The guitar amplifier landscape has changed significantly in the past 10 years, splintering into specialty segments. One of those segments is the humble practice amplifier. No longer limited to Fender Champs and budget solid state designs, today’s practice amps are capable tone machines. Many have digital modeling and Bluetooth connectivity, and aim to bring real tone at moderate volume. I’ve been intrigued by the idea of the The Yamaha THR series amplifiers, and I finally decided to try a THR10 II.
The “OG” of Desktop Amps
The THR10 II series is an updated version of the popular THR series amplifiers. They are designed for home and studio use, with a design suitable for your living room. The original THR amps were released in 2011, and they were ahead of the curve at the time. Yamaha coined the term “Third Amp” to define an amp that was intended for, and optimized, for practice duties. You could call the original THR amps the “OG” of practice amps.
In the following decade, competitors have flooded the landscape, such as the Positive Grid Spark Mini, Orange Crush 20, Blackstar HT, Boss Katana, and many more. As a longtime tube amp user, my biggest question was:
“Does the THR10 II sound like a ‘real’ amp, or more like a ‘toy’ amp?”
This review is for the regular THR10 II, which does not include the wireless option. I decided that the wireless option wasn’t a feature that I was going to use a lot. Also, it pushed the THR out of what I consider the sweet spot of price in this category. I also debated the THR5, which despite the name is 10 watts. However, the THR5 lacks Bluetooth connectivity, which I do feel is a feature worth paying for. Your decision will come down to which features you prioritize, and how much you are willing to pay for them.
Unboxing and Appearance
The THR10 II is packed in a box with a retro styled rendition of the amp, as well as a French phrase: “L’amplificateur pour bureau”. This, of course, translates to “The Desktop Amplifier.” I’m not sure why they chose to render this in French, but it fits with the retro styling of the THR10 II. Placed on a table or desk, the THR’s tan color and grill pattern blend into its surroundings. And a note about the grill pattern: the original THR had an alternating zig-zag grill, but I prefer the look of this one because I think it is less noticeable, which is important for an amp that sits at or near eye level.
THR10 II Sounds
Knowing that the THR10 II is optimized for guitar practice, I didn’t know what to expect in terms of sound. That and the fact that the 2 x 3 speakers are smaller than any amp I’ve ever played. Starting on the Clean channel, the amp was clear and crisp. In addition to clean, the THR10 II has Crunch, Lead, Hi Gain, and Special channels. Moving through the channels adds progressively more distortion. It’s a toss-up for me as to which amplifiers are based on which channels: I believe the Hi Gain is a Mesa Dual Rectifier sound, but don’t quote me. The Lead channel sounds Marshall-like, and the Clean is from Fullerton. In addition to the 5 channels, you can choose from Modern, Boutique, and Classic settings for each, via the app. There are a lot of tones to explore here.
Yamaha clearly voiced the amp to make the two 3” speakers sound bigger than they are. Although you know they are small, and there is a sense of constriction, they do sound bigger than they are. And remember, the THR is a desktop amp; it is made to be listened to in the near field. When you’re sitting close to the THR10 II, it doesn’t sound particularly boxy, which is an accomplishment in and of itself.
One of the notable features of the THR10 II is the ability to stream backing tracks via Bluetooth. The volume for streaming is controlled via a separate Audio knob. All of the THRII line includes the Bluetooth function, with the exception of the THR5.
THR10 II App
To get the most out of the THR10 II, you need to download the Yamaha THR Remote app. I decided to install it on my iPad, but of course you can use your phone as well. The App installed quickly, and I was up and running with it in seconds. When you open the app, it looks for a THR10 II in Bluetooth range, and things synced up in seconds.
The app offers extended tone shaping options for the THR, including a Compressor, Noise Gate, and Amp Cabinet simulations, as well as Tape Echo, and extended controls for Reverb, Echo, and Chorus. This is also where you access the Modern, Boutique, and Classic channel settings.
THR10 II Effects
The THR10 II comes with a number of built in effects, controlled by knobs on the top of the unit. Additional parameters are available via the THR Remote app. I’ll start off by saying that I really enjoyed the Chorus sounds. They were lush and natural. With the app, you get extended controls that let you dial in the Chorus to your preferred sound, but the default setting was just fine as well. The Reverb has both Spring and Hall settings, and they both sounded good. For the default settings on the amp, I preferred the Hall, but the app allows you to tweak the Reverb with additional parameters, and I was able to dial in a more subtle Spring sound that sat further back using the (virtual) Mix knob.
The Compressor is a welcome addition as well. I am sensitive to the sound of pick attack transients, which sound peaky to me, and the Compressor smooths these out nicely. I’m starting to think that compressors are an essential effect for solid-state amplification.
Is it a Practice Amp or a “Real” Amp?
Ok, so we’re back to this question. As you may have guessed, I like the THR10 II. Does the THR10 II sound good? Yes, it certainly does. But you cannot get away from the fact that the THR10 II uses 3” drivers. Although Yamaha has clearly done some voicing voodoo to make the THR10 II speakers sound bigger than they are, the sound still reflects this limitation. You just don’t get the depth and bottom of a real 10” or 12” driver.
With respect to power rating, the 10 Watts is satisfactory for a practice amp, and it actually gets pretty loud on the higher gain channels. For those who need more power, Yamaha makes the THR30 II, with 30 Watts of power. However, I’m not sure I see the point in this, unless the goal is more clean headroom. But if that’s the goal, why not move to a bigger amp at that point?
Given that the THR10 II is a practice amp, I had to ask if the lack of bottom-end sound bothered me. The answer is that it depends on how you look at it. Considered for what it is—an amplifier designed for practice playing—the Yamaha sounds great. The small speakers are necessary to satisfy one of the defining features of the THR series, namely, portability. When you compare the sound to a 10” or 12” cabinet, it is lacking… but a 12” cabinet doesn’t have the all-in-one portability of the THR10 II. Not to mention that a standard guitar cab doesn’t look great on your desk. My advice is not to compare apples and oranges, and instead appreciate the THR10 II for what it is.
Conclusion
Considering the intent of the THR10 II, Yamaha has made a worthy successor to the original THR line. It’s versatile, portable, and has great-sounding onboard effects. The look is understated and will fit well with many types of decor, and look at home in a living room, bedroom, or music room. Although I don’t always love the idea of having to reference an iPad or iPhone to control an external device, the app installed easily and worked flawlessly for me. You can use the THR II without the app, but the expanded number of tonal options that you get with the app make it worthwhile.
As I alluded to earlier, one decision you’ll need to make is whether the Battery and Wireless option is worth the extra $140 or so. If so, you’ll want to look at the THR10 II Wireless. Keep in mind that the Wireless transmitter that plugs into your guitar is not included, so you’ll have to purchase that separately for around $100.
I decided that for my intended use, the Battery and Wireless options weren’t necessary for me. And, if you can do without those capabilities, the THR10 II is an awesome value for the price. If however, you expect to use the THR10 II on the go, you’ll definitely want to spring for the Wireless model. It’s still a good deal for a good amp—just not quite as sweet.
