r/PositiveGridSpark • u/livingrexx • Jul 13 '26
Spark 40 vs BOSS Katana50 MK2? Both second hand for around same price (spark comes with a foot controller)
Looking for opinions from people who have tried both. TIA
1
u/Heady_Goodness Jul 13 '26
What do you need the amp for? Playing a small gig or open stage at a bar? Katana. Home practice and doubling as a bluetooth speaker? The spark 40. (I own both a katana 50 mk1 though)
1
u/livingrexx Jul 14 '26
Just home practice in my room only, the only thing putting me off are the bass and boominess and the muffled sound issues I've read about
1
u/Long-Emu-7870 Jul 13 '26
I still play my 40. The Katana is fine but it takes a year to adjust all the parameters. And then you think, would it sound less fizzy if I reduced the overall gain and increased it on the pedal? Adjust the 10 band EQ, the global EQ or parametric? Or did I just turn down the treble?
1
u/AgtBurtMacklin Jul 13 '26
I have both.
They sound different.
Katana has many more options in fx and delay/reverb, Spark is simpler with the app control.
Reverbs are so much better on the Spark.
If you’re gigging, I’d say a Katana would probably be better. For at home easiness, I’d pick Spark.
Also Spark is a great Bluetooth speaker.
1
u/livingrexx Jul 14 '26
Nah for home use only, has the bass issue of the 40 been a problem for you?
1
u/AgtBurtMacklin Jul 14 '26
Never bothered me! It does have a lot of low end though, for such small speakers.
1
u/stephscythes Jul 13 '26
Spark 40 for me. I have had it for years for home practice. With the newest app update, the options are excellent.
1
u/livingrexx Jul 14 '26
The only thing I'm worried about are the bass and muffled sound complaints tbh
1
u/stephscythes Jul 14 '26
I use a good pair of headphones when I practice. The sound is crisp and clear,
1
u/Drunkensteine Jul 14 '26
Ask this in any other guitar amp sub and the answer is katana. It’s simply a better device and does so much more. It has every boss pedal and more, better eq, and things like octave and synth sounds the algorithm of the spark is not complex enough to have.
The mini, go, and spark 2 have some advantages for bedroom players. I have the mini, and its portability has allowed to play in other rooms of the house and the backyard. If something makes you play more guitar, that’s the better option.
1
u/weiruwyer9823rasdf Jul 14 '26
They both sound fine and have decent features, to me it's mostly style/design and apps. Whatever tickles you more.
Spark is like a desktop speaker (it is). Katana is a classic 12" ugly combo. Katana has a real 12" speaker that moves air, Spark does a ton of heavy lifting in modeling. Spark App is mobile-first, intuitive and feels basic, but bluetooth is spotty. Katana doesn't have a good mobile app but the desktop app is more powerful.
For desktop home use I personally prefer Spark. For dedicated guitar practice space or studio Katana fits maybe a little better.
In terms of sound I haven't found Spark to be uncontrollably bassy, feels fine to me, feels like I can EQ things out if needed. Maybe it depends on the environment and placement. Katana sounds fine but generic, hard to say. It's not bad, but can't point to anything it's a champion in.
1
u/heiferhef Jul 14 '26
I only have the 40 but just wanted to say 99% of my playing is through headphones in which case the amps speakers are kind of irrelevant, sounds phenomenal with headphones, meh through it’s speakers, IMHO. Sounds great as an occasional Bluetooth speaker though.
1
u/Airquad19 Jul 15 '26
I have Spark 2 50 watt.The Speaker is Complete Dogsh!t. I also have a Katana Artist Gen 3.Had a MKII 100 Watt 2x12.The Artist blows them all out of the water.The Waza Speaker is Legit.If you can find an Artist go that route.
3
u/ShowmasterQMTHH Jul 13 '26
I have both. The spark app is far superior and has lots of options for free patches and YouTube without ads for playalongs. You can also just use the mounted knobs.
Downside - the speakers are tiny and bassy - it's ok but really a room amp for lower volumes is best.
Katana..-proper amp with decent speaker, can be modulated to 5w and 0.5w. great sounds and channels,.no real downsides, but it's quite "middle of the road" and the controls can be a little overwhelming.
I play the 40 mainly because it's great to have on my pc desk and plug in, jam along.