When it comes to playing metal, the right amplifier is essential for delivering the power, aggression, and tonal clarity the genre demands. From crushing high-gain distortion to tight low-end response, the best metal amps are built to handle everything from bone-shaking riffs to searing solos. Whether you prefer a traditional tube amp or a modern digital model, there’s a perfect option for every metal guitarist.
We want your opinion! Cast your vote for the best metal amps and share your experiences in the comments. Whether you have a trusted amp that delivers your signature tone or advice for those seeking their first metal amp, your feedback can guide others to find their ultimate sound machine.
1. Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
Number of Channels: 3.
Total Power: 100W/50W.
Preamp Tubes: 5 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x 6L6, 2 x 5U4 (Rectifier).
Independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, and Master controls per channel.
Bias switch enables you to swap the original 6L6 power tubes for a set of British-style EL34s.
Rectifier Select switch on each channel toggles between a tube and solid-state rectifier.
Made in USA
2. Peavey 6505 II 120W
Number of Channels: 2.
Total Power: 120W.
Preamp Tubes: 6 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x 6L6GC.
Each channel includes a 3-band EQ, plus Resonance and Presence controls.
Per-channel Pre gain and Post gain knobs.
3. Diezel Herbert MKIII
3 Fully independent channels, including separate EQs.
Power: 180 Watts.
For perfectly selected sounds at any output level.
Preamp tubes: 5 x 12AX7.
Power tubes: 6 x EL34.
Channel 1 controls: Volume, treble, middle, bass, gain.
Channel 2 controls: Volume, treble, middle, bass.
Channel 3 controls: Volume, treble, middle, bass.
Made in Germany.
4. ENGL Savage 120 E-610 MKII
4 Channels: Clean, Crunch I, Crunch II, Lead.
Power: 120 W.
Full tube design - no semiconductors in the signal path.
Preamplifier tubes: 6x Engl ECC83 / 12AX7.
Power amp tubes: 2x Engl 6550.
2 Tube-driven FX loops with separate balance controls.
Noise Gate with adjustable threshold.
Engl Power Tube Monitor.
MIDI-In / MIDI thru.
Made in Germany.
Product variations: Savage 60 E630 MKII.
5. Diezel VH4
Preamp with 4 completely independent channels.
Power: 100 W.
Preamp Tubes: 7 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x EL34 STR Red Base.
Controls for EQ gain, treble, mid, bass, volume.
Additional Bright switch in channel 2.
Effect loop per channel.
Product variations: VH2, VHX.
6. EVH 5150 Iconic 80W
2 Channels.
Power: 80 watts.
Preamp tubes: 2x JJ ECC83S (12AX7).
Power amp tubes: 4x JJ 6L6.
Channel 1: Gain control with overdrive switch.
Channel 2: Gain control with burn switch and noise gate.
Controls for low, mid, high and volume, boost, reverb, resonance and presence for channel 1 + 2.
Switches for power, standby, power level (full / 1/4), power amp mute, ground and load impedance (4 / 8 / 16 Ohm).
Effects: Reverb.
7. Soldano SLO-100
Number of Channels: 2.
Total Power: 100W.
Preamp Tubes: 5 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x 5881/6L6.
Controls: Ch.1 Gain, Ch.1 Master, Ch.2 Gain, Ch.2 Master, Bass, Middle, Treble, Depth, Presence.
Switches: Channel Switch, Bright Switch, Mode Switch (Clean/Crunch), Fx Loop On/Off.
Made in USA.
Product variations: SLO-30, SLO-100R Rack.
8. ENGL Fireball 100
2 channels: Clean and Lead, with individual gain controls
Total Power: 100W.
Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x 6L6GC.
Onboard 3-band EQ, Bright, Bottom, and Mid Boost switches, and Presence control supply flexible sound shaping.
Product variations: Fireball 25, E633 Fireball 25 KT77 LTD.
9. Marshall JCM800 2203
1 Channel.
Power: 100 Watt.
Preamp Tubes: 3 x ECC83.
Power Tubes: 4 x EL34.
Controls: Presence, Bass, Mid, Treble, Master Volume, Preamp Volume.
Serial FX loop.
Made in UK.
10. EVH 5150III 50S 6L6
3 Channels.
Power: 50 watts.
Tubes: 2x 6L6 and 7x JJ ECC83S (12AX7).
Common controls for channels 1 and 2: Volume and Gain Dual Concentric, Low, Mid and High.
Further controls: effect loop volume, gain with shared low, mid, and high EQ.
Controls for all 3 channels: Global Presence and Resonance.
Product variations: 5150III 50W EL34, 5150III 50W 6L6, 5150III 100S EL34, 5150III 15W LBX-S.
11. Mesa Boogie Mark VII
Power: 25 / 45 / 90 Watts switchable.
Power tubes: 4 x Mesa 6L6.
Preamp tubes: 5 x Mesa 12AX7.
Channel 1: Clean, fat or crunch mode with multi-watt power switch (25/45/90 watts).
Controls: Gain, Master, Presence, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb
Channel 2: Fat, crunch or Mark VII mode with multi-watt power switch (25/45/90 watts).
Controls: Gain, Master, Presence, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb
Channel 3: Mark IIB, Mark IIC+ or Mark IV mode with multi-watt power switch (25/45/90 watts).
Controls: Gain, Master, Presence, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb.
5-Band graphic EQ.
12. Bogner Uberschall MK2 100 EL34
Number of Channels: 2.
Total Power: 100W.
Preamp Tubes: 6 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x EL34.
EQ: 3-band EQ.
Each channel sports 3-band EQ.
Channel 1 features Clean, Crunch, and Uber modes, with a 2-position bright switch.
Channel 2 includes 3 high-gain modes, including Crunch, Uber, and Ultra.
Product variations: Uberschall MK2 150, Uberschall MK2 100 6L6.
13. PRS MT 15 Mark Tremonti
Two channels: Clean and Gain.
Power: 15 watts - reducible to 7 watts.
Preamp tubes: Six 12AX7/ECC83.
Power tubes: Two JJ 5881 and 2 6L6GC-STR.
Controls in the gain channel: Gain / Master / Treble / Middle / Bass.
Controls in the clean channel: Volume / Treble (Pull Boost) / Middle / Bass.
Product variations: MT 100.
14. Mesa Boogie JP-2C Mark IIC+
3 Channels with five modes.
Power: Class A / B circuit, 100 / 60 W.
4x 6L6 power tubes.
5x 12AX7 preamp tubes.
2x 5-Band graphic EQs.
All-tube spring reverb.
All-tube FX loop.
Built-in CABCLONE cabinet simulator.
Made in USA.
15. Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100
3 Channels: Clean, Lo Gain & Hi Gain.
Multi-Soak power adjustment with five power options per channel for 3, 7, 20, 50 or 100 Watt Class A/B power.
Power tubes: 4x EL34.
Preamp tubes: 6x 12AX7 & 1x 12AT7
Bias select switch: EL34, 6V6 or 6L6 tubes.
Controls: Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Reverb & Master Volume.
CabClone Cabinet Simulator.
Made in USA.
Product variations: Triple Crown TC-50.
16. Revv Generator 100P MKIII
Number of Channels: 3.
Total Power: 120W (10W setting).
Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x 6L6GC.
Dual Master volume knobs.
Per-channel 3-channel EQs.
Global Presence and Depth knobs.
Global Wide, Drive, and Aggression switches.
Per-channel Bright switches.
Configurable/bypassable digital reverb and noise gate.
Product variations: Generator G50, Generator 120 MKIII, Generator 100R MKIII.
17. Victory VX100 Super Kraken
2 Channels.
Power: 100 W + 30 W.
Preamp tubes: 4x 12AX7.
Power amp tubes: 4x 6L6.
Controls: Gain I - Gain II - Bass - Middle - Treble - Master I - Master II.
Switch: Clean / Crunch - Gain 1/2 - Power On / Standby / Off - Preamp Bass Focus - Power Amp Bass Focus.
Made in the UK.
18. Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40
Power: 40 W.
4 Channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Ultra.
Power-Soak: switchable to 20 W / 5 W / 1 W / 0 W.
Preamp tubes: 3x 12AX7.
Power tubes: 4x EL84.
Built-in modulation effects and digital reverb.
128 user presets available to store your favorite sounds.
Built-in Red Box AE speaker emulation.
19. ENGL Powerball II E645II 100
Number of Channels: 4.
Total Power: 100W.
Preamp Tubes: 4 x ECC83, 1 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x 6L6GC.
Clean and Crunch channels share a 3-band EQ with separate Treble controls.
Lead 1 and Lead 2 channels share a 3-band EQ.
Made in Germany.
20. Friedman JJ-Junior Jerry Cantrell
2 Channels.
Power: 20 watts.
Preamp tubes: 3x 12AX7.
Power tubes: 2x EL84.
Controls: Clean Channel: Volume.
Dirty Channel Controls: Gain, Master, Treble, Middle and Bass, Global Presence.
Speaker-simulated XLR output.
Made in USA.
Product variations: JJ-100.
21. Peavey Invective.120
Number of Channels: 3.
Total Power: 120W (half power switchable).
Preamp Tubes: 6 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 x JJ 6L6GC.
MIDI in and outs.
Noise gate.
Cab-emulated direct output.
Product variations: Invective.MH.
22. Orange Rockerverb 100H MKIII
Number of Channels: 2.
Power: 100 W RMS.
Class A/B.
Preamp tubes: 4x ECC83.
Power amp tubes: 4x EL34.
Reverb/ effects loop tubes: 2x ECC81.
Control options in clean channel: volume, bass, treble.
Control options in dirty channel: gain, bass, middle, treble, volume.
Product variations: Rockerverb 50H MKIII.
23. ENGL Ironball E606 20
Power: 20 Watt.
2 Channels.
Power stage tubes: 2x EL 84.
Preamp tubes: 4x ECC 83.
EQ with controls for bass, mids and highs.
Presence controller.
Gain boost and separate gain controls for each channel.
Lead volume control and master volume.
Made in Germany.
24. Laney Ironheart IRT120H
Number of Channels: 3.
Total Power: 120W.
Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 4 X 6L6.
Highly customizable EQ with extra push-pull functions.
Built-in reverb, FX loop, aux-in, and DI-out with level and source controls.
Product variations: Ironheart IRT60H.
25. Marshall DSL100HR
Power rating: 100 W.
Tube equipment: 4 x ECC83 and 4 x EL34.
2 Channels: Classic Gain and Ultra Gain.
Independent volume and gain control for both channels.
Clean and Crunch Modes in Classic Gain Channel.
Lead1 and Lead2 modes in Ultra Gain channel.
Classic tone control with bass, middle and treble.
Presence control.
Digital reverb independent for each channel.
Product variations: DSL1HR. DSL20HR.
26. PRS Archon 50
Number of Channels: 2.
Total Power: 50W.
Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7 (preamp), 1 x 12AX7 (effects loop), 1 x 12AX7 (phase invert).
Power Tubes: 2 x 6L6.
3-band EQ and dedicated bright switches.
Master volume for each channel.
27. Revv D40
2 Channels.
Power: 10/40 Watts.
Vintage and modern 6L6 and EL34 clean and crunch sounds in one amplifier.
Two Notes Torpedo-embedded reactive load and DynIRs for silent recording.
2 Switchable master volume controls, global presence and depth.
Preamp tubes: 3 x 12AX7.
Power amp tubes: 2 x 6L6.
Controls per channel: Gain, volume, bass, middle, treble.
Global controls: Master 1, Master 2, presence, depth.
Switch: Bright, boost, reverb.
Effects: Reverb.
Product variations: D20.
28. Blackstar HT Stage 100 MKIII
Power: 100 Watt.
Preamp tubes: 2 x ECC83.
Power amp tubes: 4x EL34.
Controls: Clean Volume, Clean Bass, Clean Treble, Overdrive 1 Gain, Overdrive 1 Volume, Overdrive 2 Gain, Overdrive 2 Volume, Overdrive Bass, Overdrive Middle, Overdrive Treble, Overdrive ISF, Reverb Level, Resonance, Presence, Master Volume.
Switch: Clean, Clean Voice, Overdrive 1 Select, Overdrive 2 Select, Overdrive 1 Voice, Overdrive 2 Voice, Power Reduction, Cabrig Select, Reverb Dark/ Light, Effects Loop Level.
Product variations: HT Stage 100 MKII.
29. Bogner Ecstasy 3534 50W
Number of Channels: 3.
Total Power: 50W Class A.
Preamp Tubes: 4 x ECC83.
Power Tubes: 2 x EL34.
Channel 1 features independent Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, and Gain controls.
Channels 2/3 feature shared Treble, Middle, and Bass controls.
Channels 2/3 feature independent Volume and Gain controls.
Global Presence control.
Product variations: Ecstasy 3534 35W.
30. Bogner Helios 100
Number of Channels: 2.
Total Power: 100W/30W.
Power Tubes: 4 x EL34.
Choose from 3 different sonic characters with the voicing switch
Control how tight or loose your tone is with the bottom switch.
Footswitchable channels and effects loop (footswitch sold separately).
Make your tone even more vibrant and aggressive with the EQ bypass switch.
Product variations: Helios 50, Helios Eclipse 100.
31. Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
3 Channel.
Clean channel based on Smallbox amplifier.
Dirty channel based on BE and HBE drive channels, with independent gain and master volume controls.
Power: 100 watts.
Preamp tubes: 5 x 12AX7.
Power tubes: 4 x EL34.
Controls: Gain, Master.
Channel BE and HBE: Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence.
Channel Clean: Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume.
32. Friedman PT V2
1 Channel.
Power: 20 W.
Preamp tubes: 3x 12AX7.
Power amp tubes: 2x EL84.
3-band EQ supplies basic sound-shaping.
Separate master volume and gain controls.
Made in USA.
33. Marshall JVM410H
Power: 100 watts.
Four channels in full tube technology - no semiconductors in the signal path.
Preamp tubes: 5 x ECC83.
Power tubes: 4x EL34.
Individual three-band tone control as well as gain & volume for each channel.
12 basic sounds directly selectable via foot switch or MIDI.
EL34 power amp with presence and resonance control.
Two switchable and programmable master volumes.
Programmable parallel effects path with hardware bypass.
Digital reverb with individual control for each channel.
Made in UK.
34. Rivera KR7 120 Mick Thomson
120 Watts RMS with EL34 power tubes.
3 Channels and 3 x boost.
5 x 12AX7 preamp tubes.
3 Band passive - interactive tone controls for each channel.
2 Reverb controllers.
Clean channel with large headroom and dynamic range.
Adjustable effect path with hardwire bypass.
35. Soldano Astro-20
3 Channels: Clean, Overdrive 1 or Overdrive 2.
Power: 20 W.
Preamp tubes: 4 x 12AX7.
Power amp tubes: 2 x 6V6.
Controls: Volume, Tone, Gain 1, Gain 2, Bass, Middle, Treble, Vol 1, Vol 2, Master, Presence, Headphone Level.
Switches: Bright, Channel/Store, Galaxy, Depth, Cabinet/Bypass.
Made in USA.
36. Friedman JEL-50
Channels: 2.
Power: 50 Watts.
Preamp tubes: 3 x 12AX7.
Power tubes: 2 x EL34.
Global controls: Bass, Middle, Treble, Thump, Presence.
Controls for the JEL channel: Gain (Push/Pull Gain Switch), Volume.
Controls for the Plexi Channel: Gain, Volume.
Handmade in USA.
Product variations: JEL-20.
37. Friedman Runt 50
2 Channels: Clean and Overdrive.
Power: 50 W.
2 Power amp tubes: EL34.
3 Preamp tubes: 12AX7.
Clean channel: Volume control and 3-position bright switch.
Overdrive channel: Gain, Master, Bass, Middle, Treble & Gain.
Global Presence control.
Record Out with speaker simulation.
Made in USA.
Product variations: Runt 20.
38. Friedman Small Box
Power: 50 W.
2 Channels.
Power amp tubes: 2x EL-34.
Tube preamp: 3x 12AX7.
2 Master volume controls and 2 gain controls.
EQ: Bass, Middle, Treble & Presence.
Clean Channel: 3-Way bright switch.
Made in USA.
39. Orange Dark Terror
Between 15W and 7W switchable.
One channel.
3x ECC 83 preamp tubes.
2x EL84 power amp tubes.
Controls for gain, tone, volume.
Solid, black steel case.
Tube buffered effects loop with 1x ECC81 tube.
40. PRS HDRX 20
Number of Channels: 2.
Total Power: 20W.
Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7.
Power Tubes: 2 x 5881.
EQ: 3-band EQ.
Controls: Volume per channel (Treble and Bass), Presence, Bass, Middle, Treble EQ.
Bright switch for treble channel.
High, Mid, Gain switch.
Product variations: HDRX 50, HDRX 100.
41. Tone King Imperial MKII
2 Channels.
Power: 20 watts.
Integrated Ironman II Compensated Power Attenuator for excellent sound at any volume (down to -36 dB).
Reactive-Load technology preserves the feel and response of your guitar amp.
Preamp tubes: 3x 12AX7A.
Power amp tubes: 2x 6V6.
Rectifier tube: 5AR4.
Reverb driver tube: 12AT7.
Reverb receiver tube: 12AX7A.
Rhythm channel controls: Vol, Treb, Bass.
Lead channel controls: Vol, Tone, Mid-Bite, Reverb, Tremolo Speed, Depth.
Made in USA.
42. Victory V40 Deluxe The Duchess
Power: 42 W (high power mode) 7 W (low power mode) RMS.
1 Channel.
2x 12AX7 and 2x 12AT7 preamp tubes.
2x 6L6 power tubes.
Controls: Tremolo Depth, Tremolo Speed, Master Volume, Reverb Volume, Reverb Tone, Bass, Middle, Treble & Volume.
Switches: Mid Kick, Voice I/II.
Made in the UK.
Product variations: V140 Super Duchess.
43. Bad Cat Jet Black
2 Channels.
Each of the two channels has its own input volume control and a master volume control.
Power: 38 W.
Preamp tubes: 3x 12AX7.
Power amp tubes: 4x EL84.
Controls: Volume 1, Master 1, Volume 2, Master 2, Treble, Mid, Bass, Intensity, Speed, Reverb.
Switch: Channel 1/2, Tremolo On/Off.
Effects: Reverb and tremolo.
Made in USA.
Suggest a product
If you believe a suitable product is missing from the list, kindly email us at suggestion@geardecider.com with the name of the list and the suggested product. If the product aligns with the list’s criteria, we will add it promptly.
