New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

[Mkf411]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

I'm not sure about the cabinet quality on the new 15 & 30 watt Valvetronix.

The original cabinets on the 60 and 120 watt Valvetronix are open back particle board which is heavy and not that great. They also have resonance problems (rattling) that can be solved by putting tape over the line out jack.

The VTX versions of the Valvetronix (combos and cabs) are closed back baltic birch plywood. They also have a different speaker. I think they're call Neodogs. They're supposed to be better.

I'm pretty sure the Tonelab has a digital out for recording, which the AD-60 head doesn't. The floor model Tonelab SE also doesn't have the digital out. Otherwise they're pretty much the same featurewise, but the head can drive a cabinet.

I thought of something to try to overcome the poor quality of my AD-60's combo's speaker and particle board cabinet. I'm going to try putting head-phones into the headphone jack to shut off the internal speaker on my AD-60 combo and then run the speaker out to my Avatar cabinet. That should make it the same as an AD-60 head. Rock On!!! :saeek:

 

[Mkf411]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

Well, it didn't work. When you plug in headphones it kills the internal speaker and the speaker out too.

This weekend I tried out the 15 watt Valvtronix and that thing kicks A$$. You can really get the speaker moving on that little thing. I had the master about 1/2 way up and I could feel the speaker blowing air on my leg. Thump, thump, thump. I think it's way better than the original Ad-60 1x12 combo for at home playing/practice amp. Everything about it sounded better. The new 15, 30 and 50 watt Valvetronix are 24 bit. Whatever the heck that means, it must make a difference. I think I'm going to buy either the 15 or 30 watt one and either moth-ball the 60 watter or sell it. I just can't get the 12 inch speaker on that one moving at home volume.

 

[Wattage]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

Sorry about the 60 watter but I wasn't lying about the little 15 huh?

I totally love this little amp, a total sleeper.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

For all you guys that love super highgain, the Vox Valvetronix head into a 2-12 or 4-12 cab will give you every shade of gain you desire. One reason why the Marshall models on almost every modeling amp sounds like harsh crap is because those models were meant to have NO more gain than the actual original tube amp. The Marshalls always sound best with the volume high and the gain low, and dial the OD models to kick it up a notch. For highgain, the Mesa Rec and boutique highgain models are always great on the Vox. The OD models put before the amp models gives you ultimate control over the nuances of the gain. Out of all the clean tones, I like the 4-10 Bassman, Blackface, and all the Vox models the best. If you turn the volume almost all the way up and keep the gain dialed fairly low, you can get some pretty convincing clean tones out of it.

I gotta say though, the Vox heads are where it's at. I haven't tried that 15 watter that Wattage bought, but I love using the Vox head with some of my good cabs.
It really levels the playing field vs. tube amps, when using the same cabs you use with your tube amps. The only thing I'd change on my AD60 head, if I could, would be to make the recording out a dual stereo version like the AD120 head. It has 1/4 inch analog recording outs. The cabinet modeling and digital outs would be a nice addition to the head......then it would have the same features as the tonelab. I'd also ditch a few of the stombox models in favor of about 4 more OD models. Spring reverb would be a godsend on that amp.

 

[Mike M.]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

I tried out one of the new 50 watt versions this past weekend. I'll tell ya, for what it is it was'nt bad at all. I liked all of the Vox models but my favorite had to be the Tweed 4x10 model. I've never played thru the real deal but I really liked it a lot. My other favorite was the UK '70's model. Again, for what it was it was'nt bad. The 12" speaker really gave a nice overall depth to thing's. IMHO for playing around the house and for a bit of jamming with your bud's I think you could'nt go wrong with one of these. Just might get one myself.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

Sorry about the 60 watter but I wasn't lying about the little 15 huh?

I totally love this little amp, a total sleeper.

I probably wouldn't have really looked at it if you hadn't mentioned it. Just becuase I have the 60 watt one. But for home use I think it's way better. I'm not sure if that's becuase of the speaker getting such a good workout or the closed cab or the 24 bit. But at that price, I think I'll just buy one based on how good it sounded.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

For all you guys that love super highgain, the Vox Valvetronix head into a 2-12 or 4-12 cab will give you every shade of gain you desire. One reason why the Marshall models on almost every modeling amp sounds like harsh crap is because those models were meant to have NO more gain than the actual original tube amp. The Marshalls always sound best with the volume high and the gain low, and dial the OD models to kick it up a notch. For highgain, the Mesa Rec and boutique highgain models are always great on the Vox. The OD models put before the amp models gives you ultimate control over the nuances of the gain. Out of all the clean tones, I like the 4-10 Bassman, Blackface, and all the Vox models the best. If you turn the volume almost all the way up and keep the gain dialed fairly low, you can get some pretty convincing clean tones out of it.

I gotta say though, the Vox heads are where it's at. I haven't tried that 15 watter that Wattage bought, but I love using the Vox head with some of my good cabs.
It really levels the playing field vs. tube amps, when using the same cabs you use with your tube amps. The only thing I'd change on my AD60 head, if I could, would be to make the recording out a dual stereo version like the AD120 head. It has 1/4 inch analog recording outs. The cabinet modeling and digital outs would be a nice addition to the head......then it would have the same features as the tonelab. I'd also ditch a few of the stombox models in favor of about 4 more OD models. Spring reverb would be a godsend on that amp.

If I see the head for a cheap price I'd probably pick it up. But then wouldn't I be back to trying to push two 12 inch speakers at low home volume. I think the 8 inch speaker in the 15 watt Valvetronix moves easier.

Low power for lower home volume is cool, but isn't the speaker moving part of the ROCK equation? I have a cabinet with a Celestion Vintage 30 and one Celestion G12H30 70th Year Anniversary Special. Will the one watt setting or even the 15 watt setting on the Valvetronix head get them moving with the master volume at 12 oclock. I can't go much higher than that at home. The little 15 watt Valvetronix gets it's 8 inch speak pushing air with the volume at 12 o'clock.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

Anyone compared the vox practice amps to the new roland cubes? -I've been thinking about getting one or the other for home use...

 

[Wattage]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

I was looking for a cube to try one but no one had one on the floor to try. Once I played the little Vox the search was over anyway, I wasn't looking anymore.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

Anyone compared the vox practice amps to the new roland cubes? -I've been thinking about getting one or the other for home use...

I recommend comparing for yourself because I have heard good things about the cube. I played the cube about 6 months ago and wasn't impressed. It was harsh and solid state gain IMO. That may have been because the guitar I was playing, a fender MIM was probably hanging on the wall for years without a string change. I played the 15 watt Valvetronix through a nice PRS McCarty ($2K) but the high strings were black so they weren't fresh strings, either. The Valvetronix sounded way good, though. I think it has a better layout than the Cube and more features too. The metal grill on the vox is a bit funky, but you get used to it. Try to bring your own guitar and try them both out. I think Sam Ash stocks both of them. Try em side by side if you can. Also the 30 watt Vox is $249 and come with a built in wattage selector. I'm going to try that one out before I decide which to buy, the 15 or 30 watt valvetronix.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New amp - Vox Valvetronix AD15VT

I'm sure that pushing a 8 or 10 inch speaker at bedroom levels would give you more of a cranked sound, which is why that 15 watter sounds as good as it does.
I have a little boutique Blues Pearl 2-10 cab, which I haven't even thought of trying.
I think I will, now that you mentioned it. It has two 10" Jensens.
I'm convinced that you really haven't heard a good modeling amp till you've heard it with edequate speakers. It makes me wonder what a Vetta or AD120 would sound like, plugged into a highend cab loaded with flat clean speakers like EV's?