9 best home combo amps

To extract any decent sound from an electric guitar, you need a good combo amplifier designed for its frequencies. Regular Hi-Fi acoustics and a standard amp here will not help - not for that they are created, and you will “plant” them quickly. However, taking the most powerful device for your home is also unwise - take pity on your neighbors! It is better to look for a good combo up to 15 watts of output. It remains only to determine the filling and find the perfect equipment that can produce high-quality sound. To simplify the task, we made a review of excellent home amplifiers, among which “your” model will probably be found.

Which combo home company choose

Any type of guitar amplifier will give a good sound if it is sensibly assembled. That is why the musicians in the first place pay attention to the name of the manufacturer, and only then - on the characteristics and price.

Popularity rating of companies producing the best combo amps for home use, is as follows:

1. Yamaha

2. Marshall

3. Vox

4. Kustom

5. Line 6

6. Yerasov

7. VHT

8. Nux

Models produced by these brands are of high build quality and reliability. And the sound? Its beauty will depend only on how the capabilities of the amplifier and your musical tastes coincide.

Top Home Transistor Combo Amplifiers

The main advantage of any transistor is its price. This equipment is unpretentious and "tenacious", it can be carried everywhere with you.

To a greater degree, such combo suites are suitable for beginners-guitarists, since the game technique is more important for them than sound modeling. However, among professionals there are many who like transistor “stuffing”.

Yamaha GA II

Compact and inexpensive device with a capacity of 15 W and a weight of only 5 kg. Through the AUX IN jack you can connect a player or a smartphone with a recording of lots of other instruments and “rehearse together”. Pleases and a good set of effects: mandatory overdrive, hard distortion and easier krunch-overload. The size of the speaker is 6.5 ″.

Pros:

• Affordable price;
• A good range of adjustments;
• The presence of a three-band equalizer;
• Headphone jack (a huge plus for the apartment);
• Pretty clear sound;
• Convenient to carry.

Minuses:

• For the pros, there are few effects;
• On a clear channel, only the output volume is adjusted.

Of course, Yamaha at this price will not be pleased with the richness of the settings, but the set for the basic guitar technicians will be enough with the head.

Vox Pathfinder 15R

Quite a famous model from the legendary brand with a dense and clear sound of an 8-inch speaker. The combos are positioned as portable, but they weigh 7.6 kg (although there is a convenient handle on the case).

Pros:

• It produces a high-quality and melodic sound, very similar to a tube;
• There is a reverb and tremolo;
• Compact size;
• Headphone with speaker lock;
• You can connect an additional pedal controller;
• Input level control for tuning the sound of the guitar;
• Low price, although this model often have to buy with it.

Minuses:

• Bad, almost lost dist-overload;
• Noisy, especially if you press BOOST;
• Vintage design is not to everyone's liking.

Many call the Vox Pathfinder 15R the best machine in its segment and place it higher than the more expensive Marshalls. The sound of it is really not budget, but for a tough game, this combo is not suitable.

Marshall MG10CF

10-watt dual-channel amplifier measuring only 30x31x17.5 cm and weighing 4.8 kg. For the party is weak, but for home rehearsals (especially at night) - just right. "Packed" in a durable case of multi-layered wood and carbon fiber - it looks very stylish.Speaker 6.5 ″.

Pros:

• The presence of a moderate live overload with a low level of "sand";
• A large range of adjustments allows you to play any music up to hard rock;
• Small for Marshall;
• 2 headphone jacks;
• Clean and deep clean at any volume level;
• There is an overdrive;
• Very good build - do not carp.

Minuses:

• Single band equalizer;
• There is no timbre.

Here you should not count on the special power and transcendent loudness, but even hardrock reefs at home can be worked out without problems. And the music is softer in this amplifier and it sounds great at all.

Top Home Tube Combo Amplifiers

These models are already serious, and dearly loved by professionals. The lamp heads give a more melodic and soft sound, especially with a “clean” game - without the use of effects.

Yerasov GTA-15

Kombik replaced the out-of-production version of the R, which had problems with extraneous noises. Compared to the previous model, volume control has become smoother, and the filling has changed: instead of domestic lamps, there are now paired EL84 and 12AX7 here. The 15-watt amplifier is equipped with a 10 ″ speaker and weighs 12 kg.

Pros:

• It produces a very clear and surprisingly loud sound;
• Excellent workmanship;
• On the official website, you can pick up any speaker you like;
• 6 casing colors;
• Very low cost for tube combos;
• Good and dense sound at overload.

Minuses:

• Very little room for adjustment;
• It is not adapted to the quiet game - power is torn from it.

In general, the GTA-15 is a good combo amplifier for overloading, but in the full sense of the word it is not homemade. It is better to use it in a separate building, where there are no people and glasses on the windows. But for the beauty of the sound, you can forgive everything.

VHT Special 6 Ultra Head AV-SP-6HU

The model with the best value for money. In contrast to the previously considered amplifiers, there is already a loop of effects for those who like to work with lotions. However, this "combo" is more focused on home use, since the 10-inch speaker outputs only 6 watts. The weight of the entire head is 7.9 kg.

Pros:

• Two inputs of different sensitivity;
• Clear and traditionally soft sound;
• Quite loud (and with the included Boost beyond) - is not lost on the background of the drums;
• The possibility of mounted installation;
• 2-band equalizer;
• Reliable assembly and nice design;
• Switch depth of sound.

Minuses:

• No reverb;
• There is no desired brightness in Low power mode;
• Too overall for its functionality.

The AV-SP-6HU is notable for the Watts adjustment, which allows you to get good sound even at minimum volume. Manual soldering by the manufacturer is being touted as the merit of this model, although in reality this feature does not really matter.

Kustom Defender 5H

To obscenity simple tube amp from the budget segment with a capacity of 5 watts. Just one swivel knob - just to add volume. But the EL84 lamp installed in it is itself capable of producing the desired level of distortion (up to a very hard overdrive).

Pros:

• It is easy to use;
• Crystal clear sound;
• Reliable assembly;
• Perfectly combined with overdrive or distal pedals;
• Chic design;
• Very compact and lightweight (3.2 kg).

Minuses:

• No effects loop, yes there - even the tone knobs are not;
• Only one channel;
• Bottoms he is clearly not enough.

In general, buying a Defender 5H for home use is a reasonable option. Its capacity is just enough for an apartment, but no more.

Top Home Digital Combo Amplifiers

Of course, there is not such a lively sound, but there are much more opportunities to work with various effects. So if you have already mastered the basics of playing the electric guitar and want to move on, the next step will be the purchase of a digital combo amplifier.

Yamaha THR5

Portable "combo" 5 W equipped with stereo speakers, giving a full, moderately dense sound. The model will be pleased with a set of 5 major overloads - up to the aggressive “tube” High Gain dist and a decent list of spatial effects.The baby weighs only 2 kg and does not take up much space.

Pros:

• Very high quality sound - as close as possible to analog;
• Excellent cabinet emulation;
• Large selection of effects for playing in different genres;
• Chromatic tuner for tuning halftones;
• There is a USB port and the ability to record;
• Stable sound characteristics, regardless of the volume level;
• Nice appearance and strong metal body;
• Easy to transport;
• The possibility of autonomous work (6-7 hours) from the finger batteries;
• There is a headphone output;
• Regular updates available on the official website.

Minuses:

• Price;
• There is no input for the pedals, although with this set of effects they are useless.

Guitarists unanimously say that THR5 is simply obliged to be in any music industry. Of course, one should not expect a special roar from him, but in terms of the variety of effects and the beauty of sounds, he is good.

Line 6 Spider IV 15

Compact, but tightly stuffed 4-channel unit, which worked hard and the creators of professional software for sound processing, and musicians. As a result, the modeling amplifier turned out really mega-functional. Sound is delivered to an 8-inch, 15-watt speaker.

Pros:

• Very high-quality sound, even in comparison with lamp heads;
• Built-in chromatic tuner - starts by simply pressing a button;
• 6 effects guitar sound processing with the possibility of overlapping;
• Hell mode overload insane;
• There is an input for an external player to play backing tracks;
• Headphone jack - a recording or mixer;
• Stylish design, convenient location of the control panel;
• Very nice value.

Minuses:

• There is no possibility to connect the pedals of other companies;
• You can not stick 2 guitars at the same time;
• Not enough USB port.

With the exception of a few drawbacks, Spider IV is one huge plus. Most of all, it will appeal to experimenters and fans of heavy music - the producers obviously tried for them.

Nux Frontline 15

The original two-channel, combining analog and digital 24-bit sound processing. Equipped with a tube preamp and 15 watt speaker.

Pros:

• 6 modes of overload;
• Equalizer for 3 bands;
• Chic "tube" sound;
• Headphone jack;
• You can connect an external foot controller.

Minuses:

• Not too comfortable tuner;
• On the clean channel, only the output sound is adjusted.

In general, Nux Frontline 15 is an excellent choice for both a beginner and a professional guitar player. And its affordable price allows you to put up with some shortcomings.

Which home combo buy

1. As the first combo better take transistor Yamaha GA II. It is suitable for home rehearsals, and for small parties, and professional musicians can use it to warm up.

2. Those who do not play too heavy things, and are looking for clear sound with emulation capabilities, need a Vox Pathfinder 15R.

3. For a private house and rehearsal in a separate building, tube Yerasov GTA-15 will be suitable. Powerful combo like anyone who loves to experiment with overloads.

4. It is a pleasure to chat on the couch or try yourself in different genres will allow the transistor Marshall MG10CF.

5. For continuous use at home without further carrying, the VHT Special 6 AV-SP-6HU "tube head" is an excellent choice.

6. For blues or jazz, the compact Kustom Defender 5H is perfect, although the crunch at the maximum is just great.

7. "Campaign" option - Yamaha THR5. The portable digital combo is capable of many hours of autonomous work and pleases with an abundance of effects.

8. If you need a multifunctional digicam capable of devil overloads, you should choose Spider IV from Line 6.

9. Those who want everything at once will need a hybrid Nux Frontline 15 - it will give a beautiful “tube” sound and wide digital processing options.