Vox DA5 Digital Amplifier

Eleven amp modes/models and plenty of effects. It's small enough to pack in your suitcase for the plane, or you could even put it in a backpack and carry it on. I got it mainly for travel, and the size/weight is perfect for that. The control for some of the effects is a little complicated, but it's nothing to really hinder the overall value of the amp. Besides, I don't really use effects. I got the one with the classic Vox styling - it looks really sweet.

First the bad - it's got a very slight hum when on (undetectable while playing it), and it seems to be more sensitive to your cell phone than other amps (y'know, that annoying beeping sound that cell phone signals make through speakers).

I know, the bad points are pretty petty, so let's get to the good stuff! This is one of those modelers where all of the models sound good. I've got other modeling pedals - a Line 6 Pod 2.0 and a Zoom G7 - and both of those have some really sorry models. Vox (or actually Korg) made the most of all 11 models. The cleans have sparkle and character, and the overdrives all have a good range. You might have some problems with a real metal sound, but really - this has a 6.5" speaker and it says "Vox" on the outside. Of course it's not meant for metal! That said, it does have good high gain sounds, and they sound as fat as the small speaker can make them. The effects are all pretty good, though I really only use reverb. Another good sound option is found with the battery door - it's made of wood, and it's located on the back of the cab... this translates to open back and closed back sounds! Not too shabby if you ask me.

I have used this with a Gibson Les Paul and an American Strat. Great sounds from both!

No problems yet, but I just got it. Looks well-built.

I've had to call them before concerning a different amp (the problem was really with the retailer - long story, blah, blah) and they were nice and helpful. Remember, Korg owns the Vox name, so you're actually dealing with Korg when you call Vox for support.

I was really amazed by the sounds of this little thing. This would be a great first amp, practice amp, or travel amp. I've been playing alternative and classic rock for 11 years, and I've got a ton of gear. This is a fine addition to the collection!

Brand new vox da 5 amp. It is extremely versitile, many effects. I use mainly auto wah, chorus, and the crunch settings. At home I use the .5 watt setting. You can see all the bells and whistles on the website so I won't go into detail. For a semi-serious amateur like me this is an ideal amp.

I also own a Fender Mini-Deluxe, and for a few extra dollars the Vox is very impressive. Totally worth the $100 I paid. It has the power, the look, and the versatility to handle many effects, plus it is completely customizable

The crunch 2 setting is nice and chunky, even with my Fender Strat with the 3 single coil pickups. Auto Wah sounds very good. The clean channels are probably the only thing that I can criticize. But that is a minor complaint, and I'm sure with a little tweaking I could get the sound I am looking for.

I have had it for a short time so no opinion.

Don't know yet.

Great value, great looks. I am very happy with the purchase and it was one of those things I knew was a good decision right out of the box. You will not regret purchasing this amp, if your need is something smaller that still has many options for sounds and effects.

I really don't think the amp needs much more, except as others have said it would be nice to have a input for a sound petal. But Vox has my loyalty now for this high quality product.

NEAT LITTLE AMP!!! I got it for X-Mas, have played it almost every day since. It is my sit in the living room and noodle around amp...basically disturbing my wife as we watch TV...REVVING up those American Idol Jack-asses!!! Anyways this thing is PERFECT for that. You probaly know all of the features or you wouldn't be looking at this...VERY nice Modeling tones for sucha small package. Has a neat feautre of being able to slap some batteries in it an go portable!!! Kind of cool...for FEATURES I will give it a 10!!! It ain't no 70's Marshall/AC-30 or anything like that...but it can clone them in your bedroom/Lvingroom and not freak out the neighbors!!!

All kinds of sounds can come out of this thing!!! Like the onboard effects!! Wish I could blend a few more other sounds together but such is life!!! It has a TINY speaker so don't expect to drop it down by a set of drums and keep up!!! It is 5 watts or 2 or 0.5 or what ever they have on the back of it...I got it set at .5 watts right now...and it is PEFECT for what is does!!! Does touch my 66 Super Reverb, or my Brothers AC-30, but then again at bedroom volume it is much clearer and crisper...so how can you raet that...for what it does I say 10...in the overall sceme of life maybe a 5....

Bullet proof so far!!! It is a Vox/Korg thing...they have been around a long time...

No need so far...wish there was an on line manual!!!

For what this thing is meant for it is OUTSTANDING!!!! A bedroom BLASTER...I am closing in on 40, but if you are young guy/girl....don't worry this thing can still irritate your parents...If you are a parent this thing will irritate you, but I sure wish I had somthing like this when I was a kid (I had a little Peavey that to this day makes me a little leary of that brand...although my Brother just picked up a 5 watt Tube King which is pretty NEAT). Like I said, compare it other little amps in this price range...it is a 10!!!

For me, the best feature is the sound. I don't really care for the effects, and bad is that there is not enough room for some decent knobs for volume and tone, plus the effects are automatically ON whenever you switch on the amp. They are nice though.

The sound:
Well I have to admit, I'm really just interested in THE SOUND: MY sound, and if the amp has just an on/off switch but delivers it, then I'd rather have that than an amp that gives me 200 poor sounds.

Surprisingly enough, when finally A/B-ing this baby with my 1976 VOX Escort (which I absolutely LOVE), I will now have to admit, that, yes indeed, I like the new one better than the old.
Crunch2 is where for me the magic sits: gain 5 / tone 5 / master 10. With a Zemaitis or my Electric Gypsy, the sound is absolutely perfect for me.

Could NOT believe that a small battery powered "modern" thing can out-sound my little vintage Escort (which I bought in London in 1976).

Everything is pretty flimsy on it, but that doesn't seem to matter much. I knocked it around quite a bit already, and everything works just fine on it.

I don't like the wall-wart setup: will probably replace that with a real on-board transformer.

BTW the batteries give you 9V, but the AC adapter should give 12V DC.

Never dealt with VOX directly. So cannot say.

I am a fully pro guitarist for 23 years, semi pro before that. And a gear addict... I also build my own amps, and build my own guitars that are getting quite the recognition (read reviews right here on HarmonyCentral: Teye guitars)

If this baby gets misplaced or all torn up, I'lll just buy another (Immediately).

LOVE the sound, compared it A/B with the Pignose (will not comment on risk of being overly harsh); and with my 1976 VOX Escort. I think the DA5 wins easily.

I wish it had a longer strap (but am about to fix that!)

Features as with other listings. Full range of effects and adjustability on both clean sounds and effects. I use it at home because I'm not good enough yet to be seen in public with a guitar. I sound fine at home alone, though, and the amp is better than I am.

It has plenty of effects and adjustments - more than I will ever need. For improvements, I have two suggestions if VOX reads these things: 1. Use of AAA batteries instead of C batteries; AAA's would take up less room and make the little storage compartment into a nice little storage compartment. 2. Use switches which have a more positive feel. The ones on there work fine, but I'd prefer a more solid feel changing between style models. That's really nit picky though.

Initially I didn't like the speaker grill, but now I realize I could hit it with my car and the speaker would probably survive, so it's a good thing. The battery compartment is big enough to store the AC transformer and a short cable but not at the same time with a can of beer.

The sound quality on this amp is simply amazing for it's size. Use is at home, but it has plenty for small outdoor settings or small venues. I tested the VOX DA5 compared to the Roland MicroCube with both my a/e and with solid body electrics. The VOX sound is MUCH better than the Roland for clean sounds with the a/e active pickup. For passive pickups, both the VOX and the Roland are both nice amps but the sound quality on the VOX remains ahead of the Roland, in part because of the larger speaker. Volume was no comparison - the VOX way outperfoms the Roland. No hum or other bad noises (from the amp)..

No opinion. I just got the amp. It seems very well made. I'll probably take it apart to modify the battery layout so I can get a beer in there.

No Opinion. I bought it at Guitar Center and the person I delt with (Krystal) was relly very nice. I would buy there again.

I've only been playing guitar for a couple of years. Have about 20 years of playing other instruments in symphony, jazz and blues. I consider tone to be more important than effects, and since I'm mainly playing fingerstyle acoustic, the clean sounds on the VOX makes it a perfect amp for me. I'm planning to use it on a jazz box (Ibanez Artcore AG75) I'm getting in a few weeks and feel it will be perfect for blues/jazz as well. My son plays metal, and likes the effects and volume on this amp for that style. I might have to get another one....

Just picked this one up. Delighted! This little entry level amp has the broadest array of musical sounds of ANY small or solid state amp made yet! Truly versatile. There is nothing else that even comes close to the sound quality of the DA5. The unique, SIMPLE control panel is a pleasure to use. Esp. nice is the great variety of sparkling clean sounds, as well as semi crunch. The ultra gain settings are huge too, tho I seldom go there myself.
Super light and portable, I love it! I can fly anywhere with this, and deliver my colorful sounds with ease!
It uses no footswitch, but is such a responsive amp that I don't mind that. It has no line out jack except for the headphone which unhooks the speaker. I will simply add a jack to send line while leaving the speaker on. EASY if you know how. This way it will be my own monitor, and ready to drive virtually any kind of board or other amp that may be wherever I go.

This is the FIRST all transistor amp or effects unit I have found that gives TRULY AUTHENTIC guitar sounds! Great brightness, snappy clear notes, not cheesy at all. Tight and punchy on the low strings, not muddy. SO happy with this! I have played professionally for 40 years, in virtually every style of popular music. I have worked my way up from a heathkit 5 watt hifi to the marshall and dual showman stacks, and back down again thru the various combos. I have been using a small modified super champ for quite some time now. I have it miked on stage.
I would not hesitate to use the DA5 as a stage amp, miked or direct. I will set it near me, knobs within reach. It is plenty loud to hear because it has such good clarity and presence, even at the 1/2 watt setting.

New, I really don't know, but it runs cool, super efficient, and well built. Love the battery feature, a REAL plus down in the Islands! I expect it will be extremely reliable, and certainly a breeze for general servicing.

I have no idea. I am a good tech and would never bother to send one back at this cheap price.

40 years pro. Delighted with this tiny amp. No similar product is even remotely equal to this one. From a travelling pro, this is the best buy around. I have tried the DA15, and most of the larger Vox models. I actually PREFER the sound of the DA5 to all of the larger ones! My review is based on sound, but obviously the tiny size of this bawdy little amp only makes me that much more happy with it.

As many reviewer have already stated, I write this review as a comparison to the Roland Microcube.

Advantages of the Vox over the microcube are:

1. Most significant, SOUND (see below)
2. More effects: The auto wah is a desirable feature for many players not available on the microcube.
3. More amp models for sound versatility.
4. Power switchable from 5, 1.5, and.5 watts also adds to sound versatility.
5. This final comment may seem less important. As far as portability, the Vox is larger and heavier. This may seem like a strike against it in the comparison. However, the velcro battery/speaker compartment can be used to store the power supply, a short chord, and even a small tuner. This, IMO, make it more portable.

9 because I personally am not a fan of the tap feature on the effect interface. Though, it is growing on me.

I was, and still am a fan of the microcube. However, in a head to head sound comparison with the Vox, the microcube falls short. This is particularly true with the clean sounds. There is virtually no comparison in this area. Lower low's, higher high's, etc... The Vox just is phenomenally more dynamic than the microcube.

For other sound comparisons, when combining efects and distortion, sound becomes more of a matter of personal preference. It should be noted though, that the benefits of the larger speaker in the Vox makes it difficult to compare.

My students and I have been using it for 3 weeks now. My students' musical tastes range from metal to country. Whether playing Keith Urban or Metallica, the Vox delivers.

Too soon to tell, but I have great faith in my favorite old-fashioned/"main street"/ independently owned guitar shop, Mojo's in Edwardsville, IL. (http://www.mojosmusic.com/) to ake care if any problems should they arise.

N/A

Been playing 20+ and teaching around 4. Currently play through a Rivera, '68 Super Reverb, Vox Tonelab, micrcube, and a Genz Benz acoustic amp.

Perhaps the strongest endoresement for this amp has come from my students. Each lesson they argue over who GETS to play through the Vox and who HAS to play through the microcube.

Bought my Da5 in August 2006. I had serveral Vox Amps, (Pathfinder 10 and 15, both good Amps for the price! I sold them, when I got my Vox
AD15VTH, which was and is much more versatile and sounds much more full) For my doughter I bought a Roland Micro Cube, which is an impressing little Soundmonster and does a good job for practising.
A little later I saw, that Vox brought out the DA5. I decidet to wait a while, and read some reviews first. What I read seemed to be so good, that I bought one now, and really: This Amp is a winner and a keeper. So many possibilities in such a little cabinet: Fascinating!

If you ever played a valvetronix Amp by Vox, you can imagine, what kind of sounds this little Amp delivers. Not in the perfection of the
big amps, but the way, the style, the character. From clean sounds to
highgain you can form your sound with a wide, wide spectrum. I play
this little Box with an american standard Strat, its a joy to play.
Direct comparison to the Micro cube - as somebody else wrote before -
the Vox wins. Theres simply more "Bass", theres more Body, and the
crunch and the distortion is more "serious" an a "tick" warmer. The
effekt Section is pleasing! I wish I could use some effects pure and
alone, which are combined, but I see, that the budget for such a small
amp has limits.

OK.

Don-t know, not needet yet.

This is by far the best battery driven Amp, I-ve ever played. Wonderful the fact, that I can switch the output power between 0,5 and
5 Watts in three steps. It reacts very good, it sounds dynamic and
full, its a joy to play. The 6" Speaker produces a saddisfying sound.
Very well made, Vox! For me a dream has come true: I can play in my
Room at home with a huge amount of sounds ands effects, without disturbing my neighbours too much. You must know: This little box is
still loud. Even if you use 0,5 Watts. The 50 Euro you have to pay more for the Vox (Micro cube 99 Euro) are good invested. I would buy it again, if it was lost. I don-t miss my pathfinders. And I ask myself: should I sell my AD15VTH? Its too loud just for practising at home....As I have the DA5 now, I predume, I wouldn-t miss it....

2006 Vox DA5 - Battery or Power Adaptor. Tons of features! Good for literally any style of music. It uses "C" cell batteries, and depending on where you set it a .5, 1.5, or 5 full watts, it will last as long or longer than the Roland Microcube. I use this amp mostly to lay back and pluck around on it, also have written a couple of things on it. Could not ask for more form a battery based amp.

I compared this Vox DA5 head to head with the Roland Microcube, which is also nice, but the Vox won on all counts. Very Important: the Vox has a full size 6" speaker, the Microcube speaker is smaller. The difference is the Vox sounds more full bodied, and the Microcube sounds tinny & suffers by comparison. Once you bypass the effects and play it clean or distorted, it sounds great as a pure practie amp. I've mostly played Humbuckers through the distortion, but tried a Tele on it recently, and the Tele brings out a very Vox-ish chime, in the clean channel. Great sound all around.

This Vox is built like a tank, I've had it in severe weather, sitting in a car during snowy weather & on the beach, and it hasn't given me any problems at all.

Comes with a 1 year Warranty /& my dealer said if it broke just bring it back and he'd either repair or replace it. Not bad at all!

For the first week you have the Vox DA5, you might as well cover up your regular amp & plan on feeling a little guilty..like your cheating on your wife/girlfriend..but you will spend many, many hours on this little amp without even realizing it. The fun factor is definately there. For instance, I sat down to fiddle with the many different settings, and wound up learning "Crimson & Clover" & I didn't even particularly want to learn Crimson & Clover. Vox has improved on the basic premise of the Roland Microcube.

The main reason I got this amp was because I don't own a car, and wanted a nice light little luggable amp that I could throw in my backpack and take to jams at the local jazz club, or to a coffeehouse gig, and be loud enough to be heard. This amp serves that purpose just fine- I've been very satisfied with it.

With this amp you get a variety of mystery amp "models"- two clean, which is probably clean vox and fender; three blues which is probably overdriven fender, two crunch which must be marshall plexi and jcm 800, three high gain, which is probably modern marshall, peavey 5150 and mesa dual recto, and finally drive which is like mesa mark series. (I'm just guessing here). you also get a number of effects and effects combinations which you can dial in with a level control, and edit their parameters (the manual explains how)

You have two inputs: and guitar and mic input with level control; as well as an aux input for cd players, etc.; and a line out for a PA, larger amp, or headphones (which is very useful)

This is a really basic, straightforward amp to use and takes no time to figure out.

I was curious about trying this amp, but was worried it would sound like a toy, being so small. Luckily, I was wrong- it sounds like a decent amp, on the cleaner tones, at least. It's not going to sound like a Fender Twin, of course, it's just a tiny practice amp.

Although the clean sounds are decent enough, the distorted tones are a different story. They sounded really cheap and fuzzy. Running the line out into a bigger amp helped immensely, though- the distorted sounds are much, much bigger and better. It's kind of sad, though, because it defeats the purpose of a "practice amp" if half of the sounds are almost unusable through the tiny speaker, and you need to run it into a larger amp to get the DA-5's full sonic potential. It's cool if you want a practice amp that can also double as a decent preamp... but as it is I can only really recommend it to players who use cleaner tones, like jazz and roots/blues players. Which suits me fine- I only wanted to use this amp for cleaner tones anyways, and if I were playing in a louder rock band where I'd want to use the more distorted sounds, I'd just pre-amp it into a more powerful amp anyways.

I prefer using the amp with my Strat, particularly on the more distorted tones. To my ears, the fuzzy nature of the distortions works better with the single-coils on my Strat. The Les Paul I have sounds terrible with distortions on this amp but great if I run the DA-5 into a bigger amp.

The sounds are all pretty good and cover a wide range of amps and playing styles, but are probably limited by the single tone control in some cases, particularly for the heavily distorted sounds. Again, using the EQ on the amp I was running it into was able to shape the sounds more, say, for getting the perfect scooped-midrange metal tone.

I'm not a big effects guy, but the effects all sound reasonable to me and would suit me fine if I wanted to add a bit of tremolo, reverb, etc. to my sound.

I agree with one of the earlier posters- that digital noise you get when you turn on the unit is really annoying.

I would have to say that this amp does what I want it to do and suits the very specific needs I have in mind, and does those things well. As well, it makes for a nice, versatile preamp into a larger amp.
I've never tried the DA-5's main competitor, the Micro-cube by Roland, but from what I've heard it seems to sound better in the high-gain modes on its own (I could be wrong though). If you want a tiny practice amp strictly for metal perhaps the MicroCube might be a better choice (again, this is just judging by what Ive seen in a few demos on their website).
Other than the distortion sound issue though, the DA-5 is a good little amp for carrying around.