r/PositiveGridSpark

Hey everyone,

​I am moving abroad soon and looking for a compact desktop/practice amp that I can easily travel with. I mostly play heavy metal, thrash, and hard rock (lots of tight high-gain rhythm, fast downpicking, and palm-mute chugs).

​My main priority is standalone speaker quality (playing out loud without headphones). I want something that doesn't sound completely thin, fizzy, or boxy on heavy riffs, while still being practical enough to pack in my luggage.

​I’m currently torn between three very different options:

​1. Positive Grid Spark GO

​Pros: Ultra-portable, fits in any bag, endless presets via app, easy Bluetooth backing tracks.

​Concerns: Does the tiny 2" speaker fall completely flat on palm-muted metal riffs? Is it just too boxy/thin for out-loud metal practice?

​2. Yamaha THR10X (High-Gain Green Model)

​Pros: Dedicated high-gain VCM amp models (5150/ENGL/Bogner vibes), physical 3-band EQ, 5 hardware preset buttons, solid metal chassis (safe for travel), tight low-end response.

​Concerns: Discontinued (buying used), no Bluetooth/mobile app (needs USB or Aux for backing tracks).

​3. Blackstar ID:Core BEAM

​Pros: 20W stereo, built-in Bluetooth audio, wide stereo field, multi-instrument capability.

​Concerns: Bulkiest and heaviest of the three (\~3.9 kg), and I worry the low-end is tuned broadly for bass/multimedia rather than focused, tight guitar chugs.

​Questions for those who have owned or tried them:

​Between the THR10X and Blackstar BEAM, how significant is the difference in high-gain tone quality, articulation, and palm-mute tightness through the speakers?

​Is the Spark GO even a viable option if I plan to play through the built-in speaker rather than headphones 80% of the time?

​If you were packing for an international move and needed the best balance of travel-friendliness and real metal tone, which one would you take?

​Thanks in advance for the advice!

Recently got the Spark 40 and found some incredible tones and I want to get them into some mixes but I'm a little at a loss for mic-positioning etc. Usually an SM57 or two on the center and edge but I'm not getting a lot of clarity at lower volumes.

What mics have other people been using? or am I better off just sending the headphone out to the interface?

hi, sparky redditians

I wonder whether there's an auto-wah or wah effects on Spark amp series?

I recently sold my Katana 50ex gen 3 which has wah and auto-wah effects. And sold my thr10ii which didn't have any of wah effects.

I wonder whether Spark2 or other PG amps have this effect? At least auto-wah.

Is it possible to connect wireless (2.4GHz) headphones using a USB-C dongle to spark 2? If so, do I need some app or is it possible directly?

Hi all, I was wondering if I can use it as a completely clean amp. I have another FX unit at home for effects. I used it's line in port but it has lot's of delay.... Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hey all. I'm a beginner guitar player, about 6 months in. My 9 year old son is taking drum lessons, also a beginner. We just want to jam for fun at home, nothing serious.

A Spark 2 is arriving tomorrow. But I'm not sure it's the right pick vs a Spark EDGE, or a smaller Spark (MINI or GO) paired with an outside powered speaker like the Alto TX408.

I want something portable and simple, mainly a practice amp. I also have a bass with no amp of its own, which is part of why I'm not really considering the Reactor 50 (it's also big and heavy). The room is fairly spacious, and it would mostly be just the two of us, maybe plus a bass player.

Has anyone tried comparing amps this way, buying a couple to test and returning what doesn't work? Or is the Spark 2 plenty for two beginners just having fun, and I'm overthinking this?

Any real experience helps. Trying to skip the return hassle if I can.

Hey everyone,

I got tired of the constant debates where "experts" claim they can instantly hear the difference between the different Positive Grid engines. So, I built a custom blind audio test to actually measure if people can tell the Spark 2, the Reactor, and BIAS X apart.

To make this a true apples-to-apples diagnostic, I ran four specific rounds (Clean, Crunch, High Gain, and Metal) using the exact same amp models across all three engines. For example, you have to identify the Spark's version of a Roland JC-120 versus the Reactor's version of that exact same amp...

I pushed this out to a broader Youtube audience some hours ago, and it’s been a bloodbath. The current average score is sitting at exactly 42%. It turns out, when you hide the actual gear and remove the brand bias, separating these DSP's is much harder than the so-called experts want to admit.

Since this is the dedicated Spark community, I want to see if you guys can beat the general average ;)

You can take the Quiz here: https://quiz.gotoandplay.media/amps
Optionally watch me explain the setup in this video: https://youtu.be/ROnOZPlm6zI

Drop your scores in the comments below. Be brutally honest, even if you bomb it :P