Positive Grid Spark Live

I had high hopes for this, and for the first week at least, it has delivered quite well – it does all it’s marketed for, and then some. I’ve tried it with basses and guitars, electric and acoustic, and while the sound might not always be precisely what I’m looking for, it is useable indeed – but then it is to be noted that I had quite specific uses in mind for this.

Firstly, when I connect my other interface to the stereo inputs (3 and 4 in the back panel), the sound is flat and pristine enough for using this as a monitoring device; much like you can also use it as a Bluetooth speaker. The rationale here was that it is compact, loud when needed, and capable of some stereo separation – it is there, though it is quite slight given the size of the unit; but then there is also a stereo out among its many connections.

Secondly, when I use the ”audio/data” usb-c port to connect it to an iPad or even an old iPhone, I have an instant interface for live looping: there is no latency either way, you can change presets for different layers, and it plays both the live and the looped loud and clear; I did a little demo of this on my YouTube channel. Certainly the same connection would work with computer DAWs, but do note that the usb combines all the physical inputs into one, so you couldn’t have a whole band play all their instruments into separate tracks all at once, for instance.

On the slightly negative side, you have to work your way around the different controls, with volume knobs for the different channels on opposite sides of the device, and loud surprises in store if you happen to adjust something on the Spark app and then return to the physical knobs; probably best to find a working routine and stick to that? But altogether, I think this will serve me well for what I need: as an FRFR sort of monitor, as an audio interface, and as a functional practice tool either with the Spark stuff or with external devices. I don’t yet know how it would survive in a full band situation, but looking forward to hearing and reading people’s experiences.

There is no stereo separation between input 3 and 4 as marketing and manual let customer understand. Those two input channels (3 and 4) are just summed and outputted as mono sound. Even with earphones connected to Spark Live. Bluetooth connection plays in stereo and i guess also channels 1 and 2 mono input digital signals also, have not tested those troughout because do not need those. As mainly keyboardist i really would like to have stereo output from speaker itself as instruction manual and marketing let understand. And yes i have had it in horizontal position and i have tried to change 3 and 4 input modes to line input from default. Basically sound is ok speaker like this size.

The Spark Live is a phenomenal piece of engineering - it packs 4 inputs into a single 150w amp as well as providing multiple effects for guitar and vocals. It also in the main sounds great. Here are the negatives though. There is the option to pipe music to it via Bluetooth but if you do that there is a very noticeable hum/crackle so it's ultimately best not to use that function at high volumes. Second, there's not as much control as you'd think. For example, you can only apply the full list of guitar effects to channel 1 while channel 2 is reserved for mic effects or limited bass/acoustic effects. Also channels 3 and 4 are essentially 1 channel split into two as it is a stereo channel, though technically you can still run two things through this, but the volumes cannot be controlled independently and there is no facility for effects. The app can also be unreliable with random crashes seen a lot on ios and disconnections happen frequently particularly where many Bluetooth devices are present. Because of this there can also be a slight delay in changing presets when operating a Bluetooth footswitch, which is not ideal in live situations. It would have been nice to also have the battery included which I now have to shell out an extra £80 for. Having said all this, it is still a fantastic piece of kit and I do not regret the purchase over all.

Bought with the battery for wireless applications and amazed how long it lasts.

I set out to buy a tube amp but realising the myriad of options I had with this amp that could simulate a tube amp I decided to give it a go for the same price, I've not been disappointed. My go to is a tube amp simulation with a touch of reverb, which I absolutely love but have also used it for acoustic gigs with a mic and then also with several others musicians using a Behringer Flow 8, which this will power, setting it as a FRFR speaker and controlling through the desk which worked very well.

The app that it comes with is spot on too and I have it's little brother, the Go for general practice or steaming tunes which uses the same interface, it works flawlessly across both although it does ask me to log in quite often, I've given up and just skip that bit these days!

If I had one criticism it's that the front port (Input 1) only does really allows for electric guitar, it would be nice if the adaptability of the second input (Mic, Bass and Acoustic presets) was available across the two, for instance, plugging an acoustic and a mic in using these two channels with presets is not possible...or certainly not easily done, hence why I bought the mini Behringer desk I mentioned where I want more inputs.

That aside, this thing is a beast and ridiculously loud, especially for something that can run off a battery, if you are after a 150W amplifier that has inbuilt simulation for a wide range of electric tones, a speaker that the whole band can plug into in a small venue/practice (Bearing the comments above in mind) or even just a speaker that can do a bit of everything including playing tunes very loud at a party, then this may be the answer, I would certainly buy it again!