With the Labor Day weekend upcoming, Positive Grid has seen fit to slash the price of some of its most popular products. One of my top-rated guitar practice tools has a significant reduction, with the Positive Grid Spark Neo Core dropping to just $99.
It’s a huge 38% discount on a great silent practice option that will suit a big number of guitar players. It’s not wireless, so you need to plug a guitar cable in, but as it combines headphones and amp modeler into one unit, it makes practicing close to as simple as it can be.
I reviewed the Positive Grid Spark Neo Core last year and awarded it four stars out of five. The build quality of the unit is excellent, with the rubber coating providing a hard-wearing finish complemented by very comfortable ear cushions. They’re heavy-ish, but there’s adequate cushioning on the headband that makes them comfortable for longer playing sessions.
As you plug your guitar cable straight into the unit, you don’t have to faff around with wireless connectivity to get them up and running. Just plug one end into the headphones and the other into your guitar, and away you go. While some might prefer the wireless option, the Neo Core is actually even simpler to use than its more expensive sibling, the Positive Grid Spark Neo.
I did find it took some getting used to having the cable plugged into something that you then put on your head. A heavy-duty cable can pull a bit on it, and it took me a bit of time experimenting for optimal placement. Once I got there, though, it was easy to forget I was wearing them and just bask in the huge array of sounds available to me.
You’ll need to use the companion app on your smartphone to access all of the sounds available from the headphones. It’s worth it, because you’ll unlock a full 33 amp models and 43 effects, which can give you pretty much any tone you can think of.
They sound fantastic too, offering a really immersive experience that feels realistic and lifelike in your ears and under your fingers. The closed-back design makes it difficult for any external noise to get through unless it’s very loud, which helps you kick back and play without distractions like small animals or family members.
