Placing both the Spark and THR30II for a couple of weeks and using the THR almost every day in contrast to the Spark, we would say
Spark is cool, but the App sometimes is hard to operate. Not even considering that for now, just a side-by-side view to know individual strengths and weaknesses.
Positive Grid Spark Amp Vs Yamaha Thr
Spark
- It has a ground issue and terrible hum
- It has no PC editor
- Sometimes the App makes it difficult to dial in an exact value (iPad mini)
- It is loud but you cannot adjust the overall volume (and the Aux-in too) on the THR with a much higher precision
- USB playback sounds flat without low frequencies and body, via BT it has too much of them. No EQ yet.
- The controls at the back seem unnecessary
- No cabinet option THAT is an absolute no-go for some
- Unlike BIAS, the engine is different, it should be based on the older JamUp
Yamaha Thr
The THR on the other side only lacks an EQ somewhere in the chain to get rid of some harsh unwanted frequencies (not necessary with every amp model) and it does not have a booster or overdrive. Nevertheless, the THR sounds phenomenal with a little tweaking in the app (cab, reverb, noise gate off).
But it is essential to choose the right cab. Get this thing sounds big and rich with almost every amp model, choose the right (for me) speaker type. In my opinion, the interaction between gain and master is also slightly better on the Yamaha.
THR is twice the price of the Spark but you will like its wireless functionality, the usable tuner, and some other aspects too. I wish Yamaha would add an EQ and improve/add the effects a bit.
I don`t say that the Spark is not worth the money. The effects work well, it has good speakers and some of the models are great. But somehow it is not that polished like the THR. And you are limited in sound because of the baked-in cabs.
Maybe PG will change this in the future which would be a big improvement to this device. Possibly the target audience dominates the high-gain top
Spark is enjoyable. Other are made in medium sizes with cool sounds, but most variations are not clean or overdriven. The Spark is fun to play with all the different sounds of the euphonium.
It has a lot of customization in the app, like the reverb alone has 7 or 8 adjustment dials, but you can just use the presets that other people create and download in the app.
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There are some pretty good ones. You can get any four favourite presets to the 4 physical preset buttons and not have to open the app to get to them.
There is an option to play backing tracks off YouTube and songs off Spotify. They play from the Spark app to the amp over Bluetooth, just like any Bluetooth speaker, but it’s nice having the backing track and my playing come out of the same amp.
It might take a while before you find much use for the Smart backing track feature, but probably because it wants to play for a bit before it analyzes and comes in to play with you and you might need to be good enough to understand its use.
I also love the look of it. Get a cable that matches the gold knobs perfectly and it will look amazing. One critique I have is you can use the app or the physical adjustment dials, but having a way to use both might be hard.
I mean you can’t start with a preset from the app and adjust the reverb with a physical dial. It does adjust, but not the way an average person will think. It will take time for you to be best to use the app or the dials but not both at once.
Looks like the Yamaha has some similar features. You might not just like the Yamaha app, and you could have a close look for a personal preference. Not sure if any of that was helpful. Either way, I hope you end up with an awesome amp!
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- Sound quality: it seems great to me but I don’t have much to compare it to, and I know Yamaha is known for high-quality speakers.
- Versatility: definitely! So many customizations and cool tones. I think I’ll never run out of clean and bluesy sounds to play with.
- Ease of use: the app is pretty new so it will probably improve, but it’s already pretty good. I have no complaints. It does reconnect to the amp every time you open it, which costs a couple of seconds, no big deal, but would be nice if they iron that out. All the primary functions are available in the physical dials, and the dials feel great, very smooth, and of high quality.
Positive Grid Shipping Update
We deliver to
- America: United States, Canada, Mexico
- Europe: Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, France,
United Kingdom, Denmark, Poland, Ireland, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia,
Czech Republic, Latvia, Sweden, Lithuania, Italy, Spain, Estonia,
Portugal, Finland, Croatia, Romania.
- Asia: HongKong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and two countries in Oceania. As an of restrictions place by our partners and the likes, we have limited number of countries we make delivery. You can contact our service line if your country is not there. Better still, you hold on.
Please note that orders can only be cancelled before delivery, it is no longer possible if your goods have already arrived. Swapping is not allowed, neither is adding or removing your product allowed.
Spark comes with a year warranty, check on for more details. They also accept various modes of payment: VISA CARD, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS. No shipping cost, nor VAT, there are exemptions.
Spark is a standard point in the Guitar Amplifier industry, with lots of amazing products birth. You would not regret it, I promise.
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