This individual is the only one on TH-cam that actually lets you hear what the real amp sounds like without being Miked through a mixer to make it sound better than it does. My Compliments Sir !!!!!!!!!!
After a very long day of work, here I am watching a video of two amps I'm not planning to buy, but I still enjoy because of the way you put together the whole review. Great video and thanks for the honest opinion as always Henning. And certainly way better video in any category when you compare your production to other "gear" channels that simply share an opinion of an amp and not even playing it all, true story that is out there for anyone to see, we all know who those are. Sorry for the rant, it's just that you deserve much more subs and views for all the hard work and dedication you give to this community. Cheers!
The katana has a treble harshness that I don't like but the catalyst has a more natural amp compression that sounds better to my ears, I'd take the catalyst any day after this demo
Bought my Katana 100 in 2017, terrific purchase. It lacks some of that bass and low mid oomph that you hear in the Catalyst comparison, but that is almost not missed once you have a bass and drums behind you. I play professional cover gigs throughout southern California, and it totally gets the job done. I only use it as a pedal platform, and I have a custom global eq setting that makes the speaker sound better. The higher budget gigs at nicer venues usually means better PA system and the more the engineer wants control of the mix - so big loud tube amps have become just not worth it to lug around. My original rock and metal bands I still like a bigger cabinet, but I still nowadays being older rather go for convenience. 15 years ago it wasn't cool to play heavy rock and metal with a tiny amp, now that stigma seems to be mostly gone or maybe I'm just older and don't care.
I also agree with you. My brother bought the 50 watt and he passed it on to me cuz he didnt like the way it sounded . He said it needs low end and mids sound a little over powering and nasaly. I have not tried the catalyst so i really cant give my opinion on it but i have tried the katana artist from this friend and shit let me tell you that its a beast and sounds nothing like the 50 , mainly because of the waza speaker.
Henning; thanks for another thorough and informative review. One additional advantage of the Katana is that it is also available as a head (lighter than a combo and also more flexibility with cab and speaker choices).
the boss katana mkII is a real masterpiece in its categorie in my opinion, i just love it, got the 100w head the guys at musik produktiv did a great job selling me this amp, great addition to my HK grandmeister that is 4 times the price but sounds "just" as good as the katana.
I'm wrestling between buying a Katana MK2 100 combo vs the head. Other than the obvious difference, can you Pls let me know why I would want to choise the head over the combo. Thx Cheers
@@johnmattvain5927 its more metal 😂 you have a build in speaker in the head also, the speaker in the katana combos are garbage this will make your sound experience a little dull i think. head, orange or mesa cab and you will love me for that advice 😂
@@Turbo-D One quick Q : Are the speakers on the head good enough for practicing Metal . (I do have a Orange Cab (60W 1x12) which I've been powering from a micro terror amp head.) But for daily practice I'd prefer just lug the head up to my bedroom and plug into the head and play). Good enough ?
Both are really good amps. I own a Katana 50 MKII and really like the tones I can get out of it. The Line 6 sounds good, but I am surprised about the effects limitations as mentioned in this video. The Catalyst sounds nice, but I wouldn't sell my Boss to get one. 🤷🏼♂️
The effects limitations were actually a selling point for me, as odd as that may sound for to some people. I like that it functions basically like a traditional amp with trem and reverb, with added flexibility but not really complexity.
To me, the Catalyst sounded really dull and muddy whereas the Katana sounded like it had a bigger range/bandwidth. Also, you can fully shape the sound on the kat using the parametric EQ to get some truly great tones.
I've had the Katana 50 for a couple of years and really like it for quick little practice sessions. It's the only amp I keep in the living room for that purpose. I have several tube amps and no, this cannot replace those, but it so great for what it is designed for. I'm not even a huge Boss fan, but they killed it with this. The Catalyst looks/sounds nice, but I didn't see anything that made me want to switch. Very good and in depth video, however.
I bought a Katana 100 Mk 1 three years ago along with a Gibson Original 60s Les Paul Standard, and I love it. One con is the software, particularly for a Mac user like me. Boss basically dropped Mac support several releases of MacOS ago, although the compatibility page continuously claims they are working on it.
I would like to give a note with all due respect. The best distortion of the Katana is not obtained by changing the type of amplifier but in the clean channel and with the bosster option putting the pedal you like as you would in a real amplifier. I hope it helps someone, greetings from Spain (sorry my English) Thanks ;)
Thorough, comprehensive and fair comparison, with practical criticisms. I'm not convinced the Catalyst is enough of an improvement to beat the Katana, despite the welcome XLR and MIDI, and useful phone apps. Katana is just way more customizable. But both amps need bluetooth for AUX in, as well as app connection, no one uses cables anymore. It won't happen due to costs, but footswitches should *always* come with their matched amps, since they are all proprietary and often can't be bought separately due to supply shortages. I have a VOX amp I can't get the footswitch for and its really annoying.
There's an (admittedly third party) app that works on Android and is, arguably, a better editor for the Katana than Boss Tone Studio. The Katana mkII has been around for a couple of years now. I'm hoping they come out with a Katana MkIII soon, with Bluetooth (or that can have the Boss BT-Dual module installed) and with true stereo and, perhaps XLR outs.
@@NeungView ...for Aux In, you know for playalong or backing tracks. We already have headphone cable and guitar cable, who needs an Aux In cable when there's Bluetooth?
I picked up a cheap used Catalyst 60 to use as a power amp. I ran my Tonex setup into it on Saturday night at a gig. Didn't switch to power amp mode as it cuts the volume. straight into effects return and ran direct out to front of house from the amp. It sounded fantastic!! I used the amp on 30Watt setting and that was easily loud enough on stage for me to hear at about 1/4 volume. Very impressed and like running this set up. I will buy another as a spare!
The Katana MKII also has 8 presets ( two banks of 4). You get to the second back by holding down the panel button (if I remember correctly). You also have the panel settings so you could argue that’s a 9th preset.
Catalyst has a total of 12 presets, also available from the front panel (press/hold MANUAL, use selector to choose from any of 6 banks of the 2 "channels").
@@rickgagliano852 correct me if I’m wrong but the Kat’s many presets can all be accessed by a pedal, and you only get two via he pedal with the Cat. Big difference if playing live!
@@mkrj2576 with the airstep kat I get 9 presets at my feet and unlimited presets if I run the librarian app on my iPad that I have mounted to my katana with an iPad stand or my desk depending on the setup.
Not going to lie - if Line 6 really wants this to dominate its gotta have all the HX stuff in the editor. Even if it just had the POD GO features people would go nuts for it. Seems dumb not to just put some of the drives in there, assuming they will update that.
one thing about the katana that was pleasantly surprising was its ability to go from clean to crunchy with the volume on the guitar, similar to a good tube amp. i often use the crunch channel and i can go from really clean to quite dirty with just the guitar volume.
I also use the crunch channel most often for this same reason. It’s voiced very well in my opinion and quite versatile. I find that when playing live or jamming, it cuts through the mix quite well without having to mess with the EQ much.
@@boofmaster Whilst I agree, a lot of people don't like the crunch channel and prefer the clean channel with an overdrive, like the Blues Driver, to give that responsiveness with a different character.
@@KeithMilner the clean channel with the gain at maximum can get quite crunchy with a guitar with high output pickups too. so yeah some pedal to push that a bit can work as well. i guess it depends on which voicing you prefer. on the whole the amp is very versatile. i have quite a few good amps but i find myself taking the katana to gigs because i can carry it the guitar and a bag of stuff on my own in one trip. i'm old you see.
I have been on the fence about getting a Katana and wanted to see this comparison. While playing a Katana 100 at Sweetwater the other day I set it to crunch and turned the gain way down. That with an OD pedal sounded and felt as good to me as my tube amps. Unfortunately, the only one they had in stock that day was the display. Might pick one up today.
Katana sounds more full and richer and also more dynamic without a doubt. I have owned the Katana and also NEVER used the software, i just bought the amp and plugged in and played the damn thing twisted some knobs and couldnt be happier... . Line 6 has stepped up their game and good for them and also good all guitar players, its good that we have more options these days but i prefer the overall tone of the Katana.. For the $$ its a absolute WIN!! Good on Line 6 for stepping up a little bit but the Katana is just a fantastic plug and play amp that feels good under your fingers and thats very important IMO
Katana sound like a cheap combo where as the catalyst sounds like a 212 with a head High gain is a joke on the katana Comping to a mesa rectoverb I've owned both of these amps and boss can't compete with helix
@@Sherlockbones00 sound is subjective. To call someone tone deaf because they prefer one sound over another is like calling someone color blind because they like purple.
That’s why I bought the Mk1 Katana and why I still have it. The Catalyst’s electric cleans and overdrives are really appealing but the lack of the Acoustic mode is a big deal breaker.
Glad to hear someone else has tried the acoustic amp on the Katana, I loved it as I play both acoustic and electric. Pity none of the revues I've seen ever plug in an acoustic!
Another solid review! people should always look at your reviews when planning to buying new gear plus they can't go wrong with someone who loves animals
FYI the katana, in 2022 , does NOT have an IOS or android app..... For me thats insane. I do not wanna run a laptop or PC just to adjust a digital amp. Absolutely crazy and for sure they will have a new model soon that has bluetooth.
Bravo. That was among the most balanced of gear reviews I've seen. The catalyst seems to be aimed at those who shy away from option paralysis and play simply for enjoyment, with the signal ending at their naked ears; a segment sometimes overlooked in the current market. Katana is for everyone else! How about a shoot-out with Super Crush style amps?
Yes, but even without using the PC editing, the Catalyst seems a bit compromised: One effect slot? Really? The Katana can access 4 directly from the top panel and, by the looks of it, far more intuitively than the Katalyst.
I got a Katana 50 mk1 when it came out for the sole purpose of having a light weight amp to take to jam sessions and for that it's worked wonders. I've never once used the software.
Honestly, just changing the default effects for other more well-known BOSS pedals makes using the software is definitely worth it. There are some gems in it. 😉
The Catalyst sounds warm and full, the Katana sounds clear and sharp. This difference holds true across all of the preamp modes. I’m thinking someone could approximate the sound of one with the other using EQ. To my ears, in these comparisons, the Catalyst had a much, much more pleasing sound. The Katana was clearer, sure, but that clarity turned into fizz as gain went up.
This was great. I agree with you on pretty much everything regarding the Katana and with what I know (I've not gotten my paws on one as of yet) of the Catalyst. Regarding the sparseness of the latter's effect positions, I suspect that Line 6, as narrow-visioned as this position would seem to be, sees the Catalyst as a 'gateway' to the Helix rather than a stand-alone product. The Catalyst therefore only gives the user a taste of Helix, if you follow me. That tells me that while they are competing with the Katana, they don't quite *get* the Katana. Given the way Boss skimps on features in the Katana 50, I'm guessing they see this line as an end unto itself rather than as a step on the ladder to buying a GT-1000, or at least they know that the majority of Katana customers are not likely to buy the other product or the GX-100, but might move up from the Katana 50 to one of its bigger brothers for more power, an effects loop, the Artist's better speaker, and so on.
Very informative and thoughtful comparison! The Katana clearly has more options, which is great for people who want to dial in exactly the tone they want for recording and/or live performances. But, despite being extremely limited for effects and even just gain options, the Catalyst is probably better for me because I quickly experience option paralysis, plus the Catalyst's user interface on both the amp and the app makes more sense to me. The Katana also sounded too bright for me on all of the tones you used for the comparison. I'll wait until Line 6 updates the software (I'd bet they'll update it before the holiday season) so that it has more options, and if I'm still interested in a modeling amp I'll give it another look. But I might just get the new Orange Super Crush, because it sounds good (on YT videos, haven't had the chance to try it myself) and I already have a bunch of pedals to put in front and in the effects loop
Love how honest your reviews are! I think there is some kind of communication gap between the software programmers and the music/marketing department at line6. They could have put a bunch of Helix effects in the Catalyst , plus where is the quality control when you are getting big volume jumps when you change settings....do they actually try these amps out in real world situations?
As usual , your demo reviews are EXCELLENT ! I can make up my mind as to which instrument, or amp, or music equipment I buy and use for me. Thank you Mister Henning In this review, I personally prefer the "bigger" sound feel of the Catalyst. although they both sound very very similar.
I owned the Katana for a couple of days then sent it back. Not only does it sound sterile to me, but the unevenness of the volume levels was the deal breaker. The Catalyst sounds a little more natural. I bought one used pretty cheap. I still use my Mesa Mk 5 and my single rec. playing out. The L6 is nice to have at home without being overly complicated. I only use a DD-7 , TC chorus in my effects loop, and a phase 90 and TS9 through the front so I really don't need that many options. Great comparison video as always.
Which Cat do you have? I just bought the 100 a week ago and I can say it does have a warm and full sound. Gig ready for sure with a few pedals. Going to be downloading the desktop app soon!
Another great and very informative break down thank you ! I can't understand Line6 either, it appears they have shot themselves in the foot. They could have easily blown the competition out of the water, just by including chain-able effects, crazy what were they thinking ? a pedal platform Amp ? come on line6 you could have done better.
Deine Videos sind wirklich klasse. Die Idee mit den künstlichen Ohren habe ich so noch nie gesehen. Und das ist wirklich wichtig wie die Raumklang ist und ob sich der Sound vom Lautsprecher löst und nicht so rangeklebt wirkt. Mir ist das eigentlich immer zu viel mit den ganzen Einstellmöglichkeiten bei den Modelling-Amps. Kannst du nen Amp/Kombo empfehlen der folgendes hat? 2 Kanäle (Clean/Crunch) mit je eigenem Volume und mit Master Volume, Pedals gut verträgt, Effektschleife, Line-Out mit Boxensimulation, einfach zu bedienen und ohne viel Firlefanz. Es kann auch nur ein Preamp fürs Pedalboard sein, sodass man direkt in die PA gehen kann. Früher hab ich Röhre gespielt, aber selbst bei 15 W ist das dermaßen laut, dass man dass man nen Röhrenamp nicht in jeder Situation an der Rand der Sättigung bringt. Vielen Dank und viele Grüße
The monoprice 40w amp model 611800 has basically the features you seek and the volume controls go to 11! I had one for a while until I received a Bugera as payment from a friend who owed me money and couldn't pay cash. That monoprice sounded great! In Canada they can be found from $200 to $250 CND translate to Euros 130 to 180 or so? Sounds pretty darn great. Just a straight up amp w/ spring Reverb, effects loop, Two guitar inputs, 1/4 headphones jack, speaker out, line out jack, fx send/return jacks. Drive and distortion channel and 3 adjustable EQ (bass/middle/treble) gain, volume and master volume. It I sure liked it.
I’ve been gigging my 100 watt mk1 since they came out I hardly take my Hotrod deluxe and pedals out anymore and nobody has ever said it sounds rubbish it just does the job well. Also records well I’m sticking with it til it dies.
You're weird and wonderful (and I mean weird in the most positive way). I love your videos. I must.... because like in one of the other comments, I have no intension of buying either amp and watched your video. 😀 Keep up the great work you do!!!
Glad i watched this review. Made me loss my GAS for the Catalyst. Ive got a MKII 1x12 Katana and seems like its def better, the whole reason i got the MKII was the number of effects u can use at once and the Catalyst seems more limited then the Mk I. I still havent been able to connect my Katana to my laptop yet, its a massive pain in the ass actually! Oh, and you can find the Katana 100watt for $315 new all the time, thats what i paid a year ago.
Nice vid, and an obvious one. Well done sir. I feel at this stage that katana is still king... Roland Boss did it right. Need to hear the catalyst in person.
Cool Video I like the Catalyst I listened to this video with my JBL speaker and to me it just sounds better then the Katana I just bought the 200 watt Catalyst because I'm tired of lifting my 1979 Mesa Boogie Mark 2B combo Amp it weighs at least 70 pounds and that's with out the EV speaker I am 62 with a bad back and I think my new Catalyst will work just fine for me I play with a old school Funk Band and Latin Rock and the reason I got the 200 watt version is because sometimes we do smaller gigs we're I don't mic my Amp plus it will push more air when I do big stages.
They both sounded fine.I have a Katana 100 Mk2.I 'never' use it because valves always win me over.And my Helix too.So I am not a snob.I do have the Android unofficial App for the Katana which is great.I love your channel and long may you run.
Can I say I both appreciate you taking the time to record with your 3dio microphone set & ironically I actually do worse if I am listening on headphones as I am nerve deaf in my right ear & I have limited frequency range in my left to the point I have to artificially boost both ends of the spectrum to hear anything at all!! I know its great I love, love, love all the music but I living in the news in North Korea equivalent for musical hearing when it comes to hearing & understanding what is being said! BTW love the QR Codes!!
I chose the Boss Katana because as a blind user, this was the only modeler style amp that I found I could use independently. Granted this isn't possible with Boss Tone Studio, but with Katana Librarian and the Airstep Katana Edition, it becomes an accessible solution. I know I'm late to the party, but maybe this will help someone who was doing the same type of research I had to do in order to arrive at this conclusion.
It’s not a modeller style amp, it’s an amp combo in it’s own right with built in effects. Modeller amps are ones that mimic other style amps. A real modeller amp could well model a Katana if it was programmed to do so, though it would be pretty pointless..
Boss katana 100w mk1 user here... good review on both. weird choice with line 6 not to even do more than a mk1 katana on fx.. hands up in the air n shrugged shoulders.
Line6 is at a big disadvantage right now not only because of the Katana's momentum, but also if a friend asked me which one to buy today I would say the Katana because the Katana has a track record that's many years long of being reliable, the Catalyst is brand new. Hopefully it's a great product and in a year or two I'd be able to say "Whichever one you think looks/sounds better."
The Line 6 Catalyst is a very nice amp for the money. BUT,...owning a Boss Katana MkII 100-watt head and 2x12 cabinet since they first came out, I am very satisfied with the Boss Katana. The Katana is definitely a brighter, less compressed sound in this comparison review. The Catalyst sounded a bit muffled to my ears with headphones in this review. I preferred the Boss tones to the Catalyst. Thanks, "Dr. Evil The Younger" for the quality review. Boss needs to up its high-end solid state digital amp game via a Katana ARTIST Wazacraft series of amps in three formats: 1) a stand alone amp head, 2) a 2x12 combo, and 3) a 4x10 combo!!! All the bells and digital effects / features whistles as only Boss can be the boss! All formats having 100-watt, 50-watt and 15-watt-ish (15 to 25 watt range) variable power modes.
After working with both for some time these are my quick comments. Both SOUND GREAT! The Katana 50 is a home practice amp due to NO EFX LOOP, and limited foot switching capabilities, and lesser speaker. Katana 100 is the FAR SUPERIOR LIVE AMP... with EFX LOOP, Fabulous foot switching capabilities, global EQs, enormous EFX selection, Better Speaker with tight Low End, LOUD, and Acoustic Guitar settings ! I preferred the CATALYST for Studio recording for the variety and type of Voices, the Very Useful Sag, Bias, & Bias X controls, EFX LOOP, And Direct Out Sound. The speaker tends to be a little FLUBBY and the foot switch controls are EXTREMELY limited! Quite Happy with Both!!!
Finally got off the couch, and bought myself a used Catalyst 60. Katana has more convincing high-gain tones, but I find it easier to dial in low to medium gain sounds with the Catalyst. Sounds huge with my baritone Tele. I also like having a DI and FX loop on the smallest version! Horses for courses…
Yesterday I liked the 2x12 Catanalist most. Here 100 vs 100 1x12s I preferred the Katana. I have the Katana mark I 100w 1x12 and that’s enough of this type of amp for me even without some of the extra features. Buying a used Katana might be the best option for people on a budget.
I have both the Katana MkI (2016) and MkII (2020) and, comparing feature sets, I'd say the Catalyst is closer to the Katana MkI (2016), where you can only have one effect at a time with reverb, so it's a six year old feature set on Catalyst. Whereas, the MkII is multiple effects at a time, thanks to the concentric circles. Plus, both generations of Katana had/have the Acoustic setting. It's not an amazing acoustic amp sound, but it's there. As you mentioned, it's good it's there. Add in all your cons of the Catalyst, and the quality and durability of the Boss products, it's Katana all the way for me.
I don't know why but the katana amp is more bright and it sound better when your are playing clear chords but for some reason im more attracted to the catalyst which has a more robust sound which would sound awesome if you used it to play heavy metal
I don't own a katana but I listened to many comparison videos before making my choice. In ever video I hear, including this one, the katana has a very unpleasant high tone. I'm very pleased with my Katalyst and the tones I can customize on it
for everybody that complains about the katana tone studio and wireframe update: use Katana Library app for Android! It's extremely simple, cheap and very intuitive.
Great video very thorough. What I'm getting from the whole thing in a nutshell is that the Line 6 is going to come down in price and then they'll sell more of them.
I'm a bit confused. I have a Mk1 Katana 100 2x12 which, to my ancient ears, sounds great and is more than enough for my needs. I also recently bought a PodGo, which is really awesome for the money. When I saw the Catalyst released I thought oooh, that's gonna be good. With the tech and experience from the Helix/Pod lines surely the Catalyst will kick ass. So far, from the vids I've seen, I'd have to say nope. I don't understand why the Katal...sorry, Catalyst, is so...underwhelming, especially given the price equality with the Katana. I agree that the app is a lot more intuitive for the Catalyst, but then it doesn't do anywhere near as much. I'll stick with my Boss. Thanks for the info Henning, great vid as always.
Features aside, the Catalyst simply has a fuller tone. Not sure if it's a larger speaker or cabinet or just the modeling, but side by side, Catalyst has more low end. Maybe that's good when you are playing in isolation, maybe it's not so good in a band/mix, but that's what my ears are hearing in this video and others I've seen
When it comes to the amount of effects and choices on a budget amp, there's nothing in this world that beats the Spider V :) IMO this amp, besides going head to head with Katana, is tailored to those who wanted HX technology in a budget amp. Great comparison video!
I think next year Line 6 will be releasing a new generation of the Catalyst amps with the features they missed this time. But I think that as always Line 6 is betting on their good cab simulations, and they’re great as always, but this time they should have realized that if they want to beat the Boss Katana, they had to release something like a POD with a speaker. They just needed something wider and way updated than the Spiders which also are still great to the price point. Thanks for your video, this comparison was very objective
Boss Katana all the way!! the feature I'd love to see on the katana app is the ability to turn of the cab simulator so we could use our own IR in the DAW. Great Video, by the way!
I sometimes bypass the preamp in the Katana-100 MKII using the effects return and using a BOSS GT-1 or GX-100 as the preamp with it's effects, expression pedal and looper functionality - while also being able to dial in custom IRs in the GT-1 or GX-100 and just using the Katana's power amp to drive the output. Lots of Katana tricks I've learned on a couple of the FB groups.
I tend to recommend the Katana, the THR10 or the Spark for people looking to get an electric guitar. These 3 amps all have their niche, where they clearly beat the other two hence they make sense as a product. The Catalyst seems like a slightly different, overall probably worse Katana - not sure what they expect. If they wanted to go head to head with the Katana they should have created a clearly superior product that can erode the Katana's reputation, but they haven't..
Yes totally agree. Boss won't be quaking in their boots about stolen sales. An android app editor that connects wirelessly like the fender GTX may have been one way to steal a few sales. Not everyone likes the physical connection to the Boss and and as mentioned in the review lots of fiddling with Windows drivers. I am aware there is an unofficial Katana android app.
There's a new firmware out for the catalyst that allows you to use 2 fx blocks in almost any combination and gives 6 new amp models. The footswitch has also new features now. It's very important to mention that the catalyst 60's usb midi can't be used with midi pedals.
Great honest review as always. If these solid-state modeling amps are not a replacement for a tube amp what would you think of the Quilter Aviator Cub as a solid way to satisfy the tube snob in me? (FYI I use a silver face Princeton Reverb and Deluxe Reverb) Thanks
Ich habe ne Rockcombo, einen Twin Reverb und als Zerrer den Friedemann BE OD. Da mir der Twin zu schwer war habe ich mir das Katana Top geholt. Man muss wissen, dass man aus dem Katana ne mega Menge mehr rausholen kann wenn man über den Editor mit dem parametrischen EQ arbeitet. Da kann man Ihn fett machen. Ich bin in der Combo damit absolut zufrieden. Ich hatte vor ein paar Tagen auch den Infozettel vom Catalyst in der Hand. Da war mir sofort klar,dass Line6 was in die Katana Richtung machen will. Sound ist Geschmackssache und man muss beim Katana mit dem para EQ einmal ran. Aber für Proben und Live Einsatz hat der Boss viel mehr Möglichkeiten. Zum Recorden nehme ich lieber ein Plug In oder den kleinen Helix. Vielen Dank für Deine Videos. Du bist mit Einer der wichtigsten und besten Gear Checker für mich. Weiter so. Achja, mach beim Katana im High Gain mit dem EQ bei Low Drive die Frequenz auf 120 oder 105 Herz und heb die ein bissel an. Dann kommt die Wand. Viele Grüße Carsten
Line 6's always sound like a blanket is covering them. I had a Vetta II a few years back and after you loaded up custom profiles it was great. Presets were blanket city. Frankly I prefer the old Flextone amps. Not the more recent ones.
Holy Shitballs! Great review really enjoyed your style. Have mk2 1x12 Katana which I love. Previously had a GT8 pedalboard into cube which sucked, always a mush really. Katana is such a solid immediate sound it pushes my playing. The editors fx and recording make for a very creative bedroom studio amp. The best money I spent in a good while. Can't see there is great difference in the basic sounds from comparison. I would be swung on the software options which allow multi fx set ups on the Kat. Plus you can switch on the traffic lights to transform patches from the amp. It's a pricey footswith but the GAFC totally makes the most of the Kats possible options. Compared to the catalyst heard here I would have to plumb for the choice of fx and drives over choice of mic emulations! Quick note there is a librarian editor for Android for £9 to modify Kat away from the PC. It will also allow 5 fx on a mk1 Kat to be controlled...bonus. 8 preseds plus panel on Kat. Good luck great playing BTW. Steve
Katana here in Canada 2024 is more bucks and in the the store initially the catalyst sounds better. But on the used market there sure are many katana's out there and still sound pretty decent. If buying new I would chose the Catalyst If used id go Katana both overall sound really good.
All modelers suck when it comes to the cleans, I play almost only clean, so for me they all suck. I cannot afford expensive tube amps, I'm a pensioner, I bought the BUGERA Infinium 22 and that suits me fine.
Thanks for this great comparison/review. Listening with headphones, it confirms what I noticed on a similar comparison done by the Andertons channel: the catalyst sounds a bit boxy compared to the Katana. The Katana just sounds…better all round😂
That demo around the 14 minute mark was butter :) Catalyst seems much more 'stage ready' than the Boss does; clean/crunch with a few banks and throw a few pedals in front BOOM easy done.
I love the input you share with the community and your videos, but From a personal opinion and experience, if you haven’t bothered to use the editor from the katana which it has the potential to make it sound amazing to the point to make it sound pretty damn close to a tube amp, and the fact that line 6 was capable to create the helix but didn’t bother to improve their spider line series, purists will always lean towards tube amps and expensive gear, and modelers, the katana the rest is on the hands of the guitarists for those who cannot afford a tube amp and a neural quad core or a helix , the katana is a very decent choice and has the capability to match any mid range tube amp and modelers, again, it’s a personal opinion, am not trying to bash yours, otherwise I wouldn’t be subscribed to your channel,cheers!
For clean through 80's Marshall tones, Catalyst, hands down. For modern metal tones, Katana. But then again, a decent pedal into the Boutique channel of the Cat takes care of that too. Overall, Cat for me.
This individual is the only one on TH-cam that actually lets you hear what the real amp sounds like without being Miked through
a mixer to make it sound better than it does. My Compliments Sir !!!!!!!!!!
In 6 months harley benton will be releasing an amp called a katanalyst.....it will sound better than both, and retail for $150
This made me lol.
Funny but true. I'm waiting
Ahhahaha yes.
And it will come with a $200 speaker
Perfect
After a very long day of work, here I am watching a video of two amps I'm not planning to buy, but I still enjoy because of the way you put together the whole review. Great video and thanks for the honest opinion as always Henning. And certainly way better video in any category when you compare your production to other "gear" channels that simply share an opinion of an amp and not even playing it all, true story that is out there for anyone to see, we all know who those are. Sorry for the rant, it's just that you deserve much more subs and views for all the hard work and dedication you give to this community. Cheers!
And don't forget the aminals! Animals? Animules? 🐈⬛🐕🐧🦊🐰
@@jsphillip60 aminals🐯🐱🐶🐺🐻🐨🐰🦊
Most useful comparison between these amps to help with a purchasing decision that I have found. Thanks for a great job!
The katana has a treble harshness that I don't like but the catalyst has a more natural amp compression that sounds better to my ears, I'd take the catalyst any day after this demo
Me 2
I bought one and absolutely love it
Katana blows...I'm selling asap
Agree…side by side even worse. I bought the 2x12 catalyst and talk about sounding big…wowza
Bought my Katana 100 in 2017, terrific purchase. It lacks some of that bass and low mid oomph that you hear in the Catalyst comparison, but that is almost not missed once you have a bass and drums behind you. I play professional cover gigs throughout southern California, and it totally gets the job done. I only use it as a pedal platform, and I have a custom global eq setting that makes the speaker sound better. The higher budget gigs at nicer venues usually means better PA system and the more the engineer wants control of the mix - so big loud tube amps have become just not worth it to lug around. My original rock and metal bands I still like a bigger cabinet, but I still nowadays being older rather go for convenience. 15 years ago it wasn't cool to play heavy rock and metal with a tiny amp, now that stigma seems to be mostly gone or maybe I'm just older and don't care.
Is true is you buy the 1x12 but if you get the 2x12 sound way better and you going to have those low end that everyone needs
I also agree with you. My brother bought the 50 watt and he passed it on to me cuz he didnt like the way it sounded . He said it needs low end and mids sound a little over powering and nasaly. I have not tried the catalyst so i really cant give my opinion on it but i have tried the katana artist from this friend and shit let me tell you that its a beast and sounds nothing like the 50 , mainly because of the waza speaker.
Henning; thanks for another thorough and informative review. One additional advantage of the Katana is that it is also available as a head (lighter than a combo and also more flexibility with cab and speaker choices).
the boss katana mkII is a real masterpiece in its categorie in my opinion, i just love it, got the 100w head the guys at musik produktiv did a great job selling me this amp, great addition to my HK grandmeister that is 4 times the price but sounds "just" as good as the katana.
I'm wrestling between buying a Katana MK2 100 combo vs the head.
Other than the obvious difference, can you Pls let me know why I would want to choise the head over the combo.
Thx
Cheers
@@johnmattvain5927 its more metal 😂 you have a build in speaker in the head also, the speaker in the katana combos are garbage this will make your sound experience a little dull i think. head, orange or mesa cab and you will love me for that advice 😂
@@Turbo-D I guess you just helped me make my mind up in a few short sentences
Chris. I know exactly why now. So, a head it is ;)
Thanks
Cheers.
@@johnmattvain5927 yeah 🙏
@@Turbo-D One quick Q :
Are the speakers on the head good enough for practicing Metal . (I do have a Orange Cab (60W 1x12) which I've been powering from a micro terror amp head.) But for daily practice I'd prefer just lug the head up to my bedroom and plug into the head and play). Good enough ?
Both are really good amps. I own a Katana 50 MKII and really like the tones I can get out of it. The Line 6 sounds good, but I am surprised about the effects limitations as mentioned in this video. The Catalyst sounds nice, but I wouldn't sell my Boss to get one. 🤷🏼♂️
No compressor in the Catalyst but it has like 12 phasers
The effects limitations were actually a selling point for me, as odd as that may sound for to some people. I like that it functions basically like a traditional amp with trem and reverb, with added flexibility but not really complexity.
To me, the Catalyst sounded really dull and muddy whereas the Katana sounded like it had a bigger range/bandwidth. Also, you can fully shape the sound on the kat using the parametric EQ to get some truly great tones.
Low cut at 5k gets rid of the fizz too on the katana
@@guitardude1981 fucking gold! thank you!!!!!!!
@@coppulor6500 I tried the low cut back to 2.5k and it sounds even warmer yet! Especially with higher gain settings!
I love Marty Schwarz's videos which he uses his Katana all the time, sounds great for Rock genres.
I've had the Katana 50 for a couple of years and really like it for quick little practice sessions. It's the only amp I keep in the living room for that purpose. I have several tube amps and no, this cannot replace those, but it so great for what it is designed for. I'm not even a huge Boss fan, but they killed it with this. The Catalyst looks/sounds nice, but I didn't see anything that made me want to switch. Very good and in depth video, however.
I bought a Katana 100 Mk 1 three years ago along with a Gibson Original 60s Les Paul Standard, and I love it. One con is the software, particularly for a Mac user like me. Boss basically dropped Mac support several releases of MacOS ago, although the compatibility page continuously claims they are working on it.
I love my katana because I can do almost anything with the software and have basically no need for pedals at all.
Great video again!
It would be great to add in the equation the Peavey Vypyr X2 (or X3)
I would like to give a note with all due respect. The best distortion of the Katana is not obtained by changing the type of amplifier but in the clean channel and with the bosster option putting the pedal you like as you would in a real amplifier. I hope it helps someone, greetings from Spain (sorry my English) Thanks ;)
Exactly! Lead and brown channel sounds fizzy and processed especially when turning on that variation switch
Your English is fine. My Spanish is limited to ordering drinks and asking how much a sex worker charges for sex🤪🤪🤪
Thorough, comprehensive and fair comparison, with practical criticisms. I'm not convinced the Catalyst is enough of an improvement to beat the Katana, despite the welcome XLR and MIDI, and useful phone apps. Katana is just way more customizable. But both amps need bluetooth for AUX in, as well as app connection, no one uses cables anymore. It won't happen due to costs, but footswitches should *always* come with their matched amps, since they are all proprietary and often can't be bought separately due to supply shortages. I have a VOX amp I can't get the footswitch for and its really annoying.
There's an (admittedly third party) app that works on Android and is, arguably, a better editor for the Katana than Boss Tone Studio.
The Katana mkII has been around for a couple of years now. I'm hoping they come out with a Katana MkIII soon, with Bluetooth (or that can have the Boss BT-Dual module installed) and with true stereo and, perhaps XLR outs.
@@NeungView ...for Aux In, you know for playalong or backing tracks. We already have headphone cable and guitar cable, who needs an Aux In cable when there's Bluetooth?
Die im Raum-Vergleiche sind echt Gold. Bitte mehr davon.
BOSS definetly rules !!
I have a Mark 1 since 2018 and it's my room companion ! I can do everything I need and I've toured with it !
I picked up a cheap used Catalyst 60 to use as a power amp. I ran my Tonex setup into it on Saturday night at a gig. Didn't switch to power amp mode as it cuts the volume. straight into effects return and ran direct out to front of house from the amp. It sounded fantastic!!
I used the amp on 30Watt setting and that was easily loud enough on stage for me to hear at about 1/4 volume. Very impressed and like running this set up. I will buy another as a spare!
The Katana MKII also has 8 presets ( two banks of 4). You get to the second back by holding down the panel button (if I remember correctly). You also have the panel settings so you could argue that’s a 9th preset.
Catalyst has a total of 12 presets, also available from the front panel (press/hold MANUAL, use selector to choose from any of 6 banks of the 2 "channels").
@@rickgagliano852 correct me if I’m wrong but the Kat’s many presets can all be accessed by a pedal, and you only get two via he pedal with the Cat. Big difference if playing live!
@@mkrj2576 with the airstep kat I get 9 presets at my feet and unlimited presets if I run the librarian app on my iPad that I have mounted to my katana with an iPad stand or my desk depending on the setup.
Not going to lie - if Line 6 really wants this to dominate its gotta have all the HX stuff in the editor. Even if it just had the POD GO features people would go nuts for it. Seems dumb not to just put some of the drives in there, assuming they will update that.
one thing about the katana that was pleasantly surprising was its ability to go from clean to crunchy with the volume on the guitar, similar to a good tube amp. i often use the crunch channel and i can go from really clean to quite dirty with just the guitar volume.
I agree, and it is the reason I find myself on the crunch channel most of the time as well.
I also use the crunch channel most often for this same reason. It’s voiced very well in my opinion and quite versatile. I find that when playing live or jamming, it cuts through the mix quite well without having to mess with the EQ much.
@@boofmaster Whilst I agree, a lot of people don't like the crunch channel and prefer the clean channel with an overdrive, like the Blues Driver, to give that responsiveness with a different character.
@@KeithMilner the clean channel with the gain at maximum can get quite crunchy with a guitar with high output pickups too. so yeah some pedal to push that a bit can work as well. i guess it depends on which voicing you prefer. on the whole the amp is very versatile.
i have quite a few good amps but i find myself taking the katana to gigs because i can carry it the guitar and a bag of stuff on my own in one trip. i'm old you see.
I have been on the fence about getting a Katana and wanted to see this comparison. While playing a Katana 100 at Sweetwater the other day I set it to crunch and turned the gain way down. That with an OD pedal sounded and felt as good to me as my tube amps. Unfortunately, the only one they had in stock that day was the display. Might pick one up today.
Katana sounds more full and richer and also more dynamic without a doubt. I have owned the Katana and also NEVER used the software, i just bought the amp and plugged in and played the damn thing twisted some knobs and couldnt be happier... . Line 6 has stepped up their game and good for them and also good all guitar players, its good that we have more options these days but i prefer the overall tone of the Katana.. For the $$ its a absolute WIN!! Good on Line 6 for stepping up a little bit but the Katana is just a fantastic plug and play amp that feels good under your fingers and thats very important IMO
Nah, the Katana is to harsh.
Katana sound like a cheap combo where as the catalyst sounds like a 212 with a head
High gain is a joke on the katana
Comping to a mesa rectoverb
I've owned both of these amps and boss can't compete with helix
@@wAiEr1009 i tested two beside together and Cannot find Katana being better than Catalyst. I suppose it od just Overhyped.
Well one thing is for sure, they BOTH sound better than any of your old tube amps.
OH DEAR LORD… from now on I expect EVERY SINGLE ONE of your videos to only be done on the Katana
@@EytschPi42 Maybe they already secretly are... "Amp Switcher"
The Katana's acoustic mode is surprisingly good. At least as good as my Fishman Loudbox Artist. For my money, it's the Katana's hidden superpower.
You must be deaf. It's not as good as the fishman.
@@Sherlockbones00 sound is subjective. To call someone tone deaf because they prefer one sound over another is like calling someone color blind because they like purple.
That’s why I bought the Mk1 Katana and why I still have it. The Catalyst’s electric cleans and overdrives are really appealing but the lack of the Acoustic mode is a big deal breaker.
Glad to hear someone else has tried the acoustic amp on the Katana, I loved it as I play both acoustic and electric. Pity none of the revues I've seen ever plug in an acoustic!
Another solid review! people should always look at your reviews when planning to buying new gear plus they can't go wrong with someone who loves animals
FYI the katana, in 2022 , does NOT have an IOS or android app..... For me thats insane. I do not wanna run a laptop or PC just to adjust a digital amp. Absolutely crazy and for sure they will have a new model soon that has bluetooth.
A lot of information and insight here, thanks Henning!
Bravo. That was among the most balanced of gear reviews I've seen. The catalyst seems to be aimed at those who shy away from option paralysis and play simply for enjoyment, with the signal ending at their naked ears; a segment sometimes overlooked in the current market. Katana is for everyone else! How about a shoot-out with Super Crush style amps?
Yes, but even without using the PC editing, the Catalyst seems a bit compromised: One effect slot? Really? The Katana can access 4 directly from the top panel and, by the looks of it, far more intuitively than the Katalyst.
I got a Katana 50 mk1 when it came out for the sole purpose of having a light weight amp to take to jam sessions and for that it's worked wonders. I've never once used the software.
Honestly, just changing the default effects for other more well-known BOSS pedals makes using the software is definitely worth it. There are some gems in it. 😉
The Catalyst sounds warm and full, the Katana sounds clear and sharp. This difference holds true across all of the preamp modes.
I’m thinking someone could approximate the sound of one with the other using EQ.
To my ears, in these comparisons, the Catalyst had a much, much more pleasing sound. The Katana was clearer, sure, but that clarity turned into fizz as gain went up.
This was great. I agree with you on pretty much everything regarding the Katana and with what I know (I've not gotten my paws on one as of yet) of the Catalyst. Regarding the sparseness of the latter's effect positions, I suspect that Line 6, as narrow-visioned as this position would seem to be, sees the Catalyst as a 'gateway' to the Helix rather than a stand-alone product. The Catalyst therefore only gives the user a taste of Helix, if you follow me. That tells me that while they are competing with the Katana, they don't quite *get* the Katana. Given the way Boss skimps on features in the Katana 50, I'm guessing they see this line as an end unto itself rather than as a step on the ladder to buying a GT-1000, or at least they know that the majority of Katana customers are not likely to buy the other product or the GX-100, but might move up from the Katana 50 to one of its bigger brothers for more power, an effects loop, the Artist's better speaker, and so on.
Meow.
Great review of these two amps. Thank you so much.
I would say that they are both good in there own right and respects. Jmo 😊
Excellent analytical work. Thanks.
I love your honesty. And the way you recorded the audio.
Very informative and thoughtful comparison! The Katana clearly has more options, which is great for people who want to dial in exactly the tone they want for recording and/or live performances. But, despite being extremely limited for effects and even just gain options, the Catalyst is probably better for me because I quickly experience option paralysis, plus the Catalyst's user interface on both the amp and the app makes more sense to me. The Katana also sounded too bright for me on all of the tones you used for the comparison. I'll wait until Line 6 updates the software (I'd bet they'll update it before the holiday season) so that it has more options, and if I'm still interested in a modeling amp I'll give it another look.
But I might just get the new Orange Super Crush, because it sounds good (on YT videos, haven't had the chance to try it myself) and I already have a bunch of pedals to put in front and in the effects loop
Love how honest your reviews are! I think there is some kind of communication gap between the software programmers and the music/marketing department at line6. They could have put a bunch of Helix effects in the Catalyst , plus where is the quality control when you are getting big volume jumps when you change settings....do they actually try these amps out in real world situations?
As usual , your demo reviews are EXCELLENT !
I can make up my mind as to which instrument, or amp, or music equipment I buy and use for me. Thank you Mister Henning
In this review, I personally prefer the "bigger" sound feel of the Catalyst. although they both sound very very similar.
I owned the Katana for a couple of days then sent it back. Not only does it sound sterile to me, but the unevenness of the volume levels was the deal breaker. The Catalyst sounds a little more natural. I bought one used pretty cheap. I still use my Mesa Mk 5 and my single rec. playing out. The L6 is nice to have at home without being overly complicated. I only use a DD-7 , TC chorus in my effects loop, and a phase 90 and TS9 through the front so I really don't need that many options. Great comparison video as always.
Which Cat do you have? I just bought the 100 a week ago and I can say it does have a warm and full sound. Gig ready for sure with a few pedals. Going to be downloading the desktop app soon!
Another great and very informative break down thank you ! I can't understand Line6 either, it appears they have shot themselves in the foot. They could have easily blown the competition out of the water, just by including chain-able effects, crazy what were they thinking ? a pedal platform Amp ? come on line6 you could have done better.
Deine Videos sind wirklich klasse. Die Idee mit den künstlichen Ohren habe ich so noch nie gesehen. Und das ist wirklich wichtig wie die Raumklang ist und ob sich der Sound vom Lautsprecher löst und nicht so rangeklebt wirkt. Mir ist das eigentlich immer zu viel mit den ganzen Einstellmöglichkeiten bei den Modelling-Amps. Kannst du nen Amp/Kombo empfehlen der folgendes hat? 2 Kanäle (Clean/Crunch) mit je eigenem Volume und mit Master Volume, Pedals gut verträgt, Effektschleife, Line-Out mit Boxensimulation, einfach zu bedienen und ohne viel Firlefanz. Es kann auch nur ein Preamp fürs Pedalboard sein, sodass man direkt in die PA gehen kann. Früher hab ich Röhre gespielt, aber selbst bei 15 W ist das dermaßen laut, dass man dass man nen Röhrenamp nicht in jeder Situation an der Rand der Sättigung bringt. Vielen Dank und viele Grüße
The monoprice 40w amp model 611800 has basically the features you seek and the volume controls go to 11! I had one for a while until I received a Bugera as payment from a friend who owed me money and couldn't pay cash. That monoprice sounded great! In Canada they can be found from $200 to $250 CND translate to Euros 130 to 180 or so? Sounds pretty darn great. Just a straight up amp w/ spring Reverb, effects loop,
Two guitar inputs, 1/4 headphones jack, speaker out, line out jack, fx send/return jacks. Drive and distortion channel and 3 adjustable EQ (bass/middle/treble) gain, volume and master volume. It I sure liked it.
Plus a pretty good 10" speaker and a real spring Reverb. You can get pretty drippy/ surfy with it.
The catalyst sounds like it has a blanket over and the katana sounds more present.
That's called boxy..and I just paid 530$ for 1 12 artist katana and im very disappointed! Im.sending it back for the Catalyst which has more presence
I’ve been gigging my 100 watt mk1 since they came out I hardly take my Hotrod deluxe and pedals out anymore and nobody has ever said it sounds rubbish it just does the job well.
Also records well
I’m sticking with it til it dies.
You're weird and wonderful (and I mean weird in the most positive way). I love your videos. I must.... because like in one of the other comments, I have no intension of buying either amp and watched your video. 😀 Keep up the great work you do!!!
Glad i watched this review. Made me loss my GAS for the Catalyst. Ive got a MKII 1x12 Katana and seems like its def better, the whole reason i got the MKII was the number of effects u can use at once and the Catalyst seems more limited then the Mk I. I still havent been able to connect my Katana to my laptop yet, its a massive pain in the ass actually! Oh, and you can find the Katana 100watt for $315 new all the time, thats what i paid a year ago.
Same
Nice vid, and an obvious one. Well done sir. I feel at this stage that katana is still king... Roland Boss did it right. Need to hear the catalyst in person.
Even with midi you can still only use 1 effect at a time out of the 18 available, completely killed it for me!
The fact that you can use a mobile or a tablet with the catalyst makes it much better for me.
I Appreciate this owning the Katana MKII 100 212 . Most Enjoyable Review and Dang FAIR ! Well Done I do say. Thank YOU
Cool Video I like the Catalyst I listened to this video with my JBL speaker and to me it just sounds better then the Katana I just bought the 200 watt Catalyst because I'm tired of lifting my 1979 Mesa Boogie Mark 2B combo Amp it weighs at least 70 pounds and that's with out the EV speaker I am 62 with a bad back and I think my new Catalyst will work just fine for me I play with a old school Funk Band and Latin Rock and the reason I got the 200 watt version is because sometimes we do smaller gigs we're I don't mic my Amp plus it will push more air when I do big stages.
They both sounded fine.I have a Katana 100 Mk2.I 'never' use it because valves always win me over.And my Helix too.So I am not a snob.I do have the Android unofficial App for the Katana which is great.I love your channel and long may you run.
Man, why just by listening to you a few seconds I can know you are a smart person😂😂😂 AMAZING review, really thankful and I did enjoy this thoroughly
Can I say I both appreciate you taking the time to record with your 3dio microphone set & ironically I actually do worse if I am listening on headphones as I am nerve deaf in my right ear & I have limited frequency range in my left to the point I have to artificially boost both ends of the spectrum to hear anything at all!!
I know its great I love, love, love all the music but I living in the news in North Korea equivalent for musical hearing when it comes to hearing & understanding what is being said!
BTW love the QR Codes!!
I chose the Boss Katana because as a blind user, this was the only modeler style amp that I found I could use independently. Granted this isn't possible with Boss Tone Studio, but with Katana Librarian and the Airstep Katana Edition, it becomes an accessible solution. I know I'm late to the party, but maybe this will help someone who was doing the same type of research I had to do in order to arrive at this conclusion.
It’s not a modeller style amp, it’s an amp combo in it’s own right with built in effects. Modeller amps are ones that mimic other style amps. A real modeller amp could well model a Katana if it was programmed to do so, though it would be pretty pointless..
@@philfyphil Thanks for the correction. The rest of my point remains.
Boss katana 100w mk1 user here... good review on both.
weird choice with line 6 not to even do more than a mk1 katana on fx..
hands up in the air n shrugged shoulders.
Thank you for this informative review! Great job !!
Line6 is at a big disadvantage right now not only because of the Katana's momentum, but also if a friend asked me which one to buy today I would say the Katana because the Katana has a track record that's many years long of being reliable, the Catalyst is brand new. Hopefully it's a great product and in a year or two I'd be able to say "Whichever one you think looks/sounds better."
Line 6 amp modelling was always better than Boss though…🤔
Have to say the Katana sounds better though….
@@andrewbutcher3391 I reckon that's the power amp/speaker/cabinet.
The Line 6 Catalyst is a very nice amp for the money. BUT,...owning a Boss Katana MkII 100-watt head and 2x12 cabinet since they first came out, I am very satisfied with the Boss Katana. The Katana is definitely a brighter, less compressed sound in this comparison review. The Catalyst sounded a bit muffled to my ears with headphones in this review. I preferred the Boss tones to the Catalyst. Thanks, "Dr. Evil The Younger" for the quality review.
Boss needs to up its high-end solid state digital amp game via a Katana ARTIST Wazacraft series of amps in three formats: 1) a stand alone amp head, 2) a 2x12 combo, and 3) a 4x10 combo!!! All the bells and digital effects / features whistles as only Boss can be the boss! All formats having 100-watt, 50-watt and 15-watt-ish (15 to 25 watt range) variable power modes.
After working with both for some time these are my quick comments. Both SOUND GREAT! The Katana 50 is a home practice amp due to NO EFX LOOP, and limited foot switching capabilities, and lesser speaker. Katana 100 is the FAR SUPERIOR LIVE AMP... with EFX LOOP, Fabulous foot switching capabilities, global EQs, enormous EFX selection, Better Speaker with tight Low End, LOUD, and Acoustic Guitar settings ! I preferred the CATALYST for Studio recording for the variety and type of Voices, the Very Useful Sag, Bias, & Bias X controls, EFX LOOP, And Direct Out Sound. The speaker tends to be a little FLUBBY and the foot switch controls are EXTREMELY limited! Quite Happy with Both!!!
Finally got off the couch, and bought myself a used Catalyst 60. Katana has more convincing high-gain tones, but I find it easier to dial in low to medium gain sounds with the Catalyst. Sounds huge with my baritone Tele. I also like having a DI and FX loop on the smallest version! Horses for courses…
Got the Katana MK2 100W. Happy with it, way more punch than the 50w
So people are raving about the massive effects on the Katana but in every Facebook group Katana owners all have massive pedal boards.
Yesterday I liked the 2x12 Catanalist most. Here 100 vs 100 1x12s I preferred the Katana. I have the Katana mark I 100w 1x12 and that’s enough of this type of amp for me even without some of the extra features. Buying a used Katana might be the best option for people on a budget.
I know you are going to annoy me a lot but I'm still watching!!🤣
thanks for the reviews . Helpful .
Damned good video HP. I came down on the side of the Katana.
I have both the Katana MkI (2016) and MkII (2020) and, comparing feature sets, I'd say the Catalyst is closer to the Katana MkI (2016), where you can only have one effect at a time with reverb, so it's a six year old feature set on Catalyst. Whereas, the MkII is multiple effects at a time, thanks to the concentric circles. Plus, both generations of Katana had/have the Acoustic setting. It's not an amazing acoustic amp sound, but it's there. As you mentioned, it's good it's there. Add in all your cons of the Catalyst, and the quality and durability of the Boss products, it's Katana all the way for me.
I don't know why but the katana amp is more bright and it sound better when your are playing clear chords but for some reason im more attracted to the catalyst which has a more robust sound which would sound awesome if you used it to play heavy metal
I don't own a katana but I listened to many comparison videos before making my choice. In ever video I hear, including this one, the katana has a very unpleasant high tone. I'm very pleased with my Katalyst and the tones I can customize on it
for everybody that complains about the katana tone studio and wireframe update: use Katana Library app for Android! It's extremely simple, cheap and very intuitive.
Great video very thorough. What I'm getting from the whole thing in a nutshell is that the Line 6 is going to come down in price and then they'll sell more of them.
Catalyst seems nice but on price I’d still choose katana
I'm a bit confused. I have a Mk1 Katana 100 2x12 which, to my ancient ears, sounds great and is more than enough for my needs. I also recently bought a PodGo, which is really awesome for the money. When I saw the Catalyst released I thought oooh, that's gonna be good. With the tech and experience from the Helix/Pod lines surely the Catalyst will kick ass. So far, from the vids I've seen, I'd have to say nope. I don't understand why the Katal...sorry, Catalyst, is so...underwhelming, especially given the price equality with the Katana. I agree that the app is a lot more intuitive for the Catalyst, but then it doesn't do anywhere near as much. I'll stick with my Boss. Thanks for the info Henning, great vid as always.
Still by far the best comparison by a mile 👍👍🤔 that's what she said..
I do think the high gain sounds on the Catalyst sounds more beefy and tube like. But like the cleans better on the Katana.
Features aside, the Catalyst simply has a fuller tone. Not sure if it's a larger speaker or cabinet or just the modeling, but side by side, Catalyst has more low end. Maybe that's good when you are playing in isolation, maybe it's not so good in a band/mix, but that's what my ears are hearing in this video and others I've seen
When it comes to the amount of effects and choices on a budget amp, there's nothing in this world that beats the Spider V :)
IMO this amp, besides going head to head with Katana, is tailored to those who wanted HX technology in a budget amp. Great comparison video!
I think next year Line 6 will be releasing a new generation of the Catalyst amps with the features they missed this time. But I think that as always Line 6 is betting on their good cab simulations, and they’re great as always, but this time they should have realized that if they want to beat the Boss Katana, they had to release something like a POD with a speaker. They just needed something wider and way updated than the Spiders which also are still great to the price point.
Thanks for your video, this comparison was very objective
Boss Katana all the way!!
the feature I'd love to see on the katana app is the ability to turn of the cab simulator so we could use our own IR in the DAW.
Great Video, by the way!
I sometimes bypass the preamp in the Katana-100 MKII using the effects return and using a BOSS GT-1 or GX-100 as the preamp with it's effects, expression pedal and looper functionality - while also being able to dial in custom IRs in the GT-1 or GX-100 and just using the Katana's power amp to drive the output. Lots of Katana tricks I've learned on a couple of the FB groups.
I tend to recommend the Katana, the THR10 or the Spark for people looking to get an electric guitar. These 3 amps all have their niche, where they clearly beat the other two hence they make sense as a product. The Catalyst seems like a slightly different, overall probably worse Katana - not sure what they expect. If they wanted to go head to head with the Katana they should have created a clearly superior product that can erode the Katana's reputation, but they haven't..
I would agree, and in that exact order.
Yes totally agree. Boss won't be quaking in their boots about stolen sales. An android app editor that connects wirelessly like the fender GTX may have been one way to steal a few sales. Not everyone likes the physical connection to the Boss and and as mentioned in the review lots of fiddling with Windows drivers. I am aware there is an unofficial Katana android app.
It sounds great katana modeling amp is one of the best in my opinion
38:14 I'm hoping you were going to say "Wonderwall" and then bit it back :-) thanks for the video: really great and highly relevant
There's a new firmware out for the catalyst that allows you to use 2 fx blocks in almost any combination and gives 6 new amp models. The footswitch has also new features now.
It's very important to mention that the catalyst 60's usb midi can't be used with midi pedals.
Great honest review as always. If these solid-state modeling amps are not a replacement for a tube amp what would you think of the Quilter Aviator Cub as a solid way to satisfy the tube snob in me? (FYI I use a silver face Princeton Reverb and Deluxe Reverb) Thanks
The Katana is the most obvious choice of the two👍 I plan to get a Katana in the next 6 months! I wouldn't consider the Line 6 Amp
This is closer to mid-budget for most people, Henning ;)
Ich habe ne Rockcombo, einen Twin Reverb und als Zerrer den Friedemann BE OD. Da mir der Twin zu schwer war habe ich mir das Katana Top geholt. Man muss wissen, dass man aus dem Katana ne mega Menge mehr rausholen kann wenn man über den Editor mit dem parametrischen EQ arbeitet. Da kann man Ihn fett machen. Ich bin in der Combo damit absolut zufrieden. Ich hatte vor ein paar Tagen auch den Infozettel vom Catalyst in der Hand. Da war mir sofort klar,dass Line6 was in die Katana Richtung machen will. Sound ist Geschmackssache und man muss beim Katana mit dem para EQ einmal ran. Aber für Proben und Live Einsatz hat der Boss viel mehr Möglichkeiten. Zum Recorden nehme ich lieber ein Plug In oder den kleinen Helix. Vielen Dank für Deine Videos. Du bist mit Einer der wichtigsten und besten Gear Checker für mich. Weiter so. Achja, mach beim Katana im High Gain mit dem EQ bei Low Drive die Frequenz auf 120 oder 105 Herz und heb die ein bissel an. Dann kommt die Wand. Viele Grüße Carsten
Line 6's always sound like a blanket is covering them. I had a Vetta II a few years back and after you loaded up custom profiles it was great. Presets were blanket city. Frankly I prefer the old Flextone amps. Not the more recent ones.
Holy Shitballs! Great review really enjoyed your style.
Have mk2 1x12 Katana which I love. Previously had a GT8 pedalboard into cube which sucked, always a mush really.
Katana is such a solid immediate sound it pushes my playing. The editors fx and recording make for a very creative bedroom studio amp. The best money I spent in a good while.
Can't see there is great difference in the basic sounds from comparison. I would be swung on the software options which allow multi fx set ups on the Kat. Plus you can switch on the traffic lights to transform patches from the amp.
It's a pricey footswith but the GAFC totally makes the most of the Kats possible options.
Compared to the catalyst heard here I would have to plumb for the choice of fx and drives over choice of mic emulations!
Quick note there is a librarian editor for Android for £9 to modify Kat away from the PC. It will also allow 5 fx on a mk1 Kat to be controlled...bonus.
8 preseds plus panel on Kat.
Good luck great playing BTW.
Steve
for your honest opinion: thank you!!!! no bullshit - so refreshing.
Katana here in Canada 2024 is more bucks and in the the store initially the catalyst sounds better. But on the used market there sure are many katana's out there and still sound pretty decent. If buying new I would chose the Catalyst
If used id go Katana both overall sound really good.
All modelers suck when it comes to the cleans, I play almost only clean, so for me they all suck. I cannot afford expensive tube amps, I'm a pensioner, I bought the BUGERA Infinium 22 and that suits me fine.
Thanks for this great comparison/review. Listening with headphones, it confirms what I noticed on a similar comparison done by the Andertons channel: the catalyst sounds a bit boxy compared to the Katana. The Katana just sounds…better all round😂
That demo around the 14 minute mark was butter :) Catalyst seems much more 'stage ready' than the Boss does; clean/crunch with a few banks and throw a few pedals in front BOOM easy done.
I love the input you share with the community and your videos, but From a personal opinion and experience, if you haven’t bothered to use the editor from the katana which it has the potential to make it sound amazing to the point to make it sound pretty damn close to a tube amp, and the fact that line 6 was capable to create the helix but didn’t bother to improve their spider line series, purists will always lean towards tube amps and expensive gear, and modelers, the katana the rest is on the hands of the guitarists for those who cannot afford a tube amp and a neural quad core or a helix , the katana is a very decent choice and has the capability to match any mid range tube amp and modelers, again, it’s a personal opinion, am not trying to bash yours, otherwise I wouldn’t be subscribed to your channel,cheers!
For clean through 80's Marshall tones, Catalyst, hands down. For modern metal tones, Katana. But then again, a decent pedal into the Boutique channel of the Cat takes care of that too. Overall, Cat for me.
👍👍👍 I was surprised Vox Cambridge didn't do better vs the Katana. Seems like nobody cared it came out.
Katana sounds better probably due to the fact it’s class AB analog Catalyst is full digital