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Buying advice for desktop amp (self.guitars)

submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by fluxx to c/guitars

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Hi! I hope you don't mind giving some advice on buying a desktop amp. I'm talking basically about those amp sims with full range mini-speakers. I've been playing for years, but I've been using amp sims. I've previously owned tube amps, but found them inconvenient for practicing and always ended up playing unplugged. I also tried vox amPlug, which was better, but I also dislike having headphones on while playing. So I primarily want a desktop amp that would inspire me to play more.

I've looked at various ones online (I don't really have an opportunity to try them live), which makes a decision very hard.

My list so far:

Yamaha THR30
Positive Grid Spark 40
Hotone Pulze
Nux mighty space

I also don't have great PC speakers, so maybe I could also use it as general speaker there. Do you have experience on any of those? Some others? Any advice?

Thanks!

Edit:

Ordered a Nux Mighty Space, it could take a week or two before it arrives. I'll post an update once I get it. Thanks everyone!

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[–] yoyolll 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

In my opinion, the THR is by far the highest quality modeling in this form factor. It’s not even in the same ballpark - every amp on it sounds amazing. It also works great as a stereo speaker.

However, it’s probably the least feature full of the options. The on board effects are limited (but what’s there is excellent) and you can’t use custom IRs. The app is not great, either.

Also, the headphone output sounds really bad. There are some discussions about it on the Yamaha board and it seems to be a controversial opinion, so you might not have a problem with it. For me, it’s unusable. But the amp sounds so good at low volume that it hasn’t really mattered. And by low volume, I mean you can watch TV at normal volume while playing guitar.

[–] fluxx 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Was gonna say it's much more expensive than the rest, but on Thomann, B-stock is exactly the same price as Nux (B-stock also). And I've heard it's good sounding and that one YT review on Anderton's, says it sounds the most natural out of most of what I've listed. So now I'm undecided again. And for the headphone out - I don't really care, I have a headphone amp. I have a sound interface and VST setup I can use for that.

[–] yoyolll 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I like pretty much everything from I’ve tried NuX except for their software support. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with either, but for the same price the amps on THR are much, much better IMO. It’s gonna come down to how important the extra effects and features are to you.

[–] fluxx 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Bah, I have read this already, I hope the difference won't be that significant. Or that I can tune it to my liking. I'll have no reference point and I'm just aiming for it to inspire me to play more.

[–] yoyolll 2 points 9 months ago

NuX makes good products. Suspiciously good for the price. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.