Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

G

Guitarjon

New member
Hey everyone,

I've been wanting to do this shootout for quite a while now so I'm super stoked to be sharing this with you guys. I'm a Marshall amp fan and I really love the 20 watt heads. That's why I have 4 of them. I have the following models:

-SV20H Studio Vintage 1959 SLP
-SC20H Studio Classic JCM 800
-2525H Silver Jubilee Studio (limited edition in split vinyl)
-DSL20HR

They each do their jobs very well and they are a joy to play through. The SV20H offers that classic Plexi sound and I really like how versatile the amp actually is with the jumper options etc. It took me a little while to nail how to work this amp because dialing in the EQ can be different from other amps, in my experience.

The SC20H has more bite and a bit more low-end than the SV20H. It really has that Marshall JCM800 bite and grind. With this one I like how you can dial in the thickness and body with the preamp gain and volume control of the guitar. Nice and sparkly overall.

The 2525H is perhaps a more versatile and differently voiced version of a JCM800. It certainly has more gain than the other 2 and the overall EQ character is unique. The dual channel option and pull rhythm clip add a LOT to the tonal versatility of the amp. I can recommend this one to anyone who wants something that 'does it all'.

The DSL20HR is more affordable than the other ones and it's also the amp with the most modern, saturated and 'fizzy' (not in a bad way) sound. It has less of that upper-mid push than the others and the amp has more gain and sag overall. I still think it sounds pretty great in the mix! Just different.

Anyway, here's the comparion. I would love to know your thoughts!

 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

I love my 2525H, but I may be biased by having had a 2555 for 16 years prior to that acquisition...

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

I love my DSL20HR. Haven't tried the other 3.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

I notice that you use G12M IRs throughout. This is, of course, the way to compare apples to apples as much as possible. However, the 800 was originally voiced around the G12-65, and the Jubilees were voiced around the Marshall G12 Vintage. Not that they sounded bad. They still sounded great. It would be interesting to see how they sounded through those, in addition. Of course G12M response is the legacy for a plexi, and in my opinion the DSL amps sound great through them as well.
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

Lake Placid Blues said:
I notice that you use G12M IRs throughout. This is, of course, the way to compare apples to apples as much as possible. However, the 800 was originally voiced around the G12-65, and the Jubilees were voiced around the Marshall G12 Vintage. Not that they sounded bad. They still sounded great. It would be interesting to see how they sounded through those, in addition. Of course G12M response is the legacy for a plexi, and in my opinion the DSL amps sound great through them as well.
Click to expand...

Were the 2203/2204 re-voiced around those speakers for the JCM800 series? AFAIK those speakers weren't yet available when the 2203/2204 mkII circuit was released in '77 (or maybe late '76). As much as those original amps varied, I couldn't say if the schematics changed that much over the years, or if it was just natural variance between amps.
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

I liked the DSL20HL best...

Slightly less refined than a couple of the others maybe, but more ballsy/in your face sounding.

Nice comparison :bigthumb:
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

Lake Placid Blues said:
I notice that you use G12M IRs throughout. This is, of course, the way to compare apples to apples as much as possible. However, the 800 was originally voiced around the G12-65, and the Jubilees were voiced around the Marshall G12 Vintage. Not that they sounded bad. They still sounded great. It would be interesting to see how they sounded through those, in addition. Of course G12M response is the legacy for a plexi, and in my opinion the DSL amps sound great through them as well.
Click to expand...

I just chose to stick with the same cabs for each part so that the comparison is more honest. I do prefer switching out speakers and cabs myself but for these comparisons it's not the most 'scientific' approach. I'm planning on doing more videos with these amps though so we'll see what happens... :)
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

dystrust said:
Were the 2203/2204 re-voiced around those speakers for the JCM800 series? AFAIK those speakers weren't yet available when the 2203/2204 mkII circuit was released in '77 (or maybe late '76). As much as those original amps varied, I couldn't say if the schematics changed that much over the years, or if it was just natural variance between amps.
Click to expand...

That's a good point. It might be better to look at it as the G12-65 may have been voiced to those amps which are usually very bright. But that may not be correct either, as there were about 40 different versions of the G12-65 used over four years. One thing, though, the 2203 and most G12-65s make a good match.
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

Tough call between the SV and the SC for me... the SV has that crunch, but I like the balls of the SC.

Now, push the MV of the SC up to 8 or so, that's where the real magic happens ;-)
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

Well good morning Vietnam! I like the dsl best on it's own. With the right boost maybe the 800 would win for me.
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

Great video! I liked the SC20H the best. It sounded simultaneously balanced, fat and clear. I was surprised how much I didn't like the SV20H. The other two were a bit of a toss up: the 2525H was a bit too biting, and the DSL20 was a bit scooped sounding with too much bass.

It's a shame the smaller DSLs don't have the classic crunch channel like the DSL40 and up. It's a great channel and I'm curious how it compares to the SC20H.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
 
Re: Marshall SV20H vs SC20H vs DSL20HR vs 2525H

Cynical said:
Tough call between the SV and the SC for me... the SV has that crunch, but I like the balls of the SC.

Now, push the MV of the SC up to 8 or so, that's where the real magic happens ;-)
Click to expand...

I'm not a huge fan of turning the master up too high with that amp tbh. Mainly because the wideness of the sound gets diminished a bit. Powertube compression and distortion is great but I prefer the sound of the amp when it's not too much. Personal preference of course! ;)

bigcupholder said:
Great video! I liked the SC20H the best. It sounded simultaneously balanced, fat and clear. I was surprised how much I didn't like the SV20H. The other two were a bit of a toss up: the 2525H was a bit too biting, and the DSL20 was a bit scooped sounding with too much bass.

It's a shame the smaller DSLs don't have the classic crunch channel like the DSL40 and up. It's a great channel and I'm curious how it compares to the SC20H.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

That classic gain mode is great indeed and I agree, it would have been great to have that on the DSL20...
 
By placing a 12DW7 in V1 of the DSL20 removes the fizz and is a different amp all together. Its a Hybrid tube designed with 12AX7 in the first half and a 12AU7 in the second half. Green channel stays the same. The second half of V1 is the first overdrive stage. It makes the gain control alot more useful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top