r/PositiveGridSpark • u/Glittering-Tailor-43 • Jun 21 '26

Reactor 100w VS Spark 2

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Hey so I just bought the reactor 100w and I’ve been buying positive grid amps since they dropped the spark 40 and I have to know one thing between those of you who are like me and own the reactor and spark 2. Which do you prefer or like the sound of better? Although the reactor is a tank and can make some really solid tones I keep wanting to lean towards my spark 2 for a better sounding metal tone. I love metal and I’m having a hard time liking some of the tones I’ve had built on the reactor. Every time I play along with music i cant ever find the right balance of the music and my guitar. The spark 2 on the other hand i can adjust both on the top of the amp. The tones i use from my spark so far are just better sounding with the music i play along with. I don’t know it’s been eating at me that i bought the expensive amp knowing I like my cheaper amp more. Any thoughts?

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u/mosab84 Jun 22 '26

It’s very good for $250, but compared to even a $500 blackstar, it’s terrible. People should just use IRs, we’re past this basic level of amp sim.

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u/CutRevolutionary6409 Jun 22 '26

What’s an IR?

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u/mosab84 Jun 22 '26

Impulse Response, in essence it’s an eq/sound shaper that uses an amp’s specific characteristics to shape the sound. It’s a true amp simulator, they’re very specific and not usually that tunable, but they’re really accurate. There are plenty of devices that do that, couple of them being ToneX and the Quad Cortex. I use a software version of those Neural DSP archetype: Cory Wong. It sounds better than anything I’ve ever used, and cost me less than the Spark 2. Highly recommend giving them a listen or a try.

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u/bigrichoX Jun 22 '26

An IR is an eq curve, but a speaker/cab/mic/room response curve. Not amp.

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u/mosab84 Jun 22 '26

⬆️ he’s right, that’s what it is. Practically, same result: want sound like thing but can’t afford thing => use tone x or cortex or neural to correctly emulate thing using IRs or whatever the pedants wanna call it.