Orange Amplification Micro Terror & PPC108 review

best buy

Valve amplifiers have recently come into vogue for high-end personal hi-fi equipment, particularly iPod docks. It’s hardly surprising, as the characteristically warm tones of valve amplification make for a particularly pleasing listening experience. Orange Amplification’s valve amplifiers are legendary when it comes to stage gear, but even the company’s smaller practice amps might seem a little excessive when it comes to plugging in your MP3 player. Until now. The 20W Micro Terror valve amp, measuring just 132x165x80mm, is small enough to fit into a lunchbox and even has a carrying handle. It has two inputs; the first is a traditional 1/4in TRS input, which feeds through the unit’s valve pre-amp stage. The auxiliary input, designed to be connected to the 3.5mm output of an MP3 player or PC, goes straight to the final solid-state amplification stage and, although it’s affected by the volume knob, the gain and tone controls don’t affect it. You can simultaneously feed in audio to both the 3.5mm and 1/4in inputs, making the Micro Terror perfect if you want to play or sing along to a backing track from your MP3 player – it’s great for busking, practicing to a demo tape you’re working on or the odd bit of drunken karaoke. We tested the TRS input with both guitars and microphones and were pleased to find that we were able to set the tone and gain to be clean enough for vocals – which the amplifier is not really designed for but, as mentioned, we really like karaoke – while still being well suited to its core function as a guitar amp.

On top of its classic use, the amp and speaker stack combination outdoes the audio quality of many – more expensive – iPod docking speakers. What it lacks in docking capabilities, it more than makes up for in audio quality and sheer style. If you want a look and that’ll appeal to your inner muso, this versatile little kit is an ideal buy.