I have the MKII of the HT20. So good and I love the power reduction on it. I will be trying the headphones out this weekend, though. They're such a value for the money and I like the sound. I've got pedals like the Beetronics Fatbee and a preamp V4 from Victory to run through it, but it's quite nice with just a delay pedal and a tube screamer of some kind (bonus points for either a chorus or an additional reverb). I just play at home but looking forward to getting a proper recording setup via another Blackstar product: the Polar2. You should do a breakdown of the Polar2 vs the Polar4! Love the channel, thanks!
Prices in US are Fantastic. I think the 5 will sit nicely under my studio desk out of view. I also have a less versatile Supro Delta 10 under there so micing them independently in stereo is a nice option to fuss with.
Agreed on almost all points, as you said though, the reverb I'm not sure about. I think one can get married to it like to a tremolo arm when soloing. It's good sometimes, but I have a lot of combo amps, and I turn it off most of the time. It's fine to have one, but it's completely fine not to have one. Pro tip: don't play in space, play in a room! It's warmer too :)
I remember playing through the Blackstar HT5R head(?) in my mates tiny studio. Connected to a pair of studio speakers(?). Totally blown away by the tones! Can see how the combos are going to be amazing!
I have both and they are brilliant. I have the Blackstar Tone Link to give me Bluetooth. I have had a Boss Katana mk 2 and for me the Blackstar wins hands down due to its valve sounds
I just bought a MKII HTR1 for £150, very happy with it, having never owned a valve amp before (I'm a bass player!). But I certainly wouldnt pay RRP for a current 5w version.
Thanks for the review. Bluetooth is not something I’d want on a relatively simple tube amp. Stuff piped through a tube amp via blue tooth I doubt would sound right. Like you alluded to, plenty of non-tube amp with those bells and whistles if that’s what you need. I’d buy the 5 watt if it was cheaper. Black star is killing it with cool tools these days. I never had one… how is the quality/durability?
More affordable tube amps FTW! Would have loved this as a kid practising for hours and hours, so much so that my Roland Cube would begin to fart out because I was playing backing tracks through it. This looks really solid for what it costs tbh.
Looks pretty interesting, but I will stick with Quilter Superblock UK I bought last year. Runs at 1 watt with a 9V power supply. Reverb and effects loop. I already had a small cab.
I had a used MKI HT1 a number of years ago (I think the MKII may have recently been released). It sounded fine for what it was. The speaker obviously let it down and it sounded much better plugged into a 2x12. In fact it brought it to band rehearsal and it was heard over a drumkit. However, I didn't like the ISF and sold the amp, buying a DSL1CR. I'd had a couple of Marshalls before, so I knew what to expect. Although I'd probably have been better getting the head.
I clicked through and they were about twice what I thought you meant by “not cheap”. 👀 And the difference in the price of the 1w combo and the 1w head is what I tipped our Motown museum tour guide for my crew of 4 on a group tour there just last week. I was expecting the 1w head to be about 30% to 40% less expensive than the 1w combo. Yikes! I am good with the 5w 8” tube amp that I got for 25% of the Blackstar. It also has a 1w or 0.5w button (can’t remember) and I can get a guitar with the money left over.
In my quest to find an affordable yet functional home use amp, I’ve bought many and various inc the ht1 r head. I play it thru. 1x12 cab, (somewhat defeating the small size requirement!) and its just about right. I have the HB tube 5 and tube 15 and they are both waaaay too loud for bedroom use but affordable fun nonetheless. For anyone younger than me, (and that’ll be just about everyone who reads this!) I’d say get the spark. Even the new 40 watt version is way le than these and far better for experimenting with or just plug nd play. While it’s loaded with feature, you just don’t have to use them!
I've come close to getting the 1W version. But I believe every guitar amp deserves at least a 10 inch speaker. And while they have a head version, if I'm not going to get a combo I feel like I ought to just go with a Dark Gene instead.
or... the Stage Right by Monoprice 15w also the Harley Benton Tube 15 that can be dropped down to 1w with the push of a button. Then you have a bedroom amp that can be Gigged. Plus, you can go down a rabbit hole (like I did) and put an Eminence Swamp Thang speaker in it with upgraded Ruby Tubes and Tung Sol Tubes. Yea I did that lol
The Studio 10 series are quite nice - I own an EL34 version with a 5751 in the preamp section just to clean it up a little, otherwise I find they get a little too hairy a little too quickly for my tastes, YMMV
I use a Bugera 5W infinium with a 1x10 Harley Benton Celestion Cab, as it has 1W and 0.1W settings I can crank it right up on 0.1W and it sounds great. It costs around half the price of the Blackstar products and for me has no disadvantages.
no disadvantages at all and I also have the Bugera 5W infinium and love it BUT it doesn't offer the features that the Blackstar does. It's not the same product.
@@TheGuitarGeek I agree, but it’s horses for courses isn’t it? The only Combo amp I have is the Blackstar BEAM, it also suits my needs. My favourite plaything is a Sonicake Matribox, it’s an amazing piece of equipment for what it costs.
Hmmm .. just a thought... Well, you will kno wot I mean inspired by 10:15 From Likes / Dislikes to Likes / Dislikes / Improvements + add-on options + any relevant booster that will make item fit in with your working methods? Ooops got it! At 12:45 see you have incorporated a Bonus theme - maybe an AOB (any other business?)
I own a HTR1, and likely my room is not big enough, as I am not able to increase much the volume/gain pott in case I don't want my neighbour to knock on my door
Oh no don’t block me!!! Pleeease!!!🥱 The video is clearly displayed as sponsored plus the title describes Blackstar amps. If you don’t wanna watch a video about two Blackstar Amps, don’t click the video. I hope your block button is armed and ready .
Boss katana Artist can switch to 0.5 watts and produces monster overdrive tones at bedroom levels. Then at the flick of a switch you can gig with it. Similar price and meets every other criteria, why bother with small tube amps?
@@TheGuitarGeek I have used the HT5R at practice. Unmiked and the overdrive side maxed out like a JCM800 at 5 watts is REALLY loud and sounds awesome. I use the 1 watt at home mostly when I just want to kind of grab an amp that doesn't weigh a ton just to practice.
I do share the dislikes you mention. I made the mistake of buying an amp without an FX loop when I was new to guitar and it irritates me now as I know if I want to get into looping with effects then my amp will limit me. I also want bluetooth. I have plug in adaptor thingy but it’s one more thing to pair and charge. Maybe this is too much to expect on entry level models, so sell a “plus” model for those of us who want more but don’t need an amp that’s loud enough for a stadium!
My rules for the bedroom is no radio no TV. Just my lovely bride. Now the living room and the rest of the house is just fine for amps, guitars and gear.
The design is nice but modern an older guitar players no to take a pedal to those high powered amps an get nice saturated distortion at low volumes ..yes 100 an 50 watt tube amps still are a little loud but the right pedal will do it...
Blackstar amps simply do not sound good to me. Tons of op amps inside and some alibi tubes, but my real all tube amps sound much better to me. Same with the Blackstar pedals. Meanwhile sold all of them again. The positive is, since the Blackstar crew has left Marshall, Marshall is making much better sounding amps again, than they did before. But Blackstar? Not at all my world, as little as eg. Friedman or Mesa Boogie. For home use I still have my slightly modded Blackheart Killer Ant (0.4 W Plexi) and for the rest my beloved JMP-1 preamp with a stepless power scalable EL34/KT77 power amp. Rocks!
I’m a high headroom kinda fella, so these lil easy break up amps aren’t for me. Im more of the, they keep calling the police for noise complaints since i got this new amp guy.
The bedroom is the only place that a lot of people play. That's no reason not to have nice things, or get the gear you want. I can't see that I'll ever play in front of a crowd again but that doesn't mean I'm going to start buying things I really don't want just because no one else will hear it. Except the neighbors of course.
Blackstar a tube amp? With tones of ICs? Seems you didn't look into the guts of these "valve" amps. Orange Rocker 15 while being 15 watts, have reduction to 7, 1 and 0.5 watts as well. And it's a real valve amp. I wonder if reverb in mk3 is same garbage as in mk 2. Nother quirk of blackstar ht 5 is that it doesn't talk as good with some pedals as plain Boss Katana do. Funny. But DOD Carcosa fuzz sounds awful with it.
@@TheGuitarGeek It's not about video, but misleading title. ;) It's not a pure tube amp. The fact blackstar sounds "plasticky" as you put it is due to all those ICs in there. You would do better going with Peavey 6505 MH Mini Head. Instead of 2 valves and digital circuitry it is pure 5 valves amp (3 x 12AX7/ECC83 in preamp and 2 x EL84 in power section). If you can afford playing at 1 watt that is. Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister Deluxe TM20 Head is yet another thing to take into consideration (if one likes neon amps and Tommy Thayer's tone). Let's be real here. blackstar should be honest about their product. Jobo BandAmps are what they are, and no one advertise them as something else than hybrids.
"10 Reasons Blackstar's Tube Combos make GREAT Bedroom Amps" HYBRID not tube. Those amps are full of ICs. Writing about it again as my comment somehow dissapeared. And CONstar should stop lying about their products.
With the variety of todays amp sims and plugins these days ( not to mention the affordability), I wouldn't spend money on any amp for the bedroom. I have a couple of hundred bucks in sims with endless amps and FX to play with to my hearts content.
I'm old school and love a physical amp, just my choice. However I understand you 100%, I have used sims in the past and they boggle my mind the things you can do with them! It's the future I guess, but nothing wrong with that.
Call me weird but digital distortion sounds bad. While others can't hear it, I simply notice it and it gets on my nerves. Blackstar amps are no different. I got one, and both clean and dirty channel sounded a little bit off to me from the start. Then I looked into its guts. A wholelotta integrated circuits. xD
How important is silent playing mode to you?
Not at all. 😂
I mean, it's good that it exists. I just would never use it.
@@SamBrockmann 🤣
Not very important - for late at night practice or noodling I use a Vox Amplug 3 AC30 headphone amp. It's useful and fun
I have the MKII of the HT20. So good and I love the power reduction on it. I will be trying the headphones out this weekend, though. They're such a value for the money and I like the sound. I've got pedals like the Beetronics Fatbee and a preamp V4 from Victory to run through it, but it's quite nice with just a delay pedal and a tube screamer of some kind (bonus points for either a chorus or an additional reverb). I just play at home but looking forward to getting a proper recording setup via another Blackstar product: the Polar2. You should do a breakdown of the Polar2 vs the Polar4! Love the channel, thanks!
important - It's enough that I tolerate my playing
I have the HT5R for my bedroom, last gen, and I absolutely love it. It sounds fantastic and likes my pedalboard so it's a win-win.
Love those amps. Might grab that 5w version. Great video man
Thank you!
I've got the old school HT5 without the 0.5W mode and its lowest volume is loud so make sure you don't get an old one.
Prices in US are Fantastic. I think the 5 will sit nicely under my studio desk out of view. I also have a less versatile Supro Delta 10 under there so micing them independently in stereo is a nice option to fuss with.
Agreed on almost all points, as you said though, the reverb I'm not sure about. I think one can get married to it like to a tremolo arm when soloing. It's good sometimes, but I have a lot of combo amps, and I turn it off most of the time. It's fine to have one, but it's completely fine not to have one. Pro tip: don't play in space, play in a room! It's warmer too :)
I remember playing through the Blackstar HT5R head(?) in my mates tiny studio. Connected to a pair of studio speakers(?). Totally blown away by the tones! Can see how the combos are going to be amazing!
I own the old HT-5 (with 10" speaker and without Reverb). A great sounding amp. A little bit annoying is the HT-5's missing Master Volume.
Good review Andy. And I appreciate your candid opinions. Thanks.
My pleasure!
I have both and they are brilliant. I have the Blackstar Tone Link to give me Bluetooth. I have had a Boss Katana mk 2 and for me the Blackstar wins hands down due to its valve sounds
I like the 5150 iconic 15watt
I just bought a MKII HTR1 for £150, very happy with it, having never owned a valve amp before (I'm a bass player!). But I certainly wouldnt pay RRP for a current 5w version.
Thanks for the review. Bluetooth is not something I’d want on a relatively simple tube amp. Stuff piped through a tube amp via blue tooth I doubt would sound right. Like you alluded to, plenty of non-tube amp with those bells and whistles if that’s what you need. I’d buy the 5 watt if it was cheaper. Black star is killing it with cool tools these days. I never had one… how is the quality/durability?
I cannot say anything about the durability as i have only had the amps a few months but have never had issues and the build quality is great.
More affordable tube amps FTW! Would have loved this as a kid practising for hours and hours, so much so that my Roland Cube would begin to fart out because I was playing backing tracks through it. This looks really solid for what it costs tbh.
Hey! Don't knock the cube! I have played bass and drums through both of these Blackstars and they are absolutely fine for practicing.
I had first generation 1 watt r and then the 5 watt. I preferred the 1 watt. The clean tone was great. Shame I sold it. Bought both secondhand though
Looks pretty interesting, but I will stick with Quilter Superblock UK I bought last year. Runs at 1 watt with a 9V power supply. Reverb and effects loop. I already had a small cab.
Andy is cool. Thats all
I had a used MKI HT1 a number of years ago (I think the MKII may have recently been released). It sounded fine for what it was. The speaker obviously let it down and it sounded much better plugged into a 2x12. In fact it brought it to band rehearsal and it was heard over a drumkit. However, I didn't like the ISF and sold the amp, buying a DSL1CR. I'd had a couple of Marshalls before, so I knew what to expect. Although I'd probably have been better getting the head.
I clicked through and they were about twice what I thought you meant by “not cheap”. 👀
And the difference in the price of the 1w combo and the 1w head is what I tipped our Motown museum tour guide for my crew of 4 on a group tour there just last week.
I was expecting the 1w head to be about 30% to 40% less expensive than the 1w combo.
Yikes!
I am good with the 5w 8” tube amp that I got for 25% of the Blackstar. It also has a 1w or 0.5w button (can’t remember) and I can get a guitar with the money left over.
In my quest to find an affordable yet functional home use amp, I’ve bought many and various inc the ht1 r head. I play it thru. 1x12 cab, (somewhat defeating the small size requirement!) and its just about right. I have the HB tube 5 and tube 15 and they are both waaaay too loud for bedroom use but affordable fun nonetheless. For anyone younger than me, (and that’ll be just about everyone who reads this!) I’d say get the spark. Even the new 40 watt version is way le than these and far better for experimenting with or just plug nd play. While it’s loaded with feature, you just don’t have to use them!
I've come close to getting the 1W version. But I believe every guitar amp deserves at least a 10 inch speaker. And while they have a head version, if I'm not going to get a combo I feel like I ought to just go with a Dark Gene instead.
or... the Stage Right by Monoprice 15w also the Harley Benton Tube 15 that can be dropped down to 1w with the push of a button. Then you have a bedroom amp that can be Gigged. Plus, you can go down a rabbit hole (like I did) and put an Eminence Swamp Thang speaker in it with upgraded Ruby Tubes and Tung Sol Tubes. Yea I did that lol
The Studio 10 series are quite nice - I own an EL34 version with a 5751 in the preamp section just to clean it up a little, otherwise I find they get a little too hairy a little too quickly for my tastes, YMMV
I use a Bugera 5W infinium with a 1x10 Harley Benton Celestion Cab, as it has 1W and 0.1W settings I can crank it right up on 0.1W and it sounds great. It costs around half the price of the Blackstar products and for me has no disadvantages.
no disadvantages at all and I also have the Bugera 5W infinium and love it BUT it doesn't offer the features that the Blackstar does. It's not the same product.
@@TheGuitarGeek I agree, but it’s horses for courses isn’t it? The only Combo amp I have is the Blackstar BEAM, it also suits my needs. My favourite plaything is a Sonicake Matribox, it’s an amazing piece of equipment for what it costs.
Rob Chatman of Chatman Guitars said that BlackStar is a good practice amp for home use
I have a HT5R Mk2, where this is the Mk3 I believe? I love my Mk2 and will be available cheaper now 👍🏻
Dude you are cool! Thanks🎸
Youre welcome!
Just ordered the St James stack 6L6 for the living room..
Hey, it's got a 2w setting too.
I have that too, it’s a superb amp!
@@TheGuitarGeek can't wait for it to arrive. All the nice guitars I have ready to transform.
Hmmm .. just a thought... Well, you will kno wot I mean inspired by 10:15
From Likes / Dislikes to Likes / Dislikes / Improvements + add-on options + any relevant booster that will make item fit in with your working methods?
Ooops got it! At 12:45 see you have incorporated a Bonus theme - maybe an AOB (any other business?)
I have no idea why anyone would pay 600e for a 5w combo ‘bedroom’ amp.
That's RRP, they are very heavily discounted
@@pads-zr9lnwho gives a shit about Money.
I bought a used Harley Benton tube 5 for bedroom use. Still way too loud!😅😂
What would you buy??
@@pads-zr9ln unless they’re discounted to around 200-250, not heavily enough.
I own a HTR1, and likely my room is not big enough, as I am not able to increase much the volume/gain pott in case I don't want my neighbour to knock on my door
FX loop is more important for me than bluetooth.
TWO !!! choices! Ohhhh thankyou so much!
BTW - full disclosure, did Blackstar pay you any $$ or give you any free stuff? Be honest or be blocked.
Oh no don’t block me!!! Pleeease!!!🥱
The video is clearly displayed as sponsored plus the title describes Blackstar amps. If you don’t wanna watch a video about two Blackstar Amps, don’t click the video.
I hope your block button is armed and ready .
If only one could watch the first 10 seconds of the video...
Boss katana Artist can switch to 0.5 watts and produces monster overdrive tones at bedroom levels. Then at the flick of a switch you can gig with it. Similar price and meets every other criteria, why bother with small tube amps?
I have both!
wow, do you use them for different rigs?
@@TheGuitarGeek I have used the HT5R at practice. Unmiked and the overdrive side maxed out like a JCM800 at 5 watts is REALLY loud and sounds awesome. I use the 1 watt at home mostly when I just want to kind of grab an amp that doesn't weigh a ton just to practice.
Do these amps have tubes in both the preamp and power amp?
Yes they do
And lots upon lots of integrated circuits in signal chain. xD
Laney cub 12 is an option
I have one and although I like the sound, the black star has more features
I do share the dislikes you mention. I made the mistake of buying an amp without an FX loop when I was new to guitar and it irritates me now as I know if I want to get into looping with effects then my amp will limit me. I also want bluetooth. I have plug in adaptor thingy but it’s one more thing to pair and charge. Maybe this is too much to expect on entry level models, so sell a “plus” model for those of us who want more but don’t need an amp that’s loud enough for a stadium!
The swoop noise on the zooms is very irritating.
Sounds great but jeez £382 for a 1watt amp with an 8" speaker is silly. £555 for the other one isn't any better. Not sure who'll actually want this.
10:42 what's the name of the bluetooth thingy? #technicalAF 😅
amzn.to/3AZPT9D This will get you what you need 🤓
Yeah, ah, and especially knowing the AI factor. Namastè.
My rules for the bedroom is no radio no TV. Just my lovely bride. Now the living room and the rest of the house is just fine for amps, guitars and gear.
Ht5 vs Katana please
Do you want a set and forget or a box of endless options?
The design is nice but modern an older guitar players no to take a pedal to those high powered amps an get nice saturated distortion at low volumes ..yes 100 an 50 watt tube amps still are a little loud but the right pedal will do it...
Blackstar amps simply do not sound good to me. Tons of op amps inside and some alibi tubes, but my real all tube amps sound much better to me. Same with the Blackstar pedals. Meanwhile sold all of them again.
The positive is, since the Blackstar crew has left Marshall, Marshall is making much better sounding amps again, than they did before.
But Blackstar? Not at all my world, as little as eg. Friedman or Mesa Boogie.
For home use I still have my slightly modded Blackheart Killer Ant (0.4 W Plexi) and for the rest my beloved JMP-1 preamp with a stepless power scalable EL34/KT77 power amp. Rocks!
no fx loop for the little one no ty
Well ... not tooo bad ...
BUT instead of putting me 💰on the HT5 ... i would just get this Iceman and use me old trusty AmPlug and some headphones!
ACI - Always choose Iceman
Moore Melissa Davis Betty Gonzalez Paul
I’m a high headroom kinda fella, so these lil easy break up amps aren’t for me. Im more of the, they keep calling the police for noise complaints since i got this new amp guy.
Dude, you have more amps chained together than some shows I have been to! 😀
@@TheGuitarGeek and im always adding more and sending signals to FOH! 🤪
I actually just added 1100 class AB watts to my lil pickup stereo because stock doesn’t get me where i need to be!
Just can't justify 500$ on a 'bedroom amp'. Makes 0 sense.
The bedroom is the only place that a lot of people play. That's no reason not to have nice things, or get the gear you want. I can't see that I'll ever play in front of a crowd again but that doesn't mean I'm going to start buying things I really don't want just because no one else will hear it. Except the neighbors of course.
Blackstar a tube amp? With tones of ICs? Seems you didn't look into the guts of these "valve" amps. Orange Rocker 15 while being 15 watts, have reduction to 7, 1 and 0.5 watts as well. And it's a real valve amp. I wonder if reverb in mk3 is same garbage as in mk 2. Nother quirk of blackstar ht 5 is that it doesn't talk as good with some pedals as plain Boss Katana do. Funny. But DOD Carcosa fuzz sounds awful with it.
why don't you watch the video that answers these points... Jees
@@TheGuitarGeek It's not about video, but misleading title. ;) It's not a pure tube amp. The fact blackstar sounds "plasticky" as you put it is due to all those ICs in there. You would do better going with Peavey 6505 MH Mini Head. Instead of 2 valves and digital circuitry it is pure 5 valves amp (3 x 12AX7/ECC83 in preamp and 2 x EL84 in power section). If you can afford playing at 1 watt that is. Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister Deluxe TM20 Head is yet another thing to take into consideration (if one likes neon amps and Tommy Thayer's tone). Let's be real here. blackstar should be honest about their product. Jobo BandAmps are what they are, and no one advertise them as something else than hybrids.
"10 Reasons Blackstar's Tube Combos make GREAT Bedroom Amps" HYBRID not tube. Those amps are full of ICs. Writing about it again as my comment somehow dissapeared. And CONstar should stop lying about their products.
With the variety of todays amp sims and plugins these days ( not to mention the affordability), I wouldn't spend money on any amp for the bedroom.
I have a couple of hundred bucks in sims with endless amps and FX to play with to my hearts content.
I'm old school and love a physical amp, just my choice. However I understand you 100%, I have used sims in the past and they boggle my mind the things you can do with them! It's the future I guess, but nothing wrong with that.
Call me weird but digital distortion sounds bad. While others can't hear it, I simply notice it and it gets on my nerves. Blackstar amps are no different. I got one, and both clean and dirty channel sounded a little bit off to me from the start. Then I looked into its guts. A wholelotta integrated circuits. xD
Because BluGuitar Amp 1. Shame on you!
Shame on YOU!
But Andy, I don’t like the smaller dual speakers, I like one large 12” so I can upgrade it to a better celestion or mojo
Neither of these have dual speakers
@@TheGuitarGeek really? Where do I sign up?
Blackstar doesn't make real tube amps. They all have tons of integrated circuits.