Blackstar’s HT series has always been highly-regarded. Encompassing a range of British-designed valve amps that don’t break the bank, the HT line has been a popular one at Andertons Music Co. for several years. The Blackstar HT-20R MkII is the latest contender, unveiled at the 2019 NAMM Show. Now in a very fetching blue tolex!
The bigger brother of Blackstar’s portable HT-1 and HT-5 combos, the HT-20R MkII can be the perfect gigging workhorse with its 20W of headroom. Still compact and easy to transport, the MkII edition boasts a raft of new updated features.
With USB connectivity, balanced XLR outputs and a power reduction switch, the HT-20R has all of the appointments to meet the demands of modern guitarists.
British Valve Tones
The Blackstar HT-20R is a pure and authentic valve-powered amplifier. With a single ECC83 preamp valve, the HT-20R gets most of its British voice from its two EL84 power amp valves. Delivering pristine-sounding cleans, warm overdrive tones and saturated high-gain, this versatile little combo is suitable for both contemporary players and traditionalists alike.
Switchable Voices
With 2 channels, allowing you to setup switchable clean and overdrive/distortion sounds, the HT-20R has a clever trick up its sleeve. Each channel has two footswitchable voices, giving you more tonal options.
The clean channel lets you access “American” and “British” voices. The latter has a stronger mid-range, while the US-style mode has a more scooped, bright and focused character. Flick to the overdrive channel, and you can choose between “Classic” and “High-Gain” voices. So, whether you want those rich, old-school British rock tones, or aggressive American metal sounds – the choice is yours!
Modern Features
Blackstar’s signature ‘ISF’ tone knob features on the HT-20R. Letting you mould your sound to be more American or British, this unique control gives you that extra level of tweakability, alongside the flexible 3-band EQ.
Also sporting a USB port and balanced emulated XLR outputs, direct recording has never been easier. With the ability to switch between 1×12″ and 4×12″ cab emulations, you can also take advantage of the HT-20R’s headphone output for silent practice.
Speaking of practicing quietly, you can power down the HT-20R to 2W. This means that you can get glorious cranked valve sounds without blowing your ears off! Another great feature is the newly-voiced studio quality reverb too, which you can use to really spruce up your clean tones, for example.
Last but not least, the Blackstar HT-20R boasts an essential effects loop. Letting you seamlessly run modulation and time-based stompboxes between the the preamp and power amp sections, the HT-20R can become the perfect platform for your pedals.
Key Features
- Footswitchable Voices for Clean and Overdrive
- Power reduction to 2 Watts
- USB audio out
- XLR D.I. out
- Newly-voiced studio quality reverb
- Boutique styling
Grupa gitarskih eksperata i entuzijasta koji su se 2004. godine okupili oko iste ideje, već su imali decenije zajedničkog iskustva u dizajnu pojačala na najvišem nivou. Uslijedilo je intenzivno tehničko istraživanje u dvorišnoj kući u Northamptonu u Engleskoj i 2007. na muzičkom sajmu u Frankfurtu predstavljen je Blackstar. Prateći parolu "zvuk u vašoj glavi" Blackstar su uspjeli da naprave uspješne serije pojačala koje već preko deceniju perfektno služe gitariste širom svijeta u sve i jednom mogućem muzičkom žanru. Lampaši za velike bine, za studio, modeling pojačala, pojačala za vježbanje, za akustične instrumente sa zvučnim kartama ... Blackstar misli na sve. 