The HT MK3 range is one of Blackstar’s cornerstone valve amp series, featuring powerful tube amp sounds and modern features in an affordable, low-wattage combo or head format. After tireless refinement, research, and design, these amplifiers offer a premium amplifier experience for players of all experiences, great for quiet practice and home recording, or for taking to small gigs.
The HT-1R MK III is the perfect studio and practice amp, packing the great tone and innovative features of the HT Venue MK III range into a 1 Watt format. The patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) circuit gives you infinite adjustment over the characteristics of the tone control network and takes you from the USA to the UK and anywhere in between. So you can effectively design your own tone and tune it to find ‘the sound in your head’.
Following in the footsteps of the original HT-1 and HT-1R MK II, the HT-1R MK III is also designed to be ideally suited to home and studio use. This is a valve amp that sounds full and tuneful even at the lowest volume level, using the proven valve amplifier topology used in the original. This is a low powered push-pull design which produces the crunch and break-up characteristics of a traditional 100W output stage, but at much lower volume. This is achieved by the use of an ECC82 dual triode in push-pull configuration producing 1 Watt output, which is rich in valve harmonics and compression.
Along with the Channel switch, the HT-1R MK III also includes a Voice switch. The combination of these allows the user to access two different clean sounds and two overdrive sounds, therefore making this product amazingly versatile. The reverb decay times can also be adjusted differently for each channel by connecting via USB to our proprietary Architect software. Architect software also allows extensive control of CabRig parameters for power amp/speaker/cabinet/mic/room emulations from the USB and stereo headphone/line outputs, for practicing, recording and live use.
Add to this a Line Input, along with a 4-16Ω speaker output which allows you to run the amp into an external speaker cabinet of your choice, and you have everything you need for recording or practicing.
Perfect for Playing & Recording
Alongside providing capture-ready valve tones at any volume, the HT-1R 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™, our class-leading IR-based speaker simulator comes as standard in the HT-1R 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.
Tonal Options
The HT-1R MK III has 2 channels, clean and overdrive, each with 2 voicing options. With HT-1R MK III, each Voice switch introduces comprehensive circuit alterations in both the preamp and power amp to recreate authentic reference tones without compromise. This includes EQ voicing, tone stack position in the circuit, the gain, and power amp damping. Achieve diverse tonal options with the flick of a single switch!
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 our first products: the HT valve pedals.
Patented ISF Tone Control
The patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) circuit gives you infinite adjustment over the characteristics of the tone control network and takes you from the USA to the UK and anywhere in between. So now you can effectively design your own tone and find ‘the sound in your head’.
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-1R 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.
Full Tone, Low Volumes
The HT-1R MK III is designed to create a full sound even at the lowest of volumes. This is achieved by using a single dual-triode valve as a push-pull power stage – just like a 100W stack!
Stunning Looks
In terms of looks we accepted no compromise. We have 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.
Blackstar HT-1RH MK3 Tube Amp Head 1 Watt Features:
- Entry level guitarists looking for a reliable tube amp for practice
- Guitarists looking for an easy plug-and-play setup for home recording (thanks to CabRig)
- Players of the HT Venue line looking for a quieter amp for playing at home
- Owners of the HT Series MkII looking to upgrade
- 1W head
- Matching 1x12 and 2x12 speaker cabinets available
- Rich and responsive Clean and Overdrive channels, each with voice switches
- Power reduction down to 1/10 for reliable quiet practice
- CabRig DSP cabinet simulation output over 1/4“, XLR, or USB-C
- USB-C audio interface capabilities
- Line in for jamming along or listening to music
- Patented ISF tone control for dialing in classic American and British amp tones
- Channel and Voice footswitchable via optional FS-22 or FS-16