Hiwatt Leeds 25R Combo | Review

Hiwatt Leeds 25R Combo | Review

MSRP: (UK) £549 / (US) $TBC

The Leeds 25R brings the iconic classic British sound in a compact, versatile package. Featuring clean tones, high headroom, and an overdrive channel, it's perfect for small venues, greenrooms, or home practice. With built-in spring reverb, an FX loop, and a pedal-friendly design, it offers tonal flexibility for any setup. Nick Jennison takes a closer look.

If you've ever wanted that iconic HiWatt sound without dropping serious cash or hauling a massive amp, the Leeds 25 Combo might just be what you're looking for. This little gem packs a lot into a lightweight, budget-friendly design, giving you a slice of classic British tone in a compact format that won't break your back—or your wallet.

The Leeds 25 is a 25-watt, solid-state MOSFET amp with a built-in 10-inch speaker. Let's get this out of the way: this isn't a valve amp. But that's also why it's so affordable. The trade-off? You still get a surprisingly rich and versatile sound that holds its own in practice settings, small gigs, and even backstage warm-ups. It's a two-channel amp with a clean side that makes your chords shimmer and an overdrive channel called "Crunch" that delivers warm, gritty British vibes. Both channels are easy to navigate thanks to intuitive front-panel controls. The clean side features standard treble, middle, and bass knobs, along with a real spring reverb for that extra touch of lushness. Meanwhile, the Crunch channel lets you tweak the gain and contour, shaping everything from thick, vintage tones to scooped midranges straight out of the '90s.

One cool detail is the headphone out for silent practice, and it even has an auxiliary input for jamming along with your favourite tracks. Need more volume? You can hook it up to an external speaker cabinet, giving you a bigger sound for gigs or recording sessions.

On the clean channel, the Leeds 25 absolutely shines. Whether you're playing through a Strat or a Les Paul, you'll hear every note clearly, with warmth and depth that feel more expensive than the price suggests. The real magic lies in the spring reverb—it's subtle but adds a beautiful touch to your tone. On the Crunch channel, things get a bit more playful. It's not a high-gain monster (metalheads might want to look elsewhere), but it's perfect for classic rock, blues, or anything vintage-inspired. The gain range gives you everything from a soft breakup to a punchy growl, and the contour control is a neat trick for dialing in different flavours of distortion. Be careful, though—maxing out the scoop might leave things sounding a little hollow.

The only real letdown is the headphone output, which doesn't include cabinet simulation. This means the overdrive can sound a bit harsh through headphones. That said, turning down the treble or tweaking the contour control smooths it out. For practice purposes, it gets the job done.

This amp isn't just about sound—it's ridiculously portable too. Weighing next to nothing, the Leeds 25 is a breeze to carry around. It's perfect for practising at home, warming up backstage, or throwing in the car for a quick jam session. And if you want more oomph, the external speaker output lets you hook it up to a bigger cab with 12-inch speakers, transforming it into a serious rig. At this price point, it's no surprise that a footswitch isn't included, but honestly, it's not a dealbreaker. The amp is so affordable that picking up a separate footswitch is hardly a big ask.

The HiWatt Leeds 25 Combo isn't trying to be a jack-of-all-trades amp. It knows its lane and stays there confidently, delivering classic British tones with a price tag that's hard to ignore. Whether you're practising, jamming, or even gigging in small venues, it's a reliable little workhorse with a sound that punches well above its weight. If you're after modern metal tones or all the bells and whistles of high-end amps, this isn't your amp. But if you want great vintage-inspired tones, practical features, and portability that makes life easy, the Leeds 25 Combo is absolutely worth a look. Affordable, fun to play, and packed with charm—it's a little amp with a lot to offer.

For more information, please visit:

hiwatt.com