At a Look
Value: $499 (Pre-order value)
Output: 150W
Audio system: 2x 6.5-inch
Results: 40+
Pre-order at Constructive Grid
It has been practically 5 years for the reason that Spark 40 was launched, so taken at face worth we wouldn’t blame you for considering the Constructive Grid Spark Stay is only a greater, louder model of their preeminent desktop amp. The aesthetic is analogous, and as a guitar amp, it does all the pieces the opposite Spark amps do, simply at a a lot louder quantity. That’d be promoting the Spark Stay nicely wanting its capabilities although, because it goes far past being a software just for guitarists.
The bigger dimension means extra inputs, deeper performance, and most significantly, sufficient energy to make it usable in a dwell situation. The press supplies declare that it could possibly deal with nearly all of duties in a band setup. That would imply vocals and keys, an acoustic duo with vocals, or only a singer-songwriter-type setup for busking.
PG despatched us a prototype of the Spark Stay so we might become familiar with it earlier than launch, giving us loads of time to check it to its limits at dwelling, and in a full-band situation. So how does it maintain up in opposition to a full drum package? Is it an important guitar amp? And does it lower the mustard as a Bluetooth speaker? Learn on to seek out out.
Constructive Grid Spark Stay evaluate: Options & Seems to be
After I unboxed the Spark Stay my first impression was how heavy it was. It’s no tube amp in fact nevertheless it’s hefty and sturdily constructed. Reminding me of a really handsome PA speaker the aesthetic is in step with the remainder of the Spark amp lineup, with the gold and black grille, gold trim, and crimson PG emblem on the entrance. It definitely matches in with the opposite amps within the vary, a lot in order that I needed to get a household picture of my Spark amps collectively which you’ll see above.
Getting right down to the small print, it has 4 inputs, three of that are ¼” jacks and one XLR. On the entrance panel, you’ve obtained customary fare if you happen to’re used to Spark amp controls, with an enter, preset knob, plus controls for achieve, bass, mid, treble, and extra controls for balancing the quantity of guitar with whichever Bluetooth supply you’ve obtained linked.
On the reverse aspect, issues look much more like a PA speaker, with channel 2 that includes an XLR enter with devoted preset and quantity knobs. The grasp controls are right here too, with low, mid, excessive, and quantity controls for tweaking the sound as an entire. Channels 3 and 4 function a single quantity management knob and can be utilized as a stereo enter too. There’s a kickstand for tilting the amp so it faces you whenever you’re taking part in, in addition to an extra deal with for carrying it vertically, and a battery compartment for operating the rechargeable battery (bought individually), providing you with the choice to run the amp wirelessly.
The Spark Stay is intelligent sufficient to function on two planes in a different way, so when positioned vertically like a PA speaker, an inside G-sensor will default it to sending you a mono sign. Place it horizontally like a conventional amp, and also you’ll get stereo efficiency. Below the grill, two 6.5-inch audio system with devoted 1-inch tweeters and two reflex ports mix to offer your tones the utmost readability, whether or not that’s guitar, vocals, bass, keys, or as we’ll discover out, even digital drum kits.
Constructive Grid Spark Stay evaluate: Efficiency
Plugging the Spark Stay in and laying it out in horizontal mode, I begin with the factor I do know greatest in my trusty Telecaster and deciding on a clear guitar amp through the Spark app. It sounds huge, with the audio system delivering an open and even response with chords and licks alike. The element is wonderful in contrast with the smaller amp fashions and as soon as the overzealous gate pedal is faraway from the chain, the dynamic vary is just improbable.
The modelled guitar amps can be acquainted to anybody who’s used a Spark amp earlier than masking the gamut of pristine clear proper by to heavy achieve. Having 150 watts of energy on faucet completely transforms these tones although, providing you with that correct amp expertise such as you’ve by no means heard earlier than. Considered purely as a guitar amp, the Spark Stay is improbable. However wait, there’s extra!
Subsequent up I plugged my Jaguar bass into it to see the way it handles the lows, and boy can this factor rumble. The low-end is girthy with loads of sub-depth exercise, actually unimaginable contemplating the scale. Whereas to my ear it has a barely indifferent feeling – presumably as a result of numerous enhancements happening inside – your common listener is just not more likely to hear something aside from actually well-defined bass tones.
It doesn’t cease there although, this time it was my Roland digital drum package getting plugged into channels 3 and 4 to see how the Spark Stay dealt with some percussion. As soon as once more the low finish was correctly thumping, giving a pleasant really feel for the kick drum. The snare was snappy and articulate, and the cymbals had loads of shine to them. The concept that you can jam guitar, bass, vocals, and e-drums all by one amp is type of wonderful. Whilst you most likely wouldn’t need to use it this manner dwell, I might see it being a helpful answer for working towards as a gaggle whenever you don’t have a rehearsal area obtainable.
With my dwelling testing finished, subsequent it was off to the rehearsal area to see the way it faired going in opposition to ‘correct’ devices. Bypassing my alt-metal band’s drained outdated PA system I opted to make use of the Spark Stay as a stand-in PA for vocals. On the ground with the kickstand engaged, it struggled to match the ability of a full drum package, 4×12 bass cab, and cranked tube amp. Even with it cranked to feedback-inducing ranges it simply didn’t fairly lower throughout the raucous noise we generate. Positioned on a PA speaker stand utilizing the built-in mount it fared significantly better nonetheless, offering a clearer sound for the vocals to chop by our dense combine.
Having vocal-specific results so as to add into the combo is a pleasant contact too, though altering them on the fly is a bit of clunky with simply the app. There’s a preset button that allows you to retailer eight presets every on channels 1 and a pair of, which is tremendous helpful if you happen to don’t need to have to select up your smartphone consistently.
The combo view within the app is a brand new function, which lets you individually management every enter. You may change whether or not the enter is receiving a Hello-Z or a line-level sign, in addition to management the volumes of every channel independently, and that of any streamed music. For the primary time, the Spark app additionally options vocal-specific presets, which embody a mic pre, compressors, plus all the same old delay and reverbs. You may even add achieve pedals to the chain in order for you a grittier sound.
For the ultimate take a look at, I opted to play some music by Spark Stay to see the way it handles a number of sub-depth bass and extra advanced preparations. I begin with my favourite bass tester monitor, Lil Wayne’s ‘A Milli’ and the bass response is astonishingly good. I can really feel the ground shifting at increased ranges, nevertheless it all the time sounds high-definition and by no means flabby. Subsequent up is Radiohead’s ‘Paranoid Android’, which provides glorious perception into multi-part preparations. You may hear all the pieces clearly, with all of the multi-layers of guitars, percussion, and organs simply discernible.
Constructive Grid Spark Stay evaluate: Verdict
If you would like an amplifier that may play a number of roles, the Spark Stay is a improbable alternative. It’s obtained loads of energy for guitarists, bassists, and keys gamers to make use of dwell, and even works as a fantastic-sounding digital drum monitor. For smaller teams, it could possibly additionally maintain its personal for acoustic duos, and busking solo musicians, in addition to working nice as a apply answer for full bands at decrease volumes. A very versatile little bit of package that additionally makes a tremendous Bluetooth speaker.
Constructive Grid Spark Stay evaluate: Specs
- PRICE: $499
- TYPE: 4-channel good amp and PA system
- OUTPUT: 150 watts
- SPEAKERS: 2x 6-inch FRFR
- CONTROLS: Entrance panel: preset, achieve, bass, mid, treble, guitar, music. Rear panel: Grasp: Low, mid, excessive, quantity. Channel 2: Preset, quantity. Channel ¾: quantity
- ONBOARD EFFECTS: Sure
- SOCKETS: 3x ¼” in, 1x XLR in, MIDI In, MIDI Out, 2x ¼” out
- WEIGHT: 12 kg (26.45 lb)
- BUY AT: Constructive Grid
