The Spark Go replaced 3 amps for me. The one in my living room, the one in my workshop which I just use to check if electrics are working and finally the one at my parents' house. Best of it: I can use the exact same Spark Go for all 3 use cases.
I agree! And I love that the Yamaha THR also works with bass and keyboards. I have a Spark Go, which is fine for my limited guitar abilities (and portability), but I am seriously going to have to consider getting the Yamaha as my all-rounder at home.
another reason for desktop amps: getting your feet wet for home recording. they usually function as interfaces and you can use the amp models to directly record. if you want to start recording your own music but you have no idea where to begin, grab a desktop amp and just start by recording a guitar track, a bass track, and some kinda drum plug-in.
I've had the Spark 40 for about a year I guess. I've lost all interest in any other equipment. It's just so convenient to search for and set a tone in seconds. No knobs,no tweaking, just fantastic tone so I can get to the business of playing and enjoying my little hobby in my precious free time.
I was quite disappointed with my Spark 40. I ended up giving it away to a family member. Currently using a THR10ii which, IMO, is much better. Out of the ones in the video, now I would go for the Nux.
@@BkBk-gy6vrSure, but there is always something ‘better’, in everything. Constantly searching for the ‘better’ thing is a long slow road to ultimate disappointment. Sounds to me like Sheepleton has found something he can sit with so he can just enjoy his guitar. Can’t see any ‘shame’ in that, far from it!
Almost two years with my Yamaha THRII30w...Not just one bit of regret. Though I installed the app in my compute to try some patches I got in the internet I´ve uploaded five to my unit and always play using them as a starting point...The aesthetics of this toy are amazing and I use it on a daily basis. Probably the users of other brands are as enchanted as me so in the end I´d say that all these desktop amplifiers are worth the price in terms of how much dopamine we all get from our playing time. Blessed all of us for living in this era of microelectronics, fast chips and infinite backing tracks from youtube...
I have had the THR30II with the wireless bug for a couple years and had the THR10 previously. Yes they are pricey but they have allowed me to play and practice more frequently than i was able to before. That has been priceless.
Have both. Yes agree. But i dont like much new sounds on the 30II. I miss the old lead sound of the THR10, plexi sounds. 😂 Not the same pleasure with new lead on the 30II. But good product.
Yamaha THR30II all the way. It always amazes me. I still have a THR10X and a THR5A that I still use as well. I conducted a extensive pre-purchase test prior to choosing the THR30II and for my money the Yamaha just couldn't be beaten.
And let's hope the THR Mk 3 has a looper and also switchable boosts (the Yamaha has no boost models, all of the other 3 do). Then I'm sold on the Yamaha. And the icing on the cake would be the addition of metronome, drums etc in the THR app. To my mind for Boss to release a the EX without a looper, at that price point, is a bizarre marketing decision, seeing as even the Dual Cube has a looper built in.
@@theoc7805 Agreed the looper could be a deciding factor for many. I use my THR's for recording and practicing, straight into my DAW, so I can loop anything and I import drums I have downloaded so the metronome doesn't matter to me, but I agree both would be would be beneficial for practice. The way I see it, the quick and easy recording with zero latency of the THR's is what sold me. Do the other brands use ASIO Drivers? Yamaha - ASIO - Steinberg... all one company.
Cloths don't make the man, give a good player beginner gear, they will make it sound good. Give a beginner an expensive rig, they are not going to sound any better. We live a lie thinking that new amp, guitar, pedal is going to make you "better" but in reality it's not, better off practicing or spring for lessons.
I personally have the Yamaha THR30II WL in White. It has some great tones. I am all for options, but like with any modeling amp I find like 3 good tones at most and that is what it will be set to forever. I love the convenience and taking it to lessons to teach. So light weight and easy to use.
I go the same amp - not cheap - didn’t use for about 3 months or so, and now the battery is dead, will just not recharge. Also, even when plugged in, it will not work. I have the older Yamaha set, and just being able to plug into a socket and play is so much better. My THR30II WL is now a waste of money. Beware!
@@KickAxe1000 I have had mine for a year with no issues thus far. Charges just fine. Battery life is pretty good. I even use a wireless system so when I'm out and about I have zero cables.
First if it isn't working after three months file a warranty claim, Yamaha has never been anything but extremely helpful with customer service and it has a year warranty. Secondly, I've had my thr for 3 years and the battery has never gone dead and I use it more days than not.
Fellow teacher here - completely agreed with all that! It sounds great, really easy to cart around and the playback/blutooth speakers is the best for backing tracks :)
I know they’re ancient now but an old used Roland cube will still do a good job for a small practice amp! Plus there’s no app that’s going to get out of date and disappear at some point!
Yamaha all day long. Sounds good at low volumes, looks cool, and, most important, gives you loads of tone options with no app needed thanks to onboard controls and presets. And props to Yamaha for putting those controls up front where you can easily see and use them. So over amps with controls buried on the back or not even available unless you use your phone.
I bought one of the first gen THR10’s when they came out. I still have it and play it almost daily. It sounds amazing and perfect for home use. My only wish would be for a looper or send/return
I got the Spark when it first came out and I still have it and use it all the time. It's a very convenient and good sounding desktop amp that's definitely worth the $. All the other ones you guys used sounded good also.
I'm a big proponent for constraints/limitations in gear, especially for beginners. With too many parameters to control, a lot of people get super carried away playing with different sounds or tweaking settings instead of actually practicing/playing. Not that thats necessarily a bad thing for everyone, it's just a distraction that can easily slow progress and hold someone back from reaching their potential as a player. While the Yamaha doesn't have the vast feature set some of the others offer, everything their amps do, they do very well. And they pretty much covers all the bases, giving the user a model for any genre they want to work with.
I have the Yamaha and initially agreed about the lack of bass. Though changing the speaker setting on the app from open to focus seemed to really improve this. Fantastic amp!
With respect to bass, I’ve found with my Thr that placement can hugely impact that. If it’s a few inches from your face (or mics for that matter) it doesn’t bloom. 6 feet away standing above (maybe even in a corner) the magic happens. Maybe this would be true with the other “desktops” too.
I teach guitar and use a Yamaha THR C. Absolutely no idea why people say there is a lack of bass. I have plenty, in fact more than my gigging Fender Tube amps. At first I thought it was TOO bassy, until i dialed in my own settings. I always have it about a foot off the floor, and stand about 5 or 6 feet away. It fills the room and has lots of bass as and when I want it. Sounds like a great Fender blackface clean amp on the mode I use.
They made it as one of firmware updates. I tried THR30II twice and didn't like it, because it sounded to focused. When they introduced "open" setting I kept it.
As a blind person trying to learn the guitar it would be helpful if you guys could add an accessibility section to your reviews. For example, does VoiceOver work on the apps you are reviewing? An idea for next time.
@ it’s getting there, it is harder than it needs to be due to lack of accessible lessons on RUclips and not much blind friendly gear, but I’ve finally found a good guitar teacher I’m happy with.
I’m really happy to hear that. I am legally blind in one eye and have a condition that threatens blindness in the other. Yes historically there are lots of blind guitarists, but I don’t know about people that lost vision later in life. No matter what you are a rockstar and inspiring to keep on playing.
@@michaelsigman8942 I have Retinitis Pigmentosa so lost my sight over time. I tried to learn before I went completely blind but I struggled. Weirdly since I’ve lost all sight I’ve really focused on learning. A lot of people in their lessons say I’ll use this finger, or they say see what I’m doing here? Not helpful to me lol. I need descriptive teachers. I appreciate you thank you!
I run my Yamaha Thr10 and Thr10x in stereo and they are the best amps I've ever heard!! They have a better mojo and vibe than the newer ones to my ears.
Once again you guys have managed to simplify my decision process greatly by adequately showing the important differences between these different brands/models. Thank you guys for all your education and help 👍🏻
I have the THR with a bluetooth pedal to trigger the different channels in our living room. We use it as a bluetooth speaker for music and I use it to play at a reasonable volume. When the house is empty I may plug into the Katana 100 MKII as it honestly has a lot of fantastic tones and is fun to play loud. For everyday playing though the goto is the Yamaha. As someone commented here because of it's convenience I play more often which is a good thing!
I’ve owned the Spark and still own the Yamaha THR30ii. The Spark has way more features in the app, but it was way too bassy for me. However, it appears they may have fixed that, as Lee mentioned. While the app for the THR is a bit behind the times, the tone is so much better. Also, while I don’t mind using apps, I much prefer using knobs and pedals to craft my sound. The THR takes pedals really well, but is also great on its own.
I teach leassons at a studio and despite there being 2 combo amps in the room, I bring in my lunchbox/ desktop thr5 because: 1. I know how to dial it in everytime 2. The 5 or so different amp models have way more range than the combos in the room 3. it's loud enough for a 14'x20' room 4. It's super light.
Bought the spark 40 a week ago second hand for €220 and man was it a steal for that price. I "upgraded" from a Boss Katana Mk.I (because it was very big for my setup, only ever used the 0.5W mode, also I liked the appeal of the app) and that was a great decision. Not having to connect my laptop to my amp via USB anymore is a blessing, preset changes are so quick and easy now. I have also been using it with a small pedalboard (wah - tube screamer - looper) and that has been great to practice looping and the spark absolutely takes them well!
I ended up buying the THR30II Wireless over the NUX Mighty Space. So easy to dial in a tone, there are great presets and you can tweak to your liking. I do not want option paralysis with the Positive Grid and NUX. I do have the the Mighty Plug Pro from NUX, so not really missing out on the NUX stuff. And my THR30II is complimented as well by a Boss WAZA Air :D Dial a flat setting in WAZA Air, plug it to the line out and you got the best of both worlds!
I've found with my THR that placement makes huge difference in the bass and overall sound as opposed to where your mics are. Probably would for the other "desktop" amps, as well. My ears are happiest about six feet away and standing above it.
The Spark sounded muddy like a blanket thrown over it. The NUX is the winner for me because of the wireless setting out of the box and like Pete, the drum mod an amazing game changer.
I currently.own the spark 40 and the Nux Mighty air, i still have the 1st gen THR, the Spark is hard to setup but after you put on the work it has great cleans and drives, the THR has great drives and its easier to setup but the cleans are very anemic, the tiny Nux for me its the best practice gear a player can buy, sounds great for it's size, portable and totally wireless and it's cheap.
I just want to take a moment to appreciate this shot they used throughout the vid 3:24, with the app split down the middle. Really awsome idea, to split the shot, separate it to fit the app, and blend in the extra added space quite convincingly in the carpet and wall. Hats off to the editor, very cool
I have all of the positive grid amps and I just had the new speaker cab system delivered. Awesome! Allows even the pocket sized 'GO' model to be gigged! Must see a review from you guys on that.
I have 2 Sparks. One at home, one at office. The EQ pedal they’ve included with the firmware update is fantastic for tone sculpting. I had the Yamaha which was cool too but for me overall I like the Spark
I have two of the old THR series, and I use them pretty much every day. I have a lot of amps, and such ,I am fortunate. The last thing you wanna do when your inspired is to fiddle about.
Ive used the original THR10 for years. I run my 4 years olds electric drum kit through it, both acoustic and electric guitars. For home use it sounds great!
I bought the Spark 40, and I can't recommend it enough for the home player. It's so much fun, super easy to use... and it's made me a better player because pratice is fun now, plus it's a total bargain.
@@hexaldecima6839 one thing the Spark can teach you, that i never hear mentioned in the reviews, is you can play any you tube video through the app and it will show you the chords to play the song. I don't know of any other amp that can teach you the songs!
The spark 40 still sounds bass heavy to me and the majority of presets are not not my cup of tea but dial in your own tones and you might enjoy it. I have the GO and it doesn’t have the bass heavy problem that the 40 suffers from. The GO sounds good in the room but maybe a little thin and lacking low end however I mainly use it through headphones for jam tracks and it sounds great for that purpose. The Spark mini is probably the best of the 3 Positive Grid amps for balanced in the room tones. I ordered the Nux mighty air along with the spark GO and although the Nux sounded nice and fuller in the room I returned it because through headphones the Spark sounded better to my ears. Can’t go wrong with either just choose the one that sounds good to you.
As the old saying goes... "Put a sock in it!" Or a wash cloth or towel, anything like that will help cut the bass. Take a small flathead screw driver and *_*Carefully*_* pop the grill off, it's just connected with velcro strips, and there's a vent between the speakers.
Absolutely love my Spark 40 best buy I’ve got for quite some time and the foot pedal is great. I agree in desperate need of a looper. Now PositiveGrid have said the foot pedal will have future software updates that allow more tricks and options in the future, so fingers crossed one is a looper option. Love your channel by the way keep up the good work.
Re: Lee’s note about desktop amps - Ive had a Katana air for almost a year, and i LOVE it! Theres a time and place for my Milkman amp and my giant pedal board, but living in an apartment, and just general practice the Katana offers so much. Bluetooth for jamming to my favorite tracks or a metronome on my phone and the app is great! The Katana has made me a better guitarist purely based on the virtue it is so much easier and accessible to use. I can play at any time of day or night
I have a little Blackstar Fly and it's a riot for what it is, but these are another level. Nux or THR for me. That boutique special sounded the best of the bunch. Tasty playing too!
I have the Yamaha th10 and the Spark. I'm not big on using the apps. The one thing I would like to see is the controls on the front. They are both on my desk but up against the wall. I've got them both propped up on something so that they tilt forward so I can see the controls. And I still have to go looking to make changes.
I am playing at home, I need to have the All-In-One tool and the Positive Grid + the fotswitch does exactly that. Kicking backing track, having the right effect setup ready and just play (and als record if I want to). Having an extra space where I can go loud - any f the amps will be the winner. Just a tube head or two, maybe an extra tube amp like some VOX a 4x12, and few useful effects (actually something like Paul Gilberts pedals + extra mixer pedal to help me to blend the amps nicely) ....
I use my Spark more than any other amp that I have. I got the Spark when it first came out and then got the Spark Mini when that came out. I pretty much only use the Mini these days. I rarely use the app, I just switch the presets I have set up.
I also bought the Yamaha THR30II WL and Line6 Relay and more than happy with the sound amplification punch and effects, first ever Amp to give me the closest to that awesome sound Neil Young had on songs and solos on the Zuma Album but also Harvest. Add it being totally portable, battery lasting hours, don't need a guitar lead, can feed in a pre-recorded backing track and play along, who needs a band, awesome. Good choice of video guys.
I have to say that, even though they are "desktop" or "practice" amplifiers, I have gigged with the Yamaha THR for 2 years now, and it really works out great. The cabinet simulation is outstanding and the sound really has that natural tones that bigger and louder amps have. Really recomend it for practice or for touring along with the external footswitch.
@@joeylodes I would definitely recommend you to try it. I used it in a folk-metal environment and the sound is killer. I also use it in a cover band as a monitor with the tonex pedal for the drummer to have the reference, since I now run my guitar sounds through the PA. The sound quality is simply incredible.
This was brilliant! There is something for everyone in these, and the race to determine which features will be most favored over the long term is fascinating. I look forward to any updates...or "next installment" in this saga...!
I was expecting a video like this. There are several good options here. Personally, I have owned a Spark40 for a while now as well as a spark Go and while they are amazing amps, I recently bought the NUX mighty Space because I wanted to try it and wanted a looper as well. I gotta say the Spark is sitting on a shelf collecting dust now. The Nux just sounds amazing and I love the looper and drum options. I was a bit disappointed here because while Pete and company here try to show what each product can do they failed to talk about several things that really set the NUX apart from all of these other models. For one the NUx is the only one here that has a built-in battery that lasts 7 hours! This is a very big deal and I use it often. I actually tried several different battery add Ons for my Spark40 but this NUX MIghty Space has this built in. The other thing is that the Nux also has a speaker direct output that you can power a cabinet with so the Nux acts like an amp head up to 30 watts. If you are busking or whatnot this amp is perfection. The basic amp is also quite loud and powerful sounding while not getting muddy like the Spark can ( there are ways around that with the spark BTW). I use my NUX MIghty Space to record almost daily now and it also has some very nice audio interface features like re-amping and dry and wet signal inputs that are all variable volumes. Something I struggled with on my Spark40. One of the nicest features of this amp is the AFTERMARKET app called the Mightier amp app that adds a lot of functionality to the NUX amps that anyone using one should really check out. It is awesome. It has some of the features of the Boss RUclips stuff like ability to change presets automatically during a song and lots of other neat features. If you add a pedal like the Mvave Chocolate you can use the looper and change patches and drum settings all at the same time with a little tweaking. This thing beats all of the other amps easily when you add up these features. Most importantly it sounds amazing and sharing patches is a dream with QR code sharing. I do not work for NUX just love this product. It really is a game changer for me. Finally, this amp REQUIRES you to get under the hood and adjust settings and it will reward you with fantastic sounds. IR loading, the ability to move the pedal blocks order around, and other features to explore. The delays and reverbs are fantastic. I like making ambient guitar music sometimes and these effects are wicked cool and allow tons of amazing ambient sounds easily. I think someone should do a deep dive into this amp to show exactly what is possible as every one of the reviews I have seen barely scratched the surface of what it possible. Dave Simpson did a decent job but even he did not show what is possible. This little amp deserves to be explored to show people what it can do. Thanks for at least trying to give it fair shake in this video.
I have an old Behringer virtual amp from 2001! I use it with headphones. Looking to upgrade to one of these. I like being able to foot switch effects during a song, use headphones and jam to RUclips backing tracks in the amp. I'm assuming that the NUX does all of that?
i have just pré ordered thé Spark 2, maybe i would wait for a Spark 2 vs Nux mighty ... ?? 😢. thé final point will be thé rendering of thé speakers ^^ . thank you for all this détails !
I wish I had an ear like these guys. I’m just looking to connect my HEADRUSH MX5 multi-effects to a combo amp. I don’t want a FRFR amp, but I like that some are portable. Great video! Cheers!
Pete is right..."we" just want to noodle around on the guitar while there is the small time window to just play....and then we don'tneed all those features etc...3 or 5 presets are enough for me ...and i still have the Vox air whatever....but might get a Yamaha THR10 soon...cheers.
I have the Spark and agree a looper is nice to have. Also would have been interesting to know if you have an external cabinet to connect to which one would sound best. I agree that the Yamaha is cool looking but that should be the least important thing to consider. It really should boil down to the functionality offered the simplicity of the interface (trade off between functionality and simplicity) and of course how they sound. I would grade them as following -- Interface Spark, Katana/Nux, Yamaha -- Features NUX, Spark, Katana, Yamaha, -- Sound Katana, Spark, NUX, Yamaha -- Looks Yamaha, Katana NUX/Spark (tied for third).
I have a Yamaha thr 30 and absolutely love it. And I'm used to playing through amps like ENGL and 5150. And this little amp has such great features, especially in the department of versatility, quality sound And if you're trying to use it as a way to learn the blue tooth is amazing for working scales and songs on you tube with educacitonal videos , the battery is also amazing for grab n go anywhere playing , I've also used spark which has great features but to me the yamaha has a slight better quality sound it's one of my favorite pieces of equipment Bluetooth is great for educational purposes. Learning licks and scales and so on. It is one of my favorite pieces of equipment
As a busker I bought the Spark 40 because my Roland Street Cube Ex was lacking. I set up a clean sound and run a Roland GR55 thru it. Very happy for the tone.
Hi! Let me have two questions please! Does THR30II also sound nice through headphones? Can you get gain sounds at lower volumes? My problem is I have tube amps that will break up at high volumes only, and now that I have two little babies I must be silent not to disturb them. Thanx very much!
@@gordospeti I rarely use headphones, but the sound quality is as good as on speakers there. But most important gain structure is very good at low level volume.
had the spark ,couldn't get any kind of gain sound that did'nt sound muddy. the app great as it is, kept crashing, shame. Replaced with nux, sounds good out the box.Sounds like a proper amp plugged into a 1x12 or2x12 cab. this one's a keeper.
I watched this because I bought a Spark in the presale a few years ago and I just can't stand how boomy it is, even with the bass port stuffed, so I simply never use it. Interesting to see how others compare, as I'm in the market for a better desktop amp. I'll check out that firmware update on the Spark, though, see if it helps (might save me having to buy a different amp)
I still think the Roland Micro Cube is the best small desktop/practice amp. It sounds great at low volume but is loud enough for jamming on the porch and covers a nice variety of tones. It's also robust and runs on batteries so it's super portable. It's no longer in production, but you can easily pick one up used for super cheap.
I keep going back to my Micro Cube as well. Picked it up for 15 euros at a yard sale. The effects are bit limited though-- sometimes I'd really like to have both echo and reverb. But the presets are great.
I got the Daneletro Honeytone new for below forty bucks here in the States and I'm satisfied. I don't need much out of a practice amp, just some volume and something light in weight to play in the living room while sitting in my recliner. I have full size amps for performance.
I started with a Spark and it served me well! Nowadays it is used mainly as a Bluetooth speaker. It is worth mentioning that the Spark comes with recording software when you register it. However, these days I use a real amp and a 212 cab. If you need to dial the volume down I highly recommend the Laney Loud Pedal! It is all Solid-state. They have just released a few amp heads that are the same. Not quite the tube sound but still a great piece of gear!
I've owned a Vox Adio, Spark, and now have settled on a THRii. The Adio sounded the best to me and I always regret selling it, but aesthetically not my cup of tea so went looking for something else. Didn't like the boxy sound of the spark at all. The THR sounds great and wireless with rechargeable battery makes it super convenient around home. The new options from Nux and Boss look good. I would be very interested if Vox ever updated the Adio though.
@@tzmathew Yeh just based on sound I preferred it, and I really liked having more presets - think the adio has 8. But the THR is better for me overall, rechargeable, more options in the app, and the wireless transmitter
I few months back I was looking at getting a desktop amp. I was really leaning towards the Yamaha as to me they sounded just a bit better in all of the reviews. I ended up finding a Spark 40 for cheap new w/ bag on Reverb and decided to give it a try... SO glad I did! I love this little amp with how much it can do. Sound wise it is a tad heavy on the low end but that's okay for me just messing around on the couch. Its really amazing just how much they can put into these small amps today and you really can't go wrong with any of the 4 in the video.
The nux can be used as a head. It sounds very good plugged into my 2x12. Nux can plug into your home stereo and you can then Bluetooth music to it from a phone. So many uses
How do you "plug into your home stereo", do you use the headphone out? It's a bit of a shame that there is no aux-out for recording or going to a mixing board. The headphone out mutes the speakers, so you lose the personal monitoring in a band practice situation if you use phone out to go into the mixer. It's not an issue for home recording though, as the USB-C output works great: full-duplex, low-latency with ASIO drivers.
I buy the spark and has a beginner this is awsome to learn what kind of tone ur into and not buy alot of thing u dont really want (pedal etc...) awsome product
I have the Spark 40 & Mini…..since getting the Mini I rarely use the 40….but I enjoy both. I tried the GO…it was awful….transistor radio basically…the Spark amps I have get me playing…mission accomplished
I’ve had the Spark 40 for a few months now. I use it with my mini pedalboard and a loop pedal and it’s amazing. Pretty much any song/artist I want to play someone has already made a great preset for it and I just make a few small tweaks. In 30 seconds I have my core tone. It takes pedals great as long as you like pedals in the front.
How did you get a looper pedal to work with the Spark? Everyone who’s tried a looper claims that the amp won’t allow multiple tones/effects to be used. Apparently as soon as they attempt to apply a new effect, it automatically applies that effect to every loop in the chain. Maybe this issue applies only to using the app’s tone library effects, but not when applying new effects via actual pedals? If you could elaborate please.
@@graphicartdude I have a mini pedal board with a looper on it that I plug straight into the front of the spark. So I only use the spark as my base tone and then all other effects are through my board.
I have the Thr10ii and an advantage is that it has stereo speakers and can be used as an frfr with digital modelling pedals through the aux in line, sounds HUGE this way like a tube amp, it's a great amp
Hi there, what do you mean by that? I have a Thr30 and just bought an Eventide H90 (haven’t even tried it yet). So do I have to connect guitar to pedal and pedal to aux instead to amp input? I’ve literally had it for 48 hours. Cheers!
@@doubleohdutch2108 exactly as you describe, guitar to pedal and pedal to aux, the advantage of plug in into aux is that it shuts off the Effects and sounds of the amp and the pedal is the one creating your sound you can try impulse responses this way and its what make it sound huge
@@pirerc Thanks! Tried it with my audio interface and my Rokit speakers, sounds quite good. Hopefully I’ll have time to try it this weekend with the Yamaha. Cheers.
I got the spark go after your video on the range. Personally I use it for a clean amp sound and use pedals rather than the inbuilt ones. It does lack bass being so small, but with headphones it sounds much better, I'm waiting on some aux extension cables to try to plug it into my logitec pc speakers but I reckon that should work pretty good. Side note, the battery life on it is very impressive!
Love my THR30II - I play more guitar now. Gorgeous cleans and EVH tones. Perfect for what I wanted and it doesn't Sound or Feel digital. oNe LovE from NYC
If you want to have a better desktop amp, go USB Audio Interface -> Guitar Rig 6 or 7 and use all the Features your PCs has to offer. Guitar Rig 7 has the looper built in. Im more than Happy with that setup but i still miss a full blown 100W 4x12" tube amp. Even for playing alone and practicing it's just different
I have the Spark 40 and had the Katana air. I bought a Yamaha THR30 and the difference between it and everything else is just way too huge. IMHO the THR is unmatched in sound quality and ease of use. Makes everything else sound like a toy in comparison and i could honestly say it’s the best piece of gear i have ever bought for playing and recording at home.
I'm considering getting a THR over the Spark and the Nux. Read in a lot of places that of all the desktop amps that have come out, the Vox Adio Air is the best sounding. It's butt ugly but sounds better than even the new THRs. Have you tried that one ? Also, does the THR sound tinny / thin compared to something like the Spark 40, which seems to have a better bass response ?
@@tzmathew I haven’t heard the Vox honestly. The THR sounds amazing. It doesn’t lack bass and can in fact be used with a bass guitar and deliver amazing bass ones. It’s just a lot more balanced than the Spark with sounds way too flabby and dark. I haven’t turned on the Spark in months while I play the THR daily.
I can only compare to Katana 50, but I love my Nux Mighty Space to bits. Between the amp models, custom IRs, speaker EQ and preset EQ I always get exactly the sound I want. Idk, maybe Yamaha is even better, but NMS is absolutely great. Can't go wrong with it. With the looper pedal and drum machine and battery operation, it's a super convenient machine.
Absolutely. I still have my THR10II (20 watt) and I hung up my tube amps because there's not a 12 inch speaker in existence, even with a good tube head that even comes close to the pure articulation and sound quality of a Yamaha THR. It's like listening to your favorite guitarist play through the best stereo ever, only not at crazy high volumes. It does lack low end thump because of the physics behind 3-inch speakers, but you quickly get over it. It's borderline perfect sound quality.
The part where you said the Katana will let you loop certain sections of youtube videos and slow them down, the Spark also does the same thing and it also has the ability to show the chord progression and loops through the track in real time. The spark also has some really cool built in AI stuff that is SUPER useful. It is by far the best practice/recording amp I have ever owned.
I never bought the THR hype until I found a great deal on a used one locally. Ever since then I haven't touched any of my other amps because they just don't have enough articulation. They all sound like pure mud after playing the Yamaha THRs (I have the THR10 II 20 watt). It's not about power, it's about pure uncompromised sound quality, and the Yamaha is unbeatable.
Nice- I would like to repurpose a 1541 into a HT PC with uhf optical drive in front. I’ve seen another person do this and the slot for the floppy matches a slot load drive perfectly.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I personally think the Yamaha THR sounds the most natural and least digital.
The Spark Go with all the features in a pocket size is great too.
I agree, andf it's probably the least boxy of the pack, especiallu compared to the Katana.
The Spark Go replaced 3 amps for me. The one in my living room, the one in my workshop which I just use to check if electrics are working and finally the one at my parents' house.
Best of it: I can use the exact same Spark Go for all 3 use cases.
Agreed!
I agree! And I love that the Yamaha THR also works with bass and keyboards. I have a Spark Go, which is fine for my limited guitar abilities (and portability), but I am seriously going to have to consider getting the Yamaha as my all-rounder at home.
Yup, sounds the most natural to me too.
another reason for desktop amps: getting your feet wet for home recording. they usually function as interfaces and you can use the amp models to directly record. if you want to start recording your own music but you have no idea where to begin, grab a desktop amp and just start by recording a guitar track, a bass track, and some kinda drum plug-in.
I've had the Spark 40 for about a year I guess. I've lost all interest in any other equipment. It's just so convenient to search for and set a tone in seconds. No knobs,no tweaking, just fantastic tone so I can get to the business of playing and enjoying my little hobby in my precious free time.
How loud? Is it I’m thinking about one
I was quite disappointed with my Spark 40. I ended up giving it away to a family member.
Currently using a THR10ii which, IMO, is much better.
Out of the ones in the video, now I would go for the Nux.
@@martingoodwin8884loud enough for home practice. Nowhere near loud enough for anything else.
None of these units are.
@@BkBk-gy6vrSure, but there is always something ‘better’, in everything. Constantly searching for the ‘better’ thing is a long slow road to ultimate disappointment. Sounds to me like Sheepleton has found something he can sit with so he can just enjoy his guitar. Can’t see any ‘shame’ in that, far from it!
@@BkBk-gy6vr the spark is amazing sounding if you know how to use it properly, especially through headphones for silent practice at home.
Almost two years with my Yamaha THRII30w...Not just one bit of regret. Though I installed the app in my compute to try some patches I got in the internet I´ve uploaded five to my unit and always play using them as a starting point...The aesthetics of this toy are amazing and I use it on a daily basis. Probably the users of other brands are as enchanted as me so in the end I´d say that all these desktop amplifiers are worth the price in terms of how much dopamine we all get from our playing time. Blessed all of us for living in this era of microelectronics, fast chips and infinite backing tracks from youtube...
Pete getting impatient with Lee talking is my favorite recurring theme. 😂
too much sugar :P
I have had the THR30II with the wireless bug for a couple years and had the THR10 previously. Yes they are pricey but they have allowed me to play and practice more frequently than i was able to before. That has been priceless.
I have a THR10 and wonder if they sound different to the newer one you own.
Have both.
Yes agree.
But i dont like much new sounds on the 30II. I miss the old lead sound of the THR10, plexi sounds. 😂
Not the same pleasure with new lead on the 30II. But good product.
@@Armagedon197238 : thanx for your reply - you are the 2nd guy with a similar opinion on this topic.
The older THR are better than the newer ones
@@jonathanong4538 what model/ year do you like?
Still THR for sound , simplicity of use and looks for me.
Yamaha THR30II all the way. It always amazes me. I still have a THR10X and a THR5A that I still use as well. I conducted a extensive pre-purchase test prior to choosing the THR30II and for my money the Yamaha just couldn't be beaten.
And let's hope the THR Mk 3 has a looper and also switchable boosts (the Yamaha has no boost models, all of the other 3 do). Then I'm sold on the Yamaha. And the icing on the cake would be the addition of metronome, drums etc in the THR app. To my mind for Boss to release a the EX without a looper, at that price point, is a bizarre marketing decision, seeing as even the Dual Cube has a looper built in.
@@theoc7805 Agreed the looper could be a deciding factor for many. I use my THR's for recording and practicing, straight into my DAW, so I can loop anything and I import drums I have downloaded so the metronome doesn't matter to me, but I agree both would be would be beneficial for practice. The way I see it, the quick and easy recording with zero latency of the THR's is what sold me. Do the other brands use ASIO Drivers? Yamaha - ASIO - Steinberg... all one company.
C
Pete is unreasonably good at grooving with whatever gear you all are doing a demo for, the nux jam was great
@@BkBk-gy6vr What are you upset about?
@@BkBk-gy6vr No such thing as a bad product, it would just be a product you wouldn’t buy.
@@philfyphil I like Linus's take, no such thing as a bad product, just a bad price
Cloths don't make the man, give a good player beginner gear, they will make it sound good. Give a beginner an expensive rig, they are not going to sound any better. We live a lie thinking that new amp, guitar, pedal is going to make you "better" but in reality it's not, better off practicing or spring for lessons.
@@philfyphillol wut? There are definitely bad products that died off because it sucked
I personally have the Yamaha THR30II WL in White. It has some great tones. I am all for options, but like with any modeling amp I find like 3 good tones at most and that is what it will be set to forever. I love the convenience and taking it to lessons to teach. So light weight and easy to use.
I go the same amp - not cheap - didn’t use for about 3 months or so, and now the battery is dead, will just not recharge. Also, even when plugged in, it will not work. I have the older Yamaha set, and just being able to plug into a socket and play is so much better. My THR30II WL is now a waste of money. Beware!
@@KickAxe1000 I have had mine for a year with no issues thus far. Charges just fine. Battery life is pretty good. I even use a wireless system so when I'm out and about I have zero cables.
First if it isn't working after three months file a warranty claim, Yamaha has never been anything but extremely helpful with customer service and it has a year warranty. Secondly, I've had my thr for 3 years and the battery has never gone dead and I use it more days than not.
Fellow teacher here - completely agreed with all that! It sounds great, really easy to cart around and the playback/blutooth speakers is the best for backing tracks :)
Just ordered the exact same on white can’t wait
Love my THR30W. It’s the lack of options compared to others that I like. Less fiddling more playing.
more good sound, and it doesn't need to be tweaked a lot. Less is MORE.
I know they’re ancient now but an old used Roland cube will still do a good job for a small practice amp! Plus there’s no app that’s going to get out of date and disappear at some point!
Yamaha all day long. Sounds good at low volumes, looks cool, and, most important, gives you loads of tone options with no app needed thanks to onboard controls and presets. And props to Yamaha for putting those controls up front where you can easily see and use them. So over amps with controls buried on the back or not even available unless you use your phone.
Does it have a headphone connector
@@hopdig yes
I bought one of the first gen THR10’s when they came out. I still have it and play it almost daily. It sounds amazing and perfect for home use. My only wish would be for a looper or send/return
With the THRII you can loop via the AUX input - if you search 'Yamaha THR looper' you'll see a video showing you how it works.
Just plug a looper into the input. That’s what I do, works fine. If you want to play clean rhythm and crunchy lead over top, use your volume knob
@@NickJardineDo you also use other pedals like this with the THR? E.g. Guitar > Overdrive > Reverb > Amp. And if you do, how does it sound? 👀
@@MCMANDO1991 hey - no, I dont. The amp has every effect you could need built in. I have used a wah and tube screamer before but not anymore.
I got the Spark when it first came out and I still have it and use it all the time. It's a very convenient and good sounding desktop amp that's definitely worth the $. All the other ones you guys used sounded good also.
I'm a big proponent for constraints/limitations in gear, especially for beginners. With too many parameters to control, a lot of people get super carried away playing with different sounds or tweaking settings instead of actually practicing/playing. Not that thats necessarily a bad thing for everyone, it's just a distraction that can easily slow progress and hold someone back from reaching their potential as a player. While the Yamaha doesn't have the vast feature set some of the others offer, everything their amps do, they do very well. And they pretty much covers all the bases, giving the user a model for any genre they want to work with.
Absolutely! People get so distracted by the acquisition of stuff, rather than skills!
I agree I got rid of the THR and bought the katana and now my playing has suffered because the katana is too complex
I have the Yamaha and initially agreed about the lack of bass. Though changing the speaker setting on the app from open to focus seemed to really improve this. Fantastic amp!
With respect to bass, I’ve found with my Thr that placement can hugely impact that. If it’s a few inches from your face (or mics for that matter) it doesn’t bloom. 6 feet away standing above (maybe even in a corner) the magic happens. Maybe this would be true with the other “desktops” too.
@@writewheel oh yes absolutely. I get a very different sound (better to my ears) if it’s on the floor compared to on the settee or a table.
I teach guitar and use a Yamaha THR C. Absolutely no idea why people say there is a lack of bass. I have plenty, in fact more than my gigging Fender Tube amps. At first I thought it was TOO bassy, until i dialed in my own settings. I always have it about a foot off the floor, and stand about 5 or 6 feet away. It fills the room and has lots of bass as and when I want it. Sounds like a great Fender blackface clean amp on the mode I use.
@@gazzie12000 I agree!
@@michaeljcoulter me too. Actually one thing that amazes me is precisely how such a fat bass sound comes from that tiny device.
The way to get the bass back on the THR30 is to go to the settings “gear” and switch it from “focused” to “open”. It’s like a whole different amp
They made it as one of firmware updates. I tried THR30II twice and didn't like it, because it sounded to focused. When they introduced "open" setting I kept it.
The NUX Mighty Space has a lot of cool stuff going on. It has a "Speaker Out" and you can even drive External Cabinets with it. Nice!!
As a blind person trying to learn the guitar it would be helpful if you guys could add an accessibility section to your reviews. For example, does VoiceOver work on the apps you are reviewing? An idea for next time.
How is it going?!
@ it’s getting there, it is harder than it needs to be due to lack of accessible lessons on RUclips and not much blind friendly gear, but I’ve finally found a good guitar teacher I’m happy with.
I’m really happy to hear that. I am legally blind in one eye and have a condition that threatens blindness in the other. Yes historically there are lots of blind guitarists, but I don’t know about people that lost vision later in life. No matter what you are a rockstar and inspiring to keep on playing.
@@michaelsigman8942 I have Retinitis Pigmentosa so lost my sight over time. I tried to learn before I went completely blind but I struggled. Weirdly since I’ve lost all sight I’ve really focused on learning. A lot of people in their lessons say I’ll use this finger, or they say see what I’m doing here? Not helpful to me lol. I need descriptive teachers. I appreciate you thank you!
I run my Yamaha Thr10 and Thr10x in stereo and they are the best amps I've ever heard!! They have a better mojo and vibe than the newer ones to my ears.
Yes! I agree with Pete, please do a blindfold test of these amps!
Once again you guys have managed to simplify my decision process greatly by adequately showing the important differences between these different brands/models. Thank you guys for all your education and help 👍🏻
I have the THR with a bluetooth pedal to trigger the different channels in our living room. We use it as a bluetooth speaker for music and I use it to play at a reasonable volume. When the house is empty I may plug into the Katana 100 MKII as it honestly has a lot of fantastic tones and is fun to play loud. For everyday playing though the goto is the Yamaha. As someone commented here because of it's convenience I play more often which is a good thing!
I have been rocking the original THR10 and just did an update on it and those REALLY improved things to my ears.
What was the update ?
I’ve owned the Spark and still own the Yamaha THR30ii. The Spark has way more features in the app, but it was way too bassy for me. However, it appears they may have fixed that, as Lee mentioned. While the app for the THR is a bit behind the times, the tone is so much better. Also, while I don’t mind using apps, I much prefer using knobs and pedals to craft my sound. The THR takes pedals really well, but is also great on its own.
I teach leassons at a studio and despite there being 2 combo amps in the room, I bring in my lunchbox/ desktop thr5 because:
1. I know how to dial it in everytime
2. The 5 or so different amp models have way more range than the combos in the room
3. it's loud enough for a 14'x20' room
4. It's super light.
I've got a Yamaha THR10ii and I'm really happy with it. It's the amp I play through by far the most when I'm at home.
Got an older THR10 and a THR5…. The 5 has no presets..,single tone control.. sounds so sweet.
Bought the spark 40 a week ago second hand for €220 and man was it a steal for that price. I "upgraded" from a Boss Katana Mk.I (because it was very big for my setup, only ever used the 0.5W mode, also I liked the appeal of the app) and that was a great decision. Not having to connect my laptop to my amp via USB anymore is a blessing, preset changes are so quick and easy now. I have also been using it with a small pedalboard (wah - tube screamer - looper) and that has been great to practice looping and the spark absolutely takes them well!
I ended up buying the THR30II Wireless over the NUX Mighty Space. So easy to dial in a tone, there are great presets and you can tweak to your liking. I do not want option paralysis with the Positive Grid and NUX. I do have the the Mighty Plug Pro from NUX, so not really missing out on the NUX stuff. And my THR30II is complimented as well by a Boss WAZA Air :D Dial a flat setting in WAZA Air, plug it to the line out and you got the best of both worlds!
I've found with my THR that placement makes huge difference in the bass and overall sound as opposed to where your mics are. Probably would for the other "desktop" amps, as well. My ears are happiest about six feet away and standing above it.
The Spark sounded muddy like a blanket thrown over it. The NUX is the winner for me because of the wireless setting out of the box and like Pete, the drum mod an amazing game changer.
I would LOVE to have had access to this stuff when I was learning.
I currently.own the spark 40 and the Nux Mighty air, i still have the 1st gen THR, the Spark is hard to setup but after you put on the work it has great cleans and drives, the THR has great drives and its easier to setup but the cleans are very anemic, the tiny Nux for me its the best practice gear a player can buy, sounds great for it's size, portable and totally wireless and it's cheap.
I just want to take a moment to appreciate this shot they used throughout the vid 3:24, with the app split down the middle. Really awsome idea, to split the shot, separate it to fit the app, and blend in the extra added space quite convincingly in the carpet and wall. Hats off to the editor, very cool
Aye?
@@philfyphilLook at the word Andertons in the background - how many letters are masked by the image in the centre?
I have all of the positive grid amps and I just had the new speaker cab system delivered. Awesome! Allows even the pocket sized 'GO' model to be gigged! Must see a review from you guys on that.
I have 2 Sparks. One at home, one at office. The EQ pedal they’ve included with the firmware update is fantastic for tone sculpting. I had the Yamaha which was cool too but for me overall I like the Spark
the only thing missing for me is the spring reverb...
I have two of the old THR series, and I use them pretty much every day. I have a lot of amps, and such ,I am fortunate. The last thing you wanna do when your inspired is to fiddle about.
Ive used the original THR10 for years.
I run my 4 years olds electric drum kit through it, both acoustic and electric guitars. For home use it sounds great!
I bought the Spark 40, and I can't recommend it enough for the home player. It's so much fun, super easy to use... and it's made me a better player because pratice is fun now, plus it's a total bargain.
I completely agree!
It taught me how pedal chain works. It's a good amp, but also a good starting amp for anyone taking guitar to the next level.
@@hexaldecima6839 one thing the Spark can teach you, that i never hear mentioned in the reviews, is you can play any you tube video through the app and it will show you the chords to play the song. I don't know of any other amp that can teach you the songs!
Absolutely. Well said. Spark 40 for at home, learning, songwriting... great, will designed all in one solution.
I got the Yamaha. Fantastic for learning and taking around. I love it
The spark 40 still sounds bass heavy to me and the majority of presets are not not my cup of tea but dial in your own tones and you might enjoy it. I have the GO and it doesn’t have the bass heavy problem that the 40 suffers from. The GO sounds good in the room but maybe a little thin and lacking low end however I mainly use it through headphones for jam tracks and it sounds great for that purpose. The Spark mini is probably the best of the 3 Positive Grid amps for balanced in the room tones. I ordered the Nux mighty air along with the spark GO and although the Nux sounded nice and fuller in the room I returned it because through headphones the Spark sounded better to my ears. Can’t go wrong with either just choose the one that sounds good to you.
As the old saying goes... "Put a sock in it!" Or a wash cloth or towel, anything like that will help cut the bass. Take a small flathead screw driver and *_*Carefully*_* pop the grill off, it's just connected with velcro strips, and there's a vent between the speakers.
I have the Nux space and the biggest seeming point for me was the battery which enables me to easily gig without worrying about a power source.
Absolutely love my Spark 40 best buy I’ve got for quite some time and the foot pedal is great. I agree in desperate need of a looper. Now PositiveGrid have said the foot pedal will have future software updates that allow more tricks and options in the future, so fingers crossed one is a looper option. Love your channel by the way keep up the good work.
Love Positvie Grid software, but Spark does sound "too warm" if not to say "boomy and muffled", doesn't it though, even with the latest firmware?
According to their own website and one of their videos about specifically that it has a looper - at least when used with the Airstep.
@@AvidEric didn’t know about Airstep, yes they do a Spark edition that has a looper. I have positive grids own foot pedal might look to change.
Thanks a lot for reacting to this request (me had this request too ) ... love the selection
Great definition of desktop amp at the start
Re: Lee’s note about desktop amps - Ive had a Katana air for almost a year, and i LOVE it! Theres a time and place for my Milkman amp and my giant pedal board, but living in an apartment, and just general practice the Katana offers so much. Bluetooth for jamming to my favorite tracks or a metronome on my phone and the app is great! The Katana has made me a better guitarist purely based on the virtue it is so much easier and accessible to use. I can play at any time of day or night
I have a little Blackstar Fly and it's a riot for what it is, but these are another level. Nux or THR for me. That boutique special sounded the best of the bunch. Tasty playing too!
I bought my Mighty Air because it was affordable at the time. I'm with Pete, tho. The Space is the way to go!
A looper solution (internal or FX loop) is needed for each one of these, to really be used as a practice amp.
NUX MIghty Space has built in Looper and drum loops
Ditto (sic)
I have the Yamaha th10 and the Spark. I'm not big on using the apps. The one thing I would like to see is the controls on the front. They are both on my desk but up against the wall. I've got them both propped up on something so that they tilt forward so I can see the controls. And I still have to go looking to make changes.
Spark 40 I had one a couple of years just so much fun
The THR and Boss definitely sound the best, but I’m not sure which I’d prefer.
I am playing at home, I need to have the All-In-One tool and the Positive Grid + the fotswitch does exactly that. Kicking backing track, having the right effect setup ready and just play (and als record if I want to). Having an extra space where I can go loud - any f the amps will be the winner. Just a tube head or two, maybe an extra tube amp like some VOX a 4x12, and few useful effects (actually something like Paul Gilberts pedals + extra mixer pedal to help me to blend the amps nicely) ....
I use my Spark more than any other amp that I have. I got the Spark when it first came out and then got the Spark Mini when that came out. I pretty much only use the Mini these days. I rarely use the app, I just switch the presets I have set up.
I love the use case here. It’s really hard just from a physics standpoint to get “that sound” out of a smaller set of speakers.
Run the THR30ii to a couple of powered FRFR speakers. 👍
The two line outs is what sets it apart if you ask me. Can use it as a head
I also bought the Yamaha THR30II WL and Line6 Relay and more than happy with the sound amplification punch and effects, first ever Amp to give me the closest to that awesome sound Neil Young had on songs and solos on the Zuma Album but also Harvest. Add it being totally portable, battery lasting hours, don't need a guitar lead, can feed in a pre-recorded backing track and play along, who needs a band, awesome. Good choice of video guys.
Always find that the room mic captures better the sound IMHO. It seems it represents better the sound the reviewer are hearing.
I have to say that, even though they are "desktop" or "practice" amplifiers, I have gigged with the Yamaha THR for 2 years now, and it really works out great. The cabinet simulation is outstanding and the sound really has that natural tones that bigger and louder amps have. Really recomend it for practice or for touring along with the external footswitch.
That’s amazing. I’ve had THR amps for years and now the THR30ii. Was wondering if it could be used live.
@@joeylodes I would definitely recommend you to try it. I used it in a folk-metal environment and the sound is killer. I also use it in a cover band as a monitor with the tonex pedal for the drummer to have the reference, since I now run my guitar sounds through the PA. The sound quality is simply incredible.
@@javimetalfan thanks 🙏
Definitely will. One day. :)
This was brilliant! There is something for everyone in these, and the race to determine which features will be most favored over the long term is fascinating. I look forward to any updates...or "next installment" in this saga...!
I was expecting a video like this. There are several good options here. Personally, I have owned a Spark40 for a while now as well as a spark Go and while they are amazing amps, I recently bought the NUX mighty Space because I wanted to try it and wanted a looper as well. I gotta say the Spark is sitting on a shelf collecting dust now. The Nux just sounds amazing and I love the looper and drum options. I was a bit disappointed here because while Pete and company here try to show what each product can do they failed to talk about several things that really set the NUX apart from all of these other models. For one the NUx is the only one here that has a built-in battery that lasts 7 hours! This is a very big deal and I use it often. I actually tried several different battery add Ons for my Spark40 but this NUX MIghty Space has this built in. The other thing is that the Nux also has a speaker direct output that you can power a cabinet with so the Nux acts like an amp head up to 30 watts. If you are busking or whatnot this amp is perfection. The basic amp is also quite loud and powerful sounding while not getting muddy like the Spark can ( there are ways around that with the spark BTW). I use my NUX MIghty Space to record almost daily now and it also has some very nice audio interface features like re-amping and dry and wet signal inputs that are all variable volumes. Something I struggled with on my Spark40. One of the nicest features of this amp is the AFTERMARKET app called the Mightier amp app that adds a lot of functionality to the NUX amps that anyone using one should really check out. It is awesome. It has some of the features of the Boss RUclips stuff like ability to change presets automatically during a song and lots of other neat features. If you add a pedal like the Mvave Chocolate you can use the looper and change patches and drum settings all at the same time with a little tweaking. This thing beats all of the other amps easily when you add up these features. Most importantly it sounds amazing and sharing patches is a dream with QR code sharing. I do not work for NUX just love this product. It really is a game changer for me. Finally, this amp REQUIRES you to get under the hood and adjust settings and it will reward you with fantastic sounds. IR loading, the ability to move the pedal blocks order around, and other features to explore. The delays and reverbs are fantastic. I like making ambient guitar music sometimes and these effects are wicked cool and allow tons of amazing ambient sounds easily. I think someone should do a deep dive into this amp to show exactly what is possible as every one of the reviews I have seen barely scratched the surface of what it possible. Dave Simpson did a decent job but even he did not show what is possible. This little amp deserves to be explored to show people what it can do. Thanks for at least trying to give it fair shake in this video.
I have an old Behringer virtual amp from 2001! I use it with headphones. Looking to upgrade to one of these. I like being able to foot switch effects during a song, use headphones and jam to RUclips backing tracks in the amp. I'm assuming that the NUX does all of that?
i have just pré ordered thé Spark 2, maybe i would wait for a Spark 2 vs Nux mighty ... ?? 😢. thé final point will be thé rendering of thé speakers ^^ . thank you for all this détails !
Desktop amps are brilliant. I'd even be interested in a desktop cab with preamps that take pedals well.
I wish I had an ear like these guys. I’m just looking to connect my HEADRUSH MX5 multi-effects to a combo amp. I don’t want a FRFR amp, but I like that some are portable.
Great video! Cheers!
Pete is right..."we" just want to noodle around on the guitar while there is the small time window to just play....and then we don'tneed all those features etc...3 or 5 presets are enough for me ...and i still have the Vox air whatever....but might get a Yamaha THR10 soon...cheers.
meanwhile i bought a THR10 whatever and its a lot better than the (not too bad) Vox adio air...cheers.
I have the Spark and agree a looper is nice to have. Also would have been interesting to know if you have an external cabinet to connect to which one would sound best. I agree that the Yamaha is cool looking but that should be the least important thing to consider. It really should boil down to the functionality offered the simplicity of the interface (trade off between functionality and simplicity) and of course how they sound. I would grade them as following -- Interface Spark, Katana/Nux, Yamaha -- Features NUX, Spark, Katana, Yamaha, -- Sound Katana, Spark, NUX, Yamaha -- Looks Yamaha, Katana NUX/Spark (tied for third).
I have a Yamaha thr 30 and absolutely love it.
And I'm used to playing through amps like ENGL and 5150.
And this little amp has such great features, especially in the department of versatility, quality sound And if you're trying to use it as a way to learn the blue tooth is amazing for working scales and songs on you tube with educacitonal videos , the battery is also amazing for grab n go anywhere playing , I've also used spark which has great features but to me the yamaha has a slight better quality sound it's one of my favorite pieces of equipment
Bluetooth is great for educational purposes. Learning licks and scales and so on.
It is one of my favorite pieces of equipment
i use the spark mini with my ibanez ts15 amp with the looper in between. It's so much fun.
As a busker I bought the Spark 40 because my Roland Street Cube Ex was lacking. I set up a clean sound and run a Roland GR55 thru it. Very happy for the tone.
Me watching this after just ordering my first 100w Tube head. Can’t wait !
You got my vote. I say Pi$$ on these desktop things. By an amp. But that’s just me.
@@deanmccaskill5495 idk what my comment was referencing lol but I did wind up with a 120w hand wired tube amp back in Feb lol
I bought Yamaha THR30II, best buy in my file, Kemper collects dust. Desktop amp is about practice, this what makes us better guitarists.
Hi! Let me have two questions please! Does THR30II also sound nice through headphones? Can you get gain sounds at lower volumes? My problem is I have tube amps that will break up at high volumes only, and now that I have two little babies I must be silent not to disturb them. Thanx very much!
@@gordospeti I rarely use headphones, but the sound quality is as good as on speakers there.
But most important gain structure is very good at low level volume.
@@graycolors2879 Thanx very much!
Nux got the looper .so clear winner. As the amp is for practice.
had the spark ,couldn't get any kind of gain sound that did'nt sound muddy. the app great as it is, kept crashing, shame. Replaced with nux, sounds good out the box.Sounds like a proper amp plugged into a 1x12 or2x12 cab. this one's a keeper.
I watched this because I bought a Spark in the presale a few years ago and I just can't stand how boomy it is, even with the bass port stuffed, so I simply never use it. Interesting to see how others compare, as I'm in the market for a better desktop amp. I'll check out that firmware update on the Spark, though, see if it helps (might save me having to buy a different amp)
I still think the Roland Micro Cube is the best small desktop/practice amp. It sounds great at low volume but is loud enough for jamming on the porch and covers a nice variety of tones. It's also robust and runs on batteries so it's super portable. It's no longer in production, but you can easily pick one up used for super cheap.
Yep I have one and love it..I like that boss katana.
I keep going back to my Micro Cube as well. Picked it up for 15 euros at a yard sale. The effects are bit limited though-- sometimes I'd really like to have both echo and reverb. But the presets are great.
I got the Daneletro Honeytone new for below forty bucks here in the States and I'm satisfied. I don't need much out of a practice amp, just some volume and something light in weight to play in the living room while sitting in my recliner. I have full size amps for performance.
That NU-X has such a great clean sound, and the Yamaha and Boss sound amazingly close to a real amplifier.
I started with a Spark and it served me well! Nowadays it is used mainly as a Bluetooth speaker. It is worth mentioning that the Spark comes with recording software when you register it.
However, these days I use a real amp and a 212 cab. If you need to dial the volume down I highly recommend the Laney Loud Pedal! It is all Solid-state. They have just released a few amp heads that are the same. Not quite the tube sound but still a great piece of gear!
I've owned a Vox Adio, Spark, and now have settled on a THRii. The Adio sounded the best to me and I always regret selling it, but aesthetically not my cup of tea so went looking for something else. Didn't like the boxy sound of the spark at all. The THR sounds great and wireless with rechargeable battery makes it super convenient around home. The new options from Nux and Boss look good. I would be very interested if Vox ever updated the Adio though.
You think the adio beats the thr30 as well ??
@@tzmathew Yeh just based on sound I preferred it, and I really liked having more presets - think the adio has 8. But the THR is better for me overall, rechargeable, more options in the app, and the wireless transmitter
I few months back I was looking at getting a desktop amp. I was really leaning towards the Yamaha as to me they sounded just a bit better in all of the reviews. I ended up finding a Spark 40 for cheap new w/ bag on Reverb and decided to give it a try... SO glad I did! I love this little amp with how much it can do. Sound wise it is a tad heavy on the low end but that's okay for me just messing around on the couch. Its really amazing just how much they can put into these small amps today and you really can't go wrong with any of the 4 in the video.
The nux can be used as a head. It sounds very good plugged into my 2x12. Nux can plug into your home stereo and you can then Bluetooth music to it from a phone. So many uses
Yeah great feature people forget to mention. Power up a 12" v30 speaker and your ready to rock with any practice band
How do you "plug into your home stereo", do you use the headphone out? It's a bit of a shame that there is no aux-out for recording or going to a mixing board. The headphone out mutes the speakers, so you lose the personal monitoring in a band practice situation if you use phone out to go into the mixer. It's not an issue for home recording though, as the USB-C output works great: full-duplex, low-latency with ASIO drivers.
Positive Grid has the best, most intuitive visual schematic layout IMO, I have all their software.
Well done Gents. That looper with the drums on the Nux was pretty cool.
I’m still practicing with my old Danelectro nifty fifty, loaded with a Weber alnico 8”, no fancy presets or need for a phone, that’s all I need !
Been watching for years love Anderson’s n coffee in the morning
I buy the spark and has a beginner this is awsome to learn what kind of tone ur into and not buy alot of thing u dont really want (pedal etc...) awsome product
I have the Spark 40 & Mini…..since getting the Mini I rarely use the 40….but I enjoy both. I tried the GO…it was awful….transistor radio basically…the Spark amps I have get me playing…mission accomplished
THR30ii all the way. You can run the 2 line outs into 2 powered FRFR speakers.
I’ve had the Spark 40 for a few months now. I use it with my mini pedalboard and a loop pedal and it’s amazing. Pretty much any song/artist I want to play someone has already made a great preset for it and I just make a few small tweaks. In 30 seconds I have my core tone. It takes pedals great as long as you like pedals in the front.
Hi, how did you set up the loop pedal? Is it possible to use a wha pedal?
How did you get a looper pedal to work with the Spark? Everyone who’s tried a looper claims that the amp won’t allow multiple tones/effects to be used.
Apparently as soon as they attempt to apply a new effect, it automatically applies that effect to every loop in the chain. Maybe this issue applies only to using the app’s tone library effects, but not when applying new effects via actual pedals? If you could elaborate please.
@@graphicartdude I have a mini pedal board with a looper on it that I plug straight into the front of the spark. So I only use the spark as my base tone and then all other effects are through my board.
Spark packs a ton of options, love it. For the price point its really unbeatable and sounds good. The perfect practice amp
I have the Yamaha Thr30 and it’s a great amp, very versatile and natural sounding. Kinda pricey but it’s worth every penny.
Have you tried linking a foot switch to it? I heard it's possible
@@jgfunk no I personally haven’t but I’ve seen people use foot switches on it so definitely possible
I have the Thr10ii and an advantage is that it has stereo speakers and can be used as an frfr with digital modelling pedals through the aux in line, sounds HUGE this way like a tube amp, it's a great amp
Hi there, what do you mean by that? I have a Thr30 and just bought an Eventide H90 (haven’t even tried it yet). So do I have to connect guitar to pedal and pedal to aux instead to amp input? I’ve literally had it for 48 hours. Cheers!
@@doubleohdutch2108 exactly as you describe, guitar to pedal and pedal to aux, the advantage of plug in into aux is that it shuts off the Effects and sounds of the amp and the pedal is the one creating your sound you can try impulse responses this way and its what make it sound huge
@@pirerc Thanks! Tried it with my audio interface and my Rokit speakers, sounds quite good. Hopefully I’ll have time to try it this weekend with the Yamaha. Cheers.
I got the spark go after your video on the range. Personally I use it for a clean amp sound and use pedals rather than the inbuilt ones. It does lack bass being so small, but with headphones it sounds much better, I'm waiting on some aux extension cables to try to plug it into my logitec pc speakers but I reckon that should work pretty good. Side note, the battery life on it is very impressive!
Love my THR30II - I play more guitar now. Gorgeous cleans and EVH tones. Perfect for what I wanted and it doesn't Sound or Feel digital. oNe LovE from NYC
pete makes anything sound incredible. class
If you want to have a better desktop amp, go USB Audio Interface -> Guitar Rig 6 or 7 and use all the Features your PCs has to offer.
Guitar Rig 7 has the looper built in. Im more than Happy with that setup but i still miss a full blown 100W 4x12" tube amp. Even for playing alone and practicing it's just different
I have the Spark 40 and had the Katana air. I bought a Yamaha THR30 and the difference between it and everything else is just way too huge. IMHO the THR is unmatched in sound quality and ease of use. Makes everything else sound like a toy in comparison and i could honestly say it’s the best piece of gear i have ever bought for playing and recording at home.
I'm considering getting a THR over the Spark and the Nux. Read in a lot of places that of all the desktop amps that have come out, the Vox Adio Air is the best sounding. It's butt ugly but sounds better than even the new THRs. Have you tried that one ? Also, does the THR sound tinny / thin compared to something like the Spark 40, which seems to have a better bass response ?
@@tzmathew I haven’t heard the Vox honestly. The THR sounds amazing. It doesn’t lack bass and can in fact be used with a bass guitar and deliver amazing bass ones. It’s just a lot more balanced than the Spark with sounds way too flabby and dark. I haven’t turned on the Spark in months while I play the THR daily.
I can only compare to Katana 50, but I love my Nux Mighty Space to bits. Between the amp models, custom IRs, speaker EQ and preset EQ I always get exactly the sound I want. Idk, maybe Yamaha is even better, but NMS is absolutely great. Can't go wrong with it. With the looper pedal and drum machine and battery operation, it's a super convenient machine.
Absolutely. I still have my THR10II (20 watt) and I hung up my tube amps because there's not a 12 inch speaker in existence, even with a good tube head that even comes close to the pure articulation and sound quality of a Yamaha THR. It's like listening to your favorite guitarist play through the best stereo ever, only not at crazy high volumes. It does lack low end thump because of the physics behind 3-inch speakers, but you quickly get over it. It's borderline perfect sound quality.
Can you guys do this same video for acoustic guitars? Thanks!
The part where you said the Katana will let you loop certain sections of youtube videos and slow them down, the Spark also does the same thing and it also has the ability to show the chord progression and loops through the track in real time. The spark also has some really cool built in AI stuff that is SUPER useful. It is by far the best practice/recording amp I have ever owned.
I never bought the THR hype until I found a great deal on a used one locally. Ever since then I haven't touched any of my other amps because they just don't have enough articulation. They all sound like pure mud after playing the Yamaha THRs (I have the THR10 II 20 watt). It's not about power, it's about pure uncompromised sound quality, and the Yamaha is unbeatable.
Nice- I would like to repurpose a 1541 into a HT PC with uhf optical drive in front. I’ve seen another person do this and the slot for the floppy matches a slot load drive perfectly.