Best Busking Gear: 7 Best Battery-Powered Amps & Portable PA 

For the sake of anyone who actually plans to play out in public with these units(!), here are a few caveats about the amps in this video. I'm telling you this as a semi-retired busker of some 20 years, on the streets and subway-platforms of NYC and Boston, USA, from the early 1980s on. The most important thing to realize is that not all 'battery-powered amps' will actually project on a noisy street or train platform; perhaps the most ~honest~ thing the reviewer said was that they're "perfect for a hotel room, or at home". Amps such as the Vox and Blackstar will NOT project sufficiently for a street (*maybe* OK for a quiet pedestrian mall or somesuch) or subway platform. As someone who started using an original Mouse Amp (1 ch./18 or 22w or so), and finished my busking days with a Carvin S400D (batt. powered 4ch. 100w PA w/ effects), I can also tell you that this video took pains to keep the guitar and vocal inputs SEPARATE. Unless you're buying 2 amps (one each for your instrument and your vocals), you will NOT get the signal-clarity you heard in this demo. An amp you busk with will make its speaker(s) replicate inst. ~and~ vocals at once, lessening each's fidelity. He all but ~told~ you that he's not going to let you hear those amps' 'busking reality' in the demo(!), and made a point of separating the mic to a separate source. The fact is, you will need a passive mixer with a 1-ch. street-amp to accommodate the separate levels for your instrument and mic~~~no getting around it (DOD passive 4 into 1, $30 or so). It's evident that these are not actually the '7 ~best~ busking amps' at ALL; they're the '7 that his store is selling these days', regardless of their actual usefulness on a noisy street or subway platform.... The only ones of these that have the power/clarity needed to play on a busy street or noisy subway platform are the 2 Roland Cube units, the Yamaha, and the Alto Transport 12. I'd have to hear the first one (Samson) live to know if it would keep up with ambient street/subway noise.... If you play (for example) guitar and plan to sing mic'ed, you'd better get the most powerful one you can, even if it has no 'FX section' or real tone-stack...power is WAY more important. If you need a little reverb et al on your guitar (you do, btw!), you'll need a Zoom/BOSS/etc. multi-fx floor-unit, that will go hours+ on 4 AA alkalines, and/or a batt-powered reverb for your mic. Of the units he demo-ed, I'd hit the subway platform with either the Alto (and a multiFX), or 2 of the bigger Rolands; one each for guitar and for mic. The main thing is: if you are forced to send 2 signals through the same speakers/horn, you need ~headroom~ to pull it off with clarity. Rely on your busking-amp for power, and a multiFX for your guitar drive and mod tones...and separate their levels with a separate passive mixer ~before~ they go in the same amp-channel (if your amp isn't 2ch or more). Ultimately, you'll do lots better busking if you can be HEARD at, say, 10% THD, than if you have ~killer~ tone but nobody else can hear you over the trucks, car-horns, sirens....subway trains pulling in. Good luck, intrepid buskers of today! "Break a string!", as we used to tell each other....

This dude deserves to get paid for his creative song writing skills.

Living in NYC, the Roland cube series is king out here. Subway platform, street, union squ, time sq, etc. I see the cube as reigning king of the busking amps.

Dagan at his best! My favorite RU-vid superstar. Another informative video done in a highly entertaining manner. A+ 👍

This is one of the most entertaining and fun review videos on RU-vid. Very informative as well. Great job!

The Cube seems to have it all. Power, quality sound, lots of effects, and multiple channels for 2 instruments, microphone (s), and cell phone input. They are up to 600 bucks now in 2023. I played in rock band/clubs back in the day, along with weddings, funerals, county fairs, even a beauty contest... and other public events, but changed my lifestyle and mostly play for church events now. Playing for God and sober people is more fulfilling. This type speaker works out to play venues that already have large sound systems. You can easily mike this type speaker and use it as a stage monitor for yourself. Not sure if line out will carry the effects with it, but that might also be an option instead of miking. Some sound guys only put dry mix thru stage monitors to avoid feedback problems, which kind of sucks for the musicians on stage. I like to enjoy my music too even when I am playing of a crowd. Really enjoyed this guy's guitar playing.

Love your reviews. You are a natural. Wish all guitar shops had characters like you. Keep it up.

I bet you get up for work each day with a smile on your face ! Very informative run through - thank you. P.S. your singing is much better than mine :-) .

I’m only on the first minute, and man! I’m hooked already! Great way to introduce the product! I’d buy it right away if I see someone do this at the store!!!

Thanks for getting to the point in this video!

Great video! You make everything exciting.

This fella seems like a smashing lad.

Hands down the best RU-vid gear reviewer ever! Had me subbed at the Wonderwall Roland Cube song

Nice vid. Enjoy your playing. Thanks.

Cheers for the heads up on these really cool amps

I didn't know Russell Brandt was doing equipment reviews now? Loved it!

"sorry I'm not a singer I forgot to apologize for that" lol.. you sounded great! love the songwriting to explain the specs. Brilliant. And also thank you for introducing me to the Roland AC33 Acoustic Amp! This is perfect

lol this review is awesome and hilarious. i like his songs lol

A review never put a smile on my face but this guys review is killer haha love it dude

Thanks for sharing this friend.

This is the firs time I hear Dagan singing... Wow!

That Wonderwall Roland Cube song was solid.

Haha, such a great way to do reviews! Fun, funny and informative! Yeah!

Another good one is the Fender Champ 2x12 modeling amp. I got one in an emergency situation, and was able to dial in a really decent sound and got through the show.. I use it at home, an dfor smaller shows, now, where I don't need the 4x12 with the 300 watts

That wondercube cover is so on point

Dude , I am a fan lol Best review EVER!!!!!

Duuuuuuudddddde!!! Big Fan! I'm using the Behringer 40BT for pushing awesome jams to play Cornhole too. Thanks for the reviews and entertainment

Amazing song about the Roland Cube ❤

dude your reviews are the best.

I use the Roland Cube Street Ex with a special twist that gives it a much nicer, punchier, bassier sound: replaced the bass-weak original woofers with Jensen 4-Ohm woofers. Got the idea from PianoManChuck here on RU-vid. Since the swap, I love the amp - beforehand I found it fine for acoustic guitar, but not full enough for male (baritone) rock vocals sung up close and loud. It just didn't push much air in the bass region - possibly also because of some built-in shelving/bass-cut filter. But swapping the speakers did coax quite a lot more bass out of this otherwise great amp. See my comment under PianoManChuck's Jensen speaker replacement video for details on the swap.

I’m one amp in and this is the best video ever

Thank-You for a great video!

Dude you are amazing!!! Thank you

Best gear review I've ever seen.

I have to say I have the Vox Mini5 and love it and if you want to use it for gig, you can. Yes I know 5 watts will not be loud enough for any band or stage. What about using a microphone and mike in the front of the amp or install a small good microphone near the speaker where you put the batteries in and put a 1/4 jack on the back panel and just use a guitar cable plug it in back of the amp and run it through the sound system. Most groups today have there amps mike anyway, so why not the Vox Mini5.

Love the rolands.I primarily play my rx amp with my favorite pedals and it kicks ass.

dagan was having so much fun

Love this guy!

This guy is such a vibe 😂😂 I love it

Enjoyed!

Brilliant review, and judging by the quality of discussion and that has followed, this is quality work unlike a lot of RU-vid dross. How about a follow up but focus on stomp percussion boxes, and from machines like BeatBuddy. Backing tracks just don't sound authentic, you could also try bringing in a couple buskers and run a follow up series?

Dude, you are hilarious! Great review!

Awesome review dude XD

This was awesome…

Thanks, Man!

That Yamaha came alive in my room and was bouncing off the walls to the right of me like nothing else. I am a MicroCUBE user who also has a Yorkville EXM PA.. for the other guy and Mic.. I need to try one of those out.

Honestly this guy is the best of the best of the best of the best

awesome dude your singing.

The best prestation of dagan. ...👍👍👍🤞🤞🤞😉😉😉

I have been busking for years with the Roland Mobile AC. I love it. It's loud and VERY portable. If you're carrying stuff on public transport, then it fits in the backpack with cables and mic and hand holding the guitar. I wanted bigger sound, so I bought the AC33. And as you said, it's a lovely sound. But I was surprised that it is not much louder than my Mobile AC, though it's much heavier and bulkier. Battery-powered it's 10 + 10 = 20W. I refrained from getting the 50W Cube Street because I didn't like the sound as much and it is much more heavy and expensive. I also recently bought a Boss VE-8, so I have some effects and even a looper. So these effects are doubled on my AC 33 (the looper and reverb anyway). I realized after buying the VE-8 that I just need one line out (guitar and mic go through VE-8). Anyway, I'm trying to have a bit of a minimalist setup so I can take it on public transport. I just want an aesthetic sound which is portable. I usually have just guitar and vocals. So I'm wondering what you suggest, say if I sell the AC-33 and use the Mobile AC for small quiet places and have another amp/PA plus the VE-8 for bigger spaces? What do you recommend (about 50 watts, as portable as possible)? Is there another way to make a "mains powered" amp portable? If so, I can get 10W more out of my Roland AC33. How do I do that?

Thanks good and good fun

I know two guys who bought what looks like the YAMAHA THR 10 and both of them struggled to be heard. One guy is an acoustic guitar busker ( he doesn't like it) and the other was disappointed when he showed up at a jam night and nobody could hear him. He even had trouble hearing himself while on stage (not mic'ed). I bought the 50W Roland Street EX and it rocks the whole street.

I don't know if I'll watch this whole video but you get a thumbs up because you made me laugh within the first minute

Nr 1 amplificator...bose s1pro Roland cube street 50watt.. Mackie freeplay new model 2018.

You know how this video is so good? Well, i tell you how... You got the tweeters, by the Ronald Cube! xD

Buy a Roland cube lmao - I need a mic + pa for Pearl Harbor day 2018 .The system they used last year made me ,say call me. Unfortunately, I don't have a set up that I had when I said that as I forgot I never keep anything . Good reviews thank you .

You have real presenting talent. Really impressed - you could present bananas to chimps and they would be buying in droves. Pure entertainment and info. Thanks very much.

this is the best amp review ever

You sounded awesome! Thank you for this!

I own 2 of these products...the yamaha & the roland...both fantastic amps which I highly recommend.

Dat red Gretsch though

Only a Geordie could be like a Geordie....And that's coming from a fellow Geordie.... Rock on, Ya Raggie!!!!.... Love it x

9:19 is how I feel after I’ve spent a few hours learning a solo and get lost in it 😂😂

Dagan at his best

If you're playing bass, I wouldn't recommend the ac33 or roland street - mackie free play all the way 300 watts of awesomeness you can get it for 150 if you look around enough, built in effects, mix with your cell phone app. For 300 bucks if you're lucky to find the deals you can have 2x - 600 watts!!!!! The bass really comes through and you can get a DJ sound out of it unlike many of these systems that are specifically for a 6 string guitar etc.

you are a genius dude!! i want one of every one of this!!!!

Dude I want to hang out jam and drink beers with you. Youre hilarious and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this!

Dagan, you're loony...which, in this case, is HILARIOUSLY cool...thanks!

I love that he plays john mayer songs

OASIS great cover :)

Talented chap doing review but missed out on important point in relation to portable, which is what kind of batteries and how many batteries for each of the products, although mentioned on 2 or 3 but not much emphasis made.

If that’s not a masterpiece, I don’t know what is)))

LOL great review

First time I saw this! You're just awesome in your whim and descr ipt. Smoked a BIG FATTY before I watched your vid.. Awesome. J

@JCooper I played in the subway down there once. The acoustics in the city....

Ur singing is so good

Hi, if you have to buy a PA System now, which one you will buy? I liked these three: 1.JBL EON208p 2.Fender Passport Event 3.Yamaha STAGEPAS400BT. Are they a good choice and which one to buy?

Roland Dagan - Wondercube

This Guy is Hilarious great review!

Hilarious cool singing MAN!

For someone who claims not be a singer.. you sing pretty darn well i must say.

This review could use an update. A lot of new battery-powered combos have come out in the past 4 years. Fishman Mini Charge, Fender Acoustic Jr Go, Orange Crush Acoustic 30. I think it's about time for another shootout.

Hey I have the acus one for street, but can not for the life of me figure out how to charge it. The manual says plug it into mains power and switch on. I’ve done so and the mains and power light are in, but not the charge light which I assume would come on. Do you know what I’m missing here??

Best Video ever 😂😂😂🤙🤙🤙

What was that riff you were playing at the start of the blackstar review section? I. MUST. KNOOOOW.

Fun to watch!!!😆 But what would you recommend for a sax player?

U r awesome...

Singing the features of each piece gear improv style admittedly was cheesy as hell but you made it fun and pulled it off. Thanks for the info and the serving of cheese.🤘🏼🤘🏼

Thanks, Joey the An1meman

This is not the best amp in the word - this is just a tribute!

The Vox Da-5 is good as a practice amp but not good for busking on a loud busy street. As for the Samson, It could of been a defective product that i got but the Samson I got was rubbish and I sent it back for a refund. I might give it a go again but not bloody likely at this time. I currently use a Vox DA-20.

Did not expect this dude to play Tori

ha ha, quirky character, bright and a talented guitarist, good info, thanks bro!

Damn, this guy is cool as shit. Fuck, I wanna buy this dude a beer!

Dude now I have to buy a Roland Cube😂

Hi ! Guitar noob here ! I want to buy one of those for start, which one would you recommend ? I was a little bit seduced by the Vox...

Great oasis remix.

Hi there, Can you help me decide which one is better? Roland Mobile Cube amp or the Fender Passport Mini? I would like to use both mic and guitar most of the times.. Thanks!

This guy is like an intelligent version of Russel Brand.

This guy is great!!! Pete Woodroffe Music Pete Woodroffe Music Pete