At Blackstar, we believe great tone should be ready whenever inspiration strikes. That’s why we created BEAM SOLO — the most immersive, intuitive headphone amp on the market today. Whether you’re jamming at home, on the move, or just grabbing ten minutes of play time between everything else, BEAM SOLO gives you pro-level sound with complete creative freedom — wherever you are.
Designed for electric, acoustic and bass guitars, BEAM SOLO fits in your hand, plugs straight into your headphones, and delivers the sound and feel of a real amp. You can shape your tone directly on the unit using the tactile SpeedDial and Light Beam Display, which give instant visual feedback with no menus to navigate. Or you can take full control through the BEAM app, where a growing library of professional-grade amp, cab, mic and pedal models is waiting. Combined with our patented ISF, you can access an infinite number of tonal possibilities to explore, enjoy and create with.
With our unique and immersive ‘In The Room’ technology, we’ve made the headphone experience feel alive — like a real amp, in a real space. Every note resonates with depth and presence, making even silent practice inspiring. A single expressive control called XpressFX lets you control multi-layered effects in real time, with smooth transitions that feel natural when adjusting. We’ve also added a headset mic input with studio-quality preamps and reverb, so you can truly immerse yourself with both guitar and vocals wherever you are, and jam along to your favourite tracks seamlessly via Bluetooth audio.
In addition to the authentic Blackstar amp models, BEAM SOLO also includes Ampton – our collection of classic software amplifiers, designed at Blackstar HQ in Northampton UK – home to our world-class R&D department. Built on decades of experience in both valve and digital amplifier design, Ampton fuses authentic valve character with advanced digital algorithms, developed by a design team with a unique technical heritage. The name itself is drawn from Northampton, reflecting the roots of our engineers and the history behind the company.
Ampton designs are more than just static profiles, they are the result of meticulous design, testing and optimisation – component by component, sector by sector. Starting with Blackstar founder Bruce Keir’s original digital models of our legendary Series One valve amplifiers, every element has been refined over decades. This dedication extends to the tiniest tonal interactions, from cathode follower behaviour to the modelling of preamp DC offsets, ensuring unmatched realism, tone and feel.
Another unique aspect of the Ampton designs are the completely accurate tone-stack models. These retain the exact interactivity between controls as the valve amp references, to deliver musicality and interactivity that a mere “capture” snapshot cannot. The power amplifier models go beyond traditional emulation, recreating the true interplay between valves, output transformers and speakers.
Our method blends deep analysis and literally hundreds of hours of critical listening. AB sonic tests are matched with precise electrical analysis, while the design team use their decades of voicing expertise. Every nuance is considered while intelligent optimisation results in elegant algorithms with extremely low latency.
If you head over to the BEAM app, you’ll find Official Artist Patches to explore from an ever growing list of all-stars including Doug Aldrich (The Dead Daisies), Gus G. (Firewind), Will Sergeant (Echo & The Bunnymen) and many more. You can join in the fun and share your own tones on the online community and download other creators’ patches within a vibrant global community of players just like you. You can even share your favourite patches over message to your friends with just a simple tap.
Within the ‘Music’ section of the app, you’ll find a host of backing tracks and video lessons to make sure that you can stay inspired and continue your learning journey. The BEAM SOLO is a complete one-stop solution for guitar players today.
We designed BEAM SOLO to give every guitarist the freedom to play and create anywhere, instantly, and without compromise. Whether you’re shaping your sound with a twist of the SpeedDial or diving deep into your rig choices via the app, it always feels intuitive and immersive. You can record vocals, jam with backing tracks, or just enjoy the feel of a cranked valve amp in your headphones — all from a device that fits in your pocket.
We’re constantly adding new sounds and features to the BEAM app, so your rig evolves with you. With ISF, XpressFX, SpeedDial, Light Beam Display and community connectivity, BEAM SOLO gives you the tools to stay inspired, have fun and sound incredible — wherever you are.
Though both heavy players in the soul and funk world, Feingold and Hunter first met via Instagram.
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