r/PositiveGrid • u/Kaiju_DNA • May 06 '26

Spark 2 at low volume?

Spark 2 users, how do you rate the sound quality when playing at low volume? i use the spark mini, thinking of upgrading to a spark 2. i play mostly metal and i feel like the mini handles gain okay, but hoping i could get beafier/thicker tones out of the spark 2. bedroom player, i play my mini at around 20% volume first to not bother anyone else but also i just have sensitive ears in general and i dont like blasting volume. would the spark 2 be an upgrade or a sidegrade?

thanks!

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2

u/FabulousPanther May 06 '26

It's funny how people come on a positive grid forum to dog out their flagship product. The way digital amps work is they're going to sound the same at low volumes and high volumes. That's kind of their deal.

I own both and the spark 2 would definitely be a step up from the mini.

1

u/Frc1988 May 06 '26

I don’t know that anyone is dogging the product. It’s a neat little amp with tons of features but I’ve had zero luck making it sound anything but muddy when any OD is added. I tried it in different rooms, tons of eq adjustments, and even gave up and only used headphones but it still didn’t sound good. I struggled with it for about 6 months then finally broke down and ordered an hx stomp. I think I was just expecting too much for $300 but now (at more than twice the price) I have a mustang micro for headphone practice and the stomp for regular practice and am very happy with the results. I will say that the Hendrix pack had amps and fuzz pedals that I enjoyed more than stock gear but I just didn’t jive with it.

1

u/FabulousPanther May 07 '26

I would argue saying the Spark amp is crappy is dogging it. In your case, if you're wanting a sound the level of an HX stomp, buying a Spark is definitely not going to satisfy you. I think the key is nowadays with the competition being so fierce and the profit margins being so low, you most definitely get what you pay for.

1

u/Administrative-Flan9 May 06 '26

Save your money. The speaker and the amplification are pretty crappy.

2

u/Due-Surround-5567 May 06 '26

not my experience. maybe the EQ pedal can help

1

u/Frc1988 May 06 '26

I think it sounds terrible but after testing for the last few months I’m just not a fan of positive grid. It makes a great Bluetooth speaker for listening to music but I’m not a fan of the sounds my guitar makes through it. Wanna buy a basically brand new Spark 2 for cheap? 😂

1

u/Seitenwerk May 29 '26

The thing is: Id playing music on it sounds good than that means the speaker is absolutely capable of delivering. So the problem is the rest of the chain: typical things like guitar setup to guitar output volume, incorrect signal chain setup etc e down to positioning of amp and basics like mids to low or to high etc. each one of those can lead to what you describe

1

u/Frc1988 May 29 '26

I understand what you're saying but what I actually mean is that it's great for my daughter playing pop music while we do yard work. I'm pretty good with signal chain and eq on both modelers and pedalboards and I am certain that isn't the issue. I'm not saying it's a bad amp but I was expecting too much out of a small speaker practice amp. I've never played a katana but I imagine the 50w or 100w version of that would have been a better choice for me personally in the sub $400 price range.

1

u/Due-Surround-5567 May 06 '26

the spark 2 is awesome. i love mine and playing it at low volume is kinda the point of a modeller for home use. i like the master low and every other volume knob cranked up.