They seemed to be aimed at two different sound preferences. The Yahama reminds me of some old tube amps I used to have. Warm but lacking crisp highs, and heavily biased towards mid tones. It's basically sounds like it's designed for a vintage sound. Would be great if you're in to 50's, 60's, and early to mid 70's rock music, surfer sound, bosa nova, etc. The Boss has a better frequency spread with nice crisp highs, and the effects sound like they are geared towards a more up-to-date sound, so like 80's, 90's, and up. Each one seems to be very good at what it's trying to do. Bang for the buck I'd have to give the Boss the edge because they've really done a great job at a $100 battery powered portable amp! Yamaha wins on the "cool" factor. Not only can you play some 60's rock music on it, but you can pretend that the glow coming from the inside are really tubes that are creating that vintage sound ;)
THR's reverb effect makes it sound very big and full, but if you remove it, you'll find that the dry tone of the Katana is a noticeable bit better. Maybe it's not the same for, but that's how i hear it.
Yamaha hands down,I have two THR10C for dual amp setup,sound is killer. Update : recently brought the Katana Mini I'm floored by the sound of this lol amp, sounds like a big one.
Both are cool. I have owned the THR10 for a few years and it’s my main amp. I play at home and bedroom volumes and can’t crank it due to family. In that type of situation I have not seen anything better than the THR. It sounds very good at very low volumes. It does have a very cool stereo sound as well. I play along to albums and backing tracks and you can mix the sound very well due to the separate auxiliary volume. If you use the editor you can tweak the tones much more. I get a very good brown sound and slash type tone with the THR.
I love my thr 5. The stereo sound is amazing and to have a battery powered amp that sounds amazing makes playing anyplace easy. Sounds great with an iPhone to listen to music too.
Katana sounded better clean, the THR5 had better crunch, and both Brown and Brit Hi were pretty close, but the Yamaha seemed like it had some slight room reverb or something to make it sound a little more warm.
Kinda tough to say for sure,if anything I would say they both have their own sound, the katana mini sound a little tighter, while the Yamaha had a more vintage-ish sound. Got to do the Vox mini/katana mini comparison next ;-)
I love my THR10 and my THR10C. You can't go wrong unless you are specifically looking for very high gain metal (which the THR10 and THR10X kind of do anyway). The cleans sound great, and they are loud enough for home use. What makes them a bargain is the fact that they double as a USB Audio interace and a hi-fi speaker (through the AUX input). As a hi-fi speaker the sound is a bit lacking since everything is voiced for guitars, but I have used them with my ipad and iphone for music, podcasts and casual movie watching many times. The only downside is that it's not a very good amp for street performance, because they turn off if you drive them too hard while on batteries and then you have to restart them. But as a home, recording, and travel amp they're almost perfect. Oh, and the cabinet can buzz/rattle a *little* bit at certain notes frequencies, but I don't even notice it any more (it's much less severe than tube rattle on a Peavey Classic 30, for example).
I vote for the Katana, every time. But it could be that it suits that guitar better. Still, for the money, I’d get the Boss. Great video, Landon. Informative and great production, as always :)
I have been playing the thr 5 for three years ..it is truly great. i grab it to go camping ,play out on my deck or around the firepit at my niehbros house. The sterio play back of the aux in sounds great with my phone or ipad . I have 20 guitars that all sound different ,i just plug in turn a couple knobs and have great sound in seconds,, thats what i love, no menus, no programming, no fuss and the sound is surrounding, totally worth the extra cash.Another friend bought one 20 min after playing on mine, and hes a cheap ass, so there ya go.
the Yamaha sounds "tubier", more mid focused and round and sort of "produced"/processed more, the Katana is sort of rawer but in a good way. I like the Crunch tone a lot, it's really good for an alt rock kinda tone, hard to imagine that with the Yamaha. It feels like with the 3 drive tones and some pedals you'd get more out of the Katana tbh, not to knock the THR too much.
Honestly they both sound unbelievable for the size. I'd go with either one of them. I own the Katana Mini in white, and I swear I like it as much- if not more- than my Vox tube amp.
Both sounded nice, but it sounded like the Katana was doing what you could expect from that size amp compared to the Yamaha trying too hard to sound like a larger amp. I'm more into crunch, then clean, and although the Yamaha is prettier and has more features, I'm more attracted to the Katana. On some crunch plays, the Yamaha sounded a bit muddier, but that could possibly be adjusted with the tone controls? Not sure. I'm in an apartment building so that's why I'm looking for a mini amp that won't shake the room with bottom end leading to unhappy neighbors. Thanks for a great comparison. BTW, I looked for this video after watching the Fender G10 amp review. LJ
Winner: Boss Katana Mini Pros: Cost, very clear tone Cons: Sometimes too clear in the mids. Conclusion: If you already have a larger practice amp that gets full tones and a pedal board, and are looking for the best inexpensive portable solution without a lot of frills, there's simply no decision to be made. The Katana wins hands down.
@@HiredGoonage Nope. This contest didn't involve the Spark. I'd choose that over the Katana. What I did choose was a NuX Mighty Plug and headphones because I found all three just need to be turned as loud as my 5 watt tube amp to be...fun for me. THRs just don't sound good to me in a mix. If I was doing a small practice setup today, I'd buy a Valeton GP-200 (NuX MG-30 if I was strapped for cash) or something like that, and a small powered full range speaker of whatever size is appropriate to the practice space. You can use the same setup with a bedroom sized speaker or 2000 watt FRFR. YMMV.
The THR sounds strangely warmer yet... tinny. Likely because of the metal casing. The Katana sounds very very clean. I don't mean it lacks gain, I mean that the sounds it produces are intended to sound precisely as they do. As where the THR sound kinda is resultant of it's physical construction. They both sound fantastic but for the price, the Katana is what I'd go for.
offer true hi-fi stereo sound these small speakers have a really great sound, it has a quality to the whole amp, I got a THR10C and even though I have other amp Fender deluxe reverb and a Roland Artist 80w I still use this THR10C you can also change the setting from your computer Happy Days and to Lando more vids please :-)
Nice demo, but it would be better if you clearly showed the knob settings on both units while you were playing through them. It was difficult to tell, but at times it looked like the Boss amp knobs were set for more highs while the Yamaha amp knobs were set to reduce the highs. The important question is this: When you get the best lead sound you can get (in your opinion) from the Yamaha, can the Boss sound as good or better? Thanks.
Hi I would like know if the katana mini enouph loud was for playing in a band (Me as guitarist bassist drummer and vocalist) because I can't choose between the katana mini or the New spyder MKII
@@landonbailey thanks for responding 2 Years after your video !! :D the problem with the katana 50 is the Price and it's not easy To transport I think. I Just have €100 To spend and the spyder MKII is 120 and transportable
To each their own. Don't go by these videos to make you decide which one to buy. Go out and try them for yourselves and then decide which one you prefer.
Absolutely. This is one representation of the amps, recorded with a certain microphone through certain pickups and through my playing. I'd say use these for guidance but final decision is always in the ears of the beholder
It is mentioned that the THR-5 has dual speakers. That is because the chorus effect that comes as a built-in effect, is a stereo chorus effect. This review is supposed to be a "comparison of the tones and features" but it does not even many of the features of the THR-5, apparently because the Katana Mini does not offer anything comparable. Additionally, it is not an accurate comparison of the tones, because everything about the THR-5 is editable by way of the USB connection and the THR Editor that is downloadable for free from Yamaha.
Rex Robards I wasnt going to demo features on one amp that the other amp doesnt have (chorus, etc) I think thats fair. Also this wasn't a review video, just a comparison.
But it's not a comparison if you represent the amps as being comparable in features. They are not. There is a reason that the Yamaha is more expensive and it's not because the people at Yamaha are greedy. The Yamaha amp does things that the Boss amp does not do. That's why people who own the Yamaha amp were willing to pay more for it.
Hi! Great video! How do they sound through headphones? I'm looking for a small practice amp that I could use with headphones when the kids are asleep. Thank you for your help!
@@landonbailey you should ask Boss to send you one or get a music store to kinda lend you equipment and you give em exposure instead, obviously while staying honest I think that's one of your qualities and people like that.
The katana has much deeper tone, more presence. If you use a les paul or something similar you can get that van Halen sound. The Yamaha sounds a little radio-ish when you put it into the crunch. I'm liking the katana so far.
Ive had the THR5 for about 4 years and love it. Endless praise for sound quality, dynamic response, useful features, AUX/USB, interactive software, DAW ready, fantastic headphone output, size & portability, effects, cool tube-like glow, tuner, tap tempo, etc, etc. The amp models are all distinct and useable. The output is studio quality. Mostly i use this for silent practice but I have tested its power jamming beside a Peavey Bandit and found it sufficiently loud and much lighter that my tube combo. It is so fun to play. Id love to try the THR10C. I can't imagine there is a better all-around practice amp.
Question: does the THR5 allow you to record from a Direct output via the headphone jack (I think the THR10 has this feature)? Or is it only possible to record via USB audio or with a microphone? I like the cabinet sim of the Katana aux out, but I haven't been able to find out if the Yamaha has a similar feature. Thanks a lot.
hey thanks for the suggestion. If the mini Fender 65 is anything like the Fender Mini Twin, stay away. It's pretty bad. I don't think I've seen a vox mini ac30
Hi! I'm a beginner/average player and I just bought my first electric guitar. I'm looking for a decent bedroom amp with some built-in effects in it to play around. Would THR5 do the job? Or should I look for something like Boss Katana 50? I don't want the amp to be too loud since I'm playing pretty much only at home. Nevertheless it would be nice if it was capable to produce decent volumes when needed. Suggestions? :/
I picked the Boss Katana Mini because I wanted something to take to work and travel with. It sounds much more awesome than I was expecting. Its size is very convenient, yet doesn't feel like a toy. It uses the same 9V power supplies that I have laying around for pedals, and It is so inexpensive that it's hard not to buy one (and I would not be bummed if it got lost, stolen, or broken). That Yamaha sounds great too! But didn't check these same boxes for what I needed it for.
Blackstar is $20 cheaper than teh Boss after buying the power cord. Yamaha looks the coolest. Fender Mustang V2 amp is $120. It has several effects, its just not a small portable mini amp. For the money it can't be beat. Still, the Blackstar has a really cool sound to it and its nice and small.
The THR5 has more realistic & natural amp voicings, more features: built-in recording interface, solid "hall" reverb mode, built-in tuner & modulations... All these features are really handy for me when it comes to recording & practicing if i was travelling outside) I had a Blackstar Fly 3, and recently tried both a Boss Kat Mini & THR 5. Ended up buying a THR-5 instead, both the Blackstar Fly 3 and the Kat Mini sounded too 'plastic' to me. The THR-5 also includes an adaptor (which cost me more like $15-20 if i bought the Kat Mini), so the double price is worth it. 🤘🤘
The Yamaha's lights mimic the warm glow of hot tubes. Cool effect, especially when you play in the dark (I have the killer THR10-C). If anyone is wondering, the THR amps have the best headphone sound I've heard from any amp, and mine takes very well to pedals on the "Fender" clean channel. Nice comparison! Amazing that they both get the sounds they can with such tiny speakers. To me, the Yamaha has more depth and definition, the Boss more focused and in-your-face. Like open-back vs. closed back cabs. In a larger room, the Yamaha THRs fill every corner of the room and the sound seems to come from everywhere. Hard to pick that up in a recording. Thank you for the vid!
The Katana is pretty much analog minus the digital delay not sure about the Yamaha, but if not with the Yamaha then it would be comparing Apples to oranges anyway. The thing that I was actually concentrating on listening for was speaker blurb from the tiny speakers when playing rhythm, IMO the Boss won. No matter how good either one sounds I just couldn't put up with that. Good demo thank you.
lando27music , hello, sorry I forget not everyone understands my own terms LOL. I was referring to the small speakers and how they tend to "break up" when given any serious bass response from heavy riffing when playing metal. Of course this is to be expected even from 1×8 cabs. I know you didn't play metal in the demo, I was just trying to get an idea of how they would hold up if I purchased one or the other. Thanks man have a great day! (Oh and I subscribed, good stuff.)
The yamaha is definetly a step above. Also, you can use it as a small FRFR set-up by connecting it to a computer as an audio interface with zero latency and use modeling software like Amplitube or BIAS. Also, since the speakers are in stereo it can produce some really convincing tone, better than the one from the built-in models IMHO which can be a bit muddy.
Idk where there's a suggestion board for Boss/Roland but I would like to see them make a 50 watt version of this thing that's maybe a little bigger than the Mini. I know you'd think the components won't fit along with the 4" speakers, but it's possible. It'd be a lot heavier, and likely metal construction. You can have it so when it's not plugged in through the power adapter, it bypasses and is only like a 10 watt battery powered amp. You could get even more watts in portable mode by using a large lithium Ion battery. It'd weight something like 6 pounds probably but it'd be a monstrously awesome side arm of a gigging amp and would cut away at the market Orange Micro Terror, and Vox MV50 have taken up. The Boss Wakizashi, mayhaps. I deserve a job with these companies. xD
btw, it's incredibly weak that none of these amps have a rechargeable battery built in like every boom box on the market. sorry but AA batteries is just not acceptable in this day and age (yes, i know there are rechargeable AA batteries, but they're expensive, don't last very long and need a special charger). impractical, expensive and an environmental concern all in one.
i have the thr10x higain 10 watt amp. It has a great straight forward editor and you can get patches. It plugs usb into computer and acts as a sound card for your DAW. Really shines for recording! Awesome travel amp w computer very compact. I like the Blackstar fly 3 too.
They both run off of AC power, and rechargeable NIHM AA-batteries plus charger costs about $15, that's not expensive at all. Lithium Ion batteries only hold a finite number of charges and they have all kinds of shipping restrictions. Boss and Yamaha made the right choice by having these amps run off of AC power plus universally available AA-batteries.
There are very few places in the world where you can't easily buy AA batteries. A new set and you're up and running immediately. Simple and convenient.
I personally stay away from integrated batteries Lithium ion etc as much as possible. It's a deal breaker for me -I dont want to spend money on something I would like to last for years, only for an integrated battery to go out and die, and not be able to service it myself. I don't mind if they are using lithium 18650's or similar, but usually any proprietary battery pack uses custom made cells. Like those flat kind in our cellphones. Very difficult to source proprietary or custom batteries. And if I can't fix something that gets broken, it's not worth owning. Integrated and proprietary batteries are just "planned obsolescence." Things designed to fail and break over time... So, I'm really glad they have chosen to do without it. One less thing to worry about breaking. Plis they gave us the option of disposable batteries, or AC power. Because if I really wanted more battery life and portability, I'd just make my own battery pack that I can hook up in series to the back terminals. Let it sit behind the unit like a small brick with cord, or attached somewhere on the unit itself.
Yamaha calls the the orange glow from the THR "Virtual Tube Illumination" - no kidding! I have the THR10 and it's a great little amp, plus if you use it to record via USB into a DAW you have the option of recording a completely dry signal (or duplicate dry L& R) at the same time. You can then process those separately, re-amp etc. The only thing I wish it had is dedicated XLR outputs for a mixer/PA, that would be amazing.
I'm guilty of not using mine enough, then remembering how damn good it sounds when I plug it in! I also mean to try using my old Zoom portable recorder with its X/Y mic to see if it'll record the super wide stereo when the THR's effects are on.
Hey num num! next time set the tone controls for both exactly at the center!!!! By setting the tone control on the Yam above center position you made it sound bass weak! You bumped up the treble AND the mid and bass on the roland making it sound like it had more bass. Wanted to compare which sounded like it had more "realistic feel" to it 3x3 or 4x1!!!! With you adjusting the EQ can't really get that info from your video. (Could have also compared the VOX adio air gt?)
see that's the thing with in-room sound vs MIC'd. You never know how it's going to come out close mic'd. I set the EQs to balance the in-room sounds that I heard. Doesn't always come across in the recording. num num?
I watched a youtube video the other day and the guy plugged in a foot peddle to a THR10I I adding great sound effect. Don't know if the Boss Kantana can do that.
The yamaha wins until you realize you can get the Boss Katana 50 for $20 more than the thr5, and once the boss has a 12" speaker going it will blow the THR5 out of the water.
Of course a 12 inch speaker will sound better .It will also rattle the windows .These are mini amps not stage amp unless put through mixers / PAs .The Katana 50 is a stage amp with practice features.Its much larger much heavier .
Thank U for taking the time to answer xo So there's only one input for the guitar? I know on my BOSS amp I got an adaptor for the mic input and could plug in both my guitar and amp but it's heavy and I'm looking for something I can bring on tour with me to busk with. Do you have any suggestions by chance. I love how compact and light this amp is but if I can't plug in my mic and guitar it's not going to work. Thanks!!!!!!
no problem! and ya only one input. You may want to have a look at this little amp: voxamps.com/mini3 It does have a mic input. ruclips.net/video/sYzaMqNBpps/видео.html
+Carol Goodman awesome! have fun with it! just saw that you're a singer too, great voice, I checked out your videos. I've only done a couple on my own. have a listen if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/471kh4KxwCs/видео.html . take care!
the crunch channels are different in each. Whereas the Yamaha one aims at Vox AC, the boss is more Marshall flavored. Also overall the Katana sounds like Fly 3, which is not a bad thing.
cool! ya I did a comparison between the Fly3 and KatMini in another video, and I joked how similar the two are. Even in design and build, and also tone.
I've just got the katana and it's very harsh and bright you do need to use your guitars tone controls to calm it down, it's very loud too. I wish it had reverb instead of delay
Yamaha THR sounded better for me. Actually i'm looking to buy a mini practice amp. THR is my #1 choice over Blackstar Fly, Boss Katana mini. Maybe cause I own a Blackstar Ht Club 40 MKII and i'd like to have something different.
I think the Yamaha looks so cool, but sounds are kinda muddy, with a fake reverb feel, Katana looks boring, but sound is the real important thing right?
If you are going to spend $200 on the THR5, drop the $20 extra and get a Katana 50 1x12 for $220. The Mini Katana is almost as good at half the price. Is the THR5 $100 better?
Agree with overall comments - Boss Katana more stingy and sharp for metal players Yamaha also has "sting" but with mellow buttery undertone...blues players
Yamaha seriously needs to get a new gen of these amps going, the comp has louder and cheaper products out that sound just as good. I have the 10c and see how even though it sounds amazing, it has its limitations, it's almost 8 years old and it shows.
Sounds like the Yamaha amp could actually do a better job played through the PA system. The sound is bigger though not as loud. A well-informed opinion from my couch. Played the last gig in 1968,
Oh hey thanks for the reply,, i got the katana 100 watt head 2 weeks ago, love it so far jammed with a band and it rocked so the katana stuff is also damn good.
lando27music Ha. .. I put the katana head thru a marshall 1960a last wknd at the jam, also hooked up an extensive pedalboard.. we cranked it , and it was a work horse, the amp seemed like a non issue and was fun for all the guitar players there. .. oh love the videos ,,and that tele.
Fkn hell, I like them both. They are different from one another but both put out some good sounds. The Yamaha definitely seemed to have a warmer sound, and definitely seems more like an old 50's or 60's amp. But the Boss has some brilliant sounds too, and more modern I guess. I wonder if all the gubbins from the Boss were put into a hand made plyboard amp enclosure, if it would give a much warmer oldskool sound. It would definitely have more resonance compared to the plastic enclosure it's in. When I get my Boss Katana through the post I may think about making my own wooden amp enclosure for it. I saw a video earlier where someone opened one up and added a speaker out jack/switch to be able to plug it into a speaker cab. There is so much space inside the Katana with the electronics taking up minimal space.
The Boss Katana Mini is less than half the price of the Yamaha THR5 in my market (Australia). The Boss has to win for value for money, although no doubt the Yammy has more features!
I thought the gain from the THR5 was not that amazing and both of the Katana’s and the THR5’s cleans were similar. I thought the Katana sounded the best because it works well with all the genres.
Which one do you like more? Boss Katana Mini Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/k5ZdN Amazon geni.us/BossKatMini Thomann bit.ly/2C7yfCA Yamaha THR Amps Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/oA0d9 Amazon geni.us/thr5 Thomann bit.ly/39ADc3f
Is it possible the Yamaha sounds less boxy? I guess the stereo has an audible effect. Such big sounds from these little boxes. Can you imagine bringing these out in the sixties? LOL!
+Bikramjeet Chanda hey thanks! ya I did mention that at the end that the THR has a stereo effect that fills the room. I may in thr future do another video with an ambient room mic and/or matched pair close mics
They both sounded good on the clean setting. Katana sounded full on the crunch, the Yamaha sounded thin and distant on crunch. Yamaha sounded much better on high gain settings as it should. They are both great mini amps..not really comparable at that price point. The Yamaha has more features ,and is designed more toward line recording and the Katana is designed for picnic table jamming. Although you can record with both..I have to give the overall win to Yamaha.
lando27music all joking aside I wanted to really say how much I love the channel and how helpful I have found it in my quest for a good amp. Keep up the awesome work
Great comparison again. These are close especially clean but again the Yamaha has more clarity and with gain more tube like. But..... For the money the Katana gets the edge. If you factor you are most likely only using these for practice, how much do you really want to spend? How important is the nuances of tone? If the venue is only your bedroom do you really need more? Maybe the best world is to keep an eye for the THR on ebay and reverb. I tried a Katana 50W at a local GC. While is was better than most it still seems even the cleans were a little blunted and turns muddy with gain. On the flip side one of the best solid state amps is the Roland Jazz Chrous. The cleans are unbelievable which is why its iconic. Problem though is gain. The brightness imo doesn't make for a good tone with gain. The THR5 seems to be even more versatile. I'm going to check out the THR5 live and up close. Good job again on the video.
Another thing to add is you can plug the THR5 into your PC via usb and use some yamaha software to tweak some of the settings and presets on the amp. Not only that, the THR5 can also function as a recording interface between your guitar and PC - so if you think that would be something you'd be interested in - the Boss Katana mini has no such feature. It really boils down to your budget and if you think the extra features on the yamaha are worth the premium over the Katana. If you want something straightforward, basic, no frills that will do the its job and nothing more then get the Katana.
Its a good time to be a guitarist, never been so cheap to get a descent sound amp... both sounds good!
Cheap, small, built-in effects and decent gain and as far as I know, decent interaction with pedals
Sound is completely personal. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with the thr5 but it is priced at a premium.
So that Yamaha sounds kind of awesome!
he only comments on the best videos. 🤪🎸👍
The hall reverb is actually one of the best reverbs I've heard in a while
They seemed to be aimed at two different sound preferences. The Yahama reminds me of some old tube amps I used to have. Warm but lacking crisp highs, and heavily biased towards mid tones. It's basically sounds like it's designed for a vintage sound. Would be great if you're in to 50's, 60's, and early to mid 70's rock music, surfer sound, bosa nova, etc. The Boss has a better frequency spread with nice crisp highs, and the effects sound like they are geared towards a more up-to-date sound, so like 80's, 90's, and up. Each one seems to be very good at what it's trying to do. Bang for the buck I'd have to give the Boss the edge because they've really done a great job at a $100 battery powered portable amp! Yamaha wins on the "cool" factor. Not only can you play some 60's rock music on it, but you can pretend that the glow coming from the inside are really tubes that are creating that vintage sound ;)
I have both and your assessment is pretty spot on.
Ya great description my friend.
THR's reverb effect makes it sound very big and full, but if you remove it, you'll find that the dry tone of the Katana is a noticeable bit better. Maybe it's not the same for, but that's how i hear it.
That’s a good point. The stereo reverb and delay will fill the room around you in a 3D sense almost.
Yamaha hands down,I have two THR10C for dual amp setup,sound is killer.
Update : recently brought the Katana Mini I'm floored by the sound of this lol amp, sounds like a big one.
nice!
I own a THR 10. Can’t go wrong with the Yamaha! Very articulate and powerful for its size. Pretty fair battery life too!
Value for money the Kat is outstanding but I really like the Yamaha. I have both of those amps and might need to also do a shoot-out.
Cool, do that, I'd like to see another comparison!
Both are cool. I have owned the THR10 for a few years and it’s my main amp. I play at home and bedroom volumes and can’t crank it due to family. In that type of situation I have not seen anything better than the THR. It sounds very good at very low volumes. It does have a very cool stereo sound as well. I play along to albums and backing tracks and you can mix the sound very well due to the separate auxiliary volume. If you use the editor you can tweak the tones much more. I get a very good brown sound and slash type tone with the THR.
I love my thr 5. The stereo sound is amazing and to have a battery powered amp that sounds amazing makes playing anyplace easy. Sounds great with an iPhone to listen to music too.
thr5 is aweome for sure! I just did a video on one last week. :)
The Yamaha is my pick. But I have to say, the Katana does hold it's own quite nicely. Pretty good baby for buck.
Katana sounded better clean, the THR5 had better crunch, and both Brown and Brit Hi were pretty close, but the Yamaha seemed like it had some slight room reverb or something to make it sound a little more warm.
It does have a proprietary reverb that's turned on by default!
Kinda tough to say for sure,if anything I would say they both have their own sound, the katana mini sound a little tighter, while the Yamaha had a more vintage-ish sound. Got to do the Vox mini/katana mini comparison next ;-)
Mini3 G2 vs HTR5. I'll see what I can do :)
I love my THR10 and my THR10C. You can't go wrong unless you are specifically looking for very high gain metal (which the THR10 and THR10X kind of do anyway). The cleans sound great, and they are loud enough for home use. What makes them a bargain is the fact that they double as a USB Audio interace and a hi-fi speaker (through the AUX input). As a hi-fi speaker the sound is a bit lacking since everything is voiced for guitars, but I have used them with my ipad and iphone for music, podcasts and casual movie watching many times.
The only downside is that it's not a very good amp for street performance, because they turn off if you drive them too hard while on batteries and then you have to restart them. But as a home, recording, and travel amp they're almost perfect.
Oh, and the cabinet can buzz/rattle a *little* bit at certain notes frequencies, but I don't even notice it any more (it's much less severe than tube rattle on a Peavey Classic 30, for example).
Ive had the THR5 rattle. Not surprising since it's all metal. Great mini amp otherwise!
GOD DAMN, FINALLY SOMEONE DID A PROPER COMPARISON! GOOD ON YOU, LANDO!
thanks! ya I looked and no one had done one yet
I vote for the Katana, every time. But it could be that it suits that guitar better. Still, for the money, I’d get the Boss. Great video, Landon. Informative and great production, as always :)
hey thanks!
I have been playing the thr 5 for three years ..it is truly great. i grab it to go camping ,play out on my deck or around the firepit at my niehbros house. The sterio play back of the aux in sounds great with my phone or ipad . I have 20 guitars that all sound different ,i just plug in turn a couple knobs and have great sound in seconds,, thats what i love, no menus, no programming, no fuss and the sound is surrounding, totally worth the extra cash.Another friend bought one 20 min after playing on mine, and hes a cheap ass, so there ya go.
Dan Greving cool thanks for the info. Definitely a great amp!
I think the Yamaha sounded better but I'm don't think it sounded twice as good so boss wins
the Yamaha sounds "tubier", more mid focused and round and sort of "produced"/processed more, the Katana is sort of rawer but in a good way. I like the Crunch tone a lot, it's really good for an alt rock kinda tone, hard to imagine that with the Yamaha. It feels like with the 3 drive tones and some pedals you'd get more out of the Katana tbh, not to knock the THR too much.
thanks for the feedback! :)
Probably should do one with direct recording too, thanks for the video!
Pulse2AM ah ya should have, but too late! I ended up keeping the Boss and parting with the THR. check out my other videos, I made one about that
Nice comparison, and super appreciate the Spacehog riffs!
ah ya, that was a great band!
You could take that katana mini to a gig and mic it up, would sound pretty good haha
that would be a great video! haha
it's no different from micing up any other small amp IMO
Honestly they both sound unbelievable for the size. I'd go with either one of them. I own the Katana Mini in white, and I swear I like it as much- if not more- than my Vox tube amp.
Does it go well with pedals ?
@@danstheory4164 It does, but I'd run them through the clean setting because it gets a little muddy otherwise
@@danstheory4164 I use the Wampler Tumnus and a TC electronic MOJO MOJO for reference
@@rhodes7394 clean up that mud with overdrive. Makes that amp SCREEEAM
If an amp gets compared to a twice more expensive one you know that’s a cool amp:)
Both sounded nice, but it sounded like the Katana was doing what you could expect from that size amp compared to the Yamaha trying too hard to sound like a larger amp.
I'm more into crunch, then clean, and although the Yamaha is prettier and has more features, I'm more attracted to the Katana. On some crunch plays, the Yamaha sounded a bit muddier, but that could possibly be adjusted with the tone controls? Not sure.
I'm in an apartment building so that's why I'm looking for a mini amp that won't shake the room with bottom end leading to unhappy neighbors.
Thanks for a great comparison.
BTW, I looked for this video after watching the Fender G10 amp review.
LJ
Winner: Boss Katana Mini
Pros: Cost, very clear tone
Cons: Sometimes too clear in the mids.
Conclusion: If you already have a larger practice amp that gets full tones and a pedal board, and are looking for the best inexpensive portable solution without a lot of frills, there's simply no decision to be made. The Katana wins hands down.
So what you're saying is you own a Katana
@@HiredGoonage Nope. This contest didn't involve the Spark. I'd choose that over the Katana. What I did choose was a NuX Mighty Plug and headphones because I found all three just need to be turned as loud as my 5 watt tube amp to be...fun for me.
THRs just don't sound good to me in a mix.
If I was doing a small practice setup today, I'd buy a Valeton GP-200 (NuX MG-30 if I was strapped for cash) or something like that, and a small powered full range speaker of whatever size is appropriate to the practice space. You can use the same setup with a bedroom sized speaker or 2000 watt FRFR.
YMMV.
Silly question but if you still want a portable amp one step above these two what’s the options? Boss katana air?
I haven’t tried one, but I think the price would indicate that. 🎸👍
i think it really comes down to what you're trying to play. for metal or post-hardcore/melodic hardcore, i much prefer the katana.
The THR sounds strangely warmer yet... tinny. Likely because of the metal casing. The Katana sounds very very clean. I don't mean it lacks gain, I mean that the sounds it produces are intended to sound precisely as they do. As where the THR sound kinda is resultant of it's physical construction. They both sound fantastic but for the price, the Katana is what I'd go for.
Yeah mah ha vs Cat Anna.
Both are great, but ya not in the same price range :)
I suprisingly I liked Boss high gain distortion than the THR. The THR5 Bri high gain sounded better than the brown sound on the Boss though.
offer true hi-fi stereo sound these small speakers have a really great sound, it has a quality to the whole amp, I got a THR10C and even though I have other amp Fender deluxe reverb and a Roland Artist 80w I still use this THR10C you can also change the setting from your computer Happy Days and to Lando more vids please :-)
Awesome video quality, what type of camera are you using?
hey thanks! That was a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone. great camera on that phone
Nice demo, but it would be better if you clearly showed the knob settings on both units while you were playing through them. It was difficult to tell, but at times it looked like the Boss amp knobs were set for more highs while the Yamaha amp knobs were set to reduce the highs. The important question is this: When you get the best lead sound you can get (in your opinion) from the Yamaha, can the Boss sound as good or better? Thanks.
thanks for checking it out. To answer your question, I think the Yamaha can do a better lead tone. But that's just me :)
What is for you the better amp landon?
I kept the Katana Mini to this day.
Hi I would like know if the katana mini enouph loud was for playing in a band (Me as guitarist bassist drummer and vocalist) because I can't choose between the katana mini or the New spyder MKII
no it's not loud enough for a band. you probably want a Katana 50
@@landonbailey thanks for responding 2 Years after your video !! :D the problem with the katana 50 is the Price and it's not easy To transport I think. I Just have €100 To spend and the spyder MKII is 120 and transportable
hey no worries. ya I dont know the Spider, sorry!
@@landonbailey no problem dude thanks and good Night ;)
To each their own. Don't go by these videos to make you decide which one to buy. Go out and try them for yourselves and then decide which one you prefer.
Absolutely. This is one representation of the amps, recorded with a certain microphone through certain pickups and through my playing. I'd say use these for guidance but final decision is always in the ears of the beholder
It is mentioned that the THR-5 has dual speakers. That is because the chorus effect that comes as a built-in effect, is a stereo chorus effect. This review is supposed to be a "comparison of the tones and features" but it does not even many of the features of the THR-5, apparently because the Katana Mini does not offer anything comparable. Additionally, it is not an accurate comparison of the tones, because everything about the THR-5 is editable by way of the USB connection and the THR Editor that is downloadable for free from Yamaha.
Rex Robards I wasnt going to demo features on one amp that the other amp doesnt have (chorus, etc) I think thats fair. Also this wasn't a review video, just a comparison.
But it's not a comparison if you represent the amps as being comparable in features. They are not. There is a reason that the Yamaha is more expensive and it's not because the people at Yamaha are greedy. The Yamaha amp does things that the Boss amp does not do. That's why people who own the Yamaha amp were willing to pay more for it.
+Rex Robards that's great. Im just showing how they sound side by side. thats it
Both sound good to me.
I like the Yamaha the it looks.
I own Blackstar fly 3 bass amp 'n the lead one. Beautiful I never get bored when I play them..
Nice job! The Yamaha kicks ass in the overdrive/distortion category!
hey thanks for checking it out!
Hi! Great video! How do they sound through headphones? I'm looking for a small practice amp that I could use with headphones when the kids are asleep. Thank you for your help!
Does the boss katana have a head phone input?
yes: PHONES/REC OUT jack: Stereo miniature phone type
Please review or do a comparison of the BOSS Katana Air.
Edit: It's a little out of the price range but the sound and functions of it are great
maybe one day. this stuff is expensive
@@landonbailey you should ask Boss to send you one or get a music store to kinda lend you equipment and you give em exposure instead, obviously while staying honest I think that's one of your qualities and people like that.
The katana has much deeper tone, more presence. If you use a les paul or something similar you can get that van Halen sound. The Yamaha sounds a little radio-ish when you put it into the crunch. I'm liking the katana so far.
How well does this amps takes pedals?? have you ever tried with pedals?
Fer Ramirez hey there! I've a video with pedals for the Katana Mini, but haven't tried with the THR yet. I'll add it to my list
Ive had the THR5 for about 4 years and love it. Endless praise for sound quality, dynamic response, useful features, AUX/USB, interactive software, DAW ready, fantastic headphone output, size & portability, effects, cool tube-like glow, tuner, tap tempo, etc, etc. The amp models are all distinct and useable. The output is studio quality. Mostly i use this for silent practice but I have tested its power jamming beside a Peavey Bandit and found it sufficiently loud and much lighter that my tube combo. It is so fun to play. Id love to try the THR10C. I can't imagine there is a better all-around practice amp.
Question: does the THR5 allow you to record from a Direct output via the headphone jack (I think the THR10 has this feature)? Or is it only possible to record via USB audio or with a microphone? I like the cabinet sim of the Katana aux out, but I haven't been able to find out if the Yamaha has a similar feature. Thanks a lot.
The Katana sounds fuller.
Could you do a comparison between a fender mini 65 twin amp and a vox mini ac30.
hey thanks for the suggestion. If the mini Fender 65 is anything like the Fender Mini Twin, stay away. It's pretty bad.
I don't think I've seen a vox mini ac30
It’s a headphone amp
oh the amplug2! ruclips.net/video/n1xYiQBzRSc/видео.html
Hi! I'm a beginner/average player and I just bought my first electric guitar. I'm looking for a decent bedroom amp with some built-in effects in it to play around. Would THR5 do the job? Or should I look for something like Boss Katana 50? I don't want the amp to be too loud since I'm playing pretty much only at home. Nevertheless it would be nice if it was capable to produce decent volumes when needed. Suggestions? :/
hey there! just for a bedroom the Yamaha THR would be great. lots of built in effects
get the 50. just sayin
FFS get the Boss Katana 50. Amps like the Air and THR5 should only be used when you can't plug into an outlet
I picked the Boss Katana Mini because I wanted something to take to work and travel with. It sounds much more awesome than I was expecting. Its size is very convenient, yet doesn't feel like a toy. It uses the same 9V power supplies that I have laying around for pedals, and It is so inexpensive that it's hard not to buy one (and I would not be bummed if it got lost, stolen, or broken). That Yamaha sounds great too! But didn't check these same boxes for what I needed it for.
Blackstar is $20 cheaper than teh Boss after buying the power cord. Yamaha looks the coolest.
Fender Mustang V2 amp is $120. It has several effects, its just not a small portable mini amp. For the money it can't be beat.
Still, the Blackstar has a really cool sound to it and its nice and small.
are both accessible with wireless transmitters?
What do you mean accessible?
@@landonbailey he probably meant accessorized? 😅 idk. Like can they both be used with a wireless system?
love the Boss sound , got me sold ,, going to buy one
nice! have fun with it
The THR5 has more realistic & natural amp voicings, more features: built-in recording interface, solid "hall" reverb mode, built-in tuner & modulations... All these features are really handy for me when it comes to recording & practicing if i was travelling outside)
I had a Blackstar Fly 3, and recently tried both a Boss Kat Mini & THR 5. Ended up buying a THR-5 instead, both the Blackstar Fly 3 and the Kat Mini sounded too 'plastic' to me. The THR-5 also includes an adaptor (which cost me more like $15-20 if i bought the Kat Mini), so the double price is worth it. 🤘🤘
The Yamaha's lights mimic the warm glow of hot tubes. Cool effect, especially when you play in the dark (I have the killer THR10-C).
If anyone is wondering, the THR amps have the best headphone sound I've heard from any amp, and mine takes very well to pedals on the "Fender" clean channel. Nice comparison! Amazing that they both get the sounds they can with such tiny speakers. To me, the Yamaha has more depth and definition, the Boss more focused and in-your-face. Like open-back vs. closed back cabs. In a larger room, the Yamaha THRs fill every corner of the room and the sound seems to come from everywhere. Hard to pick that up in a recording. Thank you for the vid!
+Dean Teiwaz hey thanks! ya very difficult to capture the 3d stereo style sound the THR can output. Fills the room!
The Katana is pretty much analog minus the digital delay not sure about the Yamaha, but if not with the Yamaha then it would be comparing Apples to oranges anyway. The thing that I was actually concentrating on listening for was speaker blurb from the tiny speakers when playing rhythm, IMO the Boss won. No matter how good either one sounds I just couldn't put up with that. Good demo thank you.
thanks for checking it out! what is speaker blurb?
lando27music , hello, sorry I forget not everyone understands my own terms LOL. I was referring to the small speakers and how they tend to "break up" when given any serious bass response from heavy riffing when playing metal. Of course this is to be expected even from 1×8 cabs. I know you didn't play metal in the demo, I was just trying to get an idea of how they would hold up if I purchased one or the other. Thanks man have a great day! (Oh and I subscribed, good stuff.)
ha ok! I honestly googled it, thinking I was missing something. haah. all good and thanks for the sub!
The yamaha is definetly a step above. Also, you can use it as a small FRFR set-up by connecting it to a computer as an audio interface with zero latency and use modeling software like Amplitube or BIAS. Also, since the speakers are in stereo it can produce some really convincing tone, better than the one from the built-in models IMHO which can be a bit muddy.
Idk where there's a suggestion board for Boss/Roland but I would like to see them make a 50 watt version of this thing that's maybe a little bigger than the Mini. I know you'd think the components won't fit along with the 4" speakers, but it's possible. It'd be a lot heavier, and likely metal construction. You can have it so when it's not plugged in through the power adapter, it bypasses and is only like a 10 watt battery powered amp. You could get even more watts in portable mode by using a large lithium Ion battery. It'd weight something like 6 pounds probably but it'd be a monstrously awesome side arm of a gigging amp and would cut away at the market Orange Micro Terror, and Vox MV50 have taken up.
The Boss Wakizashi, mayhaps. I deserve a job with these companies. xD
Dude, sounds like you know your stuff and you love it. Start your OWN damn company! Seriously...
btw, it's incredibly weak that none of these amps have a rechargeable battery built in like every boom box on the market. sorry but AA batteries is just not acceptable in this day and age (yes, i know there are rechargeable AA batteries, but they're expensive, don't last very long and need a special charger). impractical, expensive and an environmental concern all in one.
Absolutely agree. They should have LiPo batteries.
i have the thr10x higain 10 watt amp. It has a great straight forward editor and you can get patches. It plugs usb into computer and acts as a sound card for your DAW. Really shines for recording! Awesome travel amp w computer very compact. I like the Blackstar fly 3 too.
They both run off of AC power, and rechargeable NIHM AA-batteries plus charger costs about $15, that's not expensive at all. Lithium Ion batteries only hold a finite number of charges and they have all kinds of shipping restrictions. Boss and Yamaha made the right choice by having these amps run off of AC power plus universally available AA-batteries.
There are very few places in the world where you can't easily buy AA batteries. A new set and you're up and running immediately. Simple and convenient.
I personally stay away from integrated batteries Lithium ion etc as much as possible. It's a deal breaker for me -I dont want to spend money on something I would like to last for years, only for an integrated battery to go out and die, and not be able to service it myself. I don't mind if they are using lithium 18650's or similar, but usually any proprietary battery pack uses custom made cells. Like those flat kind in our cellphones. Very difficult to source proprietary or custom batteries. And if I can't fix something that gets broken, it's not worth owning.
Integrated and proprietary batteries are just "planned obsolescence." Things designed to fail and break over time...
So, I'm really glad they have chosen to do without it. One less thing to worry about breaking. Plis they gave us the option of disposable batteries, or AC power. Because if I really wanted more battery life and portability, I'd just make my own battery pack that I can hook up in series to the back terminals. Let it sit behind the unit like a small brick with cord, or attached somewhere on the unit itself.
Thanks for the review and awesome guitar playing :3
the yamaha was very impressive _ i liked it the most
I think I prefer the Yamaha. Honestly, they both sound cool but there's something about the Yamaha's style that sounds cooler to me
Yamaha calls the the orange glow from the THR "Virtual Tube Illumination" - no kidding! I have the THR10 and it's a great little amp, plus if you use it to record via USB into a DAW you have the option of recording a completely dry signal (or duplicate dry L& R) at the same time. You can then process those separately, re-amp etc. The only thing I wish it had is dedicated XLR outputs for a mixer/PA, that would be amazing.
haha Virtual Tube. Looks cool anyways! thanks for the tip about the USB recording.
I'm guilty of not using mine enough, then remembering how damn good it sounds when I plug it in! I also mean to try using my old Zoom portable recorder with its X/Y mic to see if it'll record the super wide stereo when the THR's effects are on.
isn't that stereo effect really crazy? I'll try to capture it sometime soon for a demo. It really fills the room
I love the tremolo effect turned up nearly full so it's really choppy, a little bit of delay and a lot of reverb - truly immense!
Everybody who says the Yamaha has better sound .. there’s so much more presence on that boss no? Or is there something I’m missing?
+savnac Music everyone has their own tastes :) no right or wrong
Hey num num! next time set the tone controls for both exactly at the center!!!! By setting the tone control on the Yam above center position you made it sound bass weak! You bumped up the treble AND the mid and bass on the roland making it sound like it had more bass. Wanted to compare which sounded like it had more "realistic feel" to it 3x3 or 4x1!!!! With you adjusting the EQ can't really get that info from your video. (Could have also compared the VOX adio air gt?)
see that's the thing with in-room sound vs MIC'd. You never know how it's going to come out close mic'd. I set the EQs to balance the in-room sounds that I heard. Doesn't always come across in the recording. num num?
This one's hot real tubes!
I was at the point of closing the video and going to guitarstore to buy it
🎸👍😁
Tubes would probably kill the batteries pretty quick.
I watched a youtube video the other day and the guy plugged in a foot peddle to a THR10I I adding great sound effect. Don't know if the Boss Kantana can do that.
what pedal?
@@landonbailey electronic plug-in foot pedal for effects
The yamaha wins until you realize you can get the Boss Katana 50 for $20 more than the thr5, and once the boss has a 12" speaker going it will blow the THR5 out of the water.
Keith Anderson good points!
Of course a 12 inch speaker will sound better .It will also rattle the windows .These are mini amps not stage amp unless put through mixers / PAs .The Katana 50 is a stage amp with practice features.Its much larger much heavier .
Good point but yes, it's a totally different kind of amp
Note in the title that this is a comparison of “mini” amps.
Yes, but you can't take the katana 50 and go outside to play, I like to travel and sometimes take my blackstar fly 3 with me
Can you use a mic with this amp with the guitar?
Carol Goodman hi there, there's no mic input if that's what you mean. 😊
Thank U for taking the time to answer xo So there's only one input for the guitar? I know on my BOSS amp I got an adaptor for the mic input and could plug in both my guitar and amp but it's heavy and I'm looking for something I can bring on tour with me to busk with. Do you have any suggestions by chance. I love how compact and light this amp is but if I can't plug in my mic and guitar it's not going to work. Thanks!!!!!!
no problem! and ya only one input. You may want to have a look at this little amp: voxamps.com/mini3 It does have a mic input. ruclips.net/video/sYzaMqNBpps/видео.html
I've picked that one thank U so much for your help xo
+Carol Goodman awesome! have fun with it! just saw that you're a singer too, great voice, I checked out your videos. I've only done a couple on my own. have a listen if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/471kh4KxwCs/видео.html . take care!
Wow Katana for me
and its simple
yes to Katana
do what works for you! :)
I liked both. The Yamaha has the better sound nearly all over. Do.they have line out to.plug into.either a value top or box ?
Boss has an emulated cab line out and the Yamaha has USB out
I had good headphones on, and Yamaha really nails it here. No comparison.
the crunch channels are different in each. Whereas the Yamaha one aims at Vox AC, the boss is more Marshall flavored. Also overall the Katana sounds like Fly 3, which is not a bad thing.
cool! ya I did a comparison between the Fly3 and KatMini in another video, and I joked how similar the two are. Even in design and build, and also tone.
lando27music I wish the crunch in katana was Lead like the one in the 50watt version instead. Now that sounds sweet !
I've just got the katana and it's very harsh and bright you do need to use your guitars tone controls to calm it down, it's very loud too. I wish it had reverb instead of delay
I find it a little muddy. What kind of guitar/pickups do you run through it?
run the time on the delay at 0 and max the level, comes out reverb. Also, back the mids off, sounds better if you do, least to me
Yamaha THR sounded better for me. Actually i'm looking to buy a mini practice amp. THR is my #1 choice over Blackstar Fly, Boss Katana mini. Maybe cause I own a Blackstar Ht Club 40 MKII and i'd like to have something different.
ya it's unique for sure. have fun!
I think 2 mini katanas in stereo would sound great 😁😁
😁👍🎸🎸
I think the Yamaha looks so cool, but sounds are kinda muddy, with a fake reverb feel, Katana looks boring, but sound is the real important thing right?
Would’ve been cool to hear the comparison without verb on the Yamaha.
so many years ago!
Dude... I could literally kill for that Peavey bandit of the red line (old school transtube) behind you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Un Tipo De Marte ha ya great amp! 👍👍🎸🎸
I would choose Boss Katana. Yamaha THR sounded too bright in my ear.
Myanmar Media Light I
If you are going to spend $200 on the THR5, drop the $20 extra and get a Katana 50 1x12 for $220. The Mini Katana is almost as good at half the price. Is the THR5 $100 better?
Nope 🙅🏾♀️
Agree with overall comments -
Boss Katana more stingy and sharp for metal players
Yamaha also has "sting" but with mellow buttery undertone...blues players
Cool. I would like to see what Yamaha's next gen's going to sound like.
Yamaha seriously needs to get a new gen of these amps going, the comp has louder and cheaper products out that sound just as good. I have the 10c and see how even though it sounds amazing, it has its limitations, it's almost 8 years old and it shows.
They both some amazing for the size.
Sounds like the Yamaha amp could actually do a better job played through the PA system. The sound is bigger though not as loud.
A well-informed opinion from my couch. Played the last gig in 1968,
🎸👍😝😁
Lol! Gotta love an honest couch coach!
What is he playing at 3:47
Radiohead - Sulk. 👍😃
Oh hey thanks for the reply,, i got the katana 100 watt head 2 weeks ago, love it so far jammed with a band and it rocked so the katana stuff is also damn good.
+Dan Greving I should have bought the head myself. I have too many 1x12 combos. 😁🎸
lando27music Ha. .. I put the katana head thru a marshall 1960a last wknd at the jam, also hooked up an extensive pedalboard.. we cranked it , and it was a work horse, the amp seemed like a non issue and was fun for all the guitar players there. .. oh love the videos ,,and that tele.
awesome thanks!
Isn't the Yamaha an acoustic amp and the Katana an electric guitar amp...so is it a fair shootout?
No. Yes
In my humble opinion, Katana has a little too "synthetic" and compressed sound you know. Could be just me but that's what I thought.
Fkn hell, I like them both. They are different from one another but both put out some good sounds.
The Yamaha definitely seemed to have a warmer sound, and definitely seems more like an old 50's or 60's amp. But the Boss has some brilliant sounds too, and more modern I guess.
I wonder if all the gubbins from the Boss were put into a hand made plyboard amp enclosure, if it would give a much warmer oldskool sound. It would definitely have more resonance compared to the plastic enclosure it's in. When I get my Boss Katana through the post I may think about making my own wooden amp enclosure for it. I saw a video earlier where someone opened one up and added a speaker out jack/switch to be able to plug it into a speaker cab. There is so much space inside the Katana with the electronics taking up minimal space.
Much preferred the Yamaha THR5
Awesomeness. I’ve got the Thr10 and the 10x
very cool. they add 3 band EQ and more effect/channels right?
if you had to choose between the thr10 or the 10x which would you choose ?
Mike Jones the X
The Boss Katana Mini is less than half the price of the Yamaha THR5 in my market (Australia). The Boss has to win for value for money, although no doubt the Yammy has more features!
Seems like having tone controls at 12 oclcock would give a better picture of what these amps sound like. I like the Yamaha w these settings, tho.
ya probably. I was probably dialing in something that sounded good in the room 😊👍
the yamaha looks like an old space heater
+Mike Jones haha exactly! It reminded me of something old
That’s exactly what a mate of me asked me - if I have a space heater now
Kinda looks like one of them there newer lunchbox amps to me, eh? Go figure.
The yamaha hands down , I will hack to buy one of those soon.
I thought the gain from the THR5 was not that amazing and both of the Katana’s and the THR5’s cleans were similar. I thought the Katana sounded the best because it works well with all the genres.
cool thanks for the feedback!
Which one do you like more?
Boss Katana Mini
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/k5ZdN
Amazon geni.us/BossKatMini
Thomann bit.ly/2C7yfCA
Yamaha THR Amps
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/oA0d9
Amazon geni.us/thr5
Thomann bit.ly/39ADc3f
the thr5 sounds better to me.
Katana for me
Is it possible the Yamaha sounds less boxy? I guess the stereo has an audible effect. Such big sounds from these little boxes. Can you imagine bringing these out in the sixties? LOL!
+Bikramjeet Chanda hey thanks! ya I did mention that at the end that the THR has a stereo effect that fills the room. I may in thr future do another video with an ambient room mic and/or matched pair close mics
They both sounded good on the clean setting. Katana sounded full on the crunch, the Yamaha sounded thin and distant on crunch. Yamaha sounded much better on high gain settings as it should. They are both great mini amps..not really comparable at that price point. The Yamaha has more features ,and is designed more toward line recording and the Katana is designed for picnic table jamming. Although you can record with both..I have to give the overall win to Yamaha.
Just wanted to say that despite all the hate, your dad is going a great job of running the country.
haha! 😁🇨🇦
lando27music all joking aside I wanted to really say how much I love the channel and how helpful I have found it in my quest for a good amp. Keep up the awesome work
ah hey thanks! 🎸👍
Can you connect this to a cabinet
no they can't power a cabinet
ruclips.net/video/5KvVFWFXFlY/видео.html
Yes you can modify the Katana Mini for less than $15.00 US to use with a speaker cabinet. Link added above.
Great comparison again. These are close especially clean but again the Yamaha has more clarity and with gain more tube like. But..... For the money the Katana gets the edge. If you factor you are most likely only using these for practice, how much do you really want to spend? How important is the nuances of tone? If the venue is only your bedroom do you really need more? Maybe the best world is to keep an eye for the THR on ebay and reverb. I tried a Katana 50W at a local GC. While is was better than most it still seems even the cleans were a little blunted and turns muddy with gain. On the flip side one of the best solid state amps is the Roland Jazz Chrous. The cleans are unbelievable which is why its iconic. Problem though is gain. The brightness imo doesn't make for a good tone with gain. The THR5 seems to be even more versatile. I'm going to check out the THR5 live and up close. Good job again on the video.
thanks for checking it out!
Another thing to add is you can plug the THR5 into your PC via usb and use some yamaha software to tweak some of the settings and presets on the amp. Not only that, the THR5 can also function as a recording interface between your guitar and PC - so if you think that would be something you'd be interested in - the Boss Katana mini has no such feature.
It really boils down to your budget and if you think the extra features on the yamaha are worth the premium over the Katana. If you want something straightforward, basic, no frills that will do the its job and nothing more then get the Katana.
If you feel the Boss is muddy on high gain try turning the bass down and the treble up and hear if that helps with the muddy sound... 🖤👽