Vox DA5 Digital Amplifier

I bought this amp just for home practice, having the built-in effects unit is a bonus as it keeps the wiring to a minimum. I don't have a dedicated music room so it needs to be easy and quick to wire.

The power level is more than adequate and the headphone socket is a must.

This is a low cost package and the quality is more than adequate given the integrated nature of it. I'm using a Standard Strat and noise pickup isn't an issue, provided the small external power supply is kept 3 feet or more from the pickups.

So far so good.

No faults so no need for support.

Overall it does all I ask of it. I bought it on recommendation and would replace it with another of the same if it was stolen.

I am mostly an acoustic player, but wanted a little practice amp and was also attracted by the modelling and FX. This little beast is really very good for the bucks, and a lot of fun too.

I use an Ibanez semi-acoustic. Play blues, rock, soem folky things, singer songwriter ... whatever. Tend towards clean sounds as I use a lot of chords that have extra 'colour' - 9ths, sus chords, etc. FX are nice but they have to sound musical.

between the amp modelling and the fx you have a lot of scope to mess around. They managed to squeeze a lot of stuff in - you can even set delay/flange times by tapping tempo, really neat.

Only issue is that the speaker is tiny so sounds quite tinny. But it seems churlish to complain about that - it's a tiny little portable amp, that's what it is.

only had it 2 mins ... don't expect any issues really.

na

it's just crazy good value. practice amp, I'll even use it as an FX box, take a feed out into my bigger acoustic amp for small gigs. May pass it to my daughter who is learning guitar and likes rock music in a while. It runs on 12V dc, I guess you could also power it from a car or whatever as well.

First of All I have many amps at different size. The feature of this amp is similar to my Roland Micro Cube. But with more and better amp models. The effects are also more and better in term of tweakability. I also have Korg Ampworks G and I think the DSP engine of this thing is similar, just without the Cabinet Models.

I wish it had a full range speaker so the MP3 will play better for backing track. Just like in my Microcube.

I think the sound is best at its class. Just like the Valvetronix series. But without the valve/tube reactor circuit. I don't know why, but it is easier to make good sound on this amp if compared to my Valvetronix, maybe the tube add more complexity in tweaking the sound to my taste.

The Clean and lower gain overdrive sounds really great. Good to play jazz, pop and blues at room volume. Of course the high gain models do not sound good without enough bottom amp. Look at the size of the speaker, come one!

It is damn quiet. Good for both single coil or humbucker, depending on the amp models.

so far it has not broken.

never had to use them. I think Korg's/Vox quality is in par with Roland.

If you are starting and looking for your first amp. This will suit your need, I have been playing for more than 20 years. I think I'm good enough for the style I play (mainly blues and classic rock) but more importantly, I have a good ear for sound. The Korg/VOX modelling is the best I found so far in this area. I also like BOSS, ZOOM and Line6 modelling but always found myself going back to Korg/VOX for the musicality.

By now everyone has read all the features of this amp.

I have had this amp for about a year now and it is great. I usually use the 1.5 watt setting at 1/2 volume on the clean2 setting (fender sounding) and its plenty loud. I use the crunch2 setting (marshall distortion) setting and a little reverb and I can cover a lot of bases with just those two settings. I hated the chrome grill so much that I took it off and spray painted it a semi flat black like some of the other Da5s come with. You can order one now that has the brown diamond pattern cloth. I prefer the blue diamond cloth and North coast VOX now has a special edition with the blue cloth that looks amazing. I run this off batteries and with the back cover removed it sounds so much better. I may mod it with a speaker output jack to plug it into a larger cabinet. I did experiment with hooking up this amp to a Vox pathfinder 15 8 inch speaker but it did not improve tone or volume so will stick with the stock speaker. I have had many small tube amps but have to say this one gets a lot of play time as it can be put on a closet shelf out of the way or moved anywhere to play it even outdoors.

no problems

Made 2007
5-watt DA5
digital sound,
11 distinctive sound styles,
11 built-in effects,
knob-based control panel,
battery or cord power
handle
light weight

I play various styles of music. I have Taylor acoustic, Almansa classical, Fender Strat, Gretsch Hot Rod, Gibson Les Paul.
It sound OK through single coils pups. Good sound for a 6", no farting.
It sounds horrible through double coil pups. The speakers farted a lot, eventually my amp died because of this.
You can't expect much from any amp that is digital and this small. If you want tone get a Champ 600.

My amp died within 10 months time. I kept it next to my bed and had only about 15 hours of play. Most of this was through my Strat. When I played with the Grestch it would sound horrible. The LP was a little more tolerable. But I feel the hot pups fired the electronics.

-no you can't gig with it.
-it is as reliable as a toy amp.
-yes it broke
-it broke because it has cheap electronics

I took it to Guitar Center. They gave me a little hassle but accepted it and are in the the process of getting it fixed. No word yet.

-I never dealt with Vox directly
-Guitar center has it now and they are trying to repair it through the warranty
-Guitar Center is an autharized dealer
-Warranty is for 1 year

I have been playing for about 30 years. current gear:
Custom Bogen CHA-33 tube amp, Custom Stromberg Carlson tube amp. Alnico Jense 12' cab. Various effect (I never use). Gibson Les Paul Standard, Fender Stratocaster, Gretsch Hot Rod, Taylor steel strign acoustic, Almansa classical.

-If it where stolen I would be sad because I wouldn't be able to sell it in eBay.
-It's a great little amp to have next to your bed and play at night.
-I wish it had less bells and whistles, and more quality.

I bought and installed the 6" Jensen Mod speaker in my DA5 and it sounds good. However, it is 4 ohm, and the original speaker is 8 ohm. Does anyone know if that is going to damage the amp? The more I have researched it on the net, the more contradictory information I found.

I also read that you can install a 4 ohm resistor on the positive speaker lead and that will bring the resistance to 8ohm so the amp is "seeing" the 8ohms again.

This stuff confuses me!

Please email me at mc354@optonline.net if you have experience with guitar amps and changing speakers and can offer your opinion. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Great practice amp with great sounds. See my earlier review for more info. The cleans are better than the distorted tones, but they are still all fun. What can you expect from a battery powered amp?

Just a 9, I'd like to have bass- mid- and treble-controls, not just a tone knob.
But I'm really suprised, this amp has many features, in a compact box.

I play death metal and hard rock.

This thing is awesome, i like the higain-2-channel. But the lack of tone controls makes it difficult to get a great metal distortion. Overall really good.

The amp is solid as a rock and its look-and-feel could'nt be better.

Why just 6? The AC adaptor is a peace of crap. I had to fix it with tape, it broke almost to its parts. I know, replacement adaptors aren't expensive, but it could be better.

Never dealt with them.

It was my first guitar amp, and I still use it for practice at home. This amp is great for jam sessions, practice and rehearsals.

It's perfect, especially for beginners!

Nice little amp for not a lot of money. I use it as a practice amp or portable amp when i don't need anything loud and it handles that job fine.
I have heard, though, of people using this amp as an effects/tone box and then feeding into something larger. I used it like that for a gig once put through a Line6 stack but i didnt really like the sound, i use my Fender Hot Rod Deville for gigs now.
It's a digital amp, so it's got quite a few presents in terms of tone and effects. I prefer the Blues settings as they are the most appropriate for my style. I use some of the effects.
I'm giving it 7 because it's cheap, small and doesnt sound all that good but its fine for a practice amp.

I dont think it matters particularly what guitar you use this amp with as its not tube so isnt as responsive. It could suit most styles of playing i suppose but you would have to compromise really good tone for a good volume for home use.
I think this amp sounds okay with my Strat on Blues 2 setting, Tone about halfway with a little bit of reverb. this is probably the warmest sound you can get out of it but with a strat its kind of bitey as well. the clean channel stays clean but its a digital amp and never goes all that loud. the distortion from this amp sounds tinny and plasticky but i dont play with a lot of gain through any amp.
i'll give it 6 because its fine for a cheap, digital amp.

heres the good part...its REALLY SOLID. ive carted it all around town on buses, back of cars, dropped it, played catch with it. its size and portability mean its actually quite robust.

never dealt

look, ive probably been too critical. its actually quite a decent little amp, i havent come across one this cheap that wasnt a complete joke like those stupid Mini amplifiers that somebody thought were a good idea.
if you want a cheap amp that does the bedroom-practice thing then buy this one, but youll really enjoy band practice once a week!

I bought in new in 9/08. The serial no 070926 so i assume it's the build date
i only play nylon string guitar solo so i don't need those features
- 2 chnls 1 mic, 1 intru
- i I wish it has the SLR inputs too along with the 1/4 jack. So if you have the mic with SLR cable then you have to have the SLR-to-1/4in transformer to plug in. That's how I mic my flamenco guitar. I also wish they have the AC adapter built-in instead of a seperate piece that you have to cary them around. I guess you can't have every thing since this unit is battery powered.

The tone is much better than my Roland AC60. The DA5 sounds best if you keep the volume down enough. Again my application is nylong string guitar. I have the Fishman pickup (under saddle) on my guitar. And on both MIC or Line application it sounds best if you have the volume down. This means it works well in intimate setting. I'm sure it sound great with elec guitar on high volume

used only 2weeks, no idea

n/a

i have an Roland AC60. For my app (nylon string guitar, solo) this DA5 sound more real than the AC60
I'd like to get the rival Roland Mobile Cube that I heard it's very the same
I love the size, weight, sound
I hate the separate AC power adapter, the mic knob sticks out to far
I really want to have an amp like this with better mic preamp so that I can mic my guitar

For what it is, and what it costs it should be a ten; but of course there are other features (looping, drum beats, backing tracks etc..) that could make it even better.

My favored setup these days is Parker Fly split to PA for the piezo, and regular PUPS into the DA5 input, Headphone/line out into a Crate microblock effects return, out to a 15" ported bass cabinet (not sure of mfg. but a quality speaker.) My sound is Huge!!
I am constantly chasing tone and have pushed Pods, and tubes, and synths, and boxs.
The DA5 setup is so easy, and sounds so good! I'm sure I will probably tire of it someday, but for now it is a keeper that I use playing out with a full band. I keep the VOX close so any realtime tweaking is done with that. The bass cabinet keeps the sound warm and musical. I cover the spectrum of clean to singing leads with just the volume knob and pickup selection on the guitar. With the Crate I can get more than loud enough for situations I play.One of the best features is that, though I am at screaming heavy metal volume I can pretty much silence all noise by simply laying my hand across the strings. Thats friggin huge for quality, soft to loud dynamic playing. I don't use a lot of the available effects, but just the simple fact that I have an unreal usable sound with the tiny thing makes it worth its weight in gold to me.
Playing the DA5 without sending out to some real power and some real speakers is way weaker, but just awesome for bedroom practice.

Had it 2 years +, never had a problem. I bought this to replace a Roland microcube and am very happy. Much better product (for me anyway) than the Roland.

no contact.

For the money paid, to the sound achieved. If it were lost or stolen, I would go and buy 2 more!!!

The Vox DA5 that I tried was made in 2007.
It has a digital preamp, solid state power amp, and 6.5" speaker.
There is only 1 channel, with 11 different amp models.
It also has 11 different effects options.

For a practice amp the features are okay. However, I wish it could store & recall at least 1 sound (in addition to the current knob settings). So you could switch between clean & dirty sounds when you jam along with your favorite tunes. Also, I think separate controls for Bass/Mid/Treble would make it much more versatile.

I borrowed this amp (red version) from a buddy for the weekend. I tried it with my stock '57 reissue Stratocaster, & MIJ Ibanez RG570 modified with Dimarzio Norton/VV_Blues/PAF pickups.

The clean sounds are useable, but it's impossible to dial in any sparkle without sounding thin & harsh.

The crunch sounds are okay, but have a similar problem as the clean sounds - you cannot dial in any bite without sounding too thin & harsh.

The high gain sounds are compressed, nasal, unmusical!

I'm not sure how anyone can justify high marks for sound quality here. Just because it's one of the better sounding cheap amps doesn't mean you can give the same score as you would for a hotrod Bogner or Boogie. That just causes confusion for us all.

I've been playing/gigging for over 18 years. I was hoping to buy this amp for my daughter, who is doing quite well on the acoustic guitar, and wants to try out an electric guitar. However, I'm going to spring for a real amp for her. She'll be far better off with something like a Fender Blues Junior & a decent distortion pedal.

Purchased in 2007. Paid/Stole it for $70. It is very versatile, covering clean (like a Fender) to Heavy-thick distortion (like a Marshall High Gain amp). I wish it had a true line out opposed to a lineout/headphone. When you plug in the line out the power from the unit itself stops. It would be great to just use the amp as a monitor and send the signal to a PA system. If it had a line out it would be a 10. also, I have been playing for about 15 years and have gigged quite a bit. Although this amp is probably not loud enough to gig with.

I use it to practice at home and it is plenty loud. My family hates it, sort of. My 14 year old son is having a change of taste. After first playing it in our 2 story, 4br house 1800 sqft. my wife went up stairs in tears with the her last words being "that thing is nerve racking". Makes me smile now just to think back on that moment. It is loud for 5 watts. I would prefer just a little louder, but that is apparently just my opinion. All the sounds on this amp are just flat out fun. I have Played through Fenders amps (Super Reverb), Peavey Delta Blues (good amp), Marshall to name a few and have found this one to be perhaps the most fun and certainly more versatile. I have owned and played through other modeling amps such as the Pod and V-amp and still prefer the built in combo of the Vox. Generally when playing with others I will use the clean settings at full gain and roll back on the volume of the guitar (generally a G&L strat) to get a clean bright sound and when leads are necessary I will open up the volume on the guitar to give me the tone I want with out breaking up. Nice, nice, nice.

No problems so far.

Have not needed to call.

I have been playing for 15 years and have giged alot over the years. I have played in alternative band, country bands, church song services and this amp would fit any style. If it were stolen, I would buy the higher watt version, but I would replace it with another Vox modeling combo. A line out that does not shut off the main speaker would be my only addition to the amp. It looks like a toy and probably is, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one and to use it in small settings or to mic it and use it in a larger venue.

I agree with all the "10" ratings for this amp - this category gets a "9" because I agree with Effect's review - the sound is considerably improved by replacing the Vox speaker with a Jensen Mod 6-15 (I didn't even use the transformer). It corrected that "hollow" soound in the clean settings, and improved its sound with my acoustic (nylon string) guitars a great deal.

I'm going to try replacing both speakers in my DA-10 now.....

2007 model with 11 amp styles and plenty of effects to play around with, single channel, CD input and headphone jack. Variable power makes this a great practice amp. 6.5" speaker is the only thing I'm not crazy about, but VOX has other models addressing this "issue". Could ask for another input but where would you put it? :)

I play a Jay Turser JT-133 (ES-335 clone)and was prepared to be disappointed, but this little amp lives up to the hype! There's a bit of hum but I stand pretty close to the amp and don't hear this as I move away. I love the Clean and Blues settings and am really finding it difficult to stay away from Crunch and HiGain! It will be hard to justify buying any effects pedals anytime soon.I was surprised at how loud it can get without speaker breakup and haven't been able to push it yet fearing a knock on my door; I live in a single-family house with a full home theater but this amp screams!

Feels very sturdy, solid and well balance. I cocked an eyebrow at the carry strap but after trying it don't give a second thought. Nothing that says cheap at all for $135

Not needed, a good thing

Played about 10 years before a 20 year break, just getting back into it. This is my first amp since my teen years. I had ordered the VOX Pathfinder 15R online since no one had it locally; despite showing Available I received an email the next day stating the last one sold before I ordered and it STILL showed as in stock after the email! Frustrated and not willing to wait I dragged my wife into Guitar Center with me to see what small practice amps they had in store. I saw the DA5 model as soon as we walked in but did not see where they were stocked. She pointed out Marshalls and Fenders Frontman 15 but my reading had me set for a VOX. I thought about the DA15 because I really wanted the 8 inch speaker vs 6.5, but had to be real since our rooms are on the small size and time to really crank it would be scare; they didn't have the DA15 anyway. That also ruled out the Peavey ValveKing Royal 8. We finally came across the stash of DA5's and I picked one up, prepared to take it back if I didn't like it; well, that's not happening. Perfect size for practice in any room plus the headphone option and it sounds great! I'd replace it if lost or stolen. Maybe in our next house I'll step up to the Peavey or Fender Super Champ XD, but the DA5 is staying.

Tons of great sounds, and if you want to dig into it you can tweak the available effects to your hearts content. I use it for great low volume practice tone. Take the small wood panel off the back for great open cabinet sound!!THEN.... I love to use the line out straight into the effects loop return of my Seymour Duncan 100 watt convertible amp to bring the perfect singing tones up to live drum volume band level. Unreal tone monster for the price of a decent pedal.

Using mostly with a Parker Fly. For the $$ it is amazing!! OK the clean I guess could be cleaner, and sure the little speaker isn't going to be shaking the walls . But screw that, for 135$ this thing is a 10+

this amp was made in 2007,this amp does a good job of covering everything from clean tones, to blues, to classic rock.I play mostly classic rock, motown,blues, and some jazz.this is a single channel amp, with no switching, but it does have a headphone out, and a aux in.I use this for recording, and sitting around practicing.It,s louder than I expected, and sounds great in the .5 watt mode.

I play a Parker Nitefly with Dimarzio pickups.this amp is super quite, and makes no noise,even on the high gain settings.This amp rocks,the clean is nice the blues sounds are very good, but the high gain models blow me away, the distortion is big, fat and smooth, it,s very responsive to your picking.

no opinion

no opinion

been playing 36 yrs. and own a ton of equipment.I would replace this in a heart beat, ilove this amp!I love it,s small size,low price, and great sounds. there is nothing i hate about it.There is something about this amps voicing that I really love, It,s my kind of sound. I have seven guitar amps, and none of them can match the lead sounds of my Vox!If i cuold get a 30 or 50 watt version of this, that sounds the same as the DA-5, It could become my #1 rig,it,s that good.The fact that this amp only cost me $125 still makes me smile when I play it.It,s very hard to get this good of a sound with a tube amp, and then you still need some FX the Vox has it all in side.

The variable output power is nice for recording and playing at night. The three knobs that allow you to tweak the effects are very nice. I have a Fostex MR16 HD CD recorder and I can run a cable from the headphone out to a channel in on the MR16 (no mic) and the recorded sound sounds like a a mic on an amp.

This is a great little amp.

FWIW...I have a 76 Silverface Champ, a newer Pro Junior, and Epi Valve Junior and a Hot Rod Deluxe. I love the old Champ. My nephew and I were playing jazz together with a Tele & Strat using the Chanp and the DA5. There were times when I forgot who was playing what amp (I couldn't remember if I was plugged into the Champ or DA5 - The DA5 was as warm as the point to point tube amp).

The DA5 has a reverb/trem setting that produces a great clean Fender trem sound using the Blackface model.

I'm nearly 44. I've played since I was 11. I don't use the high gain settings but the AC-15 and Blackface settings are amazing clean and clean/dirty tones. It's a clean and blues mini monster.

The Roland Micro cube produces no volume. The DA5 is as loud as a 70's Champ. The Roland Micro cube offers very liitle effect tweaking. The DA5 has three tweakable pots for each effect.

The speaker on the DA5 is 6"...the Microcube is 5"

Solid state wooden box with a metal grill....that's a 10.

I can't rate this. Do you repair an amp that costs less than a stomp box?

I'm sure that the local guitar shop would help if it broke in a reasonable amount of time.

I love low watt tube amps. I have three of them. I bought the DA5 as a toy and I can't stop playing it. My Champ is a childhood friend and it's sitting in the corner. I was playing jazz this evening with a Gibson SG using the AC-15 model with a slight gain edge and the trem/reverb setting.....it was delightful.

I'm thrilled with DA5...it's not a toy.

A little cubey-looking single-channel digital modelling amp, made in 2007. My one has the 'classic' Vox look, and that's why I bought it. It is quite versatile, and most of the 'amp models' got close to the sound of the originals. The headphone jack is okay, but the out-put is a bit weak (I use Fostex RP series headphones). the efects are spot-on and handy, especially when shredding. I mainly use this amp for home/studio practice. It is as loud as it can be for a 5-watter. I actually prefer it to my Ephiphone Jr. 5-watt tube jobey...Ah well. By the way it says, made in Vietnam. Hurray, it's not in CHI-WAN. Cool.

The DA-5 tries to cover the gamut from 'clean to shred' and it does a fair job. All the amp 'models' sound close enough. Depending on your 'model' selection, it goes from clean to overdrive and distortion. My toss-around guitar, a Godin Exit-22 with maple neck, set up with SSH, and GHS 10-42 cover all the guitar-sound range.

It' only 2 months old. I won't gig with it, but I've mic'd it for cutting some demo tracks. It has a nice friendly puppy dog 'bark' to it, and it sits well in the mix

I've owned lots of Vox tube amps over the years when I lived in the UK. Their Class A's had some issues with premature tube death, heat and noise. That was then, and this is now. This is a baby digital amp with some teeth. Never had to deal with Vox, and may not have to, seeing the solid construction of the amp.

Been bending the strings for a few decades, in Studios, and on stage. If it were lost or stolen, I would get another one. What is amazing about this amp is the size (perfectly formed), the battery option, and the variety of tones you can get from it. IMHO, it kick the butts of most other amps in the same price range and category, and that includes the Roland Microcube, which I also own. This a great amp for the dough, especially considering all the nice 'Korg REIMS' EFFECTS and the 'models'. I'd say it's a multi-stomp box device, with 'AMP & SPEAKER' attached...Hey, Vox, how about naming it the Vox AS-5?

the features have all been covered in other reviews,but it is a 5watt s,s, amp with switchable power levels (.5 watts, 1.5watts amd 5watts)and built in effects.also has headphone/lineout jack, and aux. in with it's owm volume pot.for the price it's loaded with features

the amp models are all good, but the high gain sounds blew me away!I can't believe the sounds and volume that come out of this little amp!the clean sounds are good and the FX are OK.But overall the amp models just rock.the crunch and blues model sound great, with a wide variety of gain settings.the tap tempo button is also a nice feature I can't help but smile when i play this amp, for $125 try and top it

don't know yet, had amp for about 1 month, can't stop playing it

no dealings with vox so far.

been playing 32 yrs own a parker nitefly, kramer pacer deluxe and a lot of amps fender line 6, roliand cube30 and carvin to name some of them.I heard this amp at a friend's, and was so impressed with the sound, and volume, that I went straight to the music store and bought it!The switchable power settings are great, and I prefer the .5 watt setting with the amp all the way up, it screams with smooth, fat, creamy distortion and sustain for days.still can't get over how loud this amp is, even on the .5 watt setting!

The features have been covered very well by other reviewers so I'll just put in my 2 cents. I wanted a coffee-table practice amp and originally went with the Roland Microcube: I loved that amp but the speaker could not handle a lot of the jazz chords I play, i.e. it mushed out. The Microcube's effects are superior IMHO and the effects were also dialed in with a much more user-friendly format.

Originally I thought the DA5 was rather bright and toothy, which is good in some situations...with tweaking I got a wide range of sounds that I really do like...plus the heavier speaker (than the Microcube) can handle a fair amount of volume.

I don't really like the effects setups and combos, or the fact that you get a preset for each amp that you must tweak. No big deal though as I don't use much effects other than reverb and a little delay sometimes. Overall, great features and tones.

My favorite tones on this amp (and there are a lot of good ones) are the Blues 1 and Crunch 1 settings with just reverb set at the 0.5 watt level with the gain and tone set at about 1:00-2:00 o'clock positions. It really nails some great tones at true livingroom volumes: sounds like a pushed amp on the edge of break-up; just adjust your guitar's volume and tone pots and you can get it smooth to dirty. That's my personal style and what I consider to be a hallmark of a good amp. I recently played it at a small jam session on the 5-watt setting and it was plenty loud with everyone else also on small practice amps. I believe the Roland Microcube's clean tones and effects setup are superior, but the speaker ruins it. However, the DA5 gives a wider range of really good tones and the effects are good. Exactly what I wanted out of a practice amp; I may even record with it given that it sounds so good.

This amp has been knocked off the coffee table several times and still works fine. The build seems quite sturdy. I have no idea about servicing as this is a current problem in the retail music industry: retailers sell it but won't service it. I'd probably just buy another one as it costs what a decent effects pedal costs.

No idea, but I have little faith in "Customer Support" these days.

I've been playing 23+ yrs and have tried to remain open to newer technologies as they have come along and it has paid off: I had one of the very first POD's which I blew up and now have a PODXT in addition to the DA5 and a Marshall Vintage Modern 50-Watt half-stack. The DA5 replaced a 1960 Gibson GA5 Skylark that I loved but it just kept breaking down (it's now "not for sale" at a friend's used guitar shop). I would definitely by another one if the DA5 broke, was lost, or stolen. I compared this amp to the Roland Microcube, and various Marshall, Crate, and Fender practice amps; the Fender G-DEC loops drove me crazy and I think the sounds on the DA5 are far superior. Great value for the money; I think you will not be disappointed once you get it home and tweak it to taste. Definitely try the different wattage level settings are this is a key tonal feature. Best of luck.

Wow! I've been playing this amp non-stop for days and still haven't discovered all the sounds it can make. 11 am tones, built-in effects, noise reduction and everything is tweakable. (you can find a full, concise review of all it does at http://www.imuso.co.uk/directory/reviews/equipment-reviews/vox-da5.htm)

I will be using this for practicing, recording & smaller venue (and outdoor/subway) gigs. The sounds have opened up new arrangements for my old songs and inspired new ones. The line out will make for nice home recording of demos to take to my producer for future consideration.

I especially love the elegant power engineering on this. Yeah, C batteries are not common, but using them means that Vox could engineer the power draw that enables you to use this with batteries for up to 30 hours(!) on 1/2 watt. Even on 5 watts, you can play for 12-15 hours. That is astounding (and why it is C batteries, not AA or 9v).

The controls are intuitive (love that!) and you can edit many of the parameters of the effects. Some are just okay (Autowah), others are just gorgeous (Chorus + Delay or Chorus + Reverb). But I've had fun with all of them and have discovered some effects that I hadn't had much of an interest in using before (Rotary).

The amp tones are terrific. I appreciate being able to switch on the fly, but wish there was a footswitch to help that. I also like being able to use this as a pre-amp to a larger cabinet/amp when I need a beefier sound than this little puppy can produce. It is especially nice to be able to get a good high gain sound without disturbing the neighbors.

Finally, I love that it has a separate line in/mic channel (complete with its own volume control), so you can have an all-in-one amp. It is the perfect amp for busking.

I've put this through its paces with every guitar in the house (Fender Showmaster, Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Hamer, Taylor & two customs) and it is hard to make it sound bad. But it is possible.

It doesn't handle an acoustic guitar as elegantly as an electric. There are feedback issues and I cannot make it sound as good as I can through my Fishman (duh...not engineered for that). High volume/High gain sounds muddy until you take the back off the amp (fine with me...I prefer the open back sound). Yes, it has its limitations - it's just a 6" speaker - but I've yet to find a sound that I just hate.

Wish it had an EQ. That would solve most of the above problems. But I can just plug in one between guitar & box if I really want.

Part of the reason I love this amp is that I can use it for all styles - folk-rock to jazz to texas blues to heavy metal. I can also get effects from subtle color to all-out weirdness. It is great for songwriting & demo recording as a result. Plus, I can change set lists on the fly if the audience at a venue clearly wants something else than I had planned.

Noisy? Hell, no! This baby even has NOISE REDUCTION BUILT IN!!!!

This sucker is brilliantly engineered and is built like a tank. Even the speaker is protected on the inside so it is hard to damage it by putting the plug or a tuner in the back to rattle around (all the same, I wrap them in a small towel before I do so). Currently, I would use it at a gig at a small venue. I'm loath to go to any gig without a backup, but, with batteries, it is its own back up to some extent.

N/A - haven't had to deal with them. Vox/Korg has a good rep though.

Currently, this amp gets played all the time and my other amps (Fishman, Crate, Marshall, Fender, Behringer) are gathering dust. I'll have to tear myself away and get reacquainted with my live acoustic rig soon, though. If it were lost or stolen, I would buy another in a heartbeat. (btw, I've been playing guitar for 31 years)

I was not planning on/looking to buy this amp. I saw it used in a store, liked the features I saw on the top & back and could afford $45.00 for a little Vox. It wasn't until I got it home, downloaded the manual (http://www.voxamps.de/uploads/media/DA5_OM_E1.pdf) and really put its through its paces that I fell in love with it. I cannot believe how much "stuff" the Vox engineers have packed into such a small, elegantly designed package.

There is a sound you will like somewhere in this box. If the presets don't do it, tweak around. You'll find it.

More than enough

Are you kidding..? Probably one of the best sounding amps ive played through!! Great for soloing! Great tone! Rock Blues Country or whatever.

Ive taken this thing everywhere; the beach, mts, shows, camping, you name it. So far, no issues.

No idea. Havent had to deal with them. THats a good thing too.

This amp makes me sick. I have thousands of dollars in rack gear and this thing has a better sustaining lead tone! Pisses me right off. Ive used so much equiptment in my 18 years of playing i dont know where to begin.. This thing really is awesome! My only wish is that they made a 150watt head just like it. I play rock and blues fluently and play in the band Ashes Remain. Im very picky with my tone and know when i hear something good. This smokes the microcube amp! Way to go vox!

It's a little practice amp which mean I'd expect no features. This has many quality ones. Easy access tap tempo is nice. As far as I can tell settings are not saved when you change settings. I would have gladly paid more for saving settings and a reverb control separate from other effects.

For what this is and cost it's absolutely awesome! My main amp is a fixed up old Fender Deluxe Reverb. Though it's doesn't shine like that, I find plenty on inspiring tones from this cheap little box.

Worked perfectly for a month but totally died after a plane trip in a suitcase. All connections seem fine so not sure what happened? Otherwise seemed well built?

I loved it until it stopped turning on. I also play bass and may get the 10 watt DA10 now. The extra speaker will help it work for battery powered bass playing. Nothing compares to great tube amp but I highly recommend this for a portable solid little companion.

I own a 1963 Vox DA5 prototype with a custom 6.5" greenback (silk dome tweeter) that I modded with a WWII-era soviet power soak...

OK, it's a Vox DA5 like you see in the catalogs. I bought it as a practice amp for writing at home that would give me plenty of sonic options. It delivers in spades with a very nice group of amp simulators that run a wide gamut from clean to distorted. The effects included are also really neat.

Sure there are some things that aren't that great for my taste (ex.: I'm not a big reverb fan and many of the effects include it) but for the most part they did a bang-up job. By the way, 5 watts is plenty loud--it's just that the speaker can't handle it that well. I find the 1.5 watt setting (being able to pick between .5, 1.5, and 5 watts is very cool) to be a nice balance.

It looks pretty cool, too. I got the red one. I like the carrying strap a lot. My runners up were the classic (but I already have an AC30) and the pink one. Wish they had white--that's what I liked about the Microcube.

Great features for the price.

My main amp is an AC30 and Vox knows the Vox sound. It also knows what people like in Fenders, Marshalls, and Boogies, with the slight edge going to the "British" in its somewhat darker colored-ness. Is it flawless at reproducing them? No. But it gives reasonable facsimiles of them that are fun in their own right.

I don't find the amp terribly responsive to pick dynamics, nor does it have the distinctive "push-pull" sound of tube amps. But it is clear, harmonically interesting, and has a nice throaty roar to it that is Vox-y at heart. I think all the crunch and distortions are pretty nice for what they are; metal-lurgists may disagree--but then, don't buy a 6-inch speaker s.s. practice amp!

I'm impressed by the effects sounds overall; each one sounds professional. For being an inexpensive, in-one-unit group of effects, they are surprisingly versatile and adjustable. I'm not huge on effects in general but these are quite nice. I particularly like the flange and the rotary sounds, but they're all decent.

I play classic/indie rock and picked this amp as a writing tool. "Cheesy" is NOT a word I would use to describe this amplifier; the closest it gets to that adjective, I'd call "charming." It has more than enough to inspire new sounds. I think it's a fine achievement.

Seems well-built; I haven't really peeked at the guts.

I have been playing for 25 years. Guitars are Les Paul, PRS, Fender. I have had Fender, Marshall, and Boogie amps in addition to my AC30. I had a hard time choosing a practice amp, as the various competition have their advantages, in that each might do a certain sound better. Once I realized I'd be using it mainly to write at home, not to gig, I liked the portability, variety and quality of features, and looks of the DA5.

If stolen or lost, I might replace it, or I might sample the competish. Does it go with my hot pants? is really the question.

The DA5 would be a GREAT amp for a kid starting out. Man, I WISH this type of thing were around back in Ye Olde Dayes. Really quite miraculous what these whippersnappers now have available to them. To me it is fantastic as a sonic notepad that does not offend the ears at all. For what it is, it is mighty, mighty cool.

You have read it in the previous posts. For a little practice amp, a nice collection of features...

It is OUTSTANDING to be able to use this amp via battery power and play along with acoustics without drowning them out.

Cleans are GREAT. The heavy distortions, not great but useable. The crunches are nice and classic rock sounding.

Very fun to play a strat through the clean sounds with a spash of reverb (which sounds great as well!).

So far so good. Made in Vietnam. Lets see what kind of products they push out...

Have not dealt with them.

I bought this amp for my father to play around with. I have a few higher end amps that sound very good, but when I would go to Dad's house, I just loved playing through his amp.

I stopped at the music store the other day and saw a DA5 in the classic style and just said forget it and bought it.

I played it over the weekend during an acoustic jam. I played some solos on my strat through it and it sounded PERFECT. It did not overpower the acoustics (although I easily could if i turned it up more)...

When I first purchased the amp for my father I compared it to the Roland MicroCube, and it was NO COMPARISION. The roland sounded very lifeless and sterile in comparison. The VOX just seems to interact better with the guitar in a more musical way. Try it and you will see. For the money you can't beat it. You also can not beat the tiny size and the ability to run it on batteries. How damn cool is that?