thedustroom's Metal Music Gear Setup
I fancied a practice amp and something nice and small to use with headphones. These are just for practice at home of course but I wanted something with a really good, old school and meaty sound.
The Orange Micro Terror caught my eye, as did the Micro Dark but I figured the cleaner sounds of the Terror would suit me more.
I bought the Terror and black PPC108 on eBay.
I only then realised that the Micro Terror doesn’t have the Cabsim circuitry for the headphone socket and I really wanted an FX loop so I bought the Micro Dark and a second PPC108, this time in orange (colour).
Such a shame that the Dark doesn’t have an aux in, and that the Terror doesn’t have the Cabsim and FX loop.
Both are absolutely bonkers little things though and sound bloody great.
For the money, they’re mad and used prices are good so it’s not mental to have the pair (though I bought the dark and the second cab new).
Such an impressively big sound out of the little things, I can’t wait to plug them into a PPC212 at some point.
More gear photos from thedustroom
Gear in this photo
This rig
~$446
Value by category
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Guitar Amplifier Heads
78%
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Guitar Amplifier Cabinets
22%
Price mix
All 3 priced items fall in the budget range for their categories.
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Avg price: $144.76
Avg price: $202.65
A massive and powerful beast in a teeny, tiny cage.
Wow, oh my god, what the actual... and other such exclamations.
I initially swerved the Micro Dark and bought the Micro Terror instead. I thought the Dark would be a bit too much “PRAISE HAIL SATAN” for me really, though I do listen to that kind of thing on occasion; I never play it. Maybe I should? It can and does chug, I know it.
What changed my mind was the FX loop and especially the CabSim circuitry which “faithfully emulates the sound of a mic’d Orange 4×12″ cabinet loaded with their flagship Voice of the World speakers” which really does sound... well... massive!
If it’s not big it’s rubbish, it’s for practicing in your bedroom when your mum won’t complain or it’s for beginners.
Really?
I think not. And you will too. Go on... do it.
I’ve paired the Micro Terror and the Micro Dark to the PPC108 which is an insanely small package that packs such an impressive and, quite frankly; astonishing punch that you find yourself actually spouting the words “... what the...” in amazement.
My mum will probably complain when I play this in my bedroom, I’m in my 40’s and she’s about 50 miles away. But I can almost believe she’d be able to hear this. Maybe.
Plugging headphones into the Micro Terror sounds good but the Micro Dark sounds incredible, it’s mind blowing how good this little head is through a cab or through decent headphones. In headphones with the CabSim it’s just plain awesome. Massive. It’s massive.
Be mindful that in headphones only you can hear this, playing your most massive thrash anthem will probably sound like a children’s TV theme for the people who cannot hear the mighty behemoth you’re enjoying. Just saying. You’ll look mad. Mad!!
Paired with something like the PPC112 or PPC212, as others will tell you, makes this little monster a rampant, roaring beast. I am yet to do this myself but I’ve heard of people doing smaller gigs with this sort of setup. Madness but believable and totally understandable.
I bet my mum would hear it then
“Paul... Turn that bloody noise down!!”
I don’t miss that. I really don’t.
Having said that, about the difference I mean; you can easily dial back the darkness to make this almost as clean as the Micro Terror to a point. They really are very similar and very different at the same time.
If you could choose only one, choose the Dark as you get way more features for epic practice sessions - sure, there’s no aux in (why?!?!) like the Micro Terror has but you can easily fashion a splitter cable for your headphones or adapt something before plugging into the cab so it’s not a deal breaker, albeit annoying and a bit weird given the features included.
The Dark can be tamed a little as well so you’re still good for some more mellow sounds but beware! Once you try it, you’ll most likely want both. Though the Micro Terror does seem a little outdated now next to the Dark, it’s more than worthy of being in your collection as well.
Drink this Michael, be one of us...
Avg price: $98.22
About this setup
This gear photo by thedustroom features 3 pieces of gear, including Orange Micro Terror, Orange Micro Dark, and Orange PPC108 (black). The rig is mostly budget pieces. Artists with this kind of gear are most often found in the Rock, Metal, and Alternative metal scenes. Notable artists with overlapping gear include Anil Öztas, Svetlana Sibirjakowa, and Mila Karlsson.
