10 Best Combo Amps For Metal (2024 Update)

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When it comes to playing metal music, having the right gear is crucial. One of the most important pieces of equipment is the combo amp. A combo amp is an all-in-one amplifier that contains both the amp head and the speaker in one unit. It's a convenient option for guitarists who want a simple setup without having to worry about matching separate components.

However, not all combo amps are created equal, and finding the right one for metal music can be a challenge. Here are five key points to keep in mind when looking for a combo amp for metal:

1. Power: Metal music requires a lot of power, so you'll want an amp with at least 50 watts of power or more.

2. Gain: Metal music is characterized by its heavy distortion, so you'll want an amp with a high gain setting to achieve that sound.

3. EQ: A good EQ section is essential for metal music, as it allows you to shape your tone and cut through the mix.

4. Speaker size: A larger speaker will give you more low-end response, which is important for metal music.

5. Portability: If you plan on gigging or traveling with your amp, you'll want something that's easy to transport and won't break your back.

By keeping these factors in mind, you'll be able to find the perfect combo amp for your metal music needs.

10 Best Combo Amps For Metal

1. Lyxpro Spa-8 Portable Pa Speaker System With Metal Tripod Stand, 100w Rms Power, Active Amplifier, Bluetooth, Sd/usb/mp3 Inputs, And Remote Control.

The LyxPro SPA-8 Portable PA Speaker System is a powerful and versatile audio solution for a wide range of events and locations. With a built-in 100-watt active DJ/PA amplifier woofer system, this speaker delivers high-quality sound for small parties, schools, churches, corporate meetings, and more. The system is also equipped with a range of inputs, including Bluetooth, SD card, USB, XLR, 1/4", and 1/8", making it easy to connect to a variety of devices and instruments.

One of the standout features of the LyxPro SPA-8 is its adjustable stand, which is constructed from strong steel tube and knob. The stand is six feet tall and can be easily set up and adjusted to the desired height. The safety pin ensures that the speaker remains securely in place, while the non-slip rubber feet prevent it from sliding or tipping over.

The LyxPro SPA-8 is also lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport and set up for indoor and outdoor events. It weighs just 14 pounds and measures 14" H x 9.25" W x 8" D, making it ideal for small to medium-sized venues. Whether you're playing guitar, piano, or drums, or speaking to an audience, the LyxPro SPA-8 delivers clear and powerful sound that will keep your audience engaged and entertained.

In addition to its impressive audio capabilities, the LyxPro SPA-8 also features intuitive music controls for MP3 EQ control section, making it easy to fine-tune your sound. The XLR microphone input, SD card slot, and USB input allow for multiple easy connections, while the 3.5mm AUX input with per-input level knobs and R/L RCA inputs with per-input level knobs offer even more flexibility.

Finally, the LyxPro SPA-8 is designed to be easily linked with multiple speakers using a simple XLR cable. This allows you to daisy chain multiple active or passive speakers with one easy setup to your favorite instrument or microphone.

Overall, the LyxPro SPA-8 Portable PA Speaker System is a versatile and high-quality audio solution for a wide range of events and locations. With its powerful 100-watt active DJ/PA amplifier woofer system, adjustable stand, and multiple easy connections, this speaker is sure to impress even the most discerning audiophile. Plus, with its compact and lightweight design, it's easy to transport and set up for any occasion.

2. Orange Amps Crush 35rt Guitar Combo Amp Bundle With Cable, Patch Cables, And Picks.

The Orange Amps Crush 35RT 35W 1×10 Guitar Combo Amplifier (Orange) Bundle with Blucoil 10-FT Straight Instrument Cable (1/4in), 2-Pack of Pedal Patch Cables, and 4-Pack of Celluloid Guitar Picks is a high-quality guitar amplifier that delivers exceptional richness and clarity. Boasting a 4-stage preamp and all-analog circuitry, this amp provides highly-responsive overdrive and saturation, allowing guitarists to achieve a wide array of tones.

One of the standout features of the Orange Crush 35RT is its high gain preamp design, which delivers a wide range of complex tone from classic Bluesy Orange crunch, to blissful cleans, and full-bodied Metal distortion. This makes it suitable for a variety of musical styles and genres, from rock and metal to blues and jazz.

The Crush 35RT also plays well with external FX pedals, making it easy to connect any number of effects or cables in between the amp's I/O sections without sacrificing tone. The amp boasts a fully buffered, low impedance effects loop, ensuring exceptional performance and sound quality.

Another great feature of the Orange Crush 35RT is its cabinet simulation technology. The CabSim headphone/line output faithfully emulates the sound of a mic'd Orange 4×12" cabinet, providing guitarists with an authentic sound experience even when using headphones.

In addition to the Orange Amps Crush 35RT 35W 1×10 Guitar Combo Amplifier, this bundle also includes a Blucoil Premium 10-FT Instrument Cable with 1/4" Straight Connectors and PVC Shield for Guitars and Amps, which ensures exceptional signal transfer and noise reduction. The bundle also includes a 2-Pack of Blucoil Right-Angled Patch Cables for Effects Pedals, providing guitarists with the flexibility to connect their pedals in a variety of ways. Finally, the bundle includes a 4-Pack of Blucoil Thin Celluloid Guitar Picks (Assorted Colors), ensuring that guitarists have a variety of picks to choose from.

Overall, the Orange Amps Crush 35RT 35W 1×10 Guitar Combo Amplifier Bundle is an exceptional choice for guitarists who demand high-quality sound and performance. With its exceptional responsiveness, wide range of tones, and cabinet simulation technology, this amp is sure to impress even the most discerning musicians.

3. Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-Mg30gfx-U)

The Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-MG30GFX-U) is a powerful and versatile amplifier that is perfect for both beginners and experienced guitar players. It boasts a 30-watt (RMS) output at 4 ohms, which means that it can deliver loud and clear sound that is perfect for gigs, rehearsals, or just playing at home.

One of the standout features of this amplifier is its custom 10-inch speaker, which is designed to deliver a rich and full-bodied sound that is perfect for guitar playing. This speaker is capable of handling a wide range of frequencies, from deep and punchy bass tones to bright and sparkling highs, making it suitable for a range of different playing styles.

Another great feature of this amplifier is its modern digital effects, which allow you to add a range of different effects to your playing, such as delay, reverb, chorus, and more. These effects are easy to use and can be adjusted to your liking, so you can create your own unique sound.

The Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier also features emulated headphone output, which is perfect for practicing quietly at home. This allows you to plug in your headphones and play without disturbing others, while still being able to hear your playing clearly.

In addition to its digital effects and headphone output, this amplifier also has manual and preset channel modes, which allow you to switch between different sounds quickly and easily. It also has clean, crunch, OD1, and OD2 channels, which give you a wide range of different sounds to choose from.

Finally, the Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier has a line-in for jamming along with tracks, which is perfect for practicing with backing tracks or playing along with your favorite songs. This feature allows you to connect your phone, tablet, or other device to the amplifier, so you can play along with your favorite tracks and improve your playing skills.

Overall, the Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-MG30GFX-U) is a great choice for anyone looking for a versatile and powerful amplifier that can deliver great sound for a range of different playing styles. With its custom speaker, modern digital effects, and emulated headphone output, it is perfect for both beginners and experienced players alike.

4. Dji Mavic Air 2 – Fly More Combo: 48mp 4k Drone With 3-Axis Gimbal And 34min Flight Time.

The DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo is a powerful drone quadcopter UAV that takes aerial photography to the next level. It combines a high-performance camera with intelligent shooting modes to deliver stunning results. With an impressive flight time of up to 34 minutes, it allows users to capture epic, fast-paced shots.

The Mavic Air 2 is equipped with a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor that enables users to capture impressive 48MP photos, while the 3-axis gimbal provides 4K/60fps video. The drone's high-performance Quad Bayer image sensor is the secret to incredible HDR video. In addition, OcuSync 2.0 has a video transmission distance of up to 6.2mi/10km and can deliver 1080p FHD resolution livestream directly from the drone's camera.

Obstacle sensing in three directions makes the Mavic Air 2 extra convenient for beginners and improves safety. Intelligent tracking functions such as Spotlight 2.0 and ActiveTrack 3.0 make aerial photography easier than ever. Spotlight 2.0 keeps the camera locked on a subject while the user flies freely. ActiveTrack 3.0 keeps subjects centered, while POI 3.0 tracks moving subjects like people and vehicles.

The DJI Fly app is required for the Mavic Air 2 and is compatible with devices that run iOS v10.0, Android v6.0, or above. Compatible devices include iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Pixel, LG, and Sony Xperia.

The DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo includes the Mavic Air 2 aircraft, remote controller, three intelligent flight batteries, six low-noise propellers (pair), RC cables (USB Type-C, Lightning, Standard Micro-USB), control stick, gimbal protector, battery charger, battery charging hub, battery to power bank adapter, shoulder bag, ND filters set (ND16/64/256), manuals, AC power cable, and Type-C cable.

In summary, the DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo is a powerful and intelligent drone quadcopter UAV that delivers stunning aerial photography results. With its impressive flight time, high-performance camera, and intelligent tracking functions, it is a must-have for photography enthusiasts and professionals alike.

5. Corsair K70 Rgb Mk.2 Se Mechanical Gaming Keyboard With Cherry Mx Speed Switches, Pbt Double-Shot Keycaps, Usb Passthrough, Media Controls, And Rgb Led Backlighting In White.

The Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 SE Mechanical RAPIDFIRE Gaming Keyboard is a high-performance keyboard designed for gamers who demand precision and speed. With CHERRY MX Speed mechanical key switches, this keyboard provides reliability and accuracy that is essential for competitive gaming, with a blistering fast 1.2mm actuation.

The keyboard features an aircraft-grade silver anodized brushed aluminum frame, which is built to withstand a lifetime of gaming. It is also designed with white PBT double-shot keycaps that provide superior durability, look, and feel.

The keyboard has 8MB profile storage with hardware macro and lighting playback, allowing users to access up to three stored profiles on the go, independent of external software. It also features per-key dynamic multi-color RGB backlighting that offers near unlimited color customization and control. The HID keyboard report rate is 1000Hz, ensuring that every keystroke is registered instantly.

The CORSAIR iCUE software enables vivid dynamic lighting control, sophisticated macro programming, and full system lighting synchronization across compatible CORSAIR peripherals, coolers, fans, and more. This software offers a range of customization options, allowing users to personalize their keyboard to their liking.

Overall, the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 SE Mechanical RAPIDFIRE Gaming Keyboard is a versatile and reliable keyboard designed for gamers who demand high-performance and customization. With its advanced features and durable design, it is sure to provide an exceptional gaming experience.

6. Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-Dsl5cr-U)

The Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-DSL5CR-U) is a highly versatile and powerful piece of equipment that is perfect for both amateur and professional guitarists. The amplifier features an adjustable power output, which allows users to customize the volume and tone of their music according to their preferences. This feature also makes the amplifier suitable for use in various settings, from studio recordings to live performances.

The Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-DSL5CR-U) also comes with a Softube Emulated output, which is a digital technology that simulates the sound of a microphone placed in front of a guitar amplifier. This feature is ideal for those who want to record their music without the need for additional equipment, such as microphones or audio interfaces.

Additionally, the amplifier comes with a reverb effect, which adds a sense of depth and ambiance to the guitar sound. The reverb effect can be adjusted to suit different music genres and styles, making it a versatile tool for musicians.

The Celestion then-30 speaker is another notable feature of the Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-DSL5CR-U). This speaker is known for its high-quality sound and durability, making it an ideal choice for gigging musicians. The speaker is also capable of handling high volumes without distorting the sound, ensuring that the music remains clear and crisp even at high volumes.

The Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-DSL5CR-U) also comes with tonal improvements, which enhance the overall sound quality of the amplifier. The tonal improvements include 2 x ECC83 and 1 x Bh7, which are preamp and power tubes respectively. The preamp tubes are responsible for shaping the tone of the guitar sound, while the power tubes amplify the sound to produce a louder and more powerful sound.

In conclusion, the Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-DSL5CR-U) is a high-quality and versatile piece of equipment that is perfect for guitarists of all levels. Its adjustable power output, Softube Emulated output, reverb effect, Celestion then-30 speaker, and tonal improvements make it a must-have for any musician who wants to produce high-quality music. Whether you are recording in the studio or performing live on stage, the Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-DSL5CR-U) is the perfect tool for enhancing your guitar sound.

Best Combo Amps For Metal FAQs

Are there any specific brands or models that are known for being great for metal?

Yes, there are specific brands and models of guitars that are known for being great for playing metal music. Some of the popular brands include Jackson, ESP, Ibanez, Schecter, and PRS. These brands have designed and produced guitars that feature high-output pickups, slim necks, and extended range for playing aggressive and heavy metal tones.

In terms of specific models, some of the popular ones include the Jackson Soloist, ESP LTD MH-1000, Ibanez RG series, Schecter Hellraiser series, and PRS SE Mark Holcomb. These guitars have been designed and marketed specifically for metal players, and they offer excellent features such as fast necks, versatile tone controls, and reliable hardware.

Overall, the choice of guitar for playing metal music ultimately depends on personal preferences and playing style. However, the above brands and models are highly recommended by metal guitarists and professionals due to their quality and reliability.

Can a combo amp deliver the same level of distortion and tone as a separate head and cabinet setup for metal?

Yes, a combo amp can deliver the same level of distortion and tone as a separate head and cabinet setup for metal. The quality of tone and distortion depends on the specific amp model and its features. However, separate head and cabinet setups tend to offer more power and flexibility in terms of tone shaping and sound customization. With a head and cabinet setup, you have the option to mix and match different heads and cabinets to achieve your desired sound, while a combo amp is an all-in-one solution. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, budget, and the specific requirements of your playing style. Both combo amps and separate head and cabinet setups can deliver excellent metal tones, and it's up to the individual to decide which option works best for them.

How many watts do I need in a combo amp to play metal music at high volumes?

As a professional musician, I can say that the wattage of a combo amp required to play metal music at high volumes depends on various factors such as the size of the venue, the type of guitar being used, and the sound you want to achieve. Generally, a 50-watt combo amp is enough for small gigs, while a 100-watt amp is suitable for medium to large-sized venues. However, if you're going to play in massive arenas, you may need a 200-watt amp or more.

Additionally, the type of amp and speakers also play a significant role in achieving the desired sound. A tube amp is preferred by many metal guitarists as it provides a warm and dynamic tone. On the other hand, solid-state amps are cheaper and more reliable but may not offer the desired tone.

In conclusion, the wattage of a combo amp needed to play metal music at high volumes depends on various factors, and it's essential to choose the right one to achieve your desired sound.

What are the best combo amps for playing heavy metal music?

As a professional guitarist, I would recommend the following combo amplifiers for playing heavy metal music:

1. Peavey 6505+ 112 Combo – This amp is known for its high-gain distortion and aggressive tone. It has a 60-watt power output, which is more than enough for small to medium-sized gigs.

2. Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII – This amp has a versatile range of tones and features that make it ideal for playing heavy metal music. It has a 40-watt power output and comes with a Celestion speaker that adds to its overall sound quality.

3. Marshall DSL40CR – This amp is perfect for those who want a classic Marshall sound with modern features. It has a 40-watt power output and comes with a Celestion V-Type speaker that delivers a powerful and aggressive tone.

Overall, the best combo amps for playing heavy metal music are those that have a high-gain distortion, a powerful output, and a versatile range of tones. It's important to consider your playing style and requirements when choosing an amp, as each one has its own unique features and sound.

What features should I look for when choosing a combo amp for metal?

When choosing a combo amp for metal, there are several features to consider. Firstly, the wattage of the amp should be high enough to produce the necessary volume and distortion for metal playing. Typically, 50 watts or more is recommended. The speaker size should also be considered, with 12 or 15-inch speakers being preferable for their ability to produce low-end frequencies.

Additionally, the amp should have a versatile EQ section that allows for sculpting the tone to suit different styles of metal. A built-in effects section can also be useful, providing options for adding reverb, delay, and other effects to the sound.

Finally, the overall build quality of the amp should be considered, with durable construction and reliable components being important for gigging and recording. It's also worth checking out user reviews and demos to get a sense of how the amp sounds in different settings, and to ensure that it meets your specific needs as a metal player.

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