The Blackstar HT-1R MK III is a 1 W tube combo for home practice and studio recording, with an 8-inch custom-designed speaker. An ECC83 preamp tube feeds an ECC82 running push-pull in the power stage, which gives the crunch and break-up of a large tube output stage at a much lower volume. Two channels with two voices each, ISF tone shaping, reverb and CabRig speaker emulation on the headphone output and USB-C round out the amp.

Channels and Voices

The clean channel offers an American voice, bright with a rounded low end, and a British voice that is crunchier and responds more to your playing. On the overdrive channel the voice switch moves from a tight super-crunch to a higher-gain tone. One Gain control sets the drive on both channels, and the patented ISF knob sweeps the EQ from an American character with a tight low end to a woodier British one.

Recording and Practice

CabRig, an IR-based cabinet simulator, feeds the stereo line out and headphone jack and the USB-C output, and a front switch picks one of three stored CabRig patches. USB-C sends a stereo signal with cab emulation and reverb to your computer. Macs need no driver, and Windows uses Blackstar's USB audio driver. A line input takes a phone or player for playing along, and Blackstar's Architect software edits CabRig and sets reverb decay for each channel.

Features

• 1 W push-pull tube power amp (ECC82) with an ECC83 preamp tube
• Two channels with two voices each, switchable by footswitch
• Patented ISF tone control
• Reverb with decay times per channel set in Architect software
• CabRig IR-based cabinet simulator with three stored patches
• Stereo line out and headphone jack
• Line input for backing tracks
• USB-C audio output
• 4 to 16 ohm extension speaker jack; the internal speaker switches off when a cabinet is connected
• Footswitch jack for a latching 2-way footswitch, with external switching over TRS

Specifications

• Output power: 1 W RMS
• Tubes: 1 x ECC83 (preamp), 1 x ECC82 (push-pull power amp)
• Speaker: 1 x 8" custom designed
• Channels: Clean and Overdrive, two voices each
• Controls: Gain, Overdrive Select, Volume, Voice Select, ISF, Reverb, CabRig, Power
• Inputs: Guitar, Line In
• Outputs: Stereo line out/headphones, 4 to 16 ohm speaker output, USB-C audio
• Footswitch: Compatible with FS-16 and FS-22
• Weight: 6 kg (13.2 lb)
• Dimensions: 310 x 305 x 178 mm (12.2 x 12.0 x 7.0 in)