I still had too much loose low end even after changing my 12 inch V30 to Eight-15.
I closed the back and put som cheapo acoustic foam on th walls inside.
It improved my low end characteristic and presence .
Closed back cabs are best for untreated rooms at home , it's too bad that it can't be done on combo amps.
I play at low volume and it couldn't push 12" V30 and sounded bad.
I made the baffle with MDF and used the same 12 inch screws to fix it and it came out good.
I did it off center and away from the floor to be less bassy.
Now I can get the tight sound I want from it.
I had planed this for a long time as l bought more guitars,
It is shopping store level and it is two 1.2x1.2 meter panel ,
The mounting was easy.
I play at my bedroom in apartment with family.
My go to loudness is 75 to 82 dB.
I play high stuff abd I bought a tube head (Bugera G5 on 0.1 watt) and a HB G122 Celestion V30 cab as an analog rig aside my digital rig with studio desk .
Unfortunately it sound awful as my low volume can't drive the 12" V30. It lacks highs and lows are mudy growly, boxy and whatever definition of bad tone you imagine.
The DI out from amp sounds great through studio monitors, so it is not the amp problem .
I consider changing the 12" V30 with 8" Jensen C8R inside the same cab.
What is your opinion about this
What do
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Hey everyone, I’d love some real‑world input from people who’ve owned or played these amps.
I’m choosing between the Blackstar HT‑1R MKIII combo and the HT‑5R MKIII combo, and my use case is a bit specific:
🎸 My playing situation
- Apartment volume: 80–82 dB max
- I play mostly hard rock, classic metal, 80s leads, and expressive stuff (Gary Moore, Slash, etc.)
- I want a small tube combo as a “toy” — something fun, alive, and inspiring
- I don’t need versatility, just tube feel
- I’ll sometimes push the amp with an OD pedal
- I also use delay and sometimes a looper, so an FX loop might matter
🎯 What I’m trying to figure out
At 80–82 dB, which amp gives me:
- More tube feel (sag, bloom, squish, alive under the fingers)
- More sustain when pushed with an OD
- Better pushed‑clean feel
- Better tight metal rhythm when needed
- More fun as a small “fling” amp
🥊 My dilemma
- I love the size and weight of the HT‑1R MKIII — it’s the perfect tiny tube toy.
- But the HT‑5R MKIII has the FX loop, more headroom, and a bigger power tube (12BH7).
- At my volume limit, the HT‑1R might actually compress more and feel more “tube‑alive,”
while the HT‑5R might stay tighter and cleaner.
❓ So I’m asking you all:
At 80–82 dB, which amp actually FEELS more like a tube amp?
And which one fits my style better?