Oh yes, just don't want you to overlook a gem because you were busy thinking about one thing only.
My advice, if you get a large displacement head, run it through a suitable 1 x 12 cab. The 27" Royal Atlantic 1 x 12 extension cab is a great option, one I have had excellent results with. The rectos really start to become beastly when running through a 4 x 12.
Hmm, my brother has a Lonestar Special. He told me the Electra Dyne really beats out the Lonestar for crunch rhythm tones. It's a sort of mid gain vintage marshall inspired crunch with the warmth, creaminess, and saturation of a boogie. The clean on the Electra Dyne is amazing in a fender blackface sort of way but the reverb is not so good as the Lonestar Special. The Lonestar apparently does a better lead tone than the Electra Dyne does, but only marginally so.
With Rectos: The biggest difference between a Dual and a Mini is the girth you achieve from a 6L6 power section. They are somewhat louder but since the tone is generated by the preamp, this is not as big of a problem. Once again, a suitable 1 x 12 will help immensely with keeping the volume under control. It's really a difference in the signature sound between a EL-84 based platform and a 6L6 based platform. My guess is that when you try both, you'll probably love one much more than the other. My money is on the mini but we'll see. Try the Vintage Hi Gain mode (Channel 2) on the mini set to 10 watts and tell me what you think!
Royal Atlantic: I can't help but think this is a great option. It is an EL34 based head and the clean is much more gnarly on it. The Vintage Lo mode is surprisingly similar to the Vintage Lo on the Electra Dyne, full of plexi goodness. From all accounts, the Vintage Hi has more gain than the Electra Dyne and is really somewhere between a Mark V and a Recto with that EL-34 crunch. You can run the head in 45watt mode and click on the attenuator to drop the output to something similar to the mini with very little attenuation. -4 db in 45 watt and -8db in 100 watt should get you into the same territory as the mini set to 25watt dynawatt power. The 10watt mode is slightly quieter but it's really hair splitting.
I think a Royal Atlantic with the 27" 1 x 12 extension cab may be a great option.
You'll simply have to try a few things and see what you really want. Of course, cost will be a factor AND the Mini is a great and very portable amp. Everyone who has tried it suggests pairing it up with a 2 x 12 rectocab so I'd suggest trying that combination. The 1 x 12 cab sounds a bit boxy so the 2 x 12 may be your best option with that head.
Anyway, best of luck and HAVE FUN!!!
