Vox AC-4TV or VHT Special 6

[blaster]

I have a chance to get either the Vox or VHT for the same price. Does anyone prefer one over the other?

[John Thigpen]

I had both and sold the VHT. I just preferred the Vox tone. The VHT is very well built...no negatives.

[xStonr]

I had both, sold both and still have the VHT Ultra. More gain on tap.

[Han Solo]

Played both. Liked the VHT a lot more than the Vox. The VHT is much more versitile, the 4TV does only one thing, Vox breakup.

The VHT filled the room, the Vox was very boxy to me.

[Mitch T]

I can only comment on the AC4TV: it does Vox cleans/slight crunch on bedroomlevels and slightly higher but sounds boxy and compressed on practice levels. The higher gain drive on the 1/4W setting is just fizzy at bedroom levels, not Voxy at all.

[romo]

I'd go VHT. I have an AC4TV, Special 6, and a Special 6 Ultra. I like the tone of the AC4. It has a nice chimey clean-to crunch tone but gets a little harsh when cranked. The regular Special 6 is more versatile in the clean tone department and seems to have a fuller, less boxy tone than the Vox. Also sounds a little harsh when cranked.

The Special 6 Ultra is way better that either of the other two. Sounds much more like a bigger amp, just less power. I use mine at church, on the ultra channel with both volume/gain knobs at noon. It gives me a nice slightly crunchy rhythm tone that takes a boost really well for lead tones. Not as harsh as the other two amps when cranked. The 12" speaker helps, but I played my Vox through a 1x12 cab a lot, and it still doesn't stack up.

Any of those amps will require experimentation with different tubes in order to find their full potential.

[headpond]

based on the fact that i've had 2 ac4tv's and both died on me.....i'd go VHT. theres more options/features with the vht also.

[thosk]

VHT is hand-wired turret board. Easy to mod and repair.
I own an AC4TV and the new AC4C1-BL. Both do the Vox thing fairly well but are pretty thin and boxey unless used with an Ext. cab.
I think the VHT would be way more versatile.

[damian1]

I just picked up the vox ac4tv with the 10" Never played the vht but Ive gotta say Im loving this thing. I had an ac30 and now have a drri. I was missing the vox sound and this gets it done for me. I like it with a little delay and wish I had a reverb pedal.

It requires you to use the tone on your guitar and the amp especially when switching wattage. You cant just leave the settings the same. I put an old rca pre in it and would love a 12" speaker and larger cab. The demos Ive seen on the vht dont sound distinctive at all to me. They all just sounded generic. Im sure Id like it more in person with some pedals.

Oh PS this 10" sounds waaaaay better on the floor. It has more bass and sounds fuller. I dont like it leaned back or off of the ground

[headpond]

the ac4tv sounds awsum with 2x10s. when my first one died, i gutted it and left it as a speaker cab. then i made it stable enough to set the new one on top and wired the 2x10s in series. an idea for you.