Looking for a small practice amp and possible busking/jamming with friends amp. From what I've read the mini3 & mini5 will fit the bill nicely. My question is this; with the mini5 might have the edge with the 0.1,1.5&5 watt choices. 0.1 watts for quiet(ish) In home practice. Does the mini3 offer anything the mini5 doesn't?
Mini 3 sucks! ... between the two the mini 5 is the way to go. But if you can find one, I would go with the DA5.
I just bought a DA5 .. and did extensive research before i bought it. The mini3 had really bad reviews and most people who had both the da5 and mini 3, hated the mini3. The mini 5 is supposed to be the replacement for the DA5, but it doesnt quite have all the same amp models etc. However the variable voltage alone is worth the price of admission.
You can still find NOS Da5 .. I got mine new a month or so ago. ... i did a review on mine in the beginner thread back when i got it. I love it. A few others have the da5 aswell. Someone on here had the mini 5, i dont remeber who. But he had nothing but good things to say about it,i do remeber that.
So that's all i can tell you. Stay away from the mini 3 ... ---------- "THE BLUES IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! "
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Mar 29, 2016 7:40 PM
DA5 doesn't have inbuilt rhythms The DA5 effects are all combinations (comp+phaser, chorus+delay, flanger+reverb, etc) Amp styles are different (don't know whether or not they're better on the Mini5) Aux in and phones out are 3.5mm jacks on the Mini5, 6.5mm on the DA5 The complete control panel on the Mini5 is on the top - personally, I think this would be more practical, but it's no big deal DA5 doesn't have a tuner, but I've heard it's supposed to be next to useless anyway Mic input on the Mini5 has optional reverb/delay
As I say, I haven't tried the Mini5, so I have no idea how the sound compares to the DA5. Might have to buy one if I can't find another DA5 for sale locally, cos the kids could do with some new toys. If it doesn't make the grade, I can always return it.
I use the mini-5 rhythm and think it is really nice, and I love having all of the built in effects. If you really want it to sound good though grab yourself a Joyo American pedal for around $30 and run the Vox on the clean setting. Seems to give it more of a natural breakup than any of the models. I have not tried the DA5 so I cannot really say, but I don't think you can go wrong with either. I mainly went with the mini-5 because it has the delays and reverbs separate from the other effects. And I do occasionally use the drums for practicing as well.. ---------- -LeWin$key
Last Edited by Harmonica Lewinskey on Mar 30, 2016 2:49 AM
That could be true, but you still don't get delay, reverb, chorus etc, all of which work really well with the harp. I was looking for something truly portable when I got mine so not having to bring pedals was a huge plus for me.. ---------- -LeWin$key
I have a vox Mini3 it's a nice amp. Not perfect, but useable and very easy to transport, very lightweight. Great for busking and you can play with friends if they keep the volume at a reasonable level and they don't play drums! This amp it's loud for it's size, but it of course lacks some bass because of the speaker size. However it has a nice punch.
I've never tested neither the Mini5 or the Da5, so can't compare them.
I recorderd this a couple of years ago using a bullet mic with a regular Shure element. It has a little too much reverb, and it was recorded with a cellphone, but hope it helps.
Tigger hit it on the head. The only this the mini5 had that would be nice on the da5 is the effects on the extra mic input in the back.
But the amp models on these amps are everything. So i prefer the amp models on the da5. Blues2 is Fender Bassman, it sounds great.
I had no idea the joyo American was $30. I hear it talked about alot, but never really heard anything from it that blew me away. But for $30 is sounds nice. Maybe i just never hear it played by the right person or with the right setup. I prefer my harp attack.
Camilio. The DA5 has decent bottom end. For a little amp anyways. That's another big reason i went with the da5. I wanted an amp that i could play at very low volume with a good breakup. But also could hit if i turned it up. The DA5 does that for sure. 0.5 watt is a great setting for home use. And the 5.0 watt hit pretty good. If i need more than that I use the vht. The battery power last a long time on .5w aswell. I dont even have an AC adapter for it. I only use batteries.
Check out my review on the da5 in the beginner thread. It was a month ago or so. So search for it.
---------- "THE BLUES IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! "
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Mar 30, 2016 5:27 AM
I've enjoyed my mini-5. The rhythm variations are huge, and I've found that applying vastly different rhythms to a single song makes you stretch yourself. We get used to playing something the same way all the time, and while that might lead to proficiency in one style, it doesn't really create the sort of challenge that leads to progress.
For instance, putting a funk rhythm to any old standard (Swing Low, Summertime, whatever) will make you think and experiment. It's a good way to look at your playing through a different prism, and help your improv chops progress.
I also like the 1/8-inch aux input. I download jam tracks to a cheapie MP3 player, and then plug that into the MIni 5.
Last Edited by Rontana on Mar 30, 2016 6:55 AM
I play mp3 tracks on mine aswell. Da5. Adapters work fine. I use my looper fir rythms. Point being i don't think it's a reason to sacrifice, for amp models you may not like ---------- "THE BLUES IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! "
Not to piss off our gun slinging killer by saying something about an amp he has never tried, which seems to meet with a lot of protectionism, but..... :) The mini5 takes regular batteries if memory serves. Not mentioned yet, but would sell me for the mini5.
I've been playing around with my Mini5 again today after all this talk. I still like the way the Joyo sounds better than the built-in models, but if you do that you should turn the gain and tone up higher on the amp, otherwise it sounds kinda muddy.. Also if you add just the tiniest amount of Chorus it gives it a really cool sound, almost like overdriven tube sounds from a really dirty amp. Again, this is one of the nice things about the mini5, you can actually fine-tune the effects levels, as opposed to the DA5 which has preset levels that are combined with the delays and reverbs. The amp models might be better on the DA5 though, which might eliminate the need for the Joyo, but I haven't tried it so I can't really say
Regular batteries? As opposed to what? Irregular ones?
Protectionism?
Idk about that. I'm just trying to let you know what I've found. And what my research tells me.
Proof is in the pudding bro. Nobody with the DA5 seems to be using pedals. Because The amp models are pretty good.
However Har Lewinsky ... seems to prefer clean with the joyo on the mini 5. Hmm.
Either way you ll have an good portable battery amp that you can play at low wattage with good breakup. Great amps for home playing.
But they both cost the same.
So do you want a tuner and rythms?
Or better amp models?
I'm just trying to help the man make the most informed decision.
The 3 is out. Even guitar players don't like that one. Sorry if that's the one you got, but .....
Oh and BTW .. small correction to tiggers post. most of the effects on the da5 are combos. But it does have seperate Reverb and Delay. Tap functions for the effects and effect volume.
The effects are Ehhh. Mas o Menos. But they are surely usable.
The bottom line is whats most important to YOU. you know the strength and weakness of each. The rest is up to you.
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Mar 30, 2016 7:18 PM
I have a year or so into a mini5. I haven't done a side by side with any other small modeling amp, but I am completely happy with it. The three power settings are very models work fine, although I generall play clean with slight effects. I use it running my iPad thru it with jam tracks, songs, lessons. With the phones, my harp mixes nicely with the track. Use phones once in a while. light and batts make it portable. Price is right. You wouldn't go wrong. ---------- Phil Pennington
Phil Im sure its a great amp. All i know is it doesnt have the Blues2 (Bassman) model, for some reason they got rid of it. And that's really the only model I use on it. So to ME that's a big deal. But to others it may not be so much. I have not tried the mini 5 and for all i know i would like those models better. But as far as others have said the models aren't quite as bluesy. And seems alot of people run it clean like you do.
Actually i have a Zoom multistomp with quite a few different models in it and many more options for fine tuning the models. Im going to run some of those thru the clean n see how they sound.
I just liked having the option of being able to just grab the DA5, a mic, n my harps n roll out. For busking purposes or whathave you.
But as i said initially the adjustable wattage on both amps is worth the price alone. ---------- "THE BLUES IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! "
Yep, here is the description from the Mini 5 manual...
"TWEED 4x10 This models a 4x10" combo amp from 1959 that was originally designed for bass guitar. Its smooth and crisp overdrive sound will respond sen- sitively to your picking dynamics and to the volume of your guitar."
Hey Killa. I'm wasn't so much into a debate with you as I simply was responding to 703 with a perspective based on my experience. And I think Harmonica Lew is right about the tweed 4x10. It's a great little practice amp. It is what it is.... TEHO. ---------- Phil Pennington
Har lew ... ahh .. well curious as to why others who A/B them didn't like the models as much? .. maybe its slightly different circuitry .... idk. Whatever, thanks for the correction though. Im really curious to try it for myself now. I did try the mini 3 briefly in a guitar center. Wasnt a fan.
Maybe ill keep my eye out for a cheap mini 5. These amps are good enough to have 2 of.
Phil ... it wasn't a heated debate, just talking. I don't take any of this too seriously. So dont get the wrong idea.
I can get a lil rammy at times, but hopefully that's not misconstrued. Its just the way i am.
Edit: And I may be opinionated, but I havent been playing harmonica that long. So the opinions I do have are easily changed. So debate away. You may just change my mind. ---------- "THE BLUES IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! "
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Mar 31, 2016 12:53 PM
