PRS Archon 2-Channel Guitar Amplifier Head 50 Watts

The PRS Archon 50 stands as a commanding force in the world of amplification, living up to its Greek namesake meaning "ruler" or "lord." This 50-watt, 2-channel head bridges the gap between aggressive, high-gain textures and pristine, sparkling cleans, offering a versatility that suits everything from metal to classic rock.

By scaling down the original 100-watt design without sacrificing tone, PRS has created an amplifier that delivers manageable volume for the studio while retaining enough punch for the stage.

Distinctive Tube Power

At the core of the Archon 50’s unique voice is a pair of 6CA7 power tubes, a choice that sets it apart from typical high-gain heads. These tubes offer a sonic middle ground between the glassiness of EL34s and the low-end depth of 6L6s, resulting in a sound that’s both warm and articulate.

6CA7 Power Tubes: Utilizing two 6CA7 tubes, the amp delivers a harmonic richness that is full and smooth, avoiding the harshness often associated with high-output saturation.
Balanced Response: Experience a tight low end and a smooth high end that allows the amp to distort heavily without losing definition or becoming muddy.
50-Watt Sweet Spot: The 50-watt configuration allows you to push the tubes harder at lower volumes, making it easier to achieve that coveted power-amp breakup in smaller venues or recording situations.

Dual-Channel Versatility

Whether you need a canvas for your pedalboard or a standalone distortion machine, the Archon 50 adapts to your playing style with two distinct channels. The design focuses on retaining clarity and note separation, ensuring that complex chords ring out clearly even under heavy gain settings.

Lush Lead Channel: Engineered with five gain stages before the master volume, this channel offers a spectrum of drive tones from subtle crunch to modern metal distortion.
Pristine Clean Channel: Unlike many high-gain amps, the clean channel provides remarkable headroom and clarity, serving as an excellent platform for your favorite effects pedals.
High-Fidelity Signal: Both channels are designed for incredible responsiveness, translating the nuances of your pick attack and guitar volume with precision.

Precision Tone Sculpting

PRS adopted a "no flash or trash" philosophy for the control panel, providing a layout that’s intuitive yet deeply powerful. Rather than overwhelming the user with unnecessary switches, the Archon 50 offers targeted controls that allow you to shape the feel and response of the amplifier quickly.

Independent EQ: Each channel features its own Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, and Master Volume controls, along with a Bright switch to add shimmer to the high frequencies.
Global Depth and Presence: Located in the power amp section, these controls modify the feedback network to sculpt the low-end resonance and high-end bite across both channels.
Series Effects Loop: A tube-driven series effects loop ensures your time-based effects like delays and reverbs integrate seamlessly without degrading the core tone of the amp.

A Ruler of Tone

The PRS Archon 50 is more than just a high-gain monster; it’s a sophisticated tool for the modern guitarist who requires flexibility without compromise. By combining a forgiving, touch-sensitive feel with a robust feature set, it earns its place as a reliable workhorse for recording artists and gigging musicians alike.

PRS Archon 50 Features:

50 Watts of power via 2x 6CA7 power tubes
2 Channels (Lead and Clean) with independent EQ
Global Presence and Depth controls
Tube-driven series effects loop
Adjustable bias points on rear panel
4, 8, and 16 Ohm speaker outputs
Includes 1-button footswitch for channel switching
Birch plywood cabinet construction

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About the Manufacturer

Phone: 410-643-9970

Warranty: Limited Lifetime on Instruments; 5 Years on Amplifiers; 90 Days on Tubes; 1 Year on Speakers