Verdict
Another guitar hero from Positive Grid , the Spark Go is a brightly portable , shelling power amplifier that deliver unfeigned freedom . The speaker might be pocket-sized , but it produces high quality auditory sensation with a truly sempiternal array of unparalleled sound .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
It ’s the babe brother to the secret plan - changingSpark 40 ampere , which bundled size - defying auditory sensation with an incredible range of mountains of app - base digital amp models and effects to create a really dateless array of amply customisable guitar tint .
It also includes a load of connected characteristic designed to help guitarists learn and play along with their favorite call and even throng with a virtual band . It doubles as aBluetooth speakerso you may play along with your favourite tracks .
Just like the middle nestling , theSpark Mini , the new Spark Go adenylic acid does all of that , but without the need to tether to the mains . It has a rechargeable stamp battery , make your amplified guitar playing in truth portable . In this display case , even clipped to your person .
However , establish knowledge suggests that an 5W ampere with a 2 - inch speaker is n’t go to produce audio worthy of your guitar acting expertise . It give-up the ghost without saying there will be craft - offs , but can the Spark Go hit the seraphic spot between ultimate portability , functionality , and adept - enough quality phone ?
translate on for the full verdict …
Design
The Spark Go is around the size ( 125 x 85 x 45 mm ) of a Coke can and at 346 universal gravitational constant , weighs about the same too . As guitar amplifiers go , it ’s lilliputian and can even fit into your pedal board . Much low than the Spark Mini and a fraction of the size of the Spark 40 , which itself is renowned for its stocky size of it .
The vantage of this is reliable portability . It ’ll go into your guitar bag easy and , reckon on your knockout fount , might even suit in there too .
It ’s rectangular with curved edges , but with a bland bottom that means it ’s able to bear up comfortably , with the safe silicone coating around the twist helping it stick around frozen to the surface . That can be easily removed , but it ’s handy for profit purchase on the surface and protecting the amp . When I unboxed it , I think a kickstand would have been a handy addition , but I have n’t pink the Spark Go off balance yet . you could also position the amp with the loudspeaker system facing flat towards you or with the loudspeaker system facing upwardly .
The Spark Go does a adequate job of maintain consistent design language with the replaceable utterer dental plate matching the other two models . Positive Grid also gives you an alternating option in the box seat .
In term of on - board controller , this version eschews almost all release to add the physical command down to the bare bones . Just like the Spark Mini , there are no dials for basso , treble , delay , reverb , etc . , which you ’d see on a traditional amp ( or the Spark 40 ) .
It ’s not that important as you’re able to correct these configurations on the digital adenylic acid and pedal point within the app . However , it does make the Go less utile if you do n’t plan on connecting through the app every time . think , you’re able to always save up your four preferent timber to the amp so you do n’t need the app at all .
The power / Bluetooth pairing push button is mix . Then there ’s a gold push for switching between the four possible pre - dictated musical note , which can be altered to your pet defaults though the Spark app . There ’s a volume cradle for Bluetooth music and a bulk telephone dial for the guitar auditory sensation integrated into the standard jack input , enabling you to adjust accompany music and guitar volume severally .
There ’s also a 3.5 millimeter earphone diddlysquat if you desire to pump those guitar voice straightaway into your ear . It can roleplay as a cable out if you bid to connect to a bigger speaker . And there ’s a duple - use USB - C output for charge and connect to your computing gadget for recording .
lastly , there ’s a golden strap clit ( with a pair of strap options ) that enable you to create a loop so you could attach the adenylic acid to your belt demesne walk around the house rocking out . You wo n’t even need to worry about tripping over the cable as you may use a short patch cable between the guitar and amp .
Features
The Spark Go is rated at 5 watts and has a tiny little 2 - inch speaker with a passive radiator . The lithium battery lasts eight minute , so once charged via USB - degree centigrade you ’re good to go for a day out . Of naturally , you may prolong that with a battery pack if necessary .
A guitar tone is the unique phone it makes . Most far-famed guitarists have a signature speech sound that derives from their set up and how it ’s tweaked . The guitar itself play a big part , as do the pickups , and on - guitar options ( think Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine ) . These are unrelated to the A and pedal adjust up .
However , the amplifier used ( conceive Marshall , Orange , etc . ) , the options on the amp , and the outcome pedal point ( wait , straining , reverb , etc . ) used are the other key factors , and that ’s what the Spark app ’s tones seek to replicate .
There are 33 A model available based on classical manufacturer and a totality of 43 effects . The community has used these bases to make M of unique tones you may also add your own whirl to .
If , like me , you do n’t have the time , funds , or expertise to finely tune a guitar sound via the adenylic acid or a big idealistic pedal board , this is where the Spark range really comes into its own .
I conceive this unbelievable array of downloadable and customisable tincture ( you may sum your own tweak to the tweaks ) , is the chief understanding to buy these products . Your favourites can be quickly saved and switching between them happens in a couple of taps .
All this for $ 130 is quite the buy , twin with the fact the amp can work as a go between for plug your guitar into your computer to register with these tones .
There are mountain of overbold features to go with the tones , and these are excellent for tyro and intermediate guitarists . Smart Jam for instance will bid a funding cart track with to accompany your own performing panache , if you select from one of the pre - determined profile .
Jarvis , for instance is “ a rocker at heart and he listens to your playing in real metre and adjust your dynamics and complexity on the fly . ” There are options for funkier or bluesier players and the characteristic listen to eight BAR of music before beginning to play along with other instrument . It ’s almost like you ’re bring along with the full band , and it ’s great for people who do n’t have one .
The roving experience has always been intrinsic to the Spark amps , transmute the product from stock ( albeit over - do ) praxis amps to a measureless world of tone and functionality that ’ll have a stab at replicating any guitar auditory sensation . From your guitar heroes , to a altogether custom-made sound that work with what you ’re playing .
It could be Slash ’s reverb - lased Gibson Les Paul solos , or a beautifully clean John Mayer - like tone . Either way , the Spark amp will have a solution that seeks to replicate the set - up of those icons , from amp models to the effects pedals .
I found it helped me with my timing a lot . When you ’re noodling away on your own , it can get a bit all over the home . This kept me disciplined and in rhythm with the drummer .
The full software entourage is free to anyone who has buy the app , instantly unlock tens of thousands of tones , including those generated by the community . But there are loads of other features like Smart Jam ( which tot up back to your pickle seance ) , Auto Chords ( which transcribe the chord to well - known songs ) , and the ability to act as along with substantial globe tracks from your favourite creative person , albeit through the consolidation of YouTube videos . More on those subsequently .
There ’s a guitar piano tuner built - in to the amp with the LED lights for pre - Set execute double duty here too as a visual indicator if your note is shrewd or flavorless . It ’s also leisurely to connect to Spotify or Apple Music to play along with your melody . The app also has a relatively new ego - disc feature for capturing video ( complete with backing tracks ) for easy social media posting .
On the other Spark amplifiers , I preferred using the tablet version of the Spark app , but that ’s against the spirit of the Spark Go , which is all about portability . thing are cramped and fiddly on the smartphone , but not annoyingly so .
Unfortunately , and this was the type with the other Sparks , microcode update for the ampere can not be transferred via the app . You require to do it by connecting to a computer via USB with the practice bundling - in cable .
As mentioned above , Auto Chords is a feature film transpose chords from any song you feed it from a connect Apple Music or Spotify story . These are helpful for beginners , but the user interface sometimes feels quite special . Given the app work as a Bluetooth speaker too , you could diddle along . Again , awesome for the amateur rocker .
Sound Quality
braggart sound than carry
well suited to moderate volume grade
The hallmark of the original Spark 40 adenylic acid was its sizing - defying audio . It ’s easy to forget seem at its baby brother that the Spark 40 – a reference to the 40W speaker – was the OG little amp that could . For a practice amp , it has no right sounding as refined as it does at high and low volumes . It was even loud enough for some light gigging or an capable mic without losing faithfulness . I loved it and have it five stars .
The Spark Mini made some sacrifices with the speaker size ( 10W ) , but still overperformed . The Spark Go , meanwhile is much minuscule too with a 5W speaker . Again , I temper my expectations only to have them exceeded again .
However , this is an amp best utilize for play at temperate volume grade . At the low ending its tinny and watery , and at the highest end the auditory sensation becomes fractured . The happy middle ground is warm and astonishingly refined and nuanced , whether you ’re playing a clean tone with delay or going for a heavy overdriven sound with a little reverb . You wo n’t disturb the neighbours and it ’ll be flashy enough for you to feel like you ’re sway out .
As much as I relished being able-bodied to walk around the house with the A attach to me , you will get quite a lot of feedback this elbow room .
For what it ’s worth , I absolutely loved toy with this thing alfresco too . Just taking it out into the backyard and laying it on the primer coat lend out some lovely sound that blended well with the ambient noise around . It was definitely loud enough to hear clear as the dealings buy the farm by .
The only problem was the head pre - set lights , which are just seeable in daytime , even on a dreary day with plenty of spectre . A small-scale quibble .
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Should you buy it?
The unbelievable regalia of tone of voice , decorous sound replication and long battery life-time is a dream for the minimalist for whom big sound is a secondary concern . It ’s also more hard-nosed than the Spark Mini .
If you prioritize the sound quality over the added portability , go with the Spark Mini .
Final Thoughts
Positive Grid has played another blinker with the Spark Go . The Spark Go requires compromises in term of healthy quality , but the adenylic acid still outperforms its strong-arm limitations . For users seeking ultimate exemption in terms of portability , wearability of the amp , and on - the - go bombardment office , it may be the gross resolution . Those app - free-base feature of speech do so much of the leg work , but it ’s still singular so much can be squeezed into a intersection the size of it of one exclusive personal effects pedal .
The presence of three Spark Amp models now leave hoi polloi with a big determination . All three bring something to the board .
The Spark 40 is renowned for in truth magnificent strait in a small package . If flirt at home and love wonderful auditory sensation and you ’re in an surroundings where you’re able to advertize it aloud enough , I ’d still go for the Spark 40 .
Choosing between the Mini and the GO is wily . Some referee preferred the sound of the Mini to the Spark 40 but I did n’t feel that elbow room . It has the portability aspect , and if you care getting out and about to play guitar without the pauperization to plug into the mains , it ’s a heavy option .
The Spark Go is n’t anywhere near as gaudy as the Mini and again , the limitations of the smaller utterer become more detectable in its smaller sort factor . However , I think the Spark Go make the Mini a little pleonastic . It ’s much , much smaller , has the same stamp battery life and access to smart features .
in person , I ’d buy the Spark Go over the Mini for that bring portability , and the ability to play with the amp on your person ( more or less ) wirelessly . You lose intelligent quality with the smaller talker , but I recollect it ’s worth it to not notice carrying an amp with you .
In an ideal domain , the Spark 40 for the home and the Spark Go for on the go .
Trusted Score
How we test
We screen every amplifier we retrospect thoroughly over an extended period of time . We use industry standard trial to compare feature of speech by rights . We ’ll always recount you what we encounter . We never , ever , consent money to review a intersection .
find oneself out more about how we screen in ourethics policy .
FAQs
Absolutely , you’re able to set the adenylic acid to play your preferred tones and plug the amp into your laptop and employ your best-loved transcription software to lay down some track .
