PRS MT15 head review

Mikelamury

New member
Just got this PRS MT15 head in for a practice amp. Man is this thing LOUD!!! On half power mode it's about the same as my DSL40 on the 20 watt setting. This amp is awesome! I sent 2 other amps back in my search for a new amp and I'm very glad I tried this one. I first tried a Marshall MG50 which didn't have enough gain for me, it was there but it was more like overdrive than distortion. Next I tried a orange crush pro 60 and the gain on that was too fuzzy and the gain knob went straight from overdrive to fuzzy distortion with no ground in between. So that went back. I just wanted an amp with a good voice and good onboard distortion and something not so loud. I got 2 out of the 3! It's loud! I have a pedal board but I don't always use it and I want to be able to use the amp gain if I want to, I didn't just want a pedal platform.but as far as operation; it can get very heavy on the distortion, death metal territory when cranked but very articulate at the same time. It responds very well to my playing, the mids don't get too mushy if you turn them up and clean up very nicely without leaving the signal shrill when rolled back. The bass frequencies can get very deep and this amp excells in the lower frequencies in my opinion. And it has a separate 3 band EQ for the clean channel! It also has a global presence control, no resonance. The clean channel is quite a bit quieter than the lead channel which requires some levelling but each channel has it's own volume and EQ. The clean channel has a pull out overdrive on the treble pot which adds a subtle amount of grit to the clean channel. The clean channel sounds very good for an amp that rocks so much. It can get very bright but the middle control on the clean channel was very useful for me in combination with the treble.
This is my new favorite amp. I would definitely recommend it. It is very loud though. It has 8 tubes in a 15 watt amp! Solid state rectifier but tube driven effects loop. Can turn down to half power and has bias jacks on the back of the amp. Came with a one button footswitch and a padded case for the amp. Very good deal, I don't think you can get more amp for your money anywhere else but here. When the footswitch is plugged in the switch on the amp will not work but when you unplug the footswitch it changes the channel and the LED's change from red on the lead channel to blue on the clean channel. It doesn't have a actual 'master' volume but the lead volume is labeled as master but each channel does have its own volume. I think that's about it. I haven't plugged any pedals in yet just enjoying the voice of the amp for now.
 
"Next I tried a orange crush pro 60 and the gain on that was too fuzzy and the gain knob went straight from overdrive to fuzzy distortion with no ground in between."

I've got the same amp. Over the next couple of weeks, I began to realize that the original voice of the world speaker really is awful. I now have a V30 in mine, and the speaker has completely opened up the amp and improved the sound.
 
"Next I tried a orange crush pro 60 and the gain on that was too fuzzy and the gain knob went straight from overdrive to fuzzy distortion with no ground in between."

I've got the same amp. Over the next couple of weeks, I began to realize that the original voice of the world speaker really is awful. I now have a V30 in mine, and the speaker has completely opened up the amp and improved the sound.

Maybe I should have tried changing speakers but I didn't want to put more money in a brand new amp. But I'm glad you are enjoying it. I did like the 3 reverb options on the orange.
 
The Super Crush 100 head might have sounded great into your V30 cab(?), I haven't tried one but hear great things about them.

If your DSL40 combo is your "main" amp, your new practice amp may be as loud or louder! I haven't played an MT15, but I hear they are very loud for 15W, not exaclty a bedroom amp.
 
EL 84's?
And it just goes to show that voicing is as important as wattage.

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The Super Crush 100 head might have sounded great into your V30 cab(?), I haven't tried one but hear great things about them.

If your DSL40 combo is your "main" amp, your new practice amp may be as loud or louder! I haven't played an MT15, but I hear they are very loud for 15W, not exaclty a bedroom amp.

Your right, this is just about as loud as my DSL40 especially since it's going into a 2x12! The head actually came with 5881 version of 6L6 tubes and they sound great. I can't believe how loud it is for a 15 watt amp!
 
They came with 5881 tubes which is an evolved 6L6
My Spidervalve came with 4 5881's. They are clear and can get very loud and clear. Good power section to handle digital input. Though in truth, the digital signal hits a 12ax7 preamp tube first.

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Your right, this is just about as loud as my DSL40 especially since it's going into a 2x12! The head actually came with 5881 version of 6L6 tubes and they sound great. I can't believe how loud it is for a 15 watt amp!

The MT 15 is NOT a 15 watt amp it's right at 30 and the way they are voiced they will spank many 50 watters. I should know. as have a MT 15 and while I have owned it also have or had several 50 watt amps.
 
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The MT 15 is NOT a 15 watt amp it's right at 30 and the way they are voiced they will spank many 50 watters. I should know. as have a MT 15 and while I have owned it also have or had several 50 watt amps.

I agree it is a very loud amp. I don't know why it is marketed as a 15 watt amp.
 
Yeah, the product page here shows it being switchable between 15 and 7 watts. I don't think people realize the amount of volume these lunchbox heads are capable of producing.
 
im sure its a 15w amp. it was actually 30w, they would market it that way. 15w can be LOUD though. a cranked ac15 thru a blue is a great example
I have a 5w and 100(+)w heads. I have always wanted a 15w to 20w tube head for that middle spot.
Now I'm gassing for one of these PRS's.
Great.

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im sure its a 15w amp. it was actually 30w, they would market it that way. 15w can be LOUD though. a cranked ac15 thru a blue is a great example

According to Doug Sewell who designed the MT 15 they are actually around 28 watts not 15. Why they call it a 15 watt amp I have no idea. They run a pair of 6l6's so--.
 
ive seen that video, its still a 15w amp. it does have big iron and 6l6, but that doesnt make it a 30w amp. i had a 50w marshall that put out way more than 50w when pinned, but its still rated a 50w amp
 
ive seen that video, its still a 15w amp. it does have big iron and 6l6, but that doesnt make it a 30w amp. i had a 50w marshall that put out way more than 50w when pinned, but its still rated a 50w amp

A number of folks have put them on the bench and actually measured the RMS not peak output. Came in from 26 to 30 watts every time. They are more than 15 watts but PRS marketed them as 15 so--? Own 2 20 and 25 watt rated EL 84 amps ( 20 Watt boogie Subway Rocket 25 watt Zinky Blue Velvet) plus had a Boogie F 30. The MT 15 has a lot more clean headroom and much more punch on the same cab than all 3. Would hang with my Boogie DC 5.
 
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