Should I get a 50 Watt or 100 Watt KSR Juno?

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grrr_me_scary

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I am ordering a KSR Juno and there are two options for the watts (# of tubes).

Either 50 watt or 100 watt.

I was ordering the 100 watt version but then I started thinking the 50 watt might be the way to go with it since it is $150 less and I would only have two tubes to replace whenever I needed to change tubes.

However, I started thinking I should ask the members of this forum why they might choose one over the other one.

The amp will mainly be used for just home studio playing and recording (no gigging with it).

Thanks for your thoughts, comments, and time!!
 
I have a modded 50 watt JCM800 I love just as much as my 100 watt Kerry King.
And I have a 100 watt KSR Gemini that is a top 5 favorite amp.
If you like 50 watt amps,get one.
And a 50 watter will hold its own IF you play with a drummer sometime.
(I would spend the extra $150 for a hundred watts)
 
In my experience, although 50w amps are plenty loud and sound superb, the 100w version of the same amp ALWAYS sounds better. If you’re plopping down the money on a Juno, go big or go home. It’s better to have more wattage and not need it than to be left wondering how much better it could be. It’s only $150, and honestly with most modern designed amps you aren’t going to be changing power tubes terribly often.
 
grrr_me_scary said:
I am ordering a KSR Juno and there are two options for the watts (# of tubes).

Either 50 watt or 100 watt.

I was ordering the 100 watt version but then I started thinking the 50 watt might be the way to go with it since it is $150 less and I would only have two tubes to replace whenever I needed to change tubes.

However, I started thinking I should ask the members of this forum why they might choose one over the other one.

The amp will mainly be used for just home studio playing and recording (no gigging with it).

Thanks for your thoughts, comments, and time!!
Click to expand...
Will you attenuate? Are you going to be using IRs? What's your plan there?
 
I have an Ares and I had a 50 watt Orthos. I honestly prefer 50 watt amps. It's the sweet spot for me. 20 watts isn't enough and 100 is overkill for my purposes.

If you have an itch for the 100 watt go ahead and get it though cause you will always have that "should I have gone with 100 watts?" question in the back of your head. Every single time I try to do something to save some cash I regret it or I second guess myself. Now I get what I want even if it means spending more or waiting longer.
 
But for me I would get the 50 watt Juno in a heart beat. I've actually have been begging for a Juno in an Ares form factor.
 
I say go 100. Kyle’s amps sound great at low volumes and then you’ve got the extra horsepower if you need it.
 
If you have to ask yourself that question,
that would be right where I'd start.
Like, REGARDLESS of this "always" sounding better crap, have you noticed anything different about any 100 or 50 watt amps you've played in your lifetime?
100 watts so the f**k what?
Oh, it's tighter, punchier and always sounds better?
How about, that depends on the actual amp and model we're referencing this benchmark golden wattage to.
50 watters are JUICY, plenty punchy-
if you can actually throw a legitimate punch yourself.
Me, I like'em ALL.

Dime everything & dial out the hot mess.
 
rottingcorpse said:
I have a modded 50 watt JCM800 I love just as much as my 100 watt Kerry King.
And I have a 100 watt KSR Gemini that is a top 5 favorite amp.
If you like 50 watt amps,get one.
And a 50 watter will hold its own IF you play with a drummer sometime.
(I would spend the extra $150 for a hundred watts)
Click to expand...
Thanks, and yeah, my drummer is pretty loud so a good point there!!
 
Spaceboy said:
In my experience, although 50w amps are plenty loud and sound superb, the 100w version of the same amp ALWAYS sounds better. If you’re plopping down the money on a Juno, go big or go home. It’s better to have more wattage and not need it than to be left wondering how much better it could be. It’s only $150, and honestly with most modern designed amps you aren’t going to be changing power tubes terribly often.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you are right, I would be wondering "if" the 100 watt did sound better and it would bug the hell out of me :-)
 
TheToneDig said:
Will you attenuate? Are you going to be using IRs? What's your plan there?
Click to expand...
Currently, I have the Two Notes Studio so I would be using it with IR's for direct recording and I have been considering getting the Fryette PS-100 for recording with it as well.
 
ClintN667 said:
I have an Ares and I had a 50 watt Orthos. I honestly prefer 50 watt amps. It's the sweet spot for me. 20 watts isn't enough and 100 is overkill for my purposes.

If you have an itch for the 100 watt go ahead and get it though cause you will always have that "should I have gone with 100 watts?" question in the back of your head. Every single time I try to do something to save some cash I regret it or I second guess myself. Now I get what I want even if it means spending more or waiting longer.
Click to expand...
I have done the "saved a few dollars but regretted it later" thing as well so I will be going with the 100 watt version :)
 
ClintN667 said:
But for me I would get the 50 watt Juno in a heart beat. I've actually have been begging for a Juno in an Ares form factor.
Click to expand...
Kyle had told me he could do a rack version of the Juno when it first came out but he said he would have to eliminate "1" channel (most likely the clean), so I had stopped thinking about getting the Juno due to wanting everything in a rack :-)
 
JerEvil said:
I say go 100. Kyle’s amps sound great at low volumes and then you’ve got the extra horsepower if you need it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I keep watching your videos on the Juno and it pretty much sold me on getting one :cool:
 
LP Freak said:
Confused yet? ?
Click to expand...
Yes, definitely but then it became clearer over time
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Get the 100 watt Juno, get the 100 watt Juno, get the 100 watt Juno ...........
 
Ha ha. Looks like you made a decision. All good. Go big or go home.

I have a 100 watt amp but run it at half power for the simple reason of saving on power tubes and I can't tell a difference in 50 vs 100 anyway so that was easy for me. It's a Splawn.
 
Dino 939 said:
If you have to ask yourself that question,
that would be right where I'd start.
Like, REGARDLESS of this "always" sounding better crap, have you noticed anything different about any 100 or 50 watt amps you've played in your lifetime?
100 watts so the f**k what?
Oh, it's tighter, punchier and always sounds better?
How about, that depends on the actual amp and model we're referencing this benchmark golden wattage to.
50 watters are JUICY, plenty punchy-
if you can actually throw a legitimate punch yourself.
Me, I like'em ALL.

Dime everything & dial out the hot mess.
Click to expand...
I have owned many Marshall 100/100 and 50/50 power amps over the years (the EL34 and 9100/9200's) and I found each one had it's own thing.

Eventually, I decided to stay with the EL34 50/50 over the 100/100 since it saved some lifting weight, sounded great, and a little cheaper when it came time to change the tubes.

I usually forgot about the slight differences pretty quickly and I have been pretty happy with the 50/50's.

I am looking forward to the 100 watt Juno since I keep watching the YouTube videos for the Juno a lot this week :-)
 
311splawndude said:
Ha ha. Looks like you made a decision. All good. Go big or go home.

I have a 100 watt amp but run it at half power for the simple reason of saving on power tubes and I can't tell a difference in 50 vs 100 anyway so that was easy for me. It's a Splawn.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I have owned a few amps where you could take out the outer power tubes and run it at half power and they sounded great.

I am hoping to have the amp by XMAS so I can record some tracks during my vacation down time :cool:
 
My 100 watt amps sound amazing at lower levels but you know its always there fi you need it. KSR's have great Master volumes on them so also not an issue. For the price, it's silly not to get the 100 watt head.
 
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