The HT-5R MK III takes the revered design from the award-winning MkII series to new heights with incredible performance, gorgeous looks and game-changing new features from improved voicings to the addition of our IR-based CabRig™ speaker simulator software.
Valve amps sound best when cranked; the unique feel, dynamics and natural compression of a valve power stage running hot is widely considered the holy grail of guitar tone. The problem is turning your 100W valve amp up to these volumes is neither practical for yourself, nor your neighbours. Our HT-5R MK III, with its unique push-pull power amp, gives you this coveted valve performance at volumes suitable for home practice and recording.
Alongside providing capture-ready valve tones at any volume, the HT-5R 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.
Tonal Options
The HT-5R MK III has 2 channels, clean and overdrive, each with 2 voicing options. With HT-5R 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!
IR-based CabRig™ speaker simulator
CabRig™, our class-leading IR-based speaker simulator comes as standard in the HT-5R 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.
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.
NEW CabRig™ IR-based speaker simulator technology
CabRig™ is our advanced IR-based speaker simulator, delivering mic’d up guitar cab sounds with unparalleled detail. With zero latency and superior flexibility over IR snapshots, CabRig™ perfectly simulates cabinets and rooms. Dive into its software for exceptional tones via USB or headphones.
Patented ISF
Blackstar's patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) control shifts the response of the three-band tone stack between a US type response at one end and a UK type response at the other. Importantly, in between the two extremes lie an infinite number of tone choices that would be otherwise unavailable.
Pro Connectivity
To suit the home studio recording musician, HT-5R MK III comes equipped with USB-C audio connectivity for pro-recording as well as the XLR CabRig output and ¼" jack TRS Stereo.
Power Reduction Down To 0.5W
Blackstar’s reliable and transparent attenuation switches the power down to 10% of the amp’s rated power.
Our power reduction is achieved not by load resistors, which affect the tone in an undesirable way due to changing the output transformer/speaker reactance, but by controlling the internal working voltages of the power stage, both HT (high voltage) and bias. This limits power output without affecting the tone shaping of the output stage and feedback loop, so your basic tone remains the same, with power amp overdrive occurring at much lower volume levels, giving the feel of a small valve amp verging on meltdown.