great tones from the Spark but the "tone cloud" helps a lot! The NUX sounds great immediately without tweaking. The Spark sounds muddy and needs lots of tweaking, but great tone IS in there.
@@88Nikoli I'm deciding which one to get I have Yamaha thr 2 but not the rechargeable battery one. It is limited in tone. I'm trying to decide if I should to get spark or nux.
Had a spark, sold it after 2 days. I agree it's very muddy sounding. I don't want an amp I have to really search just to get good tones. My katana instantly sounded great with metal, crunch, clean. I'd still like a mini amp with Bluetooth features, not a spark mini though. I just don't trust the brand.
For me the clear winner is nux. Tbh I’ve only heard about spark from their Facebook ads and thousands of people complaining in the comment section they’re waiting 9-10 months for delivery. On the other hand I’ve never heard any complaints about nux, I own one of their products and it’s amazing.
If Spark had wireless and battery, I'd probably go for it, but Nux has NO cords running out all over the place and is so neat and tidy not to mention able to operate up to 16 hours on the battery.
It's not true that the NUX doesn't have usb audio out, in my case, I use it in my Mac as it was an interface. It is detected by the Mac and able to record directly with the daw.
I have a Nux Mighty Plug, which is the headphone amp version that uses basically the same software as the Mighty Air. It's 70 bucks and you can always plug it into a good pair of speakers if you want to hear it loud. The Spark doesn't appeal to me because most of the cool features are stuff I wouldn't use, but I can see why people like it. Also, it's great to see a non-sponsored review for it!
Your going to love it. Got mine a month ago. Use it every day. Often just use it without the app, works great. Has great tone, super easy and flexible to adjust tone nuances amazing quality sound. Hook it up to my high end home stereo for incredible Rockstar sound. Works great with my pedal. Very versatile amp, I practice more now because of it, stereo affect is awesome sounding clarity with reverb on amp and through my stereo system. As soon as you get it upgrade the amps firmware, it easy.
yes, but like a shitty back up band. You won't end up using those features as they totally suck. Also, the Bluetooth speaker sounds like it's pushing sound through a pillow and no way to adjust the eq when streaming.
Thanks vinnie and everyone in the comment section. Im convinced i should get the nux mighty , my eletric guitar got abandoned due to me getting a brand new accouatic and the nux seems so complete im happy if its not a ultra crisp tone. 2 big questions: How does this perform as a regular music speaker and what is the usb c audio interface on the back? Thank you
I got the M A today, the shower in te shop What is can do, I’m a street musisian and treed iT this evening on the street with an accoustick guitar witm otputmodule, i could here almost no sound and the plug in in the AMP workshop only when its not complete in the guitar plugt, its a stereo plug, when putting iT compleate in Nothing workshop anymore. I’m very dissepointed. When i pul iT half in the volume is very low while the volume is open, i need something smal with batterij and loder wuift singpossebillities, can you advise something like that, i try to bring back to the shop, What can you advise me? Thx al lott 🙏
Sorry for my late reply. I think you should bring your purchase back to the shop and get them to run a check. Does sounds like you've got a faulty unit!
just got Spark40 yesterday and I own a Fender LT25 and a VOX VT20X and I love this little beast. For starters they all sound great in their own right but travel wise I definitely prefer the Spark. Not only that but that Hendrix was worth the bucks I spent to have it in the Spark40.
Have gotten a chance to check out the new NUX Mighty Space? I’m hesitating to either buy the Spark for $300 USD or go all the way for the Space at $450 but idk if it’s worth the extra money
Vinnie thanks for doing this man and beautiful playing ✌🏼 I just got a nux for noodling and You said something so true . If you need that ‘special’ sound , go get a tube amp with a couple of pedals 🤷🏼 stay safe Man 😷
Depending on what deals are going at the time, The boss katana 50 is cheaper than the spark and even the katana 100 is around the same price if positive grid have no offers available. The katana is a far better amp and can be gigged as you progress from beginner. If you REALLY want an expensive desktop amp the Yamaha THR series are far better than the spark - don't be sold on idiot features like smart jam.
For everyone making this experience with Spark, Katana, THR, there are 20 Spark fanboys that don't know any other modeling amp and will tell you how the Spark is just so great 😄 It's a shame how that amp was pushed by big ass RUclipsrs... I mean, I liked the concept of the Spark. But the sound is just unbearable (and not eq-able to make it decent). I only got decent sounds out of the Spark with a FRFR speaker cab. But if I can't use the built-in speakers, I can just get a $70 multi FX Pedal with more effects, better sound, smaller footprint etc. and hook it up to home stereo or headphones. I don't sell gear very often, but the Spark was just wasted space.
The Spark sounds way better. To me Tone is everything and the Spark simply sounds better. There's also another Amp that I would conceder which is the Yamaha THR30. This Amp is twice the cost of Spark but very similar sounds. They both Lack the Foot Switch which I don't understand. I would definitely consider the Yamaha if there was a Foot switch option but for now I'm pretty happy with my Spark.
I spend a lot of time playing through headphones. I currently have a line 6 Firehawk fx which is similar to the spark as far as iPad connectivity except the Firehawk is pedal form and isn’t in production anymore. I’m curious how the NUX sounds through headphones.
Spark can only work with its own built-in speakers and not a cabinet. Spark does not have a line output, only a headphone output. So it's still possible to run it through a PA or powered speakers. It also has USB interface so you can play it through your studio monitors.
VERY helpful. 👍👍 Really well constructed review. It is exactly what I needed to see and hear to know which to get. For me, wanting to go from room to room, wanting to go to the beach, wanting to go to a hotel or cabin… which do you think is my winner? NUX - YES. Thanks mate. ⭐️⭐️
Well 12lbs is alot better then a lunchbox tube amp and 1x10 or 1x12 or 2x12 cab. And 250-300 for a practice amp w said features isnt cheap but its not a valve amp.
Not a good way to compare how two practice amps sound in real life though 99% of reviewers seem to use the same approach. If you want to show a true comparison then don't connect the amps directly to the PC or mike them for recording. Instead record them together with the ambience of the room they're in by placing the amps 2-3 meters away from the mike. If you do this viewers will hear just how thin and tinny one of the amps sounds compared to the other - no prizes for guessing which.
Honestly, I did think about recording the ambiance sound. Or rather, a more accurate way our ears will interpret the amps. But that will not be easy. The amp reacts differently in different rooms, different surfaces, or even if there is a wall or a corner behind it. So while my method of micing the amp up like this may not be a good representation, it still allows the audience to understand that this is the tone that can be achieved out of these small amplifiers. For years, we have been told that those great big tones are produced by micing up a 412 cab and small practice amps will sound horrible even with close micing. However, these 2 amps sound great with simple close micing. So if anyone is on a budget, the NUX fairs fairly close to the Positive Grid.
Unfortunately the app is crap! It just works on some android versions (e.g. got it running on 6 and 8) but not in others (e.g. on 10 it always asks to enable GPS, while this is already on). On some resolution, the first two tabs are so far shifted to the right, that they are unusable. I'll send it back for the blackstar fly 3...
So if I wanted to record from the NUX without mic on the amp but wanted to go into an Audio Interface to record directly could you go from the headphone jack to the interface with an adapter if needed for the jack? If you plug into the headphones does it silence the amp? Or can you still control the volume of the amp and the headphones independently.
Because of the lack of audio out via USB, the solution would be to use the headphone jack as audio out. Yes it will silent the amp but I can still hear it from my monitors as I have lined it into my mixer. You can still control the volume from the amp but you can also boost or cut it from your mixer in this way. At some point, it will distorted but that's because of wrong volume set. Hope that helps.
I went with the Spark, but I only want to record and practice with it. If I was more worried about speaker quality or volume for gigging I'd go with the Boss Kanata 50. But for what I want, the endless pedal options, USB out, and chord recognition too is gonna be so nice. No more using Chordify for chord recognition. Only downside is they're seemingly always struggling to keep stock. I ordered the Spark 3 days ago, and their website says estimated 1 month until it ships. It is probably too much for a beginner though. My only real concern with the spark is that they will stop supporting the app some years down the line. If that happens the amp would lose basically everything that makes it special. Wish I would have caught that spark sale. I paid $259 for mine.
Well, you seem to have your priorities straight, then. The Spark is for doing exactly for that; practice. I see vids of guys massively altering them to play gigs and whatnot, but it's not made for that. I however, find the Katana 50 doesn't do the job live. So the katana sits unused since getting the Spark. For some reason, SS just won't do it unless the whole band is using it.
Interesting video and as you said at the beginning, long ago, the practice amp was just a box with a speaker and the sound was ... well awful ... most of the time. Personally, the choice really depends on what you are looking for in an amp. Both very good, both with good features and in any case they open a thousand doors for beginners. Bad to say but maybe, at this point, it depends only on how much you want to spend. (I personally have a spark and it's amazing)
Really? When did you start? At age 13? HAHAHAHAHAHA! I started in 1964. On a Stella (economy version of Harmony). If you hat a strat, you were the envy of the whole school! Fuzz boxes were the only effect besides outboard reverb. Mine was called a fuzzzboxxx. Clever. What's happening today absolutely blows my mind. I've had every practice amp from the Pignose and Cube 20 to the Galien-Kruger! I don't remember the name of the model. It was the 70s, after all. Maybe eighties. Two 8" speakers AND a pre amp out. The cube also had a pre amp out. I used to use the cube into an old deluxe reverb. I had ALL of them, old and new, including the Boss Katana 50. I just got my Spark 40 a couple of weeks ago. Now, I've been playing guitar for nearly 60 years, but have been dormant for around 20 years since leaving NYC. The most I've done is noodling around for a few minutes and then lacking motivation, I stop. The first time I played through the Spark, I played for 3 hours straight, never getting tired or bored. To me, the Spark is the greatest invention of the 21st century, which is largely devoid of anything good; whether music related or otherwise. I love it. Pure and simple.
it is not possible to plug the Mighty Air into the DAW during the point of this video. Otherwise, the quality of the NUX is the same through headphones as their Mighty Plug.
Does this means that it is possible to use ( better ) external stereo BLUETOOTH speakers with the NU-X Mighty ? If yes, when you do this, does it shut off the internal speakers ? Is it simple to do ? Right there in the menu ?? Many thanks for your help !!!!
@clodehamelin At least as a general rule you won't find setups that have you playing through a Bluetooth connection. The protocol/processing adds too much latency. You can stream backing tracks via bt TO your amp because it doesn't matter that it's got a bit of latency between the sending device sending and you hearing it - but latency between picking a string and hearing it becomes very painful very quickly. If you look at wireless guitar rigs you'll see they aren't bt but regular radio or wifi. There are rather newer lower latency BT protocols but I'm not aware of them being used that way, might still have too much.
Features, The NUX all day. Sound quality and "real" amp sound, I'd go with the BOSS Katana(if your talking about the $100 Katana mini) I've been comparing them for the last month or so, watched and listened to reviews and even went into Guitar Center and played a litttle BOSS Katana.
@@PedalRebel880 Quick question. I'm really on the fence between the NUX BT Lite and the NUX Air. From what I've heard, volume isn't much of a difference, however the NUX Air supposedly sounds fuller(due to the two speakers). But, sound quality, volume, and easy to operate, and features, which one would you recommend to me? I'd greatly appreciate any insight you have on the 2 ✌🏽
@@WolfMountford I will suggest you to head down to a store to give them a try yourself. These tiny amps are really hard to capture on video. The position you place them in your room affects the tone too. Though I will personally go for the Nux Mighty Air, probably because of the dual speakers and the wireless capability.
The USB-C at the back of the amp is only meant for charging. I'm not aware if they have updated any firmware to allow it to send audio signal out form that. The amp also allows Bluetooth audio in, so you can play music from your phone through the amp.
Great comparison. Thank you. Right now, I’m pretty sure I’m going to go with the Mighty Air. I’m thinking I can get the sound to open up a bit by placing it in a corner with a tile floor. We’ll see. The fact that it’s completely wireless makes that an easy proposition though. But first, I need to check out your Mighty Plug video!😉👍 For anyone else thinking of buying of the Mighty Air, I would suggest checking out Dave Simpson’s rather extensive playing demo. He gets some amazing tones out of it, but I’m pretty sure the average player can’t come close to the sound quality he obtains. Gives us something to aim for though.
when he says IR 20 does that mean you have internal recording capabilities like some Line 6 amps or others. My MAIN GOAL is a rechargeable amp to walk around town playing. Im gonna try and find more info but I nearly bought a Spark for 240 compared to like 180 for the NUX thinking it was something like a pig nose but with lithium ION rechargeable batterys not needing a plug power source. and figuring 60 bucks spread even though 240 is some money for 60 bucks I would take the built in drums and the app that creates backing to WHAT YOUR playing. Im OBVIOUSLY not gear or tech savey but I also like the idea of going into my PC and recording . I am super bad with tech but thought I might get my head around that. Currently i use a line 6 spider Jam with its little internal recording and multi tracking to play over beats and record a rythm track on the fly or work on an idea and then record lead and solo over that mostly to hear how I sound and what my ideas sound like as a listener , funny enough stuff I think might sound good playing sounds less then and shit I thought was not so sounds good to great ( for me). Anyway sorry to bother you but its an older vid and you responded recently so I thought you might be able to hip me a bit. Im gonna try and read watch more on the NUX and see if it would suit my purpose. As far as I know its the only thing like that that has lithium Ion so you can busk a bit . I would hope to record or use canned blues /rock/metal/ and Jazz canned tracks to put the spice on which for electric is better and fuller if your at my level and dont have to carry everything and FRANKLY seem and sound more adept if your just soloing and putting some licks over . The Nux really is the only kind of rechargeable of its type yeah? Dont want to lug around an old pignose with pedals and all that Thanks
@@MrGravloc The 20 IR part actually refers to the number of impulse responses included in the software. Those are speaker cabinet emulations. So no, it doesn’t have any internal recording capabilities. One thing that has changed since this video was made is that NUX, through a firmware update, has added the ability to record directly to a computer using the usb output. Pretty cool. It basically works like an audio interface. Actually, reading more of your comment, you seem to be aware of that new feature. I think the Mighty Air might work perfectly as your walk-around amp. The wireless capability just adds to that. I’m not aware of a similar unit, but things change fast. I actually have a feeling that NUX might eventually come out with a larger version of the Mighty Air. It just seems like a logical step. Anyway, good luck with your busking. The only concern I have is that the little NOX might not be loud enough, but that depends on the background noise level of where you play. It would probably be fine in fairly quiet locations, right? Let us know how things work out if you get one!
@@renodavid Im kinda poor and havent bought ANYTHING not a necessity , fun, on CL for free , in free charity shops that rich folk donate stuff I wouldnt have bought when I mad 150K a year , used , really good deal or gifted for some reciprocal InterAction . Been through a rough 15 years but luckily always frugal so less shocking to the system then to a consumer driven individual . Just turned 55 and havent celebrated my birthday fpr ever with only one family .member alive who also doesnt make much of that . I got 900.00 as payback for a recent shitty happening and yesterday along with a cheap bed in a box for 270 , a 240.00 tablet and a few other things I said FUCK IT and added it to my Amazon cart and hit checkout with 100.00 left over to celebrate 55 and get something purely for want and new, 180 not really being a lot of money and only seeming so because of the size of the physical unit . BUT , I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOREVER for this exact product and was always SHOCKED it didnt exist like 5 or more years ago and would go into gear shops asking what was available thinking IT MUST EXIST BY NOW , So yeah, got one and will probably take a while to use its potential fumble fucking but will serve my main want . The wireless aspect is cool , all the features really, especially if I can get even 50% of use. Thanks for responding , I did sit through some other vids and got hip to what I R means. I can barely use the features on the Line Six Spider Jam Amp I got real cheap essentially un used and before that mostly just played through the ubiquitous 30W Fender Champ with an Old wah and a 90s Korean sea through day glo boat anchor BC Rich " Classic " ( traditional two horned body ) originally using a library of CD backing tracks of EVERY TyPE of music/genre to ' practice scales on" which somewhat quickly turned into "music" after playing 10 hours a day somewhat often and 4-5 regulary when I started in my 30s . I have ZERO Understanding of theory and merely look at tabs that show scales and memorize the positions on the kneck and then drill in a MUSICAL way until they are in there and pick up little things here and there. I am quite bright but have serious LDs that make aspects really difficult but figured out bends , vibrato , pinch and other stuff very quick and just try to emulate styles with what I do know and trial and error discover stuff . I sometimes get 1 tiny thing from the 100s of video tutorials that open something up or link something else , but instruction from good and patient teachers sounds like mandarin and with my type of dyslexia watching somebody across from ,me and looking at their fingers and neck position is similarly nonsense when it goes through my frontal lobe and trys to make it to my hippocampus and other areas . I am probably using areas of the brain NOT AT ALL designed for the task to feel my way around in the dark , BUT!!! sometimes and I cant predict when my hands and fingers detach and do their own thing and I just watch with some level of amazement wondering who is doing that ? So, it is a type of cognitive therapy to try and stimulate damaged areas and try what I am worst at. Ive got like 30K hours of playing and practice and can only play stuff I create ( which I end up forgetting eventually) or improv /Jamming. The 10 or so times somebody paid me to play was always to a canned track or track I made with me playing "loosely" over it . BUT it is still fun . I can fool some pretty good musicians and non musicians pretty easily that I am a player, and i will say no and they say I cant dly around the fretboard like that or get that emotion in a bend or whatever ., but I am not a 30K hour dedicated practicing player as I 'should be" and do not ever expect to be but I have just played on the street with my amp plugged into my car or dragging along a Pig Nose and pedals in very Random spots and gotten lots of thumbs up, smiles and cheers , little audiences, singles . fivers and 20s and all that which is fun . One guy heard me playing in a parking lot near a walking trail that had a outlet under a gazeebo and said why dont you at least do it out front of my beer and coffee cafe I which I did for tips and it was nerve wracking but everybody was happy , so there ya go. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Perhaps I will add to the thread one day after I have messed around. I AM SURE I WILL ENJOY IT , maybe more then somebody who can fully utilize it as its gotta be over a decade I have thought it should exist .
@@renodavid Im not sure why , but I will add that Frank Zappa is my favourite muscian / composer and what I listen to most till this day after buying apostrophe for 1.00 at like 10 . I appreciate all music and have always thought it was like MAGIC , then I found out it was sort of Math and other practical things I can struggle with ( I cant navigate either which is similar to learning a "song" with directions and a path to stick to if you want to get their and not hit a tree , crash , drive in circles or get lost , but a car ride with no where you need to be so cant be lost is fun also) . So I kinda know how the sausage is made but IT STLL seems magic or a super power , which OF COURSE depending on who and what IT IS and because of the magical aspect one can still enjoy doing it as part of it is not math or sport which guitar playing is an 'athletic endeavor ' despite being art at its best or highly polished craft and the ART part allows for uniqueness regardless of proficiency and there in lies the magic of making "air sculptures " as Frank Called music . So yeah , one doesnt need to be a great artist but everybody should at least try to create "some" or they are missing part of the trip . Even if its just stuff only a mom would hang on a fridge :) Cheers Brother , thanks for the reply
@@MrGravloc Hello! I thought I’d check back to see what’s up. I hope you’re having fun on your musical journey and I hope the little NUX is working for you. I FINALLY broke down and bought one after I found a pretty good deal on EBay. It’s supposed to arrive on Thursday. Looking forward to messing with it. I’m in the same boat as you with not having much extra money since I retired, so I made sure I was getting something that gave me a lot of bang for the buck. I think the Mighty Air qualifies.
I play in a praise band with bass, drums, and a keyboard. I am going with mighty air. The Sounds are heavenly. Not loud enough on its own? No problem, will plug it into my Rumble 25!
I have both the spark and the mighty mite BT as well. The mighty might BT sounds amazing, and kind of revolutionary -- I think it started some of this stuff. But you can't compare it to the spark 40. It beats every other thing in its class. I'm not sure you can gig with it, but it's got to be the best practice app out there. And I think it's best for students because it will play clean and it will play blues and fusion and hard rock I think.
I own both along with the Nux Mighty Plug. The Spark is good but in terms of sound quality to size ratio, it is mediocre. It sounds boxy, there is a hum issue due to grounding, and very bass heavy even on single coils. The Nux in reference sounds spatial for its size, crisp, and has more than enough tones and features where it lets the player practice without limiting it in any way.
@@AxemanMessiah Are you talking of the "nux mighty air" right? Can you low the volume (like a low volume TV) for practice at night? Is the sound good at this lower volume? (I can't stand headphones).
Expensive? $224? I remember back in the late 80s When youd have to chop off your fretting hand just to get a still mostly crappy/ mediocre amp with hardly any features and it would still sound like hammered shit! Sorry to say my man but you kinda lost me on the "tough choice" quote and I'm not sure what great tube amp is out there for a whopping $224 I don't think you can find much out there for any kind of serious even ss amp for $224 That's not huge $
If you are 14 years old, $224 is definitely a huge sum of money. Many of my students happen to fall in that category of enthusiastic but not cash-rich. So well yes I agree expensive has many different interpretations.
@@PedalRebel880 you mentioned buying a tube amp instead , whilst saying the spark is hard to move to contradictions a tube amp is more expensive and harder to move especially for 14 y.o. !
@@PedalRebel880 also every 12 y.o. has a smart phone nowadays that's worth three times the cost of a Spark so they just have to prioritise and sacrifice ! Just like we did when beginning !
Actually, the little Monoprice Stage Right 15-watt 1x12 is a tremendous-sounding tube amp that started out priced at around $200 a year or two ago. Unfortunately, it’s proven to be so popular that the price has jumped to $280 from Monoprice and $300 from Amazon, but it’s sold out at both places. They do, however, have a cool little 5-watt tube amp (no reverb though) with an 8-inch speaker for $160. That one is in stock.
Spark sounds great. This thing sounds sounds really good for acoustic. I think the Spark is the shit. The Spark is one of the coolest amps. If you want a cheap alternative to Pod. Sounds better.
I bought the Positive Grid Spark. Much regret buying it online without hearing it first. Beware the hype... The speaker in it is total crap - immediately audible, in spite of the FX, they can't cover it up! And everything else is set up to keep their hands in your pocket buying every little effect, as it purposely doesn't come with much. -> The Mighty Air is much more worth the money with its great and convenient functionality. Smaller but better drivers.
@@PedalRebel880 LOL no placement will fix a poor quality driver. I have various good amps, tube amps and active speakers, including Genelec and Yamaha. My tiny Blackstar Travel amp is less loud, but still sounds better. So does the NUX Mighty Air - by a country mile. What Spark needs to do is not be so cheap and install a better driver. Have a look at the drivers NUX installed in their Mighty Air amp. Those are small, but high quality drivers - 3 of them! Spark FX are a money-grubbing scheme, unlike the Mighty Air that gives you all you need for the price charged, plus integrated wireless. Spark is greedy and cheap and stays in my bad corner until they shape up.
@@Pharesm True that :) But hey just offering some suggestions to help with your Spark. The more common complaint about Spark is how boomy it sounds. Though it is also the reason why many prefer Spark, for the low-frequency capability. :) On the other hand, I sure enjoy my NUX!
@@PedalRebel880 So we really agree ^^ because "boomy" is a major part of poor sound, caused largely by 3 things: drivers with poor/cheap engineering and poor membrane stability and enclosures with poor stability and/or poor sizing, lack of damping. And finally, putting it in a closet and listening through the closed door :D
Sorry I have both and the spark is far superior. It definitely is worth the extra money for my needs. The nux sounds thin in comparison. I know everyone says it sounds good with headphones but it's an amp not headphone amp! Lol my two cents
I'm selling my Spark and you can have more than $30 off, just to get that unused aggravation out of my house... Granted, I could install a KEF speaker, maybe strengthen the cabinet in strategic locations and get good sound out of it. But then there's still the *nickle-and-diming* you for everything. So no, Spark is not worth as much as the Mighty Air, which gives you a complete package and memory for 4 different effects chains with a comprehensive selection of FX with all the adjustments you get on dedicated multiFX pedals. All very convenient and quick to set up and tweak to your liking. Its like an all-Inclusive vacation. ;-) And no, I don't work for Nux... The Nux Mighty plug has the same FX, but it doesn't work as well, because you still have cables on your guitar, and the battery is short on charge.
Wow, they both sound bad. If you really really need portable or are on a very limited budget, I can see possibly putchasing, but most people want a small, good sounding home. In that case, stop wasting your money on these small crap amps that are overhyped and just get either a good analog pedal platform amp or a multli effects unit and some studio Monitors.
Why don't you compare the NUX MIGHTY AIR to the SPARK MINI instead or in addition to the SPARK 40....they are closer in price. How does the mighty compare to the mini????????
I've owned the Spark for 6 months and I love it. It's versatility is amazing but a week ago I picked up the Nux Mighty plug and as far as a travel amp it rocks. All in one amp that simply plugs into your guitar input
I bought a NUX Mighty Air two weeks ago and also own a Spark Amp. The little NUX is one of my best guitar gear purchases this year or even in a few years. Makes me grab the guitar more often than anything else. Not having to deal with cords makes it so convenient to play. Or maybe just one cable, if I decide to put on phones. This is the reason why this one is played and the Spark is collecting dust. Plus, the Spark has that boomyness...
However, there are a few things which would make this awesome practice amp even better and more useful.
- I wish they added compressors someday. One Dyna Comp style one and perhaps one Boss and/or LA style one. Under the EFX tab would be good, a separate tab before the other EFX would be even better.
- Then it would be great if the different styles shared the amps. So that it would be possible to store a BigMuff into Tweed Amp sound under overdrive or distortion...
- Then it would be very very useful if it was possible to store more than four guitar patches within the app!
Less important features which would be appreciated:
- 7-band graphic EQ (or even a simple 3-band EQ after the amp+cab or within the IR tab)
- Loading of external IRs
I bet these are not impossible things for NUX to do and the hardware would actually be able to deal with it. Let‘s see what the future might bring. But even without those things, this is a hell of a useful piece of gear! :)
I hope NUX is reading this!
Vinnie Classroom I will post this little feature request list on fb and perhaps comment a couple of other yt vids. Since NUX don‘t publicly offer ways to contact them, that is all I can do.
Btw. your video made me aware of the Mighty Air :)
Do you know if the Nux can be charged using a USB-C to USB-C cable? Or is it only USB-A to USB-C?
@@AxemanMessiah charge via usb C
@@PedalRebel880 Yes, but is it USB-A to C or USB-C charging? Example, can it charge from a Macbook Pro C port?
Had the Boss Katana Mini, Spark, THR10X, THR10ii, Nux Mighty Lite BT, and Nux Mighty Plug. The Spark comes last for me, even though it has killer features I cannot justify the size to sound ratio. It is boomy with average speakers inside it, making all of the unlimited tones sound good at best. The grounding issue, and other caveats made me sell mine, however, the app and tone options are the best. The best amp IMO is the Mighty Air, Mighty Plug, and THR10ii. I like having the Plug for extreme portability while having the same DSP as the MG200 and Mighty Air, making it pretty much unbeatable in terms of portable performance. For home use I use the THR10ii due to the speakers and easy tone control, would have used the Mighty Air, but I felt it was too big to be portable (compared to the Plug), and a bit too small for daily home use (could be done, but a bit lacking), so the THR10ii gets played there. If you cannot have the Plug and THR combo, then get the Mighty Air.
THR10II or the THR10X? Thanks
What was wrong with the katana mini?
The NUX sounds good with the clean settings, but sounds horribly muffled when you applied overdrive and distortion.
Great review! I’ve got both, after purchasing the Nu-X Mighty Air to keep me entertained while waiting for my Spark to be delivered. The Nu-X produces some fantastic tones but is let down by the tiny speakers. This should not be a surprise and plugging in a good set of headphones produces some really nice amp, IR and pedal models.
The Spark is great, for all the reasons everyone knows about. It’s great fun to jam along with and it sounds big for its size. It’s just a bit too gutless to hang in the mix with a drummer and bass, but I’ve got an old Bandit for those occasions.
If I was doing it all again I’d probably not worry about the Spark and just get the Mighty Air and a set of good phones, then look at something bigger with tubes (although I LOVE my old Bandit).
See if you can cancel the order, its such crap!
I'd go so far as to refuse delivery...
I wish I had, but I didn't know how bad it was.
Anybody have tried the Spark Mini and Nux Mighty Air? Between those two, which one would you recommend and why? I'm playing to buy either of those but I can't decide
I kept a open mind while watching. After hearing both amps, I see what your point. It is cool what Nux was able to do fir such a small amp and I would maybe use it for travel purposes where I need to put in in luggage. With that said for an actual practice amp it is the Spark for sure....it just sounds so much better. The Nux sound sounded small and you could tell it was a very small amp. I am glad I’ve already ordered the Spark for my practice amp. Hearing them side by side did not do the Nux any favors!
but have you gotten your Spark yet? I hear they are slow on delivery.
@@gosman949 it actually only took a week to get mine. I love it!
It depends a bit on what you want to play. Most amps can play metal or hard rock fizzy, treble pickup stuff. What's difficult is to do anything else which is what the spark does. So you can play a light rock with long singing sustain and have it not be fizzy.
How is the Nux compared to the Vox Mini5 Rhythm . ??
Should not spark 40 be in the range of Katana?
Just buy both :) Started with NuX for the battery, wireless, and portability. The spark will be my new practice amp/desk amp.
the Spark and Boss apps allow you to film yourself playing to a backing track. also the spark has foot controller for the app.
yet the Air foot control works on amp channels so i think it would be great if they came out with an amp that has channel switching and app foot controll and and effects loop
I look at the mighty air as a mighty plug with intergrated Bluetooth speaker (with added limited controls) obviously the bigger speaker of the spark is going to blow it away (and the katana's 12"speaker will blow that away).
That said, getting a good active speaker with the mighty plug might be an even better option
Indeed, I plug my mighty plug into my Adam monitor and did a review. Many of my friends can't believe it is from a tiny little thing...
That's a valuable video, thanks. I'm currently in the middle of deciding between these two
Have you decided? 🤔
@@guardianobserver6593 I actually ordered the Spark... but according to tracking website I have probably one month of waiting until it's getting shipped out. Which means I can still cancel the order, get a refund and buy something else
@@bullfrogboss8008
Thank you.
I like the WiFi capability of the nux mighty air since I can't stand either cables or headphones.
Spark sounds better, but I love the form factor of the nux. Just looked at the price. So tempting for 100. I ordered a spark two weeks ago, but the nux is so cool! A must buy if travel a lot.
yes they both have their place in the game!
I have the Spark and a NUX Mighty Lite BT. I think the NUX sounds better. I made a comparison video. Its hard to get great tones from the Spark but the "tone cloud" helps a lot! The NUX sounds great immediately without tweaking. The Spark sounds muddy and needs lots of tweaking, but great tone IS in there.
Spark is indeed a little boomy but that can be adjusted :)
1000% agree. I own both and the Nux is far superior. Spark has much more hype, in terms of sound quality it cannot be compared to the Nux.
@@AxemanMessiah You're kidding aren't you the spark shits all over the NuX !!
@@88Nikoli I'm deciding which one to get I have Yamaha thr 2 but not the rechargeable battery one. It is limited in tone. I'm trying to decide if I should to get spark or nux.
Had a spark, sold it after 2 days. I agree it's very muddy sounding. I don't want an amp I have to really search just to get good tones. My katana instantly sounded great with metal, crunch, clean. I'd still like a mini amp with Bluetooth features, not a spark mini though. I just don't trust the brand.
For me the clear winner is nux. Tbh I’ve only heard about spark from their Facebook ads and thousands of people complaining in the comment section they’re waiting 9-10 months for delivery.
On the other hand I’ve never heard any complaints about nux, I own one of their products and it’s amazing.
Check out those NUX pedals that I've reviewed then :) You won't be disappointed
After a lot of thought, Im getting neither. I have settled on the Line 6 Catalyst. 😎
Actually, there are more than these 2 choices these days. This video can hardly keep up with the new products out there!
A very helpful review, thank you.
Glad you like it.
If Spark had wireless and battery, I'd probably go for it, but Nux has NO cords running out all over the place and is so neat and tidy not to mention able to operate up to 16 hours on the battery.
Spark mini is a good contender now.
It's not true that the NUX doesn't have usb audio out, in my case, I use it in my Mac as it was an interface. It is detected by the Mac and able to record directly with the daw.
Not really a far comparison you should do a spark 40 vs mighty space as they both in same league
I have a Nux Mighty Plug, which is the headphone amp version that uses basically the same software as the Mighty Air. It's 70 bucks and you can always plug it into a good pair of speakers if you want to hear it loud. The Spark doesn't appeal to me because most of the cool features are stuff I wouldn't use, but I can see why people like it. Also, it's great to see a non-sponsored review for it!
I think non-sponsored videos are like the flower of a cactus.
I’ve got both these amps the spark wins hands down I mean it’s not that big on your desk etc
The Spark plays bass and drums for you! I'm waiting for mine. Just Paid a week ago.
Your going to love it. Got mine a month ago. Use it every day. Often just use it without the app, works great. Has great tone, super easy and flexible to adjust tone nuances amazing quality sound. Hook it up to my high end home stereo for incredible Rockstar sound. Works great with my pedal. Very versatile amp, I practice more now because of it, stereo affect is awesome sounding clarity with reverb on amp and through my stereo system.
As soon as you get it upgrade the amps firmware, it easy.
I ordered mine almost a week ago so was just wondering how long it took for yours to arrive??
Have you got it yet? 😂
yes, but like a shitty back up band. You won't end up using those features as they totally suck. Also, the Bluetooth speaker sounds like it's pushing sound through a pillow and no way to adjust the eq when streaming.
@@airgliderz wait, can you plug in pedals to this amp? I never figured out how.
I am confused between positive grid 10W and Nux Mighty 10W. Which is better for acoustic guitar?
Thanks vinnie and everyone in the comment section. Im convinced i should get the nux mighty , my eletric guitar got abandoned due to me getting a brand new accouatic and the nux seems so complete im happy if its not a ultra crisp tone. 2 big questions: How does this perform as a regular music speaker and what is the usb c audio interface on the back? Thank you
Happy to help! 1- It works well as a regular speaker. 2- For charging or firmware update :)
NUX I think I’ll get, as there are so many bad write ups about the Spark back-up and repairs problems.
Give it a try in real life anyways
@@PedalRebel880 anyways is not a word any ways is two words and anyway is a word !
Awesome joined from Huntington WV Great playing much love God bless
I got the M A today, the shower in te shop What is can do, I’m a street musisian and treed iT this evening on the street with an accoustick guitar witm otputmodule, i could here almost no sound and the plug in in the AMP workshop only when its not complete in the guitar plugt, its a stereo plug, when putting iT compleate in Nothing workshop anymore. I’m very dissepointed. When i pul iT half in the volume is very low while the volume is open, i need something smal with batterij and loder wuift singpossebillities, can you advise something like that, i try to bring back to the shop, What can you advise me? Thx al lott 🙏
Sorry for my late reply. I think you should bring your purchase back to the shop and get them to run a check. Does sounds like you've got a faulty unit!
I believe one aspect that matters most is the quality of amp simulation rather than how many amps you got. Nux simulation is 10x better IMHO.
I'm really curious about how the laney mini stack (lion or iron) compares to both of these...
just got Spark40 yesterday and I own a Fender LT25 and a VOX VT20X and I love this little beast. For starters they all sound great in their own right but travel wise I definitely prefer the Spark. Not only that but that Hendrix was worth the bucks I spent to have it in the Spark40.
Happy New Amp Day!!
Have gotten a chance to check out the new NUX Mighty Space?
I’m hesitating to either buy the Spark for $300 USD or go all the way for the Space at $450 but idk if it’s worth the extra money
Hey! I just did a video on the NUX Mighty Space, against the Mesa Dual Rectifier. Check it out. I'll say it is worth the extra money :)
@@PedalRebel880 thanks for the response, I’ll definitely check it out
I have a Mighty Lite BT which I really love. Also, I just got word that my Spark shipped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😀😀
After how many months? lol
I remember in 2019 everyone was amped about the Boss Katana Air at $399.
That was really not too long ago!
spark is great i connect it to a makita 18v battery and take to work with every day on building sites :)
Vinnie thanks for doing this man and beautiful playing ✌🏼 I just got a nux for noodling and You said something so true . If you need that ‘special’ sound , go get a tube amp with a couple of pedals 🤷🏼 stay safe Man 😷
Thank you for your kind words :)
SPARK also has many amps and pedals..locked behind a pay wall...you have to pay extra to use them...
Spark all day every day! \m/
Like sparkling water!
Depending on what deals are going at the time, The boss katana 50 is cheaper than the spark and even the katana 100 is around the same price if positive grid have no offers available. The katana is a far better amp and can be gigged as you progress from beginner. If you REALLY want an expensive desktop amp the Yamaha THR series are far better than the spark - don't be sold on idiot features like smart jam.
For everyone making this experience with Spark, Katana, THR, there are 20 Spark fanboys that don't know any other modeling amp and will tell you how the Spark is just so great 😄 It's a shame how that amp was pushed by big ass RUclipsrs...
I mean, I liked the concept of the Spark. But the sound is just unbearable (and not eq-able to make it decent).
I only got decent sounds out of the Spark with a FRFR speaker cab. But if I can't use the built-in speakers, I can just get a $70 multi FX Pedal with more effects, better sound, smaller footprint etc. and hook it up to home stereo or headphones. I don't sell gear very often, but the Spark was just wasted space.
You can use Nux straight into audio interface, I have
The Spark sounds way better. To me Tone is everything and the Spark simply sounds better. There's also another Amp that I would conceder which is the Yamaha THR30. This Amp is twice the cost of Spark but very similar sounds. They both Lack the Foot Switch which I don't understand. I would definitely consider the Yamaha if there was a Foot switch option but for now I'm pretty happy with my Spark.
Well, I guess every one of these amps is designed for bedroom practice at low volume hence the lack of a footswitch option.
the Spark has a spark controll that controlls the app when the app is on .
and the x air foot controll is the amp channel switcher
Great comparo, thanks!
I spend a lot of time playing through headphones. I currently have a line 6 Firehawk fx which is similar to the spark as far as iPad connectivity except the Firehawk is pedal form and isn’t in production anymore. I’m curious how the NUX sounds through headphones.
Check out my video on the NUX Mighty Plug, they run the same system and I played it through the headphone output.
Does the spark have anyway to connect to and amp for a larger stack?
Spark can only work with its own built-in speakers and not a cabinet. Spark does not have a line output, only a headphone output. So it's still possible to run it through a PA or powered speakers. It also has USB interface so you can play it through your studio monitors.
VERY helpful. 👍👍
Really well constructed review. It is exactly what I needed to see and hear to know which to get.
For me, wanting to go from room to room, wanting to go to the beach, wanting to go to a hotel or cabin… which do you think is my winner?
NUX - YES.
Thanks mate. ⭐️⭐️
Glad I can help!
Well 12lbs is alot better then a lunchbox tube amp and 1x10 or 1x12 or 2x12 cab. And 250-300 for a practice amp w said features isnt cheap but its not a valve amp.
Not a good way to compare how two practice amps sound in real life though 99% of reviewers seem to use the same approach.
If you want to show a true comparison then don't connect the amps directly to the PC or mike them for recording. Instead record them together with the ambience of the room they're in by placing the amps 2-3 meters away from the mike.
If you do this viewers will hear just how thin and tinny one of the amps sounds compared to the other - no prizes for guessing which.
Honestly, I did think about recording the ambiance sound. Or rather, a more accurate way our ears will interpret the amps. But that will not be easy. The amp reacts differently in different rooms, different surfaces, or even if there is a wall or a corner behind it. So while my method of micing the amp up like this may not be a good representation, it still allows the audience to understand that this is the tone that can be achieved out of these small amplifiers. For years, we have been told that those great big tones are produced by micing up a 412 cab and small practice amps will sound horrible even with close micing. However, these 2 amps sound great with simple close micing. So if anyone is on a budget, the NUX fairs fairly close to the Positive Grid.
Good shout! Very hard to find a fair rep of the nux considering its size... experience tells me theres no way it sounds like most peoples demos
Unfortunately the app is crap! It just works on some android versions (e.g. got it running on 6 and 8) but not in others (e.g. on 10 it always asks to enable GPS, while this is already on). On some resolution, the first two tabs are so far shifted to the right, that they are unusable. I'll send it back for the blackstar fly 3...
Dude why these repeated responses 🤷🏼
@@jimmylimohello2538 Warning interested people of course... why else should I comment?
Hi Vinnie nice music in
the background
I like it very much
can you tell me what
song it is and the group ?
Incomptech!
So if I wanted to record from the NUX without mic on the amp but wanted to go into an Audio Interface to record directly could you go from the headphone jack to the interface with an adapter if needed for the jack?
If you plug into the headphones does it silence the amp? Or can you still control the volume of the amp and the headphones independently.
Because of the lack of audio out via USB, the solution would be to use the headphone jack as audio out. Yes it will silent the amp but I can still hear it from my monitors as I have lined it into my mixer. You can still control the volume from the amp but you can also boost or cut it from your mixer in this way. At some point, it will distorted but that's because of wrong volume set. Hope that helps.
Nice review. The NUX is battery powered and as far I can tell, the Spark 40 is not. Hence, two totally different categories of product.
Is the mighty air suitable for electro acoustic guitars ? Does it have acoustic IRS ?
spark is not that good as expected, i tried it and it's much worse than cheap 5wat tube marshal, the only difference are the effects.
Cheap Marshall where do you buy them ? Even a 5W tube amp is dearer than a Spark !
I went with the Spark, but I only want to record and practice with it. If I was more worried about speaker quality or volume for gigging I'd go with the Boss Kanata 50. But for what I want, the endless pedal options, USB out, and chord recognition too is gonna be so nice. No more using Chordify for chord recognition. Only downside is they're seemingly always struggling to keep stock. I ordered the Spark 3 days ago, and their website says estimated 1 month until it ships. It is probably too much for a beginner though. My only real concern with the spark is that they will stop supporting the app some years down the line. If that happens the amp would lose basically everything that makes it special. Wish I would have caught that spark sale. I paid $259 for mine.
Still a decent amp without the fancy tech :)
Well, you seem to have your priorities straight, then. The Spark is for doing exactly for that; practice. I see vids of guys massively altering them to play gigs and whatnot, but it's not made for that. I however, find the Katana 50 doesn't do the job live. So the katana sits unused since getting the Spark. For some reason, SS just won't do it unless the whole band is using it.
Interesting video and as you said at the beginning, long ago, the practice amp was just a box with a speaker and the sound was ... well awful ... most of the time.
Personally, the choice really depends on what you are looking for in an amp. Both very good, both with good features and in any case they open a thousand doors for beginners. Bad to say but maybe, at this point, it depends only on how much you want to spend.
(I personally have a spark and it's amazing)
I do believe these modern practice amps are great! They help beginners to have a go on all sorts of effects without spending extra money!
If sound quality is important to you, I suggest trying out the Yamaha THR10ii instead of the Spark. Spark has a very flabby low end.
another good contender!
The sounds I get out of my THR10x are MUCH fuller than those out of my Spark - not even close
Really? When did you start? At age 13? HAHAHAHAHAHA! I started in 1964. On a Stella (economy version of Harmony). If you hat a strat, you were the envy of the whole school! Fuzz boxes were the only effect besides outboard reverb. Mine was called a fuzzzboxxx. Clever.
What's happening today absolutely blows my mind. I've had every practice amp from the Pignose and Cube 20 to the Galien-Kruger! I don't remember the name of the model. It was the 70s, after all. Maybe eighties. Two 8" speakers AND a pre amp out. The cube also had a pre amp out. I used to use the cube into an old deluxe reverb.
I had ALL of them, old and new, including the Boss Katana 50. I just got my Spark 40 a couple of weeks ago. Now, I've been playing guitar for nearly 60 years, but have been dormant for around 20 years since leaving NYC. The most I've done is noodling around for a few minutes and then lacking motivation, I stop. The first time I played through the Spark, I played for 3 hours straight, never getting tired or bored. To me, the Spark is the greatest invention of the 21st century, which is largely devoid of anything good; whether music related or otherwise. I love it. Pure and simple.
Would you say the NUX Mighty Air is louder, quieter, or about the same as a typical dreadnaught acoustic guitar?
Louder because of the higher frequency it can produce.Basically your typical portable Bluetooth speaker
Thanks for making the review. Did you get to listen to both through head phones? Or plugged into the audio processor to DAW?
it is not possible to plug the Mighty Air into the DAW during the point of this video. Otherwise, the quality of the NUX is the same through headphones as their Mighty Plug.
I'm running the nux mighty plug 2 through a Sony xb30 speaker and it kicks ass
Does this means that it is possible to use ( better ) external stereo BLUETOOTH speakers with the NU-X Mighty ? If yes, when you do this, does it shut off the internal speakers ? Is it simple to do ? Right there in the menu ?? Many thanks for your help !!!!
@clodehamelin
At least as a general rule you won't find setups that have you playing through a Bluetooth connection. The protocol/processing adds too much latency.
You can stream backing tracks via bt TO your amp because it doesn't matter that it's got a bit of latency between the sending device sending and you hearing it - but latency between picking a string and hearing it becomes very painful very quickly.
If you look at wireless guitar rigs you'll see they aren't bt but regular radio or wifi.
There are rather newer lower latency BT protocols but I'm not aware of them being used that way, might still have too much.
Nux Mighty Air vs Boss Katana Air which one is better please🙏🎸
Hmmm....
Features, The NUX all day. Sound quality and "real" amp sound, I'd go with the BOSS Katana(if your talking about the $100 Katana mini) I've been comparing them for the last month or so, watched and listened to reviews and even went into Guitar Center and played a litttle BOSS Katana.
@@WolfMountford Yes, it really depends on what the user is looking for. I will go with Nux for the size because it makes it easy to bring it around.
@@PedalRebel880 Quick question. I'm really on the fence between the NUX BT Lite and the NUX Air. From what I've heard, volume isn't much of a difference, however the NUX Air supposedly sounds fuller(due to the two speakers). But, sound quality, volume, and easy to operate, and features, which one would you recommend to me? I'd greatly appreciate any insight you have on the 2 ✌🏽
@@WolfMountford I will suggest you to head down to a store to give them a try yourself. These tiny amps are really hard to capture on video. The position you place them in your room affects the tone too. Though I will personally go for the Nux Mighty Air, probably because of the dual speakers and the wireless capability.
You say Mighty Air has no USB audio out - but the software has USB Audio settings...?
The USB-C at the back of the amp is only meant for charging. I'm not aware if they have updated any firmware to allow it to send audio signal out form that. The amp also allows Bluetooth audio in, so you can play music from your phone through the amp.
@@PedalRebel880Yes, you're right. They updated the firmware. It can now works as an USB audio interface plus added some new EFXs. :)
@@fyzrald oh now we're talking!
I had the spark for a week...very disappointing...i just couldnt get into it. The amp sounds were very lacking
Great comparison. Thank you. Right now, I’m pretty sure I’m going to go with the Mighty Air. I’m thinking I can get the sound to open up a bit by placing it in a corner with a tile floor. We’ll see. The fact that it’s completely wireless makes that an easy proposition though. But first, I need to check out your Mighty Plug video!😉👍
For anyone else thinking of buying of the Mighty Air, I would suggest checking out Dave Simpson’s rather extensive playing demo. He gets some amazing tones out of it, but I’m pretty sure the average player can’t come close to the sound quality he obtains. Gives us something to aim for though.
when he says IR 20 does that mean you have internal recording capabilities like some Line 6 amps or others. My MAIN GOAL is a rechargeable amp to walk around town playing. Im gonna try and find more info but I nearly bought a Spark for 240 compared to like 180 for the NUX thinking it was something like a pig nose but with lithium ION rechargeable batterys not needing a plug power source. and figuring 60 bucks spread even though 240 is some money for 60 bucks I would take the built in drums and the app that creates backing to WHAT YOUR playing. Im OBVIOUSLY not gear or tech savey but I also like the idea of going into my PC and recording . I am super bad with tech but thought I might get my head around that. Currently i use a line 6 spider Jam with its little internal recording and multi tracking to play over beats and record a rythm track on the fly or work on an idea and then record lead and solo over that mostly to hear how I sound and what my ideas sound like as a listener , funny enough stuff I think might sound good playing sounds less then and shit I thought was not so sounds good to great ( for me). Anyway sorry to bother you but its an older vid and you responded recently so I thought you might be able to hip me a bit. Im gonna try and read watch more on the NUX and see if it would suit my purpose. As far as I know its the only thing like that that has lithium Ion so you can busk a bit . I would hope to record or use canned blues /rock/metal/ and Jazz canned tracks to put the spice on which for electric is better and fuller if your at my level and dont have to carry everything and FRANKLY seem and sound more adept if your just soloing and putting some licks over . The Nux really is the only kind of rechargeable of its type yeah? Dont want to lug around an old pignose with pedals and all that Thanks
@@MrGravloc The 20 IR part actually refers to the number of impulse responses included in the software. Those are speaker cabinet emulations. So no, it doesn’t have any internal recording capabilities. One thing that has changed since this video was made is that NUX, through a firmware update, has added the ability to record directly to a computer using the usb output. Pretty cool. It basically works like an audio interface. Actually, reading more of your comment, you seem to be aware of that new feature.
I think the Mighty Air might work perfectly as your walk-around amp. The wireless capability just adds to that. I’m not aware of a similar unit, but things change fast. I actually have a feeling that NUX might eventually come out with a larger version of the Mighty Air. It just seems like a logical step.
Anyway, good luck with your busking. The only concern I have is that the little NOX might not be loud enough, but that depends on the background noise level of where you play. It would probably be fine in fairly quiet locations, right? Let us know how things work out if you get one!
@@renodavid Im kinda poor and havent bought ANYTHING not a necessity , fun, on CL for free , in free charity shops that rich folk donate stuff I wouldnt have bought when I mad 150K a year , used , really good deal or gifted for some reciprocal InterAction . Been through a rough 15 years but luckily always frugal so less shocking to the system then to a consumer driven individual . Just turned 55 and havent celebrated my birthday fpr ever with only one family .member alive who also doesnt make much of that . I got 900.00 as payback for a recent shitty happening and yesterday along with a cheap bed in a box for 270 , a 240.00 tablet and a few other things I said FUCK IT and added it to my Amazon cart and hit checkout with 100.00 left over to celebrate 55 and get something purely for want and new, 180 not really being a lot of money and only seeming so because of the size of the physical unit . BUT , I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOREVER for this exact product and was always SHOCKED it didnt exist like 5 or more years ago and would go into gear shops asking what was available thinking IT MUST EXIST BY NOW ,
So yeah, got one and will probably take a while to use its potential fumble fucking but will serve my main want . The wireless aspect is cool , all the features really, especially if I can get even 50% of use.
Thanks for responding , I did sit through some other vids and got hip to what I R means. I can barely use the features on the Line Six Spider Jam Amp I got real cheap essentially un used and before that mostly just played through the ubiquitous 30W Fender Champ with an Old wah and a 90s Korean sea through day glo boat anchor BC Rich " Classic " ( traditional two horned body ) originally using a library of CD backing tracks of EVERY TyPE of music/genre to ' practice scales on" which somewhat quickly turned into "music" after playing 10 hours a day somewhat often and 4-5 regulary when I started in my 30s .
I have ZERO Understanding of theory and merely look at tabs that show scales and memorize the positions on the kneck and then drill in a MUSICAL way until they are in there and pick up little things here and there. I am quite bright but have serious LDs that make aspects really difficult but figured out bends , vibrato , pinch and other stuff very quick and just try to emulate styles with what I do know and trial and error discover stuff . I sometimes get 1 tiny thing from the 100s of video tutorials that open something up or link something else , but instruction from good and patient teachers sounds like mandarin and with my type of dyslexia watching somebody across from ,me and looking at their fingers and neck position is similarly nonsense when it goes through my frontal lobe and trys to make it to my hippocampus and other areas . I am probably using areas of the brain NOT AT ALL designed for the task to feel my way around in the dark , BUT!!! sometimes and I cant predict when my hands and fingers detach and do their own thing and I just watch with some level of amazement wondering who is doing that ?
So, it is a type of cognitive therapy to try and stimulate damaged areas and try what I am worst at. Ive got like 30K hours of playing and practice and can only play stuff I create ( which I end up forgetting eventually) or improv /Jamming. The 10 or so times somebody paid me to play was always to a canned track or track I made with me playing "loosely" over it . BUT it is still fun . I can fool some pretty good musicians and non musicians pretty easily that I am a player, and i will say no and they say I cant dly around the fretboard like that or get that emotion in a bend or whatever ., but I am not a 30K hour dedicated practicing player as I 'should be" and do not ever expect to be but I have just played on the street with my amp plugged into my car or dragging along a Pig Nose and pedals in very Random spots and gotten lots of thumbs up, smiles and cheers , little audiences, singles . fivers and 20s and all that which is fun . One guy heard me playing in a parking lot near a walking trail that had a outlet under a gazeebo and said why dont you at least do it out front of my beer and coffee cafe I which I did for tips and it was nerve wracking but everybody was happy , so there ya go.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Perhaps I will add to the thread one day after I have messed around. I AM SURE I WILL ENJOY IT , maybe more then somebody who can fully utilize it as its gotta be over a decade I have thought it should exist .
@@renodavid Im not sure why , but I will add that Frank Zappa is my favourite muscian / composer and what I listen to most till this day after buying apostrophe for 1.00 at like 10 . I appreciate all music and have always thought it was like MAGIC , then I found out it was sort of Math and other practical things I can struggle with ( I cant navigate either which is similar to learning a "song" with directions and a path to stick to if you want to get their and not hit a tree , crash , drive in circles or get lost , but a car ride with no where you need to be so cant be lost is fun also) .
So I kinda know how the sausage is made but IT STLL seems magic or a super power , which OF COURSE depending on who and what IT IS and because of the magical aspect one can still enjoy doing it as part of it is not math or sport which guitar playing is an 'athletic endeavor ' despite being art at its best or highly polished craft and the ART part allows for uniqueness regardless of proficiency and there in lies the magic of making "air sculptures " as Frank Called music . So yeah , one doesnt need to be a great artist but everybody should at least try to create "some" or they are missing part of the trip . Even if its just stuff only a mom would hang on a fridge :) Cheers Brother , thanks for the reply
@@MrGravloc Hello! I thought I’d check back to see what’s up. I hope you’re having fun on your musical journey and I hope the little NUX is working for you. I FINALLY broke down and bought one after I found a pretty good deal on EBay. It’s supposed to arrive on Thursday. Looking forward to messing with it. I’m in the same boat as you with not having much extra money since I retired, so I made sure I was getting something that gave me a lot of bang for the buck. I think the Mighty Air qualifies.
what brand is your guitar?
That's a Suhr Modern.
beautiful and sounds great too
@@roxannem502 Thank you
I play in a praise band with bass, drums, and a keyboard. I am going with mighty air. The Sounds are heavenly. Not loud enough on its own? No problem, will plug it into my Rumble 25!
Indeed! Lots of usable sound in a tiny package
if those two amps had a baby, it would be the boss katana air!!!😂
Haha...
Mighty Air
Erm, mighty air does usb audio and even does re-amping!
Anybody having probs with buzz noise .
I have both the spark and the mighty mite BT as well. The mighty might BT sounds amazing, and kind of revolutionary -- I think it started some of this stuff.
But you can't compare it to the spark 40. It beats every other thing in its class. I'm not sure you can gig with it, but it's got to be the best practice app out there. And I think it's best for students because it will play clean and it will play blues and fusion and hard rock I think.
I own both along with the Nux Mighty Plug. The Spark is good but in terms of sound quality to size ratio, it is mediocre. It sounds boxy, there is a hum issue due to grounding, and very bass heavy even on single coils. The Nux in reference sounds spatial for its size, crisp, and has more than enough tones and features where it lets the player practice without limiting it in any way.
Yamaha THR10x better than Spark all day long re: fuller, richer sound
@@sona3486 Agreed, the THR10 is far superior to the spark in sound quality. The Nux sounds more spatial and open than even the Yamaha!
@@AxemanMessiah
Are you talking of the "nux mighty air" right?
Can you low the volume (like a low volume TV) for practice at night? Is the sound good at this lower volume? (I can't stand headphones).
@@guardianobserver6593 I'm talking about the Mighty Lite, but it is the same for the Air. Yes you can lower volume and it will still sound fantastic!
Expensive? $224? I remember back in the late 80s When youd have to chop off your fretting hand just to get a still mostly crappy/ mediocre amp with hardly any features and it would still sound like hammered shit!
Sorry to say my man but you kinda lost me on the "tough choice" quote and I'm not sure what great tube amp is out there for a whopping $224
I don't think you can find much out there for any kind of serious even ss amp for $224
That's not huge $
If you are 14 years old, $224 is definitely a huge sum of money. Many of my students happen to fall in that category of enthusiastic but not cash-rich. So well yes I agree expensive has many different interpretations.
@@PedalRebel880 you mentioned buying a tube amp instead , whilst saying the spark is hard to move to contradictions a tube amp is more expensive and harder to move especially for 14 y.o. !
@@PedalRebel880 also every 12 y.o. has a smart phone nowadays that's worth three times the cost of a Spark so they just have to prioritise and sacrifice ! Just like we did when beginning !
Actually, the little Monoprice Stage Right 15-watt 1x12 is a tremendous-sounding tube amp that started out priced at around $200 a year or two ago. Unfortunately, it’s proven to be so popular that the price has jumped to $280 from Monoprice and $300 from Amazon, but it’s sold out at both places. They do, however, have a cool little 5-watt tube amp (no reverb though) with an 8-inch speaker for $160. That one is in stock.
Its literally only 50 dollars cheaper than the spark.
I've not been following on the pricing but I'm not surprised the prices will be pretty close.
Spark all the way
Spark sounds great. This thing sounds sounds really good for acoustic. I think the Spark is the shit. The Spark is one of the coolest amps. If you want a cheap alternative to Pod. Sounds better.
This post sounds like Uncle Roger.. actually Spark nails distorted tones as well as well as clean. I think it does it better than my THD or line 6.
I bought the Positive Grid Spark. Much regret buying it online without hearing it first. Beware the hype...
The speaker in it is total crap - immediately audible, in spite of the FX, they can't cover it up!
And everything else is set up to keep their hands in your pocket buying every little effect, as it purposely doesn't come with much.
-> The Mighty Air is much more worth the money with its great and convenient functionality. Smaller but better drivers.
placement of the amp matters too. Try putting it near a wall or on the corner of your table
@@PedalRebel880 LOL no placement will fix a poor quality driver.
I have various good amps, tube amps and active speakers, including Genelec and Yamaha. My tiny Blackstar Travel amp is less loud, but still sounds better. So does the NUX Mighty Air - by a country mile.
What Spark needs to do is not be so cheap and install a better driver.
Have a look at the drivers NUX installed in their Mighty Air amp. Those are small, but high quality drivers - 3 of them!
Spark FX are a money-grubbing scheme, unlike the Mighty Air that gives you all you need for the price charged, plus integrated wireless. Spark is greedy and cheap and stays in my bad corner until they shape up.
@@Pharesm True that :) But hey just offering some suggestions to help with your Spark. The more common complaint about Spark is how boomy it sounds. Though it is also the reason why many prefer Spark, for the low-frequency capability. :) On the other hand, I sure enjoy my NUX!
@@PedalRebel880 So we really agree ^^
because "boomy" is a major part of poor sound, caused largely by 3 things: drivers with poor/cheap engineering and poor membrane stability and enclosures with poor stability and/or poor sizing, lack of damping.
And finally, putting it in a closet and listening through the closed door :D
@@Pharesm :D No comments :D
Nu- x Rules!
Sorry I have both and the spark is far superior. It definitely is worth the extra money for my needs. The nux sounds thin in comparison. I know everyone says it sounds good with headphones but it's an amp not headphone amp! Lol my two cents
I guess we have our preferences. :)
The NuX simply sounded more musical to me.
You’re comparing apples & oranges
While the Spark is still on sale, another $30 gets you the Spark.
I'm selling my Spark and you can have more than $30 off, just to get that unused aggravation out of my house...
Granted, I could install a KEF speaker, maybe strengthen the cabinet in strategic locations and get good sound out of it. But then there's still the *nickle-and-diming* you for everything. So no, Spark is not worth as much as the Mighty Air, which gives you a complete package and memory for 4 different effects chains with a comprehensive selection of FX with all the adjustments you get on dedicated multiFX pedals. All very convenient and quick to set up and tweak to your liking. Its like an all-Inclusive vacation. ;-) And no, I don't work for Nux...
The Nux Mighty plug has the same FX, but it doesn't work as well, because you still have cables on your guitar, and the battery is short on charge.
People who say Nux sounds better..... you got to get your ears checked :D Spark sounds so much better just saying..
What you doing recording at 1am go to bed
No contest, Spark 40, sorry
but can you use the Spark 40 while camping? :P
However, the Spark fails due to flat tones...
Vinnie Classroom why would you?
Wow, they both sound bad. If you really really need portable or are on a very limited budget, I can see possibly putchasing, but most people want a small, good sounding home. In that case, stop wasting your money on these small crap amps that are overhyped and just get either a good analog pedal platform amp or a multli effects unit and some studio Monitors.
Yeah or a NASA rocket base, why not, to keep it simple, y'know.
Making the statement, "lugging it (the Spark) out of the house is a chore" only hurts your own credibility.
this is a comedy act right?''''''SPARK blows it outta the water..give me a freaking break!
both sounds like garbage! get a yamaha thr!
I like the Yamaha THR too!
YOUR MISLEADING YOU VEWERS. I OWN A SPARK. YOU INFO IS NOT ACURATE.