Positive Grid Spark 2 | Review

Positive Grid Spark 2 | Review

With ‘quality of life’ updates, a redesigned speaker array - resulting in a 25% overall volume boost - not to mention a new processing engine which delivers pristine HD amp modelling, and AI tone generating software; Positive Grid’s next generation of their award winning Spark platform of practice amps, is earning it’s place on guitarist’s desks and practice spaces as the new go-to practice amp solution. Nick Jennison tells us more.

Here at Gi headquarters, we’re big fans of Positive Grid’s line of “Spark” amps. We all have Spark Minis, and there’s at least one Spark Go in the studio at all times. My own personal Spark Mini has been all around the world with me, and I’ve used it for everything from hotel room practices to on-the-road demo recording, as a bluetooth speaker on road trips to the countryside and even as a tiny FRFR for my Quad Cortex when we’re shooting reviews on location.

The latest in the lineup, the Spark 2, is a very worthy addition to the lineup. It offers a bunch of new musical and quality-of-life features, but it also sports a completely overhauled suite of tones thanks to Positive Grid’s new HD amp models. For me, these are the star of the show - while I’ve always enjoyed playing the models in my Spark Mini, they always felt somewhat outgunned by both my “real” amps and current-gen modellers and plugins. That is absolutely no longer the case. The new models are more open, more dynamic, much more realistic and seemingly have a lower latency than before.

In the room, the sound of the Spark 2 is seriously impressive. The combination of 50w of stereo power, the new angled speaker array and the dedicated Sonic IQ processing make for an immersive experience that’s incredibly fun to play through, but also to listen to music on.

 

Another new feature is the inclusion of a looper, with controls on the top panel rather than tucked away in the app. I must confess, I’m not much of a “looper guy”, but this one is so easy to use thanks to it’s tempo-sync’d recording and metronome, I found myself spending way too long layering up little ditties instead of actually doing my job and filming the video for this review. 

In the room, the sound of the Spark 2 is seriously impressive. The combination of 50w of stereo power, the new angled speaker array and the dedicated Sonic IQ processing make for an immersive experience that’s incredibly fun to play through, but also to listen to music on. I can see myself ditching my cheap monitors in my home studio (or even my TV soundbar in my living room!) in favour of one of these.

Another very exciting feature is the inclusion of Spark AI - essentially, a virtual amp tech. You can ask it for whatever tone you’re after, and it’ll suggest a complete signal chain that’s perfect for your needs. Is your tone a little too brash? Too thin? Too wet? No need to dive through menus to fix it, just ask Spark AI and it’s sorted.

In addition to all the sonic and functional upgrades, the Spark 2 also sports a more luxurious build with nicer tolex, a beefier strap, text in front of the knobs where it’s easier to see… no stone has been left unturned.

Positive Grid are touting the Spark 2 as “Better Everything”, and I’m happy to confirm this is an understatement. I can see one of these finding a home on my desk and never leaving.

For more information, visit: positivegrid.com