| Build Quality: |  |
| Hardware: |  |
| Electronics: | |
| Sound: | |
| Value: | |
| Average: | |
Pros:
- Has a very compact design
- Lightweight, affordable price
- Can be used as a recording tool
Cons:
- The distortion might not be powerful enough for some
If you have spent a day in music industry, you probably already know that VOX amplifiers are a different story. They create powerful sound with little to no effort and are equipped with all the features you will need. Plus, they have signature sound that is hard to replicate. Even their smaller, practice amps can make your ears bleed without sounding noisy and dirty. V9106 Pathfinder comes from the same league and offers simplicity in a durable, sturdy body. If you are looking for a badass practice amp, then you should definitely check this one out. And this article will provide you with all the information you will need for making the final decision. So keep on reading!
Features
V9106 is a solid-state amp with a 6.5” speaker and 10 watts of power. Even though this amount might seem too small, it is perfectly enough for practicing. VOX decided to create something simple, yet usable and this amp represents that perfectly. It comes with an input jack for your instrument, as well as a headphone/line out output jack. The latter is where things get interesting. It transfers a filtered signal that can be utilized for recording the music into a recording console. It can also be employed with headphones – plugging them in will mute the speakers and allow you to practice in silence. V9106 does not offer anything too distinctive, however the features that it comes with are quite handy and useful for frequent utilization. At this price point and wattage, you could not dare to ask for more.
Controls
When it comes to controls, we have everything you would need for practice. This amp is very easy to tweak, which means you will be able to find the perfect settings in little to no time. After all, we all want simple things, right?
Let’s start with the Clean/Overdrive switch. As you have already guessed, this one allows you to choose between pristine and distorted tones. The latter has way more gain than the former and enables you to employ VOX’s signature overdrive. Both of them can be amplified with the Gain knob. It adds strength and girth to your sound and can go from subtle to utmost crazy with just a twist (especially with overdriven sound). Next on the panel we have Treble and Bass controls. The first one takes care of higher frequencies and can make your sound bright and screaming, while the second one manages the lower end and allows you to be as dark as you want. Last but not least, we have Volume knob. This bad boy sets the level of the output and can really change your sound depending on the mode (clean or overdrive) you use. These controls will assist you in any settings and let you be the boss of your tone.
VOX V9106 Sound
When talking about VOX, it is clear that the sound will be ethereal without further ado. V9106 is not an exception either. As with other amps of this brand, the clean tones are bright and shining, steeped with definition and precision. Cranking up gain will add a bit of crunch to your pristine sound and provide more versatility. The overdrive switch gives you that characteristic VOX overdrive that is hard to forget. It is saturated with character, texture and girth, which is more than you would expect from a 10-watt amplifier. The distortion this bad boy offers has a wide range of sonic spectrums and delivers a versatile tone. The EQ section balances out lower and higher frequencies beautifully and allows you to tailor your sound to perfection. V9106 works quite well acoustic guitars, so you can try that out as well.
Conclusion
All things considered, VOX has once again surprised (not that we did not know how amazing they are) us with outstanding sound quality. This device has a lot to offer in terms of tone and does a spectacular job as a practice amp. V9106 provides you with a wide range of sonic possibilities and allows you to get creative. It combines affordability with flexibility and delivers everything in a fancy small package. This amp is quite easy to carry around and will take up little space if you live it at home. Consider all the information I have provided once again and you will be convinced in the power of this unit. If not, just listen to demos. One way or another, V9106 will not disappoint you. Good luck!
Click here to view more from Best Cheap Guitar Amps for Beginners.
