this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2024
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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.

[–] Cignul9 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I love my Positive Grid Spark Mini. It’s become my favorite amp just from the portability aspect. The sound is surprisingly good from a tiny little box, too.

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

Do you think there's anything to be gained from going one size up? It's stereo, perhaps near-field, it might sound better with some stereo effects? Currently, I'm thinking either Spark or Nux Mighty space. Spark is a lot cheaper, though.

[–] CentauriBeau 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Although I see you’ve already made your decision, I can answer this question as I have both. For its size, the Spark mini sounds pretty good, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the sound quality of the 40. I’m going to have to research the Nux, if you chose it over all the features of the Spark. I hadn’t heard of it before today so you’ve peaked my curiosity.

What makes the Spark perfect for me is the ability to download any guitar sound I want. There’s a huge community that create custom sounds, most based on the specific sound of a specific artist and song. So when I want to sound like AC/DC Back in Black I just search in the app for cloud tones of AC/DC (or Back in Black), preview a few (which can be done without actually downloading them but you can still play your guitar to hear the tone) then pick my favorite to add to the amp.

Edit: The Nux looks like the better deal as you get the features of a Spark, but with a free wireless guitar jack. I had to buy a wireless system to be able to use my Spark without a guitar cable anchoring me down and will never go back to using cables. So it looks like you made the right choice (or at least the one I would have if I had never heard either IRL).

[–] fluxx 1 points 9 months ago

Honestly, I feel I would probably be happy with any of those, probably even something entirely different too. And given I have not tried anything similar, Nux is just an educated guess.

[–] Cignul9 2 points 9 months ago

I don’t really know, tbh. I’ve never played or even heard a 40 in person. I got the mini because it was cheap(ish) and I wanted the portability. The sound quality was a pleasant surprise because I wasn’t expecting much. But it’s great for carrying around to different rooms if I want to change scenery while I’m practicing.

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

I have the Spark 40 and it kicks ass for what it does. Doubles as a BT speaker when not on fiddle duty.

I see you grabbed the NUX. Will be curious how you like it. Certainly looks nice and gets glowing reviews.

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

Well, if I could compare them in person, I would, but that's unfortunately not possible where I live. There's barely any stock here I found - one Nux and one older gen Yamaha. And I have to drive significantly to test it out. So blind shopping it is. I will however post my impressions once I get it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Awesome. Good luck!

[–] SteveCC 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Update?

[–] fluxx 2 points 5 months ago

Did a top level comment for readability. Sorry for the delay.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

A friend of mine has the NuX Mighty Space and I've been blown away by the sound and sheer amount of features cramped in a single product.
Another big selling point is that it can be controlled by your Android Phone with a FOSS app available on F-Droid.

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

This is indeed a big plus I didn't know it had! This means, even if the company died or stopped supporting the product, you still have options. Thanks.

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

For myself, I've taken quite the opposite route instead and on my desk I have an Orange Crush Mini.
It has 3 control knobs (gain, volume and tone) and a tuner which is pretty accurate. I just plug in my guitar and my phone with an AUX cable, set up a drum track and jam. No frills, no distractions and a surprisingly good sound for a 3w amp. And it's cheap, I got mine 2nd hand for 30€.

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

This might work. But I need it to have enough versatility on its own. It needs to have high gain (I'm a metal fan), plus some reverb/delay. I'd prefer not to need pedals for a practice amp. At least I think I need this, not sure unless you try. Also, second hand, I currently can't find anything nice locally (I'm in Serbia).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Ok, I'd stick with the NuX if I were you then, it's the full package, it's even sold with its own pedal included, that you can use to control the effects and the drum/loop. I've just seen that on Thomann they have a couple B-Stocks available that let you save some buck, if you're interested

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

I'd be tempted to go ampless with something like a Valeton GP200 and some headphones, or a small FRFR powered cab.

[–] fluxx 1 points 9 months ago

I actually have used (and still do) a Vox amPlug headphone amp and it sounds amazing! But I can't stand using it with headphones. I feel like I'm chained to my guitar. So I connect it to my HiFi system instead. And it works and sounds wonderful, I don't need/want anything else. This is actually why I may want a desktop amp, it skips one step, which is having to connect to my HiFi system and provides additional versatility. But the headphone amp has its place too, I agree.

[–] christov 2 points 9 months ago

Can also recommend the blackstar fly3, it looks tiny but it sounds way bigger than it should. And it comes in some cool colours.

https://blackstaramps.com/fly/?product_id=839

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

In terms of price, you'd be better off with a regular 10" practice amp.

I also don’t have great PC speakers, so maybe I could also use it as general speaker there.

I'd assume most amps are voiced to make guitars sound good, not to make general audio output (especially music) sound good. If you prioritize this, you might as well buy an audio interface (behringer is fine) and some half decent active speakers, which would provide a whole world of digital amp+fx options. Though personally I'm not quite comfortable with turning my speakers up enough to drown out the pick noise, IDK if this is actually an issue though.

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

I actually have a decent audio interface and I do have half-decent speakers, but they don't fit on my desk, so they sit on a shelf and rarely get used. Anyway, this may be a silly use case and I'm not that bound to it. I just figured - the amp has full range speakers and it does sit on the desk and the amp has an audio interface. But this is more like - nice to have.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Well there's your issue, you need a bigger desk. Could fit both a 10" combo and your speakers.

[–] fluxx 1 points 9 months ago

I actually have a 2x12 cabinet sitting in a shed collecting dust, I haven't used it in years. It's just inconvenient for casual everyday practice. I'm a hobby player, with a small kid and a not too tolerant wife. What little practice/playing I get I need to be suuuper convenient, so I gather - desktop amp is a good choice. It's a dad amp, basically.

[–] fluxx 1 points 9 months ago

Regarding price, you're right, but I don't have room for a 10' combo and if I have to add a few pedals/fx, I think it would end up rarely being used. Though I agree these desktop amps are way overpriced. Like, I will likely skip Yamaha, just because I don't feel like giving $450 for a practice amp.

[–] PoorYorick 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I have the Spark 40, and absolutely love it. It allows me to change settings ridiculously easily, and sounds great pretty much across the gamut. It is in my mind the perfect practice amp for a living room, or bedroom setup.

It also allows you to wire directly to your pc to use as an audio interface. I have not used the others on your list, but in my mind at least it's hard to go wrong with the spark.

Lastly, it is bluetooth compatible, and I use it as my primary Bluetooth speaker when listening to Spotify from my phone.

[–] fluxx 1 points 9 months ago

It's the cheapest from the list, and doesn't appear to lack in versatility/features. The only thing I notice is it's not a 24bit interface, but I don't know if it bothers me. I already have a separate audio interface for when/if I record. And to be honest, while I plan on recording, I've recorded like one or two demos in the past 10 years.

[–] fluxx 1 points 5 months ago

Update: I bought a b-stock Nux Mighty Space and it's been working great! Just what I needed. That being said, some things I'm using more than others. Things I use:

  • USB interface as a speaker for my PC. Speakers in my monitor are just trash. This is way better. It's not stereo HiFi, but I have dedicated speakers for that.

  • Wireless dongle. So convenient and makes me play more than before. A bonus is you can also have a different guitar plugged inat the same time. Not super important, but still.

  • App is decent and there's an open source alternative, making sure the amp is supported for many years.

  • it's nice that it is just a basic Bluetooth speaker when you connect to it. Haven't used it that much, but I can see it coming in handy every once in a while.

Things I haven't used:

  • Looper - not used to it that much

  • drum loops - seem basic and kind of crappy

  • tinkering - I'm fairly satisfied with the presets out of the box, so I haven't found the need to tinker too much. Perhaps occasionally gain and eq.

Things that bother me a bit:

  • All the presets are too bass-heavy. There's a global eq that can be tweaked. This bothers me on so many audio devices lately. More bass is NOT always more better. I dialed it in, but cmon. I'm not 12. The guitar is never supposed to be that boomy.

That's it, any questions, just shoot.