Blackstar BEAM Mini

I own many tube amps that make me very happy.... but this is what I play 80% of my time. It sounds amazing, big, tubey (depending on the amp model of course) and can be played at the lowest of volumes without waking up my kids.
It also travels with my in my guitar bag without issue so I litterally have it at all time, working on battery.

This is truly next level and I can't imagine going back to anything else.

This little box is just full of magic! Be prepared to lose track of time because you just get immersed in what this small black box can do!!!! I use this all the time now, in fact I use it more than my HiWatt Head/Laney Cab set up. I do find the lack of a display on the amp a bit of a pain as the app can be a bit tricky/temperamental as well as confusing but that may be more of a 'me' problem. But that said the tech involved in this and the sheer range of sounds and amp models you can tap into is mind blowing. I'm still trying to get to grips with Moises. As I thought this was being made available as an add on within the Beam app like Tone 3000 access, but I have had to download this as a separate standalone app. That said this is perfect as a practice amp or for use as some sort of midi set up.....but I'm old school or just old so I avoid all that. It's worth every penny.

Since I had a chance to have both JBL Bandbox Go and this amp I decided to make a little comparison There's so much hype around Blackstar that I was sure it would wipe the floor with JBL.

Video comparison: search YT for D6ZHU_EM2q0

But this is my honest opinion, based on MY use cases:
- I needed a small grab and go practice amp
- convenience and portability were #1 priority over features
- I have a lot of gear, so I did not need another jack of all trades
- easy of use, not needing to open an app every time I want to change the tone, instant gratification - these were the qualities I was looking for.

Blackstar - it can sound better, but you need to spend some time with it. For me there are too many sounds for what the tool is made for (or how I'll be using it). No display makes reliance on the app a must. Steam separation is a joke: you need another app and an USB cable (!!!!!) to connect your phone to the amp - really Blackstar?
Wide stereo - well, maybe you can hear some "dimension", but honestly I hoped it would be much much more audible, and it is not.
What I heard in the room was maybe ever so slightly (marginally) more 3D than JBL. The app: of course as you have more options it is more convoluted, but somehow the important features are still missing or not working: EQ for music playback - not present, ability to adjust volumes of music vs guitar - not possible (you have to edit every patch volume individually), metronome - does not work (no sound), backing tracks - they're just embedded YouTube videos.

JBL - smaller and lighter, an actual display is so helpful. Limited amps and effects actually make it easier to dial in an OK sound for practice purposes on the go, or on the coach while watching a movie.
Steam separation - works ON THE UNIT!
Cons: battery life vs Blackstar, much worse as an USB audio interface (for me not a big con though), much less options and sounds (again, for me it's a pro). Sound quality: yes, objectively Blackstar sounds better (or can sound better if you spend time tweaking it), but it matters only if it's your primary amp, interface and studio gear. If you're like me, it's your 4th, 5th or 6th amp (and counting) and you want a simple, no fuss solution for low volume practice, in hotels, on the go or in a similar context.

So called user experience, as far as I'm concerned, is MUCH better with JBL.

In a nutshell:
- if you are a beginner, and you can have only one amp (do-it-all) - grab a Blackstar. But if you want a simple, reliable, grab and go solution, easier to use, with better interface, better user experience that still sounds good for what it is - go with JBL.