Yamaha thr5 vs thr10ii

[Boogieman92]

Im looking for a small low volume practice amp to keep in the living room. The thr has caught my eye as the look is cool (i love old radios) and it seems to be one of the few amps really geared to low volume playing. I have a baby on the way so the louder rigs wont be seeing much use for a bit. Below are a few thoughts on each and im really looking to get advice from the hive mind on this one, also willing to look at other options. I play a wide variety of music but mostly worried about clean to classic rock levels of gain, the occasional metal chuga chuga thing will probably happen though.

Thr5
-very small
-more limited functions
-simple tone control (i prefer a tmb but if it sounds good then who cares)
-battery powered (major plus)
-cheaper and easier to find used (not a big deal, but again baby coming so less on amp means more on baby stuff...so much baby stuff)
-no bluetooth streaming (major disadvantage)
-afraid the tone will be subpar compared to the bigger one also may be too close to the fly3 i already own so as not to be an upgrade)

THR10ii
-slighlty larger which is a downside as a living room amp
-needs to be plugged in so not as mobile
-bluetooth streaming is awesome (less cords to get in the way)
-personal bias says larger=better tone
-more expensive (again not a big issue but just not sure if its worth the extra money)
-also could go all out and get the thr10ii wireless and have less cords all around but it is pricey for my needs

Bonus option:
Just buy a headphone amp and quit complaining. Plus the nux mighty plug looks like fun.

 

[4wotitswurth]

Have thr5, thr10x & 10c. Not tried the newer ones, but I think they are a combination of tones from the x&c, not sure. I like them all, I use the c a lot, everyday for a few hours. The 5 I used to carry around, tho all are light and easily portable. Tone seems better on the bigger ones, not sure why, maybe box size, as I think the speaker compliment is the same? I have other lower priced amps, katana, fender mustang, and it has equal or better tone quality (for me).

 

[SparkleFart]

First of all congratulations on the coming baby!

I have a Blackstar Fly & a THR5. Any mini amp is going to be a compromise in sound quality, so going this route is about other considerations.

To me the portability batteries offer is key. While the THR5 is the striped down model of the THRs, it still offers more effects than the FLY. But I think the Fly still has great sound quality in a small package and cost-wise is a better value. For their intended use I think either are good choices. And best of luck with the family addition!

edit
ooops, just re-read your post & see you've already got the Fly3 -- sorry

 

[tomasz]

I have the THR10c, so none of the options you are looking at. Choosing it back in the day, I preferred it over the 5 tonally.
Looking back, and it is years later:
- it usually sits plugged in - the battery option proved to be not an issue at all
- while the classic THR10 got software upgrades, the THR10c and THR10x didn't over the years
- it still sound and functions fine, software being supported years later
- I use it as my main practice amp, even on holidays
- I seldom use it with headphones, as headphones and the electric is a sh*tty option anyway, as the articulation changes and ears gets more tired in headphones
- That bluetooth option of the new THRCs would be awesome to have, specifically for playback of tracks

 

[El Marin]

I had a 5, a 10c and a 10

Just keep the THR10. I play it every day.

Sounds better. To me, the lack on Mids pot was the deal. Also the guitar and the line pots. Is easier to dial, better sounding and youn can store 5 presets. I just use the presets mostly for recording.

Get a 10, really

 

[Boogieman92]

Have thr5, thr10x & 10c. Not tried the newer ones, but I think they are a combination of tones from the x&c, not sure. I like them all, I use the c a lot, everyday for a few hours. The 5 I used to carry around, tho all are light and easily portable. Tone seems better on the bigger ones, not sure why, maybe box size, as I think the speaker compliment is the same? I have other lower priced amps, katana, fender mustang, and it has equal or better tone quality (for me).

Having not tried them side by side this is what im mainly afraid of and pushing me to the th10ii. Slightly bigger box is a reasonable trade off for a better sound.

First of all congratulations on the coming baby!

I have a Blackstar Fly & a THR5. Any mini amp is going to be a compromise in sound quality, so going this route is about other considerations.

To me the portability batteries offer is key. While the THR5 is the striped down model of the THRs, it still offers more effects than the FLY. But I think the Fly still has great sound quality in a small package and cost-wise is a better value. For their intended use I think either are good choices. And best of luck with the family addition!

View attachment 889053

edit
ooops, just re-read your post & see you've already got the Fly3 -- sorry

Thanks brother, it is an exciting/scary time lol. I love my little fly 3 and know that there will be compromises on the tone end, but the fly has never been super impressive as a cleans option and winds up being boxy sounding. Im hoping the design and extra cost of the thr series helps to eliminate some of that. How do you like the thr5 specifically compared to the fly 3 as far as dry tones go? Im not a heavy effects user so the additional effects while nice arent a major selling point.

I have the THR10c, so none of the options you are looking at. Choosing it back in the day, I preferred it over the 5 tonally.
Looking back, and it is years later:
- it usually sits plugged in - the battery option proved to be not an issue at all
- while the classic THR10 got software upgrades, the THR10c and THR10x didn't over the years
- it still sound and functions fine, software being supported years later
- I use it as my main practice amp, even on holidays
- I seldom use it with headphones, as headphones and the electric is a sh*tty option anyway, as the articulation changes and ears gets more tired in headphones
- That bluetooth option of the new THRCs would be awesome to have, specifically for playback of tracks

The mobility of a battery powered amp is a plus but not a deal breaker, my deluxe doesnt have batterys and i dont complain lol. Judging by the few replys i really should just look at the 10. I have the fly3 if i need the battery amp deal anyway.

 

[Tim S]

I have the original THR10 and feel no need to replace it with a newer model. The battery power makes it very convenient and it puts out a great sound that I feel beats the pants off my Spark 40. The original THRs are modern classics.

 

[Telepi]

I stupidly sold my 10c a few years ago. Just trying to be practical with a, "one in/one out" philosophy. I have a 5 now, for my sit on the couch and play amp. It's more simple thqn the 10c. I never used the presets on the 10. And very rarely adjusted the tone knobs once I set them. The 5 is a real easy to use, plug and play. I leave the tone knob at noon, pick an amp type and adjust the gain and volume. For low volume playing, it's fine.

 

[tfarny]

I think the 10c, which I have, is far better than the Fly3 in every way. The bluetooth thing would be nice, but that's the only thing about the 10c I would really care about. Battery power - meh. You're not going to be leaving home to jam out too much over the next couple of years anyhow (Congratulations!)

 

[Jbnaxx]

I have the THR 10ii and it can generate wide variety of sounds. The Bluetooth is a big plus. For me the big strength is using it with a big set of over the ear headphones. The headphone sound is fantastic. I use mine hooked up to my computer with USB cable and practice with playback from the computer. I also have an app on the computer that lets me slow down and loop tracks. It is a fantastic practice tool.

For me the sound from the speakers is a bit plastic, but fine for what it was built to be.

 

[tattypicker]

I've got the 5, and previously had the 10c.

I really like the compact size and battery option on the 5. It's an easy amp to stow if you're going on holiday with a carful of stuff. Also, even at home, battery power makes it that much easier to pick up and move to a corner of the house where you're out of the way. Not much of a feature if you'll always play in the same place, but my family life requires a wee bit more agility to fit practice and playing in.

For clean tones, I think the 5 has good options - probably equal to the 10ii. I didn't find the 10c offered much sonically over and above the 5. If you want high-gain tones, then the voicings carried over to the 10ii from the old 10X would be a big plus I'd think, but not something I use.

The presets are also a plus, if you're going to use them. I didn't use them much when I had a 10c, and the interface on the 5 is simple enough that I feel I can fairly quickly and easily dial up the tones, mostly clean, that I need from day to day.

The other advantage of the 10ii would be the accessibility of the tone shaping controls from a phone app. If you're happy hooking a 5 up to a laptop, then there's an awful lot of flexibility available, plus the ability to save presets. But mostly, for convenience's sake, I prefer to play without the extra encumbrance. I think having the same controls available from a phone would encourage me to use them more. But as things stand, I don't miss them.

The bluetooth AUX IN on the 10ii would be cool, especially if you're going to use it as a living room music player as well as a practice tool - but I've been happy plugging my phone in via a cable.

Both are great options. For the £75 I paid for a preowned 5, I don't think a 10ii can touch it value wise. New, I think the gap is narrower - especially if you can use the bass and/or acoustic support in the 10ii.

 

[Boogieman92]

Im thinking im just going to go with the thr10ii and call it a day. The battery option is nice but the fly3 has that covered anyway. I looked at the thr30 as well but having to spend all the extra and still have to buy the g10 relay for full use is just kind of meh. Its funny i have spent weeks debating the 5 vs the 10 but as soon as i had everything typed out the choice seemed clear, plus add in most of you have said to get the 10. Thanks for the replys everyone, now to just get a few of the extra guitars sold and ill start working on scooping one up.

 

[Old Smokey]

I’ve had the 5 and the 10C. If I had to buy another one right now, I’d go with the 5 because it’s lighter and smaller. I mainly bought the 10 for the different models, including bass, flat, acoustic… but I didn’t end up using it as much as the 5. However, I had another amp as well by that point, whereas when I had the 5 it was my only amp.

BTW, you can buy a rechargeable Bluetooth “dongle” for like $20-$30. Maybe not as convenient as having it built in, but it would allow you to choose the battery-operated model.

I also think these amps sound best in a very small room and they are near field, so ideally you want it up on a table sitting directly across from you a couple feet away.

If you have a large living room you’d probably want bigger speakers even at low volumes.

 

[archiestone]

I have the 5A (acoustic model with microphone modeling, compression, chorus, delay, reverb.) Surprised to find it sounds pretty good with electric too. Am tempted by the 10II but wonder how good the acoustic setting on the 10II is -- anyone like/dislike it's acoustic capabilities? If the 10II passes muster as an acoustic amp I'd consider selling 5A.
Sure wish these had 'speaker out' so they could be used as a head.