Guitar Reviews 4U The Vox ADIO Desktop Amplifier

 

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.

The rear Panel view showing connections

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.

Guitar Reviews 4U - The VOX DA5 - 5 Watt Practice Amplifier review

 

Guitar Reviews 4U - The VOX DA5 5W Practice Amplifier - 

Features a Mic and AUX input on the rear panel - ideal for the Beach!

The Vox DA5 - a Mini Vox amplifier that can be Mains 9v or AA powered 

The DA5 is a small and simple amplifier ideal for songwriting, recording or live busking, as it has a choice of power sources either a mains to 9v adaptor input (Mains current down to a 9v input into the unit) or AA Battery power (AA Batteries) for playing outdoors in the street, on the beach or in the garden. It features power output settings of 0.5w, 1.0 watt and 5 watts on a slider switch found on the back panel.

It is also a useful workshop amplifier to test guitars you've been working on too! 

The version shown above is in the 'classic' Vox look and style used since around 1960 that was applied to the early VOX AC30 with the Black Tolex and Diamond woven Speaker Grille cloth and Gold 'Vox' name badge.

What the DA5 can do is surprising, that given a few years ago a small guitar amplifier of this size would only feature Volume and Tone Controls with a Reverb if you were lucky. The DA5 moves that limitation on with a good array of Amplifier types and Effects on board.

Vox DA5 in alternative Red Tolex and with Stainless Steel pressed Grille -

Black Tolex is the usual finish, White, Red and Pink Tolex are limited run options

The other version of the DA5 is as found above with the metal grille cover, usually it is with a Black Tolex finish and pressed Grille of a style found on the VT 30 to VT 100 model modelling amplifiers. I wanted the classic old Vox look and chose that version, otherwise there is no difference to the controls.

The DA5 is a plug and play small amplifier which does not have any modelling features such as patches or banks, largely as it has not got the space for the digital controls for these on the top panel. On the top panel, you can find the Amplifier Model or type settings as your start point. 

Vox usually on their units and in their owner's manuals alludes to the trade names of amplifiers by cleverly using such names in such cases as 'Blues' to equate to a Marshall, ' 'Clean 1' and 'Clean 2' these usually are AC15 and AC30 type amplifiers, 'Crunch' a Hi-watt and 'Hi Gain' a Rectifier amplifier for this example. Those can vary according to the number and model being replicated.

The Top Panel gives you easy access to the controls

The Rear Panel has a Microphone and Aux in inputs

The rear panel houses the Microphone input (a 6.35mm mono), an aux in for your MP3 player and a Line / Phono output for headphones or a mixing desk. A slider switch allows you to attenuate power in 0.5, 1 and 5 watt outputs. So you can play along with your vocals too, there is no bluetooth on this model so you can't beam backing tracks to the unit, you have to physically connect them via a 3.5mm cable.

Playing the guitar through the DA5, you'll find the simple to use controls useful to get the sound you require quickly and easily. On the 5W setting, in a bedroom the DA5 is quite loud enough even at a low volume and is useful for playing along to DVD's on your TV.

Back to the controls, the amplifier settings are descriptive so you have a flavour of the sound by the description. On the top row are a Master Volume, Tone and Gain, so you can crank the amplifier there if required, used in conjunction with the rear switch if you want to achieve a driven sound at low volume output.

There are twelve effects which are quite usable and can be controlled from the Edit function control for in cases speed, depth or time depending on the effect chosen. There are no 'Bank' or 'Patch' settings to save these too but that's a trade off for the size of the unit.

The DA5 is a good small amplifier to have to hand for various jobs, as a portable play outside amplifier, a workshop guitar tester amplifier, or as a small studio or songwriting amplifier and also for playing along to music from the TV or a music centre.

Value for money is good, although the DA5 is not a current Vox product you can find them secondhand reasonably priced. Later Vox models of the DA5 concept with more features including a Tuner are the Mini GT2 and GT3 Amplifiers can also be found used.

My only issue with the DA 5 is the small length of lead on the mains adapter, however a replacement of the same mv rating with a longer lead is only around £10 so that is an easy fix.