Blackstar IDX Review: The Ultimate Do-It-All Amp for Practice & Gigs?

The Blackstar IDX isn’t just another amp—it’s a versatile powerhouse that works as hard as you do. Whether you’re practising at whisper volumes or gigging at full tilt, this 50W/100W evolution of the ID Core series packs pro-level tones, smart features, and gig-ready flexibility—all without breaking a sweat. Here’s why it might be your next amp.

1. Built for Every Player (And Every Stage)

The IDX takes the ID Core’s foundation and supercharges it with:

• 6 killer voices: From clean warm to pushed bright, crunch, super crunch, and two overdrive channels (*OD1/OD2*)—covering blues, rock, and metal.
• Total EQ control: Bass, Middle, Treble, and ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) to tweak your sound from British to American voicings.
• Power for any scenario: Attenuate down to 1W for late-night practice, or crank the 50W/100W modes for gigs.

This is the rare amp that’s perfect for bedroom noodling—but can also hold its own on stage without a mic. Every guitarist will find their sound in here.

2. Studio-Grade Effects & Flexibility

No pedalboard? No problem. The IDX bakes in pro-level effects:

• Pre-effects: Drives, fuzzes, compressors, and filters to shape your core tone.
• Modulations, delays, reverbs: Multiple types (e.g., chorus, tape echo, hall) to layer textures.
• Response Control: Swap power-amp voicings (EL84, EL34, 6L6) to match your favourite amp’s feel.

3. Smart Features for Modern Players

• Presets: Jump between preloaded tones (from sparkling cleans to gated high-gain) or save your own in Manual Mode.
• Footswitch-ready: The FS-12 controller (pictured above) swaps presets, engages tuner mode, and more.
• Recording made easy:
• Line-in/Streaming: Use a TRRS cable to record directly to your phone or stream live.
• USB out: Plug straight into your DAW and track the exact tone you dialled in.

4. The Verdict: Who’s It For?

• Home players: The 1W mode and headphone/streaming options make it a practice powerhouse.
• Gigging guitarists: The 100W version cuts through a band, while presets keep tone-swaps seamless.
• Tweakers & tone chasers: With ISF, response controls, and deep effects, you’ll never run out of flavours.

The IDX isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a next-gen all-rounder. Whether you’re recording, rehearsing, or performing, this amp delivers pro sounds at any volume. If versatility is a priority, this might be your last amp purchase for a while.

Tried the IDX? Let us know your favourite preset in the comments, or hit play on our demo video to hear it in action.

You can find the Blackstar IDX on our website here

If that's not enough for you then check out our video on the amp below