The Blackstar Dept. 10 AMPED 3 is a gig-worthy 100-watt guitar amp head that fits easily on your pedalboard. This floorboard amplifier faithfully re-creates the tone and feel of a traditional tube amp, with three distinct channels — with two selectable voices per channel — that range from high-headroom clean to uber-saturated distortion. There's plenty of sound shaping onboard, including a 3-band EQ, Presence, and Blackstar's trademark ISF control. Three distinctively different power amp responses ensure an authentic amp-like feel to match the AMPED 3's killer tone. You also get a footswitchable Boost and Reverb, plus a high-quality effects loop, MIDI control, and 9V pedal power outputs. To top it off, this guitar amplifier pedal includes Blackstar's next-gen Cab Rig DSP speaker simulation. Best of all, when you find a sound and setup you like, you can store your settings as an easily recallable patch. You can connect Dept. 10 AMPED 3 to an 8- or 16-ohm speaker cabinet, or route a studio-quality mic'd-cab tone straight to your DAW via USB-C.
Blackstar Dept. 10 AMPED 3 at a Glance:
- 100w high gain, performance ready amp with user presets.
- Unique high-headroom design that automatically matches
to the speaker impedance to deliver maximum power and
optimum tone with any 8 or 16Ohm cabinet set-up.
- Response control delivers three distinctly different and
authentic power valve responses – EL34, 6L6 and EL84.
Each setting delivers the response, dynamics, sag and
break-up characteristics of the selected valve power amp.
- Choose from Clean Bright, Clean Warm, Crunch, Super Crunch, OD1 and OD2 voicings to dial in your perfect tone.
- Built in Boost that can be set to Pre or Post.
- Built in studio quality Reverb with ‘freeze’ function.
- Pro connectivity and integration into your setup using
low latency USB audio as an interface for recording, TRS
stereo line out and XLR Mono D.I. for live use.
- Effects loop, 2x 9V DC outputs and MIDI control for easy
integration into your pedalboard or rig.
- CabRig built in
Sonically flexible 100-watt guitar amplifier
At its heart, Dept. 10 AMPED 3 is a great-sounding 100-watt, 3-channel guitar amplifier jam-packed with sonic flexibility. The Clean channel's two voices include Warm, which is a dynamic, high-headroom clean sound, and Bright, which is a boutique-style clean tone that breaks up when you push it. The Crunch channel's two voices include Crunch, which is a medium-gain overdrive, and Super Crunch, which boasts more gain and punchiness than the Crunch option. The Overdrive channel's two voices include OD 1, a hot-rodded Master Volume overdrive, and OD 2, a tight, aggressive overdrive tailor-made for modern metal. AMPED 3 also includes a bevy of Power Amp controls. The 3-way Response switch enables you to tailor the amp's feel with EL84, EL34, and 6L6 characteristics. You also get a 3-way Power switch that selects between 100W, 20W, and 1W, allowing you to use AMPED 3 for large-scale gigs, at-home practice, and everything in between.
Loaded with gig-worthy features
You can do a lot with the Blackstar Dept. 10 AMPED 3. Its variable, footswitchable Boost can be placed before or after the unit's preamp, enabling you to use it for either more saturation (Pre) or more volume (Post). Its onboard Reverb adds dimension to your playing, while its Dark/Light switch allows you to dial in the character of the effect. Two 9V DC outputs make powering external pedals a cinch, plus you get a high-quality effects loop for integrating your pedalboard and rackmount gear. AMPED 3's 8- and 16-ohm speaker outputs accommodate a wide range of cabinets. You also get MIDI I/O for sending and receiving MIDI CC messages — a must have for complex high-end rigs. And no matter what setup you create, you can store your settings as an easily recallable patch. The guitarists here at Music Experience are duly impressed by the AMPED 3's robust feature set — it's a terrific streamlined solution for lightweight fly gigs.
Next-generation Cab Rig speaker simulation
Rather than force you to lug an unwieldy cabinet around, Blackstar loaded the Dept. 10 AMPED 3 with top-notch speaker simulation. Dubbed Cab Rig, AMPED 3's cab sim technology replicates the sound and feel of a mic'd guitar cab with exacting detail. While IR-based speaker simulations provide a realistic snapshot of a raging cab, they often possess inherent latency, as well as phase issues, when you mix more than one together. Cab Rig's advanced speaker simulation algorithm re-creates a speaker, cabinet, mic, and room with zero latency or phase mismatches. You get your choice of cabs and microphones, both on- and off-axis, along with room characteristics, and absolute control over how much or little of this you blend in. And everything can be accessed using Blackstar's powerful Architect software. To top it off, AMPED 3 enables you to route your mic'd-cab sound through a balanced mono XLR output, a stereo TRS headphones output, or through the unit's built-in 4-in/2-out USB-C audio interface. A 3-way selector switch and Level knob offer even more flexibility.
What Blackstar Says...
AMPED 3 is a 100 Watt pedal multi-channel amplifier. It features one of the highest gain circuits that Blackstar has ever developed and with the ability to recall your favourite tones via presets. AMPED 3 is capable of delivering the tone and feel of traditional valve amps. You can use it in the front end of a traditional amp, power a cabinet at 100 Watts or go direct, ensuring you can take your sound with you anywhere. Power reduction down to 1W and USB-C connectivity ensure it’s equally at home in the studio or on the stage.
High Headroom Power Amp Design
The power amplifier’s unique, high-headroom design does not compromise on output even at 16 Ohms. Get maximum power and optimum tone with any cabinet set-up at 8 or 16 Ohms. Blackstar’s patented Response control offers distinctly different and authentic power valve responses and guitar amp dynamics.
Speaker Simulator and Direct Outputs
Fine-tune your cabinet, mic, and room simulations with our CabRig technology and output via XLR or stereo jack. Alternatively, connect via USB for effortlessly simple recording to your DAW without the need for an interface.
User Programmable Presets
Create, store and recall your favourite Clean, Crunch and Overdrive presets directly from AMPED 3.
Performance Ready Amp with Multi Effects
The AMPED 3 is a complete, all in one, gig-ready solution for guitarists looking to transport their tone from studio to stage with ease..
Switchable Power Valve Responses
The Response switch delivers three distinctly different authentic power valve responses - EL84, EL34, 6L6. Each setting delivers the response, dynamics, sag and break-up characteristics of the selected valve power amp.
Pro Connectivity
Pro connectivity and integration into your setup using low latency USB audio as an interface for recording, and XLR D.I. for live use.
CabRig™
Includes our next-generation DSP speaker simulator that reproduces the sound and feel of a mic’d up guitar cab in incredible detail. Deep-dive using the accompanying free Architect software and capture the incredible tones via USB / XLR.
The Pedalboard Partner
Effects loop, 2x 9V DC outputs and MIDI control for easy integration into your pedalboard or rig.
Power Reduction
Power Reduction switch allows you to select 100 Watts, 20 Watts or 1 Watt to easily get the perfect balance of power and response for any situation from studio to stage.
Boost
The built-in Boost can be set to either Pre or Post, allowing you to drive the front end of the amplifier harder for a tighter, more saturated, tone. Alternatively, set it to post to get a level increase for that extra push when needed for leads and solos.
Reverb
The built-in Reverb has 2 modes which are switchable directly from the unit, Dark and Light. The Reverb's tone can be further edited with Architect software.
ISF
Featuring Blackstar's patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature). This control will take your sound from a more US style tone stack, through to the UK and anywhere in between. Use this to fine tune your sound and set your own tonal signature.
User Programmable Channel Presets
Channel Presets can be set, and saved to AMPED 3 directly from the unit or via Architect software. Presets are quick and simple to set up and store to the device allowing you to recall your favourite Clean, Crunch and OD tones on the go.
Universal Voltage
Dept 10. AMPED 3 is universal voltage so can be used anywhere in the world from 100V to 240V ~ 50/60Hz. Just stick it in your gigbag and hop on that plane.
Authentic Valve Amp Feel
The unique power amplifier design uses current feedback which mimics a valve amplifiers interaction with a speaker cabinet. This very high headroom design delivers the thump and presence of a valve amp with 100W power, into any speaker cabinet at 8 or 16 Ohms.
