Alternatives to Spark
-
If one were to cancel their spark order, what would be a good comparable piece of equipment? I am looking at the Vox Adio Air GT or the Line 6 Amplifi, I don't really care about the jam along feature. Does anyone have any experience with these?
-
If you don't care about the jam along feature go and get a Boss Katana MKII, I'm pretty sure it would sound better than those two
-
@iwarlordsmistycal said in Alternatives to Spark:
If you don't care about the jam along feature go and get a Boss Katana MKII, I'm pretty sure it would sound better than those two
The jamming feature is part of the app...not the Spark. You can use the features regardless of having the Spark hardware.
Just download the app, fire it up, and "skip" the connection process.
It makes sense that PG is not marketing it as such.
-
@iwarlordsmistycal I guess I should clarify more, I want to be able to play while I stream music, to practice, but I don't care about the backing track stuff, or really any of the app stuff aside from I guess some of the modeling. The modeling isn't even really a big deal, I more just want a BT practice amp/audio interface. The Boss Katana MKII seems a bit overkill, I just want a small desktop amp/speaker. I was using a scarlett 6i6 before but I sold that, and figured since I don't need multi-channel input, a combo like the Spark would be perfect, with some added bonuses, alas.
-
@mapmonkey There are several options. Probably the most popular is the Yamaha THR series. There are also options from Boss, Blackstar, Fender, Vox, and others.
-
@iwarlordsmistycal said in Alternatives to Spark:
If you don't care about the jam along feature go and get a Boss Katana MKII, I'm pretty sure it would sound better than those two
Yeah but, no Bluetooth. Plus it really isn't a desktop amp to be honest. It's probably gigable.
-
@johndagostino Yeah I narrowed it down to the Vox Adio Ait GT and the Line 6 AMPLIFi, just wondering if anyone here had any direct experience using these, or if there are any known issues to avoid.
-
@mapmonkey said in Alternatives to Spark:
@johndagostino Yeah I narrowed it down to the Vox Adio Ait GT and the Line 6 AMPLIFi, just wondering if anyone here had any direct experience using these, or if there are any known issues to avoid.
I hartily recommend the Amplifi at that point, I've used a 75-watt, 150-w, and the Amplifi TT (desktop unit). If you have good monitors grab the TT! If not, grab a 75 or 150 they're great amps built on the POD X3/XT Architecture and sound pretty good (150 has better mid-range and bass)..I think they also make a 30W now as well.
-
The amplifi shares spark's issue of not being able to use the line output and the speaker at the same time. I had a 150 thinking it would make a good live amp but alas no
Also it has some weird weird circumstances where the amp part doesn't use the FRFR so the speaker emulation is actually fed into just the woofer so.....mud
-
@pipelineaudio Can you use the USB out and the speakers at the same time?
-
I have the Amplifi75. It is very similar hardware, without the app extras of AutoChord, JamAlong. The tones are good and there are tons available for download. Like the Spark, it only lets you keep 4 presets on board, but you can change them. With the Amplifi, I was using MusicMemos (free at App Store) to record my guitar, and it has built in "Jam Along" feature that has some chord recognition (notes only; not tab) and gives you adjustable drum n bass; works pretty well actually. I have a Trio pedal that also does the "Jam Along" thing (I'd spend the extra and get the newer Trio Plus). And, I have a Fretlight guitar that has the feature of AutoChord. But, I got the Spark for simplicity of use and having all these features in one compact unit, for only $200 with early bird pre-order (yes, mine was delivered). Thinking of selling my Amplifi now.
-
@steve-savini Yeah, I don't really care about the "extras" , just maybe a few good sounds and good recording/playback capability. The spark seemed like a good deal that looked cool that was compact and would take care of my needs as a practive amp/BT speaker combo, so decided to splurge a bit, but even with the other amps I'm paying for all the modeling and app stuff I don't really care about. I might just cancel and get a simple audio interface and save up for some good monitors in the future. After receiving yours would say that it would be worth it to wait for another 2 months?
-
@mapmonkey said in Alternatives to Spark:
If one were to cancel their spark order, what would be a good comparable piece of equipment? I am looking at the Vox Adio Air GT or the Line 6 Amplifi, I don't really care about the jam along feature. Does anyone have any experience with these?
Check out my post about the Laney Mini....
-
@mapmonkey said in Alternatives to Spark:
@pipelineaudio Can you use the USB out and the speakers at the same time?
Yes. So a few people in the forums were bringing computers on stage to use as outputs, but I figure there are better workarounds...also because of the FRFR issue, even the USB would require the cab sims be turned off or the amp would be too muddy, which means the PA will have no cab sim and be fizzy death.
This again is the notorious dual path issue that they knew of and had fixed in a way with the HD500 (at least there was a workaround) and then yet still allowed it to happen on the firehawks and amplifi's
Allegedly they are fixing this on the Pod Go. We shall see if that is vaporware or not.
-
@steve-savini Just to clarify on the Amplifi only having 4 presets onboard, that's sort of true but not. You can have 25 banks of 4 presets each onboard the amp BUT you need a Line6 FBV pedal (Shortboard or FBV3) to switch banks. I cancelled my Spark order and bought secondhand Amplifi TT and FBV3 pedal - very happy with the results, and I even saved some money over the Spark price.
