Blackstar has entered the game of small-but-powerful amps, rivaling the well-loved Spark Go.
The Blackstar Beam Mini is small enough to live on your desk, yet powerful enough to stand in for an entire rig. At the core of the Beam Mini lies a hybrid tone engine that combines Blackstar’s component-level amp modeling with full Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) compatibility. This opens the door to an enormous tonal universe, especially when paired with Tone3000 which grants access to a staggering library of more than 200,000 community-created amp captures.
Beyond NAM, the onboard voices cover Electric, Bass, and Acoustic guitar with equal authority, including an Acoustic Simulator that adds another layer of versatility. Control is equally impressive. The top panel keeps things immediate and player-friendly, anchored by Blackstar’s SpeedDial system and the eye-catching Light Beam display, which provides real-time visual feedback as you tweak your sound.
For those who want to go deeper, the Beam mobile app opens up a full editing environment, letting you fine-tune amps, effects, cabinets, and even microphone placement. Preset management, artist-inspired tones, backing tracks, and community sharing are all baked into the experience.
Despite its size, the Beam Mini sounds anything but small. Its custom full-range speaker system – featuring dual passive radiators and a Super Wide Stereo design – delivers a surprisingly expansive and detailed soundstage. The acoustically tuned cabinet ensures balanced Low End response and clarity, whether you’re practicing quietly or pushing the volume. It’s equally capable as a playback system, handling music and backing tracks with the same fidelity it brings to your instrument.
On the connectivity front, the Beam Mini is built for modern workflows. Bluetooth streaming, USB-C audio interface functionality, and flexible I/O options make it just as comfortable in a recording setup as it is on a desktop.
A headset microphone input allows for simultaneous guitar and vocal recording, while CabRig IR-based speaker simulation provides polished, studio-ready direct tones. Add in MIDI support, expression control, and an IP66-rated design, and you’ve got a unit that’s as adaptable as it is powerful.
Get the Blackstar Beam Mini Desktop Guitar Amp here for $229.99 and keep up with all our Blackstar coverage right here!
