You might wonder why you need the best mini amp? Let me put this simple. If you are a budding musician or you are just looking for an amp to jam at a campfire, a mini amp with a great sound is what you need. Buying a mini amp is not just investing in another musical instrument. Rather, you are investing in the right sound. These mini amps are practice amps that influence the music you want to deliver.
You need to understand that you do not have to compromise on tone or volume with size. The mini amps are cheap and convenient, and it is the best option when you are on the road. No matter you are a beginner or a professional, the mini amp can greatly help you produce decent sounds at low volumes for practicing and also allows you to become great creators.
I have included some extraordinarily versatile and quality options for you to increase storage space in your suitcase. So if you are someone who is looking for a more convenient and portable amp that can be carried anywhere, then check out best mini amp listed below.
Also, if you want to learn the factors to consider while buying a mini amp, then check out our buying guide.
Table Of Contents
- 10 BEST MINI AMP REVIEW
- 1) FISHMAN PRO-LBT-500 LOUDBOX MINI - BEST BLUETOOTH AMPLIFIER
- 2) ROLAND MICRO CUBE GX - BEST PORTABLE AMP
- 3) BOSS KATANA COMPACT 7-WATT - BEST POWER MINI AMP
- 4) VOX MINI3 G2 - BEST BATTERY POWERED AMP
- 5) NUX MIGHTY LITE BT MINI - BEST POWER AMP FOR BASS
- 6) ORANGE CRUSH - BEST MINI AMP FOR BEGINNERS
- 7) BLACKSTAR ELECTRIC GUITAR MINI AMPLIFIER, BLACK (FLY3)
- 8) MARSHALL MS2 BATTERY-POWERED MICRO GUITAR AMPLIFIER
- 9) FENDER MINI DELUXE ELECTRIC GUITAR AMP
- 10) DANELECTRO HONEYTONE N-10 GUITAR MINI AMP, BLACK WITH BELT CLIP
- BUYER'S GUIDE FOR BEST MINI
- CONCLUSION
10 BEST MINI AMP REVIEW
1) FISHMAN PRO-LBT-500 LOUDBOX MINI - BEST BLUETOOTH AMPLIFIER
PRODUCT DETAILS
If you had owned a guitar that uses Fishman electronics, then you know about what this brand delivers. The Loudbox mini amp is perhaps one of the most popular and affordable models you can have. And it is best known for its lightweight portable body and tonal quality that makes the only answer to all your acoustic woes.
This was my first mini amp which I bought few years ago and I must say, it really does a good job. I was quite impressed with this device's ability to handle 60W at a sound pressure level of 108 dB.
You not only get dual channels namely- instrument and microphone, but also complete tonal control and the renowned Fishman preamp with chorus and digital reverb. Additionally, for that boom, you get a 6.5. inch woofer and a soft dome tweeter.
You get all the controls like low, mid, high, gain, phase, reverb and chorus for your guitar and low, high, gain and reverb controls for your microphone. The AUX input allows you to connect your smartphones and media players. Also, the XLR DI output helps in capturing your live performance.
What makes this the most convenient option in the market is its Bluetooth connectivity with which you can easily transfer and store files for your jamming sessions. Overall this is the best mini amp with amazing features.
Pros
Cons
Why you need to buy this FISHMAN PRO-LBT-500 mini amp?
You can never go wrong with 30 years of Fishman design and engineering that promises to deliver industry-standard sound. It is understandable that mini amps are portable. But still, this one is both portable and light weight. So, if you have been looking for one, then get yourself a Fishman PRO-LBT-500 loudbox mini.
2) ROLAND MICRO CUBE GX - BEST PORTABLE AMP
PRODUCT DETAILS
Like the previous one in this list, it hard to beat the Roland Micro amp for its compact size and portability. It weighs just 6 pounds so you can carry it anywhere.
Now talking about the sound, given its size, I was literally surprised about how loud this amp can be. Unlike its previous model, this one has a few tweaks and upgrades to make it superior while maintaining the sound and quality.
This mini amp comes with an i-Cube link input which enables you to connect your iOS device using the cable. Using an iOS application like the Roland Cube Jam app, you can play music tracks while you can play along with it. It has a built in tuner using which you can double the output power as the original.
This is a high gain and octave model that is built to have a wide range of effects and voices for fat and low tones. You also get a separate audio interface that connects to other music applications changing the way you record and save your music.
Pros
Cons
Why you need to buy this ROLAND MICRO CUBE GX mini amp?
What we loved about this mini amp is the construction. It has a robust build that can come with you for a long time. The sounds are simply the best at this price range. Moreover, the battery life is good, and also it is good to see a power supply provided along with this.
Overall, The cube has been at the top of the charts for over a decade for good reason. You can never go wrong with a BOSS amp and this is the definition of tiny package big sound. So grab this product now!
3) BOSS KATANA COMPACT 7-WATT - BEST POWER MINI AMP
PRODUCT DETAILS
I bet that this best amp is known for its reliability and sound, and for this reason, it is used on many stage performances. It has a great value for the price, especially its effects, versatility and professional quality.
You need to add a Katana to your gear collection for its multi-stage gain circuit and tone. It has a 3-band EQ that allows you to shape your sound with bass, middle, and treble controls.
Some of its other features include its fair share of recognition, such as the tape-style delay. It gives you that warm and mellow projection and helps in adding space to lead tones.
It also features a few good jacks, including a line in for your mp3 or smartphone to play audio and a line out for recording with voicing. You additionally get three amps, including crunch, clean and brown, and a rich sound that easily beats others in this category.
Particularly, I am in love with the brown settings for more smooth hi-gain tones which are ideal for metal leads. This custom speaker sounds crisp and is a perfect mini amp in this list with amazing features.
Pros
Cons
Why you need to buy this VOX MINI3 G2 mini amp?
You must buy this best mini amp for some amazing features like 3 amp voicing, speaker-emulated output, tone controls and built-in effects. This is a budget pick, so if you are on a budget, then this is your deal. Also, it is best suited for electro acoustic guitar.
4) VOX MINI3 G2 - BEST BATTERY POWERED AMP
PRODUCT DETAILS
As per my experience in handling mini amps, I can tell you that if you want a powerful modeling amp with many effects, then VOX is the best place to start. You need not worry about the budget; just like Roland, our previous entry, this one is also affordable. But still, it has many vintage tones for you to play with.
It has a simple user interface with an 11-way selector switch for advanced volume and tonal controls.
Among the effects, you get gain, chorus, tremolo, flanger, reverb, and four delays. You have the convenience of AA batteries for on-the-road jamming or by using a direct power supply. Here I want to mention that it has a long battery life of over 10 hours which is actually impressive for the mini amp. So you would get a companion with which you can sit for long jamming sessions.
Other than the standard input for your mic, you also get a headphone jack and an auxiliary input using which you can connect external devices. On the sound front, you can enjoy a clean well-projected tone that has acoustic resonance and a good volume.
Pros
Cons
Why you need to buy this VOX MINI3 G2 mini amp?
This mini amp does justice to the phrase "Small yet Mighty". The bassilator circuit adds up some extra sound which is why it makes it sound larger than it looks. Overall, this small, portable, battery-powered amp MINI3 G2 is a good choice for you.
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5) NUX MIGHTY LITE BT MINI - BEST POWER AMP FOR BASS
PRODUCT DETAILS
Are you looking for the perfect grab-and-go model? The kind that can be charged with a power bank or batteries and has everything you are looking for in a practice amp? Then look no further because I highly recommend the mighty lite from NUX that sounds good and has many features for you to play with.
Starting with its basic features, you get a headphone jack, a line in AUX, and Bluetooth connectivity. It comes with three channels: clean, overdrive, and distorted. With a single coil or a humbucking pickup, you get the chance to shape the tone according to what genre you want.
On the effects side, you get reverb, delay, tap, beats, tempo, drum beats, and more, along with filters that you can use to combine and create your sound.
The tap tempo present here can help delay time and drumming speed, and this feature also allows you to switch to either delay speed or drum tempo just by pressing and holding the Tap Tempo button.
Pros
Cons
Why you need to buy this VOX MINI3 G2 mini amp?
This is a low-watt practice amp that can be used in any room at your home or anywhere. Since it has multiple charging options, you are free to carry anywhere without the risk of switching off. It is lightweight and literally a portable amplifier that is best suited to be carried anywhere.
6) ORANGE CRUSH - BEST MINI AMP FOR BEGINNERS
PRODUCT DETAILS
You know it is an orange amp when you see one. You might have probably dreamt of owning one of these cult favorites at one point. The crush mini is every bit the brand, especially in terms of functionality and that synonymous sound.
This compact little amp is as sturdy as they come with a very simple interface with a straightforward control panel of gain, volume, and tone.
You also have the input and output jacks on the top panel with a built-in tuner. As most of the mini amps you have seen, the size of this amp should not put you off, if anything, the sound will surprise you.
The clean channel is clear while the gain gives it enough crunch with a clear bass response even with distortion. At the end of the day, you need a no-hassle amp that sounds good and looks good and this can be your ideal choice if you are looking for a mini amp with simple interface.
Pros
Cons
7) BLACKSTAR ELECTRIC GUITAR MINI AMPLIFIER, BLACK (FLY3)
PRODUCT DETAILS
Blackstar has a major foothold in the full-sized amp market, and has made some of the popular models out there. The guitar mini has slowly gained its loyal following as it has brought the same power and quality and transferred it into a smaller more portable package.
You have straightforward controls with gain, delay, and volume knobs with an EQ and an overdrive feature. Some other useful features include an AUX input, headphone jack, and line ins for your guitar.
This mini amp can be easily handled even if you are a beginner to dial in the exact tone you want and additional use pre-saved audio and loops to shape your tone further. On the sound front, it is punchy and clean with a fat sound.
Pros
Cons
8) MARSHALL MS2 BATTERY-POWERED MICRO GUITAR AMPLIFIER
PRODUCT DETAILS
How can you look at this beautiful best mini amp and not feel the urge to buy it? On looks alone, you have a winner. Let us dig a little deeper to check out what makes Marshall stand out in the crowd.
This mini amp is extremely lightweight and can be powered with constant supply or batteries with a fitted speaker. You get basic gain, tone, and volume controls with an external power amp and a headphone line in.
So, you do not need to be professional to handle this one. On the sound front, you get a wide range of voices and with a high gain, you get the iconic Marshall crunch. You will be surprised by what this amp can do, and it is small enough to put around a waist belt.
Pros
Cons
9) FENDER MINI DELUXE ELECTRIC GUITAR AMP
PRODUCT DETAILS
Fender amps are icons in the world of guitars, and this functional compact deluxe amp will easily attract anyone who collects or needs good gear. For those of you who want to master their stage sound on the road,
Fender comes with many convenient features for you including a compact sturdy shell, a dogbone handle, a headphone jack, and an adapter line in.
It looks and sounds like a classic Fender too, with its punchy tone, chrome plate, chicken head knobs for tonal, gain and volume controls, and a single channel. Now add dual speakers and you have got yourself an all-rounder in the perfect practice amp department.
Pros
Cons
10) DANELECTRO HONEYTONE N-10 GUITAR MINI AMP, BLACK WITH BELT CLIP
PRODUCT DETAILS
If you want to go from clean to overdrive without any buzz even with more volume, then you should definitely check out Honeytone, a brand made famous by Led zeppelin. Honeytone not only sounds good but it looks good too.
It has a useful and sturdy leather handle to grab and go, a belt clip, line out, and headphone input for those silent jamming sessions.
You can further dial in the tone you want with some basic volume, overdrive, and tonal controls. With such a simple interface, you will be able to learn how to shape your tone within minutes. Simply put, you cannot go wrong with this best mini amp.
Pros
Cons
BUYER'S GUIDE FOR BEST MINI
Type
There are two types of guitar amps present; the first type is the guitar mini amp, also known as microamps. This mini amp is a smaller version of a regular amplifier and is ideal for electric guitars.
The second type of mini amp is used for a stereo system or a speaker system. Like the previous type, these are also the smaller versions of guitar amplifiers connected to a stereo system. These amps are used in the car's stereo system. So know your purpose and choose the type correctly.
Power output
The power output is generally measured in wattage. The rule that you must remember here is, the larger the wattage number, the more power(sound) you will get from a mini amp. So keep this in mind, in general, the mini amps are designed to consume one and five watts.
Onboard effects
Mostly in regular-sized guitar amplifiers, you will find a large range of onboard effects. But the number is limited to a mini amp. Despite this, some amps promise to deliver a decent number of effects.
Input options
You might want to plug in your amp directly to your smartphone or laptop to listen to your favorite music. Also, if you prefer to carry out a silent jamming session, you need your headphones. That being said, you need an RCA input and an aux input in your mini amp so that you can connect your external devices.
CONCLUSION
As you have gone through my list of best mini amp, you might have understood that there are a few things to consider before you make the choice.
If I simplify this for you, you look for connections i.e. line outs, jacks, next you look for portability i.e. comfortable handle, belt loops, etc. then the built in effects that do not have to be a lot, they just have to be flexible enough and finally the main thing, sound.
You can always go a size bigger if you are looking for something to jam with and perform with, but this is the best starting point. So go through your own process of trial and error, check all the brands out there, go through my list which includes some mini versions of cult favorites, and remember to not underestimate the size.
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Greetings, I am Scott Shetler, a Senior Instrument expert, and Guitarist. My hobby and passion are all about music, and I like to explore new gadgets and instruments available in the market. From my experience, I reviewed and showcase the best products on our site to ensure the worth of readers’ expectations and money.