Guitar Reviews 4U - the Vox ADIO Desktop Amplifier
Compact and stylish - the VOX ADIO unit
If you are looking for a compact guitar interface for recording on a computer and playing along to backing tracks, there's a few on the market. In 2024 I purchased a BOSS Dual Cube LX 10W 2 Speaker unit which also has a 'Flat' channel that can be used for MP3 players.
The Boss Dual Cube LX 10W
Recently I saw a VOX ADIO secondhand for sale and decided to take a look. It is still a current VOX product at the time of review and is on Amazon UK for £269, and on Vox's site for £229.
The ADIO Top Panel - a simple interface with easy to use controls
The Boss Dual Cube is a good unit but has no Guitar Tuner or Patch storage in Banks, both features that are on my VOX Tonelab units and on the VT40+ Amplifier I use.
The ADIO looks like a radio which is perhaps part of the appeal, with styling that harks back to the early AC VOX amplifiers or around 1960. It is a stylish and compact unit.
On the top panel are the main controls, there are a 11 Amplifier models which can be used in 3 modes each, with preloaded patches - these can be used in a Manual mode or by pressing the bank patch button, can be edited.
You can have 8 editable patches to hand on the Bank mode section, although there is no footswitch to change them, they have to be done by hand.
There are two FX banks controlled by Rotary Dials, one is modulation based and the second for Reverb and Delay. These are quite basic effects but usable. By using the USB connection to a computer or by Bluetooth to a Phone, the JAM VOX App allows more FX patches to be run.
If you are using the ADIO as a guitar interface to a computer you are likely to have onboard FX patches on the computer you can use as well or instead of the unit's own onboard patches.
Saving patches is easy - you just adjust the controls to taste and then hold the patch button down whilst the LED light flashes a couple of times and then release. If you've used these VOX type units before it will be familiar.
A 'Wide' button allows a 'stereo wide' effect to be applied to the audio.
Bluetooth your Phone to the ADIO
There are two internal 8 Ohm speakers although rated at 50 Watts collectively it is doubtful that the output is that loud!
On the rear panel are the power in socket (connecting to the supplied adapter), USB and Bluetooth connections and a rear battery compartment for AA Batteries, allowing you to use the ADIO as a portable amplifier or Bluetooth MP3 Amplifier via your Phone.
A Bass version is also available - behind the ADIO in this image
There is an internal 'scoop' handle for carrying and the unit is fairly light, made of an injection moulded ABS type material with nicely rounded corners.
In use the ADIO is easy to operate and although the owner's manual is a bit minimal (and downloadable if you need it) the instructions are easy to follow.
Compared to the BOSS, the VOX has more functionality with the extra patches facility, the Boss is limited to 3 per amplifier setting on the Main rotary control (as the VOX also has in Manual mode) - the Vox also has the 8 Manual set patches too.
Sonically the VOX sounds good, although the Amplifier range is limited to 11 types, I really only use the cleaner sounding ones like the AC30 or the US 2x12 (Reverb clone of the Fender Twin) models.
The ADIO is simple to connect to a Computer via USB
There are a set of higher gain models from the 'Texas Lead' to a 'Dual Rectifier' on the dial too, these aren't really patches I would use for the music style I play.
Playing a guitar connected to the unit is useful for songwriting or for performance, although the unit isn't designed for loud playing. The volume is quite adequate for room or studio use where you're playing in a situation that doesn't compete with other loud instruments.
Although the Vox has volume limitations, it is useful for what it does. For me it is useful to use with the BOSS, the BOSS can take an Ipod audio input and via the 'Flat' setting on the BOSS Amplifier setting mode which allows use of the pure signal as sent.
I use the ADIO as the Guitar Amplifier, likely using one of the saved Patches to play along to MP3 tracks.
I have set my ADIO up with 4 patches based on the Fender 2x12 Amplifier with clean settings on those. The other 4 I use for VOX AC30 clean patches.
In closing, the ADIO is a good unit for what I need it to do.
