Orange Micro Terror review
Guitar

Orange Micro Terror Review – This Amp Will Rock Your World

When it comes to the best micro-amps on the market, sometimes you don’t need to look any further than the Orange Micro Terror. In this Orange Micro Terror review, I’ll discuss why this Amp is one of the best options in its price range. Not only does it come in a small package, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in sound quality. An amp that can power anything from an 8-inch speaker to a 4X12 half stack. Here you have come to the right place!

This Orange Micro Terror review will help you decide if this Amp is yours. With its high-quality sound, great features, and small size, this Amp will rock your world and deliver powerful music to your ears. This remarkable little 20 Watt amp can give you the iconic Orange tone you’ve been searching for – and it won’t break the bank. In this Orange Micro Terror review, we’ll look at all the features that make this Amp unique.

What is the Orange Micro Terror?

The Orange Micro Terror is a hybrid low-power output guitar amplifier that has gained popularity among many musicians for its compact size and affordability. Its hybrid designation comes from having both a tube (valve) preamp stage and solid state power amp, allowing it to achieve the best of both worlds in terms of warmth and clarity. The hybrid design also helps to give this Amp a wide range of tonal options, making it highly versatile for a small amp.

A guitar amplifier is essential for any musician, and Orange has recently released the Micro Terror. This mini Amp is perfect for those who need a portable device. With its lightweight design and small size, it is often called a ‘micro amp’ or ‘lunchbox amp.’ The Orange Micro Terror is a small, lightweight, powerful amplifier quickly becoming popular among guitarists. It features two channels, allowing players to switch between clean and dirty tones. Makes it great for practice sessions as well as live performances.

The amps of this type are often called amplifier heads because they need to be connected to an external sound source, either a speaker cabin or a PA system. They are designed with two channels – one clean channel and one overdrive- allowing you to get different tones from your guitar depending on the setting. This 20-watt amplifier packs a powerful punch and is one of the loudest amps you’ll ever hear. Known for its incredible tone and ability to crank out some serious volume, the Orange Micro Terror has earned the nickname “terror” – and with good reason.

Who is the Orange Micro Terror for?

The Orange Micro Terror is a small, portable, low-cost amplifier that can be used practically in any situation. It’s perfect for anyone who wants an affordable yet powerful option to take with them on the go and use anywhere they please.  Orange Micro Terror is an excellent purchase for any beginning guitar student. This Amp has all the features needed to start learning and playing an electric guitar. Its size, portability, and affordability make it one of the top amps for beginners today. However, there is one thing to be aware of when buying this Amp: it does not come with an external speaker cabinet.

Orange Micro Terror review

This 20-watt amplifier is powerful and perfect for practising or performing in smaller venues. Its wide range of tone options makes it suitable for guitarists and bassists, allowing them to create the perfect sound for any musical style. This small Amp is perfect for bedroom practice, live performances, or recording. It’s an ideal choice for those who need to play without disturbing others or overpowering the sound with loud volume levels.

How the Orange Micro Terror amp Works

The Orange Micro Terror amp head is a small, low-powered device with a big punch. A 12AX7 (ECC83) tube (valve) preamp drives a solid-state amplifier. This simple design makes it ideal for live performance and recording applications where size and portability are important considerations. The Orange Micro Terror Amp is a compact and lightweight amplifier that can provide music buffs with a fantastic sound experience. This Amp has been designed to give the user an organic tone that is very responsive to each player’s fingering and picking techniques.

Setting up this amplifier is quick and easy. First, plug the Amp into an 8 or 16 Ohm speaker cabinet using the speaker out jack on the back of the headphone jack for silent practice. Connect another compatible cabinet with either a 1/4 inch cable or a speakON connector to use both outputs simultaneously for a louder performance. The Orange PPC108 cabinet works with this Amp, providing users with a powerful 8-inch speaker that complements the Amp’s size and sound.

Orange Micro Terror review

The combination delivers an impressive sound quality, making it ideal for musicians, venue owners, and anyone needing amplification. The Orange Micro Terror Amp is its two adjustable knobs – volume and gain. By adjusting these controls, musicians can dial in exactly how much aggressiveness they need for their sound. With both knobs turned up, you’ll get maximum distortion; lowering them will give you more control over your tone and help keep your sound from getting too harsh or distorted.

Setting all three control knobs to 12 o clock is key. Includes the Gain, Volume, and Tone controls. With this configuration, you can achieve the unique tone of Orange amplifiers heard from legendary artists since 1968.

Does the Orange Micro Terror Need a Cabinet?

This all-tube Amp offers excellent sound quality in a small package – but it’s essential to understand the technical requirements to get the most out of it. With an all-tube amp, it is critical always to have it connected to a speaker load of the proper impedance. Hybrid amps are not as susceptible to tube failure or other concerns like noise interference because both sections of the amplifier are insulated from each other. As such, the Orange Micro Terror does not need a dedicated cabinet and can be used safely.

A speaker cabinet designated load rating should always be used with an Orange Micro Terror amplifier, especially if you connect it to un-shielded two-conductor cables and terminals labelled speaker outputs. This is because proper shielding is necessary for the sound to become distorted and retain its clarity. Using a speaker cabinet designated load rating ensures that the amplifier will remain in good condition while providing optimal performance.

It would be best to power up the Amp with a speaker cabinet if you have a set of headphones plugged into the headphone jack. This will prevent potential damage to either speakers or amplifiers should there be an imbalance in tone and volume levels when the cabinet isn’t plugged in.

Hearing is Believing

Hearing is believing, and with the Orange Micro Terror, it’s easy to see why. This powerful little Amp packs a punch that will make any guitarist smile. Doug Doppler has put together a fantastic video demonstration that takes you through all the features of this impressive little Amp, showing off its great clean tones when played with no gain and its awesome growl when turned up to total distortion. Doppler demonstrates how you can use this Amp with an Analog Man ARDX20 pedal for even more sonic versatility.

Orange Amplifiers have long been known for their powerful sound and the ability to power many speakers. They’ve taken it one step further with their new amplifier design that can handle the Orange PPC108 (one 8 speakers) and an Orange 4 12 cabinet without compromising quality. This setup is perfect for larger venues, such as outdoor events or festivals, where you must fill a large area with sound. This dual-amplifier setup gives you more volume and clarity from your sound system.

Features and Benefits

The Orange Micro Terror is a scaled-down version of the company’s popular Tiny Terror amp but has features and ruggedness. Despite its size, the Micro Terror packs a punch and is designed to be as durable as their higher-end products. This makes it an invaluable asset for guitarists who need maximum performance and resilience from their amps. When keeping the size of an amp’s casing as small as possible, Orange depends on the step-down transformer and DC rectifier in an external power adaptor.

This feature helps make amps more efficient while saving space by eliminating bulky components from inside the Amp itself. More minor is often better when it comes to getting a great sound. The PPC108 8-inch speaker cabinet is a perfect example of this in action. This quality audio equipment offers impressive features and benefits, making it the ideal choice for anyone who wants to create a powerful sound without taking up too much space.

You can also connect your favourite 4 1 subwoofer to boost the bass response even further, giving you a big, room-filling sound that will impress everyone! Some other features and benefits include:

  • A 3.5mm Auxiliary input jack is a handy tool for any musician or songwriter. It allows users to plug in their favourite MP3 player, CD player, or laptop and start jamming with their favourite songs. You can also use this little jack to record podcasts, audiobooks, and other audio recordings.
  • High-tensile steel casing is the perfect material for making durable, gig-worthy gear.
  • The high tensile strength of this metal means that objects made from it are resistant to distortion, wear and tear, and corrosion.
  • Ability to drive any size speaker cabinet, 8 or 16 Ohms. With its simple setup, you’ll be amazed at how much air it moves and how loud you can get without distortion.
  • Micro Terror, paired with the PPC108 cabinet, is a winning combination for anyone who values portability and convenience. The Micro Terror is an ideal amp head choice for musicians on the go; it weighs only 1kg, and its small size means it will only take up a little space in your bag or car.

What is the Orange Amplifiers Micro Series amp bag?

The Orange Amplifiers Micro Series Amp Bag protects the Micro Terror amp and makes it easy to take your music on the go. This innovative bag allows guitarists, bass players, and other musicians to travel with their amps without worrying about damage. This durable bag provides ample storage and protection for their gear. It’s designed to fit small amplifiers up to 20 pounds and can be adjusted for a custom fit.

The bag’s exterior is waterproof and has reinforced stitching for additional support. This amp bag also has room for accessories like guitar cables and power adaptors, so players don’t have to worry about leaving anything behind when they hit the road.

Orange Micro Terror review

What I Like About the Orange Micro Terror amp

I always go for something that stands out and looks good regarding amps. That’s why the Orange Micro Terror amp is my favourite. The front panel displays the classic Orange logo with black and orange control icons, making it stand out from other amps. If you’re looking for a great-sounding, versatile amp with a rugged look, then the Orange Micro Terror Amp might be just what you need. This compact powerhouse is perfect for those living in small spaces or anyone who needs to take their Amp on the road.

With its easy-to-carry handle and ultra-reliable output, this Amp has all of the features that a musician would look for when selecting an amplifier. The Orange Micro Terror Amp has various features that make it stand out from other amps in its price range. At first glance, the Orange Micro Terror amp may not seem like much. It’s lightweight and portable yet has the classic Orange growl and bite we all love. No other amp sounds like an Orange, and they nailed it with this one.

It packs a lot of punch into its compact size and responds wonderfully to subtle fingering and picking dynamics. When it comes to small, lightweight, and versatile amps, the Orange Micro Terror is an excellent choice. This Amp produces some of the wealthiest tones I’ve ever heard at low volume and gain settings. The harmonics are especially impressive; they pop off the strings in all registers!

This Amp offers guitar players a wealth of good options in a small package. What I like about this Amp is how it cleans up nicely when the volume is turned down just a little. Cranking up the gain can give you some great tones, but turning down the guitar’s volume dramatically, affects the sound. This feature lets me get a wide range of sounds from my instrument without switching amps or pedals. Amp is its ability to give me a good rhythm tone, even at higher gain settings, without killing the sound level.

It’s an excellent choice for guitarists who like to use effects pedals. It has been designed to play nicely with all types of pedals, so if you have a pedalboard that you’re comfortable using, this Amp should be compatible with it. And it takes pedals well on the front end. You can add your favourite effects pedals, and they will work as well as they would if they were connected to another amp. I also appreciate how easy it is to use – plug in your pedalboard, and you’re ready to go!

When it comes to amplifiers, size does not always matter. That is certainly true of the Orange Micro Terror Amp. Despite its small stature, this Amp packs a thunderous punch. It can quickly fill a room with a rich sound and full of life. This tiny Amp packs a powerful 20 watts of output power while still being small enough to fit into the corner of your backpack or guitar case. What I like about the Orange Micro Terror amp is that you don’t need much space to set it up, and all I love is this Amp.

What I Don’t Like About the Orange Micro Terror amp

However, this Amp can still pose problems depending on the user’s needs. There are some things that I don’t like about it. First of all, and most importantly, there is no effects loop! Amp’s most significant limitation. An effects loop would have made this little amplifier so much more versatile than it is now. It would allow me to directly add reverb and delay effects from an external pedalboard or rack unit into the Amp’s signal chain. And with this added function, I could quickly get a lot of good sounds out of this small combo amp, which is only possible right now by adding external noise or distortion pedals into the mix first.

The Orange Micro Terror Amp is a great little amp for the price. But if you need an effects loop now, consider buying the Orange Micro Dark Amp instead. One is that the headphone jack is not cabinet simulated; when you plug in your headphones, you will get a different full sound than if you are listening to a real amp with a solid speaker cabinet. The Micro Dark model does have a CABSIM headphone jack which helps make it sound more realistic when using headphones.

One complaint is that it can be noisy at high gain settings, which is familiar with low-power adjustable gain amps, especially if using single coil pickups. Using the single coils causes much more interference as they pick up more ambient noise than other pickup types. If you’re considering buying the Orange Micro Terror AM, you must know these potential issues. One complaint some users have had with the Orange Micro Terror AM is that recording can be difficult.

There is only one EQ for adjusting bass and treble. This lack of a 2-band EQ limits your control over dialling your tone. You can only get clarity or definition in the midrange, which can muddy your sound after prolonged use. One of the main issues with this Amp is that it lacks separate treble and bass control knobs. This means users must rely solely on the gain knob to adjust and fine-tune their sound, which can be limiting in certain situations.

Orange Micro Terror amp may provide a good sound quality, but it must be adequate for playing in large or outdoor spaces. It has an excellent portability factor and might be suitable for some small gigs, but it could be better for playing at large venues. If you love the tone of the Orange Micro Terror, then you can always mic it through a PA system at larger venues.

Orange Micro Terror vs. Micro Dark

Orange Micro Terror and Orange Micro Dark are popular amplifiers, often compared to each other. Both amps offer convenience and portability with excellent sound quality, but distinct differences make one better than the other for specific performances.

SpecificationMicro Terror AmpMicro Dark Amp
Auxiliary InputYesNo
Control KnobsVolume, Tone, GainVolume, Shape, Gain
PreampTube (Valve) Preamp
Uses One 12AX7 (ECC83)
Has Two Gain Stages
High Gain Tube (Valve) Preamp
Uses One 12AX7 (ECC83)
Has Four Gain Stages
AmpSolid StateSolid State
Power Output20 Watts RMS20 Watts RMS
Effects LoopNoYes
Speaker OutputOne (8 Ohm Minimum)One (8 Ohm Minimum)
Headphone JackYes, but not cabinet-simulatedYes, with cabinet-simulation
Power Supply
(included)
15 Volt DC, 2 Amp
(2.1mm Center Positive)
15 Volt DC, 2 Amp
(2.1mm Center Positive)
Dimensions
W X H X D
(Unboxed)
6.5″ × 5.31″ × 3.7″
(16.5cm × 13.5cm × 9.5cm)
6.5″ × 5.31″ × 3.7″
(16.5cm × 13.5cm × 9.5cm)
Weight
(Unboxed)
1.87 Lb
(0.85 Kg)
1.72 Lb
(0.78 Kg)

Is Micro Terror Better Than Micro Dark?

When it comes to the debate of which guitar amp is better, the Orange Micro Terror or the Micro Dark, there is no clear-cut winner. Depending on your playing style and preferences, one of these two amps may be more suitable for you than the other. For some players, the Micro Terror might be a better fit due to its simple design and lightweight construction, making it easier to move around. On the other hand, others prefer the extra tonal options offered by the Micro Dark’s two channels, allowing them to achieve different sounds without switching out amps.

Micro Terror and Micro Dark are two of the most popular amplifiers. Both have unique strengths and weaknesses, making them excellent options for different guitarists. But which one is better? It all comes down to individual preferences and tastes. For a versatile amp to cover a wide range of music, the Micro Terror may be better than the Micro Dark. The Micro Terror is a lower gain amp that allows it to produce a clean sound that can handle different styles of music, including jazz, blues, country, and rock.

And while the Micro Dark can produce high-gain distortion tones suitable for metal and other forms of hard rock, these tones offer less versatility than those produced by the Micro Terror. Add an overdrive or distortion pedal if you want more gain from your guitar amp setup. Many guitarists opt for an overdrive pedal to provide a clean boost and a distortion pedal for added crunch and saturation.

If you plan on playing along with MP3 songs, then the Micro Terror might be a better option due to its auxiliary-in jack. The Micro Dark has an even more robust sound with greater clarity and definition at higher volumes, making it perfect for aggressive rock and metal players looking for more power from their Amp. It’s capable of creating more of a scooped midrange sound, meaning that there is less emphasis on midrange frequencies and instead focuses primarily on bass and treble frequencies.

Makes it well-suited for genres like metal, where a punchier sound is desired. Is the Micro Terror better than the Micro Dark? Guitarists have debated this age-old question for many years. For those who need to become more familiar with these two amps, they are both offerings from the famous Orange Amplifiers line, and they have their respective strengths and weaknesses. If I had to choose between the two amps, I would go with the Micro Dark because I am a pedal guy and couldn’t live without its effects loop.

Final Thoughts on the Orange Micro Terror Review

When it comes to guitar amplifiers, there is no denying the sheer power and versatility of the Orange Micro Terror. It can easily handle both humbucking and single-coil pickups, giving you plenty of options when dialling in your sound. The simplicity of the front panel makes it quick and easy for even novice users to get their desired sound out of this Amp. But something else also makes the Orange Micro Terror unique; it’s hard to power down once you’ve started playing!

Read more about: WHY IS MY GUITAR TONE SO BAD? -MASSIVELY IMPROVE YOUR SOUND

F.A.Qs

Can you gig with an orange micro terror?

Absolutely! The Orange Micro Terror is a great option for gigging musicians. It’s a compact and lightweight Amp that can easily be transported from gig to gig. It has plenty of power for smaller venues, with 20 Watts output and an 8″ speaker.

Is the Micro Terror loud enough?

The Micro Terror is an excellent option for guitarists looking for a small, portable amp. It provides plenty of volume and distortion to practice with or even play live. The 20-watt output is surprisingly loud and quickly fills a room with sound. However, more is needed to compete with a full band at larger venues with additional amplification.

I am Bushra Inam, a content writer with three years of experience. My main focus is on creating compelling and engaging content for web-based platforms. I have an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of writing and knowledge of SEO optimization and keyword research. With my Bachelor's degree in Music Education, I bring creativity to my work which helps me create unique pieces that are both informative and aesthetically pleasing. I can break down complex topics into more digestible forms while retaining the original intended message.