Boss Katana 50 VS Orange Crush 35RT (comparison)
Our pick: The Boss Katana 50
While both are excellent practice amps and indoor jamming companions, we like the flexibility and tone of the Katana better, not to mentions it's a bit cheaper than the 35RT.
In this article we're comparing the Boss Katana 50 amplifier with the Orange Crush 35RT. Both are smaller combo amps with a similar wattage rating and a similar purpose. Think of them as bedroom or living room practice amps that can get a little louder if need be.
Both are solid state circuits in combo form, with multiple channels.
In our comparison we'll do two sections for these amps:
- Specs/feature comparison
- Grading comparison
The grades are ratings that I've put together that are meant to be general quality markers, though are certainly subject to my own interpretation. So understand that they're meant to be taken with a grain of salt, and to just show general strengths/weaknesses of the two amps.
Compare
In this section you can use the compare buttons to see pricing and basic specs for each amp, which is handy for those wanting a quicker comparison. Also, if you like our content, consider using the orange Sweetwater buttons to shop for your amplifier, which helps us out at no extra cost to you.
Amp | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boss Katana 50 | n/a | |
 | Orange Crush 35RT | n/a |
Which is the better combo guitar amp? The Orange Crush 35RT or the Boss Katana 50?
Basic Specs
From a raw specs and feature comparison, the Boss Katana is a fairly clear winner. It has five channels - what are called amp types - to the Crush's two, and a higher wattage rating at 50 to 35. The Katana also has some effects built in, giving it some added versatility that you don't get with the Crush.
However, the 35RT does include an effects loop which is missing in the Katana. Both amps provide a headphone out and USB connection, which is common for modern solid state amps.
Note that in the following table, red rows indicate a quality difference, while yellow rows simply highlight a feature difference that isn't really a quality concern.
Katana 50 | Crush 35RT | |
|---|---|---|
Amp Circuit Type | Solid state | Solid state |
Number of Channels | 5 x amp types | 2 |
Total Power | 50W (25W, 0.5W settings) | 35W |
Speaker Size | 1 x 12" | 1 x 10" |
Reverb | Yes | Yes |
Effects | Yes | Yes |
EQ | Modulation, Delay, 60 BOSS Effects (Tone Studio software) | None |
Input | 1 x 1/4" (instrument), 1 x 1/4" (power amp), 1 x 1/8" (aux in) | 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" |
Output | 1 x 1/4" (rec/headphones) | None |
Effects Loop | No | Yes |
Headphones | Yes | Yes |
Footswitch i/o | 1 x 1/4" | 1 x 1/4" |
Footswitch included | No, FS-6 sold separately | No |
Height | 15.6" | 15.75" |
Width | 18.5" | 17.32" |
Weight | 25.6 lbs. | 25 lbs. |
One thing to note:
The Crush has a built-in tuner, which the Katana does not, while the Katana has a power amp input, which is likewise missing from the Crush. The feature swapping gives you some pretty clear distinctions to pick from, depending on what you want to prioritize.
For example, do you care about the onboard effects?
Go with the Katana.
Or maybe you have your own pedals and you really want the effects loop with the onboard tuner.
Go with the Crush 35.
Our Grading
This is the grading section that we've setup to show some basic areas of strength for each amplifier. Again, it's important to understand these are generalities and not hard rules.
They're meant to show strengths and weaknesses in relation to one another. Take them with a grain of salt.
In most categories we like the Katana just a little better.
It sounds better and we like the added features, even if the effects loop isn't included.
Katana 50 | Crush 35RT | |
|---|---|---|
Tone quality | B+ | B |
Features | B+ | B |
Build Quality | A | A |
Cost/Value | A | A- |
Recording use | B | C+ |
Stage use | B | B+ |
The Katana 50 is actually a bit cheaper than the 35RT, around $240 compared to $260. If the prices were switched, we might score the Crush 35 a bit higher, but it just seems to give you a little bit less for a little bit more money.
Final Thoughts & Conclusion
In a one-to-one comparison, I'd take the Boss Katana 50 over the Orange Crush 35RT. Both make great practice amps and can serve a wide range of skill levels and situations. But with the price increase in the Crush and the slightly less impressive roster of features, we'll go with the Katana.
If you have questions about our comparison or about either one of the amps specifically, feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below and we'll get in touch.
See you there.
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Thanks for comparison! I’ve come to understand that 35RT has line out thru headphone jack, with Cabsim technology + it has EQ also (treb, mid, bass). Something to consider IMO.