Hiwatt Leeds 25R Combo | Evaluation

MSRP: (UK) £549 / (US) $TBC

The Leeds 25R brings the long-lasting basic British sound in a compact, versatile bundle. That includes clear tones, excessive headroom, and an overdrive channel, it is excellent for small venues, greenrooms, or house follow. With built-in spring reverb, an FX loop, and a pedal-friendly design, it provides tonal flexibility for any setup. Nick Jennison takes a better look.

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If you happen to’ve ever wished that iconic HiWatt sound with out dropping severe money or hauling an enormous amp, the Leeds 25 Combo would possibly simply be what you are in search of. This little gem packs rather a lot into a light-weight, budget-friendly design, supplying you with a slice of basic British tone in a compact format that will not break your again—or your pockets.

The Leeds 25 is a 25-watt, solid-state MOSFET amp with a built-in 10-inch speaker. Let’s get this out of the best way: this is not a valve amp. However that is additionally why it is so reasonably priced. The trade-off? You continue to get a surprisingly wealthy and versatile sound that holds its personal in follow settings, small gigs, and even backstage warm-ups. It is a two-channel amp with a clear facet that makes your chords shimmer and an overdrive channel known as “Crunch” that delivers heat, gritty British vibes. Each channels are simple to navigate due to intuitive front-panel controls. The clear facet options normal treble, center, and bass knobs, together with an actual spring reverb for that additional contact of lushness. In the meantime, the Crunch channel helps you to tweak the acquire and contour, shaping the whole lot from thick, classic tones to scooped midranges straight out of the ’90s.

One cool element is the headphone out for silent follow, and it even has an auxiliary enter for jamming alongside together with your favorite tracks. Want extra quantity? You possibly can hook it as much as an exterior speaker cupboard, supplying you with a much bigger sound for gigs or recording periods.

On the clear channel, the Leeds 25 completely shines. Whether or not you are enjoying by means of a Strat or a Les Paul, you will hear each word clearly, with heat and depth that really feel costlier than the worth suggests. The actual magic lies within the spring reverb—it is delicate however provides a fantastic contact to your tone. On the Crunch channel, issues get a bit extra playful. It isn’t a high-gain monster (metalheads would possibly wish to look elsewhere), but it surely’s excellent for traditional rock, blues, or something vintage-inspired. The acquire vary provides you the whole lot from a comfortable breakup to a punchy growl, and the contour management is a neat trick for dialing in several flavours of distortion. Watch out, although—maxing out the inside track would possibly depart issues sounding slightly hole.

The one actual letdown is the headphone output, which does not embody cupboard simulation. This implies the overdrive can sound a bit harsh by means of headphones. That mentioned, turning down the treble or tweaking the contour management smooths it out. For follow functions, it will get the job completed.

This amp is not nearly sound—it is ridiculously transportable too. Weighing subsequent to nothing, the Leeds 25 is a breeze to hold round. It is excellent for practising at house, warming up backstage, or throwing within the automobile for a fast jam session. And if you would like extra oomph, the exterior speaker output helps you to hook it as much as a much bigger cab with 12-inch audio system, remodeling it right into a severe rig. At this value level, it is no shock {that a} footswitch is not included, however actually, it is not a dealbreaker. The amp is so reasonably priced that selecting up a separate footswitch is hardly a giant ask.

The HiWatt Leeds 25 Combo is not attempting to be a jack-of-all-trades amp. It is aware of its lane and stays there confidently, delivering basic British tones with a price ticket that is onerous to disregard. Whether or not you are practising, jamming, and even gigging in small venues, it is a dependable little workhorse with a sound that punches effectively above its weight. If you happen to’re after fashionable metallic tones or all of the bells and whistles of high-end amps, this is not your amp. However if you would like nice vintage-inspired tones, sensible options, and portability that makes life simple, the Leeds 25 Combo is completely price a glance. Inexpensive, enjoyable to play, and filled with attraction—it is slightly amp with rather a lot to supply.

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