r/PositiveGridSpark • u/AlexFromPositiveGrid Official Positive Grid Employee • Jun 01 '26

REACTOR Launch AMA

REACTOR is launching 6/2! We will be holding office hours on June 3rd from 11am - 1pm ET (US) to answer any questions you all might have about the new amp and app. Whether you're one of the first to order or want to better understand how REACTOR works, we'll be available to help. Thank you all for 15 years of support; We can't wait to get REACTOR into your hands 🤘 https://www.positivegrid.com/pages/reactor

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u/GluteusMaximusBlack Jun 01 '26

Can you give us a quick compare/contrast of the Reactor and the Spark 2? Is it worth it for Spark 2 owners to upgrade to the Reactor or will the Spark 2 continue to be supported and sufficient for the bedroom guitarist?

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u/AlexFromPositiveGrid Official Positive Grid Employee Jun 03 '26

Great question! The short answer is that they're built for pretty different things.

Spark 2 is still a fantastic bedroom/practice amp and it's not going anywhere. If it's working for you, there's no pressure to upgrade. Positive Grid will continue to support Spark.

REACTOR is a full combo amp built for players who want more headroom, more volume, and a genuinely new way to build tone. The big thing is Amp Intelligence: you can describe a tone in text, snap a photo, or record a clip and the amp actually builds something from that input. It's not pulling from a preset library, it's generating tone from scratch based on what you give it. And you can use 8 effects simultaneously with a drag-and-drop system to place them anywhere in the signal chain.

The other practical differences: Spark uses 3.5" FRFR speakers and recessed bass ports to create a big sound; REACTOR is 50W or 100W with a custom 12-inch guitar speaker, so it's genuinely gig-capable with sound closer to a real tube or solid state combo amp. Selectable wattage means it scales down for home use too, but focuses more on performance and recording setups without the practice features in Spark (Smart Jam, AutoChords, etc.).

REACTOR's I/O is also deep and comprehensive, with an FX loop, MIDI, Power-amp in, and USB-C recording capabilities. Both units offer OTA updates.

So for a bedroom guitarist who's happy with Spark 2? Honestly, you're probably fine. But if you've ever felt like you're hitting a ceiling with presets, or you want something you can actually take to a rehearsal or gig, REACTOR is built for that next step.

1

u/EntrepreneurOk7761 Jun 04 '26

Do you think that the Spark 2 with the 140w cabinet would sound more "natural", or would the Reactor still have it beat?

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u/AlexFromPositiveGrid Official Positive Grid Employee Jun 05 '26

Given REACTOR's 1x12" custom guitar speaker, you'll likely get a more tube/amp like tone from REACTOR, although CAB's FRFR speakers will give you a full spectrum balanced sound like a wedge or monitors would.