NEW BEDROOM AMP

[CATSCANMAN]

Looking for a new bedroom amp at a reasonable price. I hope I can get a couple of suggestions from you guys and thanks for your help.

 

[derekjason]

how much ya lookin to drop?

 

[TimeSignature]

What kind of music do you play?

Solid state or tube?

Budget?

 

[droptrd]

The Blackheart's or the Blackstar's
Maybe an Eggy Rebel
Or the Krank Rev Jr.

 

[ryjan]

I wish I had saved it but Guitar World did a 5-10 watt combo shootout a year or so ago. Check out this review. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JElhF57WaBI

 

[b0nkersx]

In my experience, there really is no such thing as a bedroom amp unless it has an attenuator. Even 5 watts is really loud if you have close neighbors or family that might be disturbed by your playing (I had a Blackheart 5 watt amp). They're not terrible, but they were never really what I wanted them to be. Attenuators aren't even the same because they aren't breaking up the speakers, nor are they compressing your ears (your ears hear things differently at high volumes).

 

[GD_NC]

This may sound crazy but the Mark IV may be the best bedroom amp ever. I use mine all the time while my kids are asleep just down the hall. No attenuator required. It still sounds great even at very low volume.

I used to keep a small Peavey 15w tube amp with an attenuator around for practicing at night. I sold it a couple of month after getting the Mark IV.

An added bonus you can also use the record out and speaker mute to go completely silent. I occasionally run my R.O. into a Boss Micro BR to practice with headphones.

 

[ryjan]

This may sound crazy but the Mark IV may be the best bedroom amp ever. I use mine all the time while my kids are asleep just down the hall. No attenuator required. It still sounds great even at very low volume.

I used to keep a small Peavey 15w tube amp with an attenuator around for practicing at night. I sold it a couple of month after getting the Mark IV.

An added bonus you can also use the record out and speaker mute to go completely silent. I occasionally run my R.O. into a Boss Micro BR to practice with headphones.

+1 Just pull the lead drive pot when your at tv volumes and you're there.

 

[emperor_black]

+1 to the above post about the MK IV. I have it set up at super low volumes and sounds great.

I also picked up a Blackstar. Fat metal tones from old 80's metallica to MOP at bedroom volumes. What's more, its even got a headphone out with selectable cab emulation. 1x12 or 4x12. And both sound very convincing. Its very light and tone controls are very usable. Cleans are not that great because of the shared eq.

 

[MusicManJP6]

i must be on my own here but the MIV was hard to tame to low volumes due to the touchy output volume knob. 1 was whisper quiet, 1.2 was just below bedroom level, and 1.3 was practice level. I had to use an attenuator just to smooth out the volume taper and then it sounded fine for low volume. Obviously YMMV.

 

[GD_NC]

i must be on my own here but the MIV was hard to tame to low volumes due to the touchy output volume knob. 1 was whisper quiet, 1.2 was just below bedroom level, and 1.3 was practice level. I had to use an attenuator just to smooth out the volume taper and then it sounded fine for low volume. Obviously YMMV.

To get the Mark IV to bedroom level you have to use Class A/Triode/Tweed keep the gain moderate and channel masters way down. The Output needs to be around 1.3-1.5 or you just don't get much sound at all.

If you keep the masters up and try to tame it with the output you will not have much luck. I play all the time with my kids asleep. My DC-2 can't get anywhere near that low.

 

[MusicManJP6]

i must be on my own here but the MIV was hard to tame to low volumes due to the touchy output volume knob. 1 was whisper quiet, 1.2 was just below bedroom level, and 1.3 was practice level. I had to use an attenuator just to smooth out the volume taper and then it sounded fine for low volume. Obviously YMMV.

To get the Mark IV to bedroom level you have to use Class A/Triode/Tweed keep the gain moderate and channel masters way down. The Output needs to be around 1.3-1.5 or you just don't get much sound at all.

If you keep the masters up and try to tame it with the output you will not have much luck. I play all the time with my kids asleep. My DC-2 can't get anywhere near that low.

Well, that was my problem. I didn't like castrating the amp like that!

 

[thinskin57]

don't laugh- the Line 6 Spider Jam. very cool for bedroom jamming. this is the one with the built in looper, drum machine, and backing loops to jam over as well. it's a toy, but a NICE toy. also has a headphone jack. my "real" amp is a Tremoverb though.

 

[TimeSignature]

My Mark IV sounds great at low volumes. So does my Fender Supersonic, DC 10 and VHT Pittbull. You just have to know how to EQ them. My Rivera Knucklehead sounds terrible unless its super loud on the other hand... but once the Rivera is cranked it sounds better than any of my other amps!!

My Mark IV is usually at Full power, Simulclass, triode and sounds good at really low volume. Output around 1.5 and Lead Volume about 2.

 

[soundchaser59]

I think saying that ANY Mesa amp can be a bedroom amp is like keeping a German Shorthair penned up in a poodle pouch.

For variety and decent sound at bedroom volumes, I've not found anythingmore fitting than a Vox VT50 (but VT30 will do in a pinch!)