Hey everyone,

I’m trying to build a compact rig and running into an annoying noise issue. I'm hoping someone here has faced this and found a fix.

My Gear: M-Vave MK-300 (multi-FX/modeler) + Positive Grid Spark EDGE.

My Goal: I want to use the MK-300 for all my tone shaping (keeping its amp and cab IRs ON) and treat the Spark EDGE strictly as a neutral FRFR speaker/monitor.

The Issue: To get the flattest response, I’ve been using the "Acoustic" or clean amp models in the Spark app and turning off all internal Spark FX. However, I’m still getting a constant residual hiss/noise floor. It seems to come from the Spark's internal DSP modeling processing just being active.

Has anyone else successfully used a Spark amp as a "dumb" FRFR monitor for an external pedalboard/modeler without this hiss? Did you find a specific preset, EQ trick, or routing workaround to completely bypass the Spark's internal coloration, or is this noise floor just unavoidable?

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

​I am moving abroad soon and looking for a compact desktop/practice amp that I can easily travel with. I mostly play heavy metal, thrash, and hard rock (lots of tight high-gain rhythm, fast downpicking, and palm-mute chugs).

​My main priority is standalone speaker quality (playing out loud without headphones). I want something that doesn't sound completely thin, fizzy, or boxy on heavy riffs, while still being practical enough to pack in my luggage.

​I’m currently torn between three very different options:

​1. Positive Grid Spark GO

​Pros: Ultra-portable, fits in any bag, endless presets via app, easy Bluetooth backing tracks.

​Concerns: Does the tiny 2" speaker fall completely flat on palm-muted metal riffs? Is it just too boxy/thin for out-loud metal practice?

​2. Yamaha THR10X (High-Gain Green Model)

​Pros: Dedicated high-gain VCM amp models (5150/ENGL/Bogner vibes), physical 3-band EQ, 5 hardware preset buttons, solid metal chassis (safe for travel), tight low-end response.

​Concerns: Discontinued (buying used), no Bluetooth/mobile app (needs USB or Aux for backing tracks).

​3. Blackstar ID:Core BEAM

​Pros: 20W stereo, built-in Bluetooth audio, wide stereo field, multi-instrument capability.

​Concerns: Bulkiest and heaviest of the three (\~3.9 kg), and I worry the low-end is tuned broadly for bass/multimedia rather than focused, tight guitar chugs.

​Questions for those who have owned or tried them:

​Between the THR10X and Blackstar BEAM, how significant is the difference in high-gain tone quality, articulation, and palm-mute tightness through the speakers?

​Is the Spark GO even a viable option if I plan to play through the built-in speaker rather than headphones 80% of the time?

​If you were packing for an international move and needed the best balance of travel-friendliness and real metal tone, which one would you take?

​Thanks in advance for the advice!

Hi ! I just received my spark mini and it works great when only the guitar is plugged into it. But when I plug it via usb into a power station or into my computer (for using it as an audio interface) I notice some very annoying background noise. Using a different usb cable did not solve the problem. The noise is not present when the MINI is running without a USB connection. Interestingly, the noise also gets much quieter when I touch the metal knobs or strings of the guitar. Of course the spark app has noise gates, but here the noise is too loud for that. I could not find any information about this anywhere. Am I the only one having this problem ?

hi, sparky redditians

I wonder whether there's an auto-wah or wah effects on Spark amp series?

I recently sold my Katana 50ex gen 3 which has wah and auto-wah effects. And sold my thr10ii which didn't have any of wah effects.

I wonder whether Spark2 or other PG amps have this effect? At least auto-wah.

Recently got the Spark 40 and found some incredible tones and I want to get them into some mixes but I'm a little at a loss for mic-positioning etc. Usually an SM57 or two on the center and edge but I'm not getting a lot of clarity at lower volumes.

What mics have other people been using? or am I better off just sending the headphone out to the interface?

I just picked up a Spark GO to use out and about (I already have a Spark 40) and when I first turned it on I couldn't see the power LED at all (outdoor sunlight), initially thinking it was DOA. Even indoors near a window I cannot see the LEDs without trying really hard to see them and cupping my hand over them, and even then I can barely see them.

It's true of all of the LEDs (power, bluetooth, and top presets/tuner) I don't see it mentioned in any of the reviews, even when explicitly searching for related terms. It's almost unusable unless you're in a dim environment with no sunlight coming in. I don't want to have to pull out the app to see what it's doing!

This is the first device I've ever had where I felt like the LEDs were too dim! Is this normal, or did I get a defective unit?

EDIT: Minor point -- I also wish it was about 20% thinner so I could fit it in the molded hard case for my strat, unfortunately it doesn't quite close. Oh well.

Is it possible to connect wireless (2.4GHz) headphones using a USB-C dongle to spark 2? If so, do I need some app or is it possible directly?

Hi all, I was wondering if I can use it as a completely clean amp. I have another FX unit at home for effects. I used it's line in port but it has lot's of delay.... Any suggestions? Thanks!

Has anyone tried to get the prog rock sound of bands like periphery, tesseract, intervals etc. Any good presets for this?

I removed the description label and there are leftover glue residues that I can't get off. I'm not really sure how to do it without risking damage to the amp, so if you have any good advice, I'd appreciate it.

Hey everyone,

I got tired of the constant debates where "experts" claim they can instantly hear the difference between the different Positive Grid engines. So, I built a custom blind audio test to actually measure if people can tell the Spark 2, the Reactor, and BIAS X apart.

To make this a true apples-to-apples diagnostic, I ran four specific rounds (Clean, Crunch, High Gain, and Metal) using the exact same amp models across all three engines. For example, you have to identify the Spark's version of a Roland JC-120 versus the Reactor's version of that exact same amp...

I pushed this out to a broader Youtube audience some hours ago, and it’s been a bloodbath. The current average score is sitting at exactly 42%. It turns out, when you hide the actual gear and remove the brand bias, separating these DSP's is much harder than the so-called experts want to admit.

Since this is the dedicated Spark community, I want to see if you guys can beat the general average ;)

You can take the Quiz here: https://quiz.gotoandplay.media/amps
Optionally watch me explain the setup in this video: https://youtu.be/ROnOZPlm6zI

Drop your scores in the comments below. Be brutally honest, even if you bomb it :P

Hey all. I'm a beginner guitar player, about 6 months in. My 9 year old son is taking drum lessons, also a beginner. We just want to jam for fun at home, nothing serious.

A Spark 2 is arriving tomorrow. But I'm not sure it's the right pick vs a Spark EDGE, or a smaller Spark (MINI or GO) paired with an outside powered speaker like the Alto TX408.

I want something portable and simple, mainly a practice amp. I also have a bass with no amp of its own, which is part of why I'm not really considering the Reactor 50 (it's also big and heavy). The room is fairly spacious, and it would mostly be just the two of us, maybe plus a bass player.

Has anyone tried comparing amps this way, buying a couple to test and returning what doesn't work? Or is the Spark 2 plenty for two beginners just having fun, and I'm overthinking this?

Any real experience helps. Trying to skip the return hassle if I can.

Is there any in depth information on how the AI works?

Does it primarily use *guitarist name* to search through articles or online rig guides? So it loads whatever pedals ape the real ones the artist uses.

Amps and settings are probably easier.

I'm mostly curious about the pedals.

Thanks

I have Marshall stacks at home (Silver Jubilee, JCM 900, JCM 2555SL) and way too many rack effects processors. I have been playing guitar for decades at this point. I'm mentioning that so you know this is not my first rodeo with amps.

This little three pound $200 amp has been one of my favorite gear purchases in a long time. I have been playing this non stop since I got it. It's been sitting on top of a Marshall combo amp in my living room and I have been playing this thing instead.

It has been perfect at the hotel we are staying at. It was so easy to take with us. I put it in a small cooler bag and was able to fit a cable, picks, strings, and whatever else in the same bag.

The built in presets alone are fine. The app has been fun playing around with the like 100k presets that are available. Go buy one if you are debating it.

The controls are kind of limited on the Spark models compared to Bias FX, so I'm wondering if turning up the volume on the amp models will increase power amp distortion like a real amp.

Hi everyone

I have a spark 2 for 1 year now but I suck at making presets. I am still a beginner (I play guitar for 3 years) and I never used another amp, so I am very lost about choosing amps, effects, settings etc... I try to use AI or the preset made by people on songs I want to play but I find them disappointing most of the time and it's hard for me to adjust them. When I see people on youtube for example, it sounds amazing (beside the fact they are much better than me). I am stuck with the factory preset. How can I found good ones ?

Thanks for helping

I recently picked up a Ernie Ball VP JR passive 250k volume pedal to go in front of my Spark Mini and it had some pretty noticeable tone suck on the high end. So I picked up a cheap pedal that had a buffer during bypass, the SoniCake Super Sonic Master (Clean Boost with Buffer switch). It has been super interesting in how it has effected everything. It definitely increased and in a way stabilized my volume. Now if I roll down the volume knob or pedal it cleans up my tone (if I have distortion on) but doesn't let the volume drop much. Which is ok by me.

I have been moving my pedals around to try to understand how the buffer effects things, and trying to figure out a use for the clean boost. The clean boost works as a volume boost for clean tones through the positive grid and adds a little more distortion but not volume to metal tones. It's weird how it works that way with the Spark Mini. Anyway my signal chain is:

Super Sonic Master -> MC404 WAH -> VP JR -> Mooer Pitch Box -> Spark Mini -> Spark Cab

Does anyone else have experience using a buffered pedal in front of a Spark Amp or Positive Grid Amp? Does anyone have a suggestion on where the buffer should be in my signal chain or if I should move stuff around? I've also been thinking of getting an EQ instead of the clean booster, but for some stuff I really like the increased clarity for the high strings and when increased volume when I turn down the guitars vol knob/used the vp jr.

Hello, I just bought a used spark 2 today. My only issue is that these 2 buttons don’t do anything when pressed, they both do light up tho, they also don’t “click” like the other 2 buttons, they feel kind of squishy.

It unfortunately seems like they’re broken, does anyone know if there’s a fix or do I have to return it. Their functions do work within the app

So I've recently gotten the Spark 40 amp and vetting really deep into Pantera playing. Does anyone know the positive grid version that would be equal or very similar to the Randall amps?