WAY too critical dude. I challenge you to find a modern amp under $200 that isn't built the same way. Sounds like you're expecting AC30 level build quality for $180. Unrealistic in today's economy.
I can understand your point but just remember we are talking about made in china using technology that has been around for a while. most of the price is for the VOX name. still doesn't justify the cost increase of the VT40X. thanks for taking the time to comment.
My question is: why does it matter? You bought an amp you fully admit you like the sound of, for a price that you seemed ok with, and you didn't even realize that you had a problem with it until you took the back off. If the particle board construction of the cabinet didn't affect your opinion of the amp's tone and operation before you took the back off, why should it affect it now?
I believe I can answer that question, as I myself have the VT40+ Particle very easily falls apart once it sustains a little damage and is exposed, it also does not hold screws well and will strip much easier than Ply when force is applied, and swells or crumbles under moisture. I love the sound of my VT40+ but fear hauling it around for these reasons. There are no corner guards, so a tear in the tolex could spell disaster if water is spilled there. My point and his is, there are cheaper amps made of Plywood and Vox should not have cut corners by using inferior materials, the amp is a great sounding amp, but doing so degrades the quality of the Vox brand.
Thanks for taking this apart and showing everyone. I don’t think you need to be worried about the lack of heavy components - we‘re living in the digital age, you can count yourself lucky that there’s a tube in it. I don’t think the premise itself that substantial or heavy interior parts is a good thing makes much sense at all anyway, especially with a digital hybrid amp where frankly, a lot of people are fed up with the heavy bulk of all tube amps and are pleased to have this streamlined and light alternative.
Like others, I think you're investing more anger in this than it deserves. Particle board does have durability issues, but most people will park this amp in their bedroom or practice room and never move it. Particle board is also pretty dead sonically, which is a good thing; it doesn't absorb frequencies and undercut the speaker's resonance. For this type of sealed, ported, bass-reflex cabinet, it's actually a good choice. If you do build a new cabinet, it could wind up sounding lifeless unless you exactly match the original cabinet's dimensions and design. My chief complaint about this amp is that it's almost impossible to capture how great it sounds in a recording, because so much of the sound's quality comes from the ported cabinet. A microphone in front of the speaker won't capture anything half as good as this amp sounds in the room.
@@blacktoothfox677 yes interesting indeed ! I owned the older version, 20 Valvetronix ! Cost me a hundred 110 euros ! Small light, loud as Hell and it had a very nice clean tone ! I regret selling but my friend needed it and i thought i did,nt till it was gone !
It's a great amp for the money. I own several classic amps and I'm amazed at the warm tone that these amps produce. I did upgrade from the 20 to a 40watt for the larger speaker and reserve power. I put a mic in front of it and put it through the PA and it kicks ass! The effects are great and I haven't even used the Tone Room yet. I use it at gigs and it's amazingly light to carry. VOX built it right and I find it to be much more than a practice amp.
Well mine won't be leaving the house, so as long as it works I'm happy. Just think of how much you save in pedals alone. If you want a gigging amp, you wouldn't buy a budget amp. If you're playing in the house you wouldn't buy a Marshall stack.
Thank's for the video. I've opened my Marshall Code to put a Jensen speaker in it and I've been surprised that it was a big box full of... void. Just a speaker, a little IC that's all. Not only VOX.
I got The same amp in green.its amazing.its solid as a rock.the handle is actually impressive.for the 8inch speaker it is built very well.the sounds are some of the best I've ever heard from a small amp.which could easily be used for a jam out...
Just a silly question, when you buy Amp, are you looking for the sound or the material? Coz i find your review quite funny as you complain about the build instead of the sound and you should realize it from the price tag.
I understand what you're going on about with the material quality, but you have to understand, most of the $ is in the modeling and amp, not the cab itself. Thats why the Fender Rumble 40 costs $200 and the Rumble 40 studio costs $350. To get a name brand modeling amp for under $200, there is going to be some "built to cost" aspects.
You paid £180 dollars for an amp, an amp which IS promoted as budget for beginners or people who can't afford expensive gear. You say you like the sound. So I don't see the problem? You have an amp to hear it not see it. I have the same amp and I'm switching speaker to 8" celestion, and for a practice amp, it will be pretty cool. Too harsh review in my opinion.
i have this amp too and am thinking of upgrading the speakers. do you have any idea how to unscrew the speaker here? or link to the tool to unscrew those hex nuts?
Outstanding review. I will depart from the consensus and agree with your critical review. I was considering this amp, but now took a step back. Probably the Fender Mustang if I'm going cheap, which is what I'm in the market for now.
Rob SRO Don’t expect the Mustang go be any better as far as the cabinet material goes. I had a first run 30watt VTX and it sounded pretty good for $250. The newer ones have more options and still have the preamp tube.I’d stick with the VTX. Fiberboard is everywhere. Fender uses the stuff just as much as Vox. Maybe try both out first. Best bet.
Fibreboard is actually the BEST choice - unless you want to get you digital modelling amp wet... (it absorbs resonant frequencies, is the best material for speaker cabs, rather than say, hardwood or laminate, which bounces the sound around and creates all manner of unpleasant sonic characteristics. Go with the Vox OR the Mustang - they are both very very good for home studio use. - I will add, companies seem better at modelling their own legacy stuff, so, the vox will model AC's better. the Mustang will model a nice fender clean sound better than the vox. - generally speaking, of course. But that is a tip, when it comes to choosing.
If you think it sounds good and you like the effects, why does it matter what it's made of? If it's made of balsa wood and sounds good, what's the problem? Also, you can easily drop an 8 ohm speaker in this amp--I put an Eminence Texas Heat in my VT40X and it sounds even better. If you trade out the tube for a $10 Mesa Boogie tube, it sounds better yet. I'm really happy with mine.
Ok can anyone please tell me what boss katana 50 wood is ? Is it same like vox or it has better wood material? By the way I have a vt40x am only 16 I loved the sound but I want to know what katana is made of
Just proves that cheapskates should take up knitting instead of thinking they are going to get really nice equipment for next to nothing prices, I mean really for 180 what did you expect it to be like, Its a cheap practice amp!
Hi guys , please could I ask for some advice , I'm new to guitar s and bought this amp and a yamaha v112 , unfortunately after a week I've playing I put the guitar jack into the amp but I'm getting no sound not even a splatter , you can hear the amp is on but no sound from the guitar, bought another lead but nothing , any help would be great , jules
An 8 Ohm and a 16 Ohm speaker wired in parallel would give you 5.3 Ohm but I'm not sure if it's OK to mix them like that. Interesting video but I guess if the amp sounds OK not many people are going to be too bothered how it's constructed as long as it seems solid. However, I'm with you on fibreboard, I hate the stuff. Most kitchen units are made from it and they charge a fortune for the units which are pretty shoddy when you look at how they are made.
Did you ever make that desktop panel for the VOX amp? i know its 5 years too late but i was thinking of buying the VOX VT40 and possibly doing the same as you were planning to do.
Chipboard! more than half the kitchens in the UK are made of this, most of the furniture in offices, most Ikea's products, flat pack furniture, kitchen worktops.. I could go on. In the states you have many trees, here in the UK we cut then down to make ships to piss off the French, Spanish and Dutch. We only have saw dust left.
I paid 130.0 shipped to my door. This amp is the bomb. I don’t need any pedals, it’s got all the modeling effects. I can get all my fav sounds from it. If you can get it under 200 USD buy it. They are climbing in price.
3yrs later....i now have 2 of these and run them in stereo.i put new tubes and speakers in them..i will use these forever.they sound amazing...oh now i have a gold record..
Finally someone showed the guts of this thing! ) I saw Bugera v5 infinium and ibanez tsa5tv, and you know what? They also are full of some digital stuff that cannot be repaired or serviced in case of some issues, so, this is not worse option. Comparing to Line 6 this Vox sounds really better and I think worth its money. The real disappointment for me, is artificial 12ax7 input stage... 12 volts for a tube, really? Thanks for the review!
I understand but can't agree with the feelings about the 'quality not being what was expected'. This is an entry level/practice modeling amp. It's unwarranted to expect more than what it is being marketed as. Yes, it was $150 more than a citrus colored amp I was looking at, but that was a non-modeling amp. Same power & speaker size. Other modeling amps are higher priced (not all, but most). I'm going to take from another comment about a car (but in the opposite way). You dont buy a Mercedes C-class and expect E- or S-class quality. You do 'get what you pay for'. It's not a Blues Jr., AC30, Hot Rod, etc. This amp has been unchanged since Nov 2015... 6½ years. So I would be willing to say, like Mercedes with the C300, if it ain't broke don't fix it. If this was a basic amp at $230, no models, etc., I would be more willing to lean towards agreeing with you. The price you're paying for is the money saved in not having to get effects and pedals.
Dude...this is a practice amp...for 180 bucks...its actually a good little amp. You will not get that many different effects for the price as well. Also, it has a tube driven amp...yeah, not bad. Also...the best material to make an amp this size out of is particle board...so that 'cheap looking' look to it serves a purpose. And the 5 ohm speaker...doesn't really matter...just plop an 8 ohm speaker in there if it bothers you...5 ohm...8 ohm...16 ohm, it really doesn't matter (just don't use a 4 ohm...since 5 is the minimum for that amp). Ohms are a resistance value...not a unit of power.
A lot of companies are cheaping out on the materials and quality, alas. If you want a real amp, go get yourself a Marshall Bluesbreaker, but it's gonna run you $2000. I mean, you get what you pay for, but also, a tube amp does one thing and otherwise you are gonna run pedals and FX into it if you want any variety of sounds out of it. Plus who lugs around a Bluesbreaker? But I agree, I wish Vox would ace up their quality and I'd rather pay a bit more for a better quality design and build and sound.
As a guitar player been around for a bit. played, serviced an built high quality amp cabs. i would ask $200 or more to build a combo cab like the vt20x. 1"by 12" 3/4" clear pine 8 ft.long all cut to size finger joint all coners cutout for controles round over all edges ' glue on tolex'build an install grill cloth. metal corners. feet installed. and a good handel. really more like $300! that's the cab no speaker, electronics or fx, ilike my vt20x alot had to get foot pedal. i don't like the partical board it neve holds up on cabs somehow water, beer, humidity gets to it. the one thing i had to change was the wall wart power supply. input jack on amp broke one month after it got here knew it would . moved it inside speaker box on the side of cab neer port. installed a grounded female AC jack on back panel. don't be so harsh, turn it into a amp head rackmount style controles facingforward. good luck
No way...there is simply not enough room...plus with the 25 watts this thing pushes...there would be no point...you could buy a better 8" speaker though...and a better 12AX7 (or compatible) tube...thats what I did and it sounds even better ;)
@@patrickkilduff5272 thanks Patrick, but ive changed the vox for a randal rd40. And quite happy with the change. Big difference when using a full tube amp
I bought a VoxVT20X and I took the back off, disconnected the speaker and wired it to plug into a 12 inch cabinet and it sounds a LOT better. I don't care if it ruins the amp because I bought the Guitar Center extra coverage. For the next 2 years if anything at all happens to the amp, even if you spill a drink on it and blow it or run it over with my car, I can either get my money back or get a brand new amp. I was pretty disappointed when In opened mine up too. Not worth nearly 200 bucks I can tell ya that! I bought a used Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in almost new condition for 200 bucks last year. I cant believe I paid the same price for the Vox, but I needed a practice amp and the Fender is just too loud for my apartment.
I bought a VT 40X..Good sounds for acoustic, cleans, british rock, but no Hi gain at all, exhibits a loud intermitten hum..It is getting returned, and has been replaced by a BlackStar ID15TVP, that is built better and sounds much better with Hi gain, and good all around. The insider software has way more user community patches available to from Blackstar
The amp sounds (to me) good and (to me) looks good on the outside. Why do You take it apart and be disappointed by the inside? And it is a very affordable buy.
What a shallow vision. Seriously, do you evaluate an amp by its internal appearance? I think it's not fair. Vox stuff is awesome and their amps are broadly acclaimed for the quality of its sound by mostly of people. By the way, if you could open your own bely with a scalpel and take a look inside you would think it look like shit too - but I ensure you that no one of your friends cares about this. They just care about how productive, good and honest you are as a person. Try to see an amp the same way. ;-)
For the price, I'd be less concerned with what it's made of and how many circuit boards it had, and more with how it sounds. It's an affordable bedroom practice amp. I'd have been more shocked if it weren't MDF board inside. :) That said... I'd be interested in seeing a rebuild. I'll admit... regardless how good/bad something is, I like tinkering and DIY. I'm looking to buy one (used) this week, and already want to mod it for an external speaker jack. I don't need something louder, just, a 12" speaker has better sound (generally speaking) than an 8".
I chose this amp. Just got it brand new. It will serve me well...Many people told me to look into it...To be honest I find it's the performance is what you pay for. I would say you are over looking this aspect but I'll hand it to you that this is not what I thought it would be on inside however i paid 143 new for mine. I enjoyed the video and your opinion. That's fact.
if it sounds good and is not falling apart. why do you care? I'm sure they make $500 amp with better cab. you bought a budget amp and are tearing this company down because it's not top quality which you did not pay for. does your Monoprice have comparable effects and options??
Nope. Its an amp for home use. Please, Vox, stick with the frequency absorbing fibreboard so we all get a nice even response and properly focused sound dynamic. For touring, maybe switch. Or just look after your amps and dont get them wet.
I was waiting for you to stop, yell "get off my yard!" and chuck the amp out of the room. To me, if it sounds good, I've seen much worse construction. Reference my Gorilla 30 watt bass amp - I've got it held together with Gorilla glue at this point, that sucker is absolute junk.
considering the cost of the amp and what else Vox has put in there for the money, this amp is a killer deal, if this amp had been made by some other makes, it would probably cost more even as it is. A tube preamp on its own will cost you at least half of what you paid for the amp, and this amp has a lot more. You are getting the best possible product at the lowest possible price, and of course Vox still has to make a reasonable profit. Otherwise no one would ever build anything. With respect, you are misguided.
Well.. if it sounds good to you, isn’t that the most important thing? Good stereo speakers from the 70’s and 80’s were made out of that same particle board. Just leave it. Save up for an AC15 or 30.
But I have to say you aren’t the first one to remark on the build quality of this amp. I’ve got the 2nd generation of this amp. It’s an AD50VT with 2- 12’s, with the same tube in the preamp. It’s a great modeling amp. I bought my AC15 years after buying my AD50VT And I compared the two, using the AC15 modeling of the valvetronix. They sounded exactly the same. So Vox did a good job on their amp modeling.
I don't see any problem with the inside. For the price, it is what you get. If it is real wood, you'll probably spend another one or two hundred dollars for that amp. And speaker? For a modelling amp, you may not want to change the speaker.
Thanks for this review. Too often we settle for the good when we should demand the best. I'm going to save up for a Supro and drive it with high end effects pedal to get my sound.
I hear ya. I have an Ac15 and I’m thinking about building a real wood cab for it. That fiberboard eats at your mind. I can understand using fiberboard for an amp like the VTX but the flagships can surely be outfitted with plywood at least. Goes for ALL amp companies.
If the focus is on easily getting a speaker to sound good... The 'chipboard' as we call it in the UK, is ideal, as it absorbs frequencies rather than bouncing them around. If durability is the end-goal, then another material, such as laminate or hardwood - & then you got some sweating to do in the R&D phase to iron out resonant frequencies and spikes in the response dynamic. Vox chose correctly, this being an amp for home / home studio use.
Is this a looking at AMP or a playing / enjoying amp???? These VOX amps are cutting edge for what they give you in tone and value for a small practice amp or a studio recording amp. Plugging into the VOX tone room is such a plus to modify your presets and go to the show with 8 key sounds…. If you cannot get it done with 8 tones…. Take up another instrument. I find your self contradicting comments about this amp funny at best. You did more talking and we never heard you just play this amp….. build away brother…. Life is a modification and you do you man….. I wanted to learn something from your video…. All I hear is you being boggled….. it is your amp to do what you want…. I like the desk mount idea for a workbench amp and I am intrigued about a 5 ohm speaker vs 4, 8, 16 standard
My feeling is that this is a home player, practice amp. It’s meant to sound good and help people learn, play and enjoy guitar playing. I think you should go ahead and spend a lot more money, so you can feel you own a quality amp. You don’t buy a Honda expecting a Mercedes.
Hi. Great video. I just bought mine - second hand. I should have tested before 😠 but as am a beginner guitarist i didnt want to humiliate myself in front of the seller. So i trusted his excellent feedback and left with crappy amp and an empty pocket. If you think your amp sounds good than you are a lucky man cause mine sound atrocious. Its is not capable to play distortion / overdrive. Sounds so muddy. the distortion is sooo....distorted. Any ideas appreciated.
Modelling amps reward the amount of time you spend dicking around with them to mine good sounds. I can assure you - there is nothing wrong with your amp (if it is in good working order, I mean)
Surely, you weren’t expecting much more in the way of construction? This amp is greater than the sum of its parts, but some of those parts admittedly could have been better!
So.. What is that you WERE expecting to find inside? Huge Transformers, tubes, a power bank, and heavy wiring? I think your missing the point of this amp. You can adjust for, and acquire many tones via your pc, or Mac. Personally, I think it's a great Amp for what I paid. It's modern, it takes advantage of modern methods of assembly, technology for modeling other amp tones, and use of cost effective materials. To me it feels solid. If it weren't for having watched your video, I'd of never known that the material for the housing was particle wood. I'm okay with it, because I have tube amps with real wood that have much less capabilities, and are a lot heavier than this amp. I know someone who gigged with the 40 watt version of this amp till it was beat to Hell, and the thing is still in intact, still feels solid, despite it being constructed of particle wood, lol. And he has tube amps that he paid several times more for in terms of money. I think this is a fine amp! Rock on!
Well to be fair..unless you are talking boutique amps, most production amps, Marshall, Hiwatt, and Fender are made from plywood. The old 5150 cabs were 11 ply birch too. I get what you're saying though. I have a Vox made of the same board as this video. It sounds pretty decent actually, though I'd prefer it to be a better material for longevity.
Thanks for the comment. Each time someone complains about this video my view and subscriber count jumps up on a channel I stopped posting to years ago 😂
Looks great, sounds great, like the software, but I don't like how the sausage is made. Damn stickers! Don't open the freakin' box. This video is ridiculous.
your funny , did you even play the AMP ? if you wanted a 10 inch speaker buy the vt40x its only like 20 bucks more at guitar center ,, keep jamming bro
Dude I have at least half a dozen pedals EACH of which cost more than this amp brand new - what do you want for the pennies you paid for it? It aint a classic Vox AC30 - its fantastic value when you add up what yo get for our money. BTW, you do realise that these amps are air tight SEALED cabs right? Not yours anymore LOL
It arrived and it looked beaten up and it was new.what a heap of junk.come on vox. I've got the vox ac15c1 and put jj tubes in.its awesome.this is a toy. I sent it back pronto. If Glenn fricker sees it he will hit it with a hammer. 0/10 Im shocked at the quality. This is £149 Boss katana 50w £220 No comparison,and katana has beat this crap.bonfire material.
So, what do U wan't for an AMP about 200 bucks? A highglass Boogie? Put the panels in a good selfmade wooden covering and it would be fine, lasting for many years of joy and a selfmade pride! Even U can install a 12" speaker! 😁😆😅😂
I would not be so critical if the price point was 99 bucks. also the 5 dollars in hardware upgrades(power amp chip, larger speaker) does not justify the $250 price on the vt40x. the name plus markup at dealer is what cost so much on everything anymore
Well... Its gonna be a problem if it gets wet. You planning on letting a digital modelling amp get wet, chap? "It sounds nice, I like the software" - so, the stuff that matters then. If You expect an amp that will survive the rigours of the road at the price you paid, then wel.... I don't know what to say to you. Dig deeper. The price is in R&D, which arrived at the 'great sound' you mentioned. The speaker is 5 ohm because the whole thing is DESIGNED to drive at home volume with a 12v DC power supply. Vox did an OUTSTANDING job with this amp at the price point. I'm an AC30 guy... and the model is... acceptable. Which is high praise, frankly. So dont go getting it wet, dude, and maybe think that the problem is not it, but YOU. Look at that like/dislike ratio. You gotta wonder about that. Now, I DO understand your points. I do. If it was a 4-figure sum I too would share your feelings. But the performance of the amp, the fact it is for the home, really; I don't share your feelings, at all. But I mean no disrespect, and am happy to dis-agree without diss-ing. Bless you and yours and stay healthy out there. All the best - UK
cheapest material? lol. soud must come out from speaker but not from all body of combo. that material can't make resonations. say clearly - you are american and like little duck love marshall or fender just because.
I’d just like to echo most of the posts . This is not a typical guitar amp but a modelling amp . The price you pay is largely for the development of the software and modelling , not what parts makes up the amp . Speaker , cabinet construction etc is not the same as a traditional amp so you can’t compare . You take the amp as a whole . If it sounds good then that’s what matters , and in my view it sound absolutely fantastic and well worth the price 😀👍
