Blackstar HT-20R MKIII 20 Watt All-Tube Guitar Amplifier

LIVE. STUDIO. HOME.

EL84s are at the tonal heart of the HT-20R MK III combo and head. Blackstar used their decades of valve amp design experience to combine the response and character of this classic British valve with a carefully voiced preamp to create wonderfully lush valve tones. From pure boutique cleans, to mild overdrive that cleans up by backing off the guitar volume control, right up to saturated distortion, this amp does it all.

From chiming boutique cleans, to on the edge crunch, or full-on distortion, HT-20 MK III deliver the sound in your head.

• 20 Watt combo
• 2x ECC83 preamp valves
• 2x EL84 power amp valves
• 112 Blackstar designed speaker
• 2 Channels
• Footswitchable Voices for Clean and Overdrive
• Power reduction to 2 Watts
• USB-C audio out
• CabRig IR-based DSP cabinet simulator
• XLR D.I. Out
• Newly voiced studio quality reverb
• 2-button footswitch included

What does HT mean?

HT stands for High Tension and refers to the high voltages used in valve circuits like HT MK III. The HT name goes back to the very beginning of Blackstar and their first products: the HT valve pedals.

FEATURES

• Patented ISF: Blackstar’s patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) control shifts the response of the three-band tone stack between a US type response at one end and a UK type response at the other. Importantly, in between the two extremes lie an infinite number of tone choices that would be otherwise unavailable.
• Pro Connectivity: To suit the home studio recording musician, HT-20R MK III comes equipped with USB-C audio connectivity for pro-recording as well as the XLR CabRig output and ” jack TRS Stereo.
• Power Reduction Down To 2W: Blackstars reliable and transparent attenuation switches the power down to 10% of the amps rated power. Blackstar’s power reduction is achieved not by load resistors, which affect the tone in an undesirable way due to changing the output transformer/speaker reactance, but by controlling the internal working voltages of the power stage, both HT (high voltage) and bias. This limits power output without affecting the tone shaping of the output stage and feedback loop, so your basic tone remains the same, with power amp overdrive occurring at much lower volume levels, giving the feel of a small valve amp verging on meltdown.
• Record Without a Cabinet: HT-20R MK III has in-built load protection; this means you can use the head for direct USB recording or headphone practice without the need for a connected cabinet, making it the ultimate portable practice and recording rig.
• State-Of-The-Art Voicing Circuitry: Each Voice switch makes radical and extensive circuit changes in both the preamp and the power amp, including the EQ voicing, the tone stack position in the circuit, the gain and the power amp damping to provide unique flexibility in tonal options all at the press of a single switch!
• Two footswitchable channels and voices: The HT-20R MK III comes equipped with two footswitchable clean and overdrive voicings: On the clean, choose between a bright and pristine American setting with a solid and tight bass response or a classic British setting with looser bass response and a warmer mid-range, sensitive to your guitar output and playing dynamics. On the overdrive, choose between a classic hot-rodded setting with medium power amp damping or a more modern setting with a strong mid-emphasised pre-overdrive boost with a looser, more aggressive sound due to reduced power amp damping. All channels and voices are footswitchable with the optional 2-way FS-22 and FS-16 Footswitch, resulting in a wide selection of accessible valve tones.
• Choose Your Cabinet Response: The HT-112OC and HT-212VOC cabinets come equipped with a removable rear panel this allows the user to easily switch between a closed back for a tight low-end, to a semi-open back for a wide mid-range.
• Stage Ready: Connect a two-button footswitch for full stage control over the HT-20R MK IIIs channels and voice settings. FX loop and pro XLR CabRig output DI complete the stage ready package.
• Studio Quality Reverb: Blackstar’s studio quality reverb has been referenced against the most revered vintage and modern reverb units, designed to perfectly complement guitar tones.
• Stunning Looks: In terms of looks Blackstar accepted no compromise. They’ve introduced upgraded cosmetics including premium tolex, high quality mini toggle switches and a cast alloy metal plate logo. Materials usually only found on boutique amplifiers.

HIGHLIGHTS

EL84 Power Stage

EL84s are at the tonal heart of the HT-20R MK III combo and head. Blackstar applied their decades of valve amp design experience to combine the response and character of this classic British valve with a carefully voiced preamp to create wonderfully lush valve tones. From pure boutique cleans, to mild overdrive that cleans up by backing off the guitar volume control, right up to saturated distortion, this amp does it all.

Concentrated, to Concert-rated

The HT-20R MK III comes equipped with a power reduction feature taking you down to 2W without any tonal compromise, perfect for driving those EL84s hard at manageable volumes in the studio or home.

When youre ready to take to the stage, switch to full 20W and utilise the XLR DI output to simultaneously feed direct to the sound engineer with incredible sounding cabinet simulation via Blackstar’s CabRig IR-based speaker simulator software.

Perfect for Playing & Recording

Alongside providing capture-ready valve tones at any volume, the HT-20R MK III comes equipped with a direct USB-C output which can send 2 channels (left and right) to your DAW, ensuring the easiest way to capture authentic valve tone in recordings without the need for an interface.

The best part? These amps have in-built load protection, meaning you can use them without a cabinet connected for silent practice and recording.

IR-based CabRig speaker simulator

CabRig, Blackstar’s class-leading IR-based speaker simulator comes as standard in the HT-20R MK III, offering hundreds of different cabinet, mic, and room combinations. Save your favourites to three presets for easy access directly from the amplifier. Get premium valve tones into your headphones, monitors and mixes.

NEW CabRig IR-based speaker simulator technology

CabRig is Blackstar’s advanced IR-based speaker simulator, delivering micd up guitar cab sounds with unparalleled detail. With zero latency and superior flexibility over IR snapshots, CabRig perfectly simulates cabinets and rooms. Dive into its software for exceptional tones via USB or headphones.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Wattage: 20W
• Valves: 2x ECC83 Preamp, 2x EL84 Power Amp
• Channels/Voices: 2 Channels, 2 Voices Per Channel
• Footswitchable: Yes – Channels & Voices
• Speakers: 1x 12″ Blackstar Designed
• Reverb: Yes
• CabRig Output: Yes (USB C, Balanced XLR & Jack)
• Effects Loop: Yes
• USB Recording: Yes (USB-C)
• Power Reduction: Yes (To 2W)
• Weight: 15.9kg
• Dimensions: 513 x 487 x 270 (mm)