Marshall DSL5CR - What To Know & Where To Buy

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated June 22, 2026.

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4.5 (52)

$559.99

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4.5 (10)

$559.99

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4.6 (60)

$559.99

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4.0 (21)

$354.17 16 available New

$234.65 8 available Used

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5.0 (1)

$559.99

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5.0 (8)

$559.99

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4.8 (193)

$349.00 $348.00 $1.00 · All time low

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Average Price: $467

Standard/Professional

$300

$701+

Price Tier

In the Combo Guitar Amplifiers category, Marshall DSL5CR is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 6 merchants for "Marshall DSL5CR". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Experience legendary Marshall tone in a compact package with the Marshall DSL5CR. This all-tube combo amplifier is engineered to deliver the full range of classic Marshall sounds, from sparkling cleans to thunderous crunch, all within a convenient 5-watt design. Equipped with dual footswitchable channels, Classic Gain and Ultra Gain, the DSL5CR is versatile enough for any setting, from bedroom practice to studio recording.

The amp features an adjustable power level, allowing you to maintain rich, articulate tone at lower volumes, perfect for late-night sessions. The addition of a Softube speaker-emulated output ensures that you can capture that iconic Marshall sound directly into your recording setup without compromise. Its refined EQ section offers exceptional tonal flexibility, while the 10" Celestion Ten-30 speaker provides the robust sound that Marshall is known for.

Whether you're a home hobbyist or a professional musician, the Marshall DSL5CR offers the ideal blend of power, portability, and performance, making it a must-have for anyone serious about tone.

Key Features:

5 watts of power with an option to reduce to 0.5 watts
All-tube design with 2x ECC83 preamp tubes and 1x 12BH7/ECC99 power tube
Dual channels: Classic Gain and Ultra Gain
10" Celestion Ten-30 speaker
Softube speaker-emulated output for direct recording
Tone shift and bass boost switches for enhanced sound shaping
Built-in reverb and series FX loop
Includes a footswitch for channel switching

Product specs

Available since	January 2018
Powerrate in W	5 W
Speaker size	1x 10"
Power Amp Tubes	12BH7
Channels	2
Reverb	Yes
External FX Loop	Yes
Recording Output	Yes
MIDI Interface	No
Connection for External Speaker	No
Headphone connection	Yes
Footswitch connection	Yes
Incl. Footswitch	Yes

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Marshall DSL5CR?: The Marshall DSL5CR offers versatile tones with its two channels: the "Classic Gain" channel provides clean tones, while the "Ultra Gain" channel delivers crunchy, high-gain sounds, making it suitable for various music styles.
Is the Marshall DSL5CR loud enough for home use?: Yes, the DSL5CR is designed for home use with its 5-watt power, which can be reduced for quieter practice. It provides ample volume for home settings without being overpowering.
Does the Marshall DSL5CR include a footswitch?: Yes, the Marshall DSL5CR comes with an included footswitch, allowing you to switch between channels easily during performances or practice sessions.
Can I use headphones with the Marshall DSL5CR?: Yes, the DSL5CR features a headphone connection, making it convenient for silent practice sessions.
Does the Marshall DSL5CR have an effects loop?: Yes, the DSL5CR is equipped with an external effects loop, allowing you to integrate your effects pedals seamlessly into your setup.
Is the Marshall DSL5CR suitable for recording?: Yes, the DSL5CR includes a recording output, making it a practical choice for capturing your guitar tones in a studio or home recording environment.

Videos

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Marshall DSL1CR & DSL5CR Sound Demo (no talking)

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The Best Tube Combo For Home? - Marshall DSL5CR Review And Demo (all valve guitar amp)

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Reviews

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PROS

Compact and portable, ideal for practice and small gigs
Versatile sound, suitable for various music genres
Offers both classic and ultra gain channels for a wide tonal range
Low power mode allows for high gain at low volumes
Compatible with pedals, enhancing sound customization
Features a footswitch for convenient channel switching
Built-in reverb adds depth to the sound
Durable construction, built like a tank
Emulated output for silent practice or direct recording
Clean channel delivers warm tones with clear midrange

CONS

Reverb quality is minimal and less versatile compared to pedals
Ultra gain channel may not work well with certain reverb pedals
Some users report a noticeable gap in distortion levels between channels
The included speaker may not satisfy all users, prompting replacements
Emulated output quality not universally praised
High gain settings on the treble can become tinny
Volume drop issue reported in some units, possibly related to the FX loop

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall DSL5CR.

Features and functionality

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The DSL5CR's emulated output is favored for recording, offering practical utility for home studio setups.
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The DSL5CR features a built-in attenuator, which enhances headphone use and allows mixing PC audio with guitar input effectively.
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The DSL5CR uses a preamp tube in the power section, not an EL34, affecting its tonal character compared to larger models.
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Mods and upgrades

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Several owners recommend upgrading the stock speaker to a Celestion G10 Greenback for improved bass response and less brightness.
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Consider using a 12” cab for the DSL5CR to combat boxiness and enhance bass, with recommendations including Harley Benton and Monoprice V30-loaded cabs.
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Comparisons

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The DSL5CR's clean channel is considered dark with limited range, especially when compared to larger models like the DSL20 or DSL40.
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While the DSL5CR is praised for its sound at low volumes, the DSL20CR is noted to have better headroom for jamming and gigs.
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The DSL5CR is described as having a "death ray" effect with its single 10" speaker, suggesting a powerful, focused output compared to typical 12" speakers.
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Some users prefer the DSL40CR for its vintage JTM45-style clean mode and versatile four-mode channel setup, which are absent in the DSL5CR.
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Use cases and applications

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The 0.5 watt setting is highlighted as ideal for living room practice without disturbing others, while retaining the amp's high-gain characteristics.
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DSL5CR is recommended for bedroom use, but some owners find it lacks the versatility of the DSL40CR's assignable master volumes for varied performances.
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User experience

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Owners report the DSL5CR's 10" speaker can still produce significant volume, enough to rattle glass panels in a home setting.
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Owners find the DSL5CR too loud to crank in apartments, typically keeping the volume on 1 or 2 to maintain manageable levels.
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Several users argue that the 5CR isn't a "fizzbox" and can be a great pedal platform with its clean channel and FX Loop.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 7 Ratings

5 star

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1 star

artifex_adrift

903

about 5 years ago

Nice Little Amp For Goofing Around

While this isn't the greatest amp of all time, it's still really good at what it does. It's a two channel, which doesn't matter much to me since I don't do the whole Kurt Cobain clean-distorted-clean-distorted-clean cycle while I'm playing. The clean channel actually sounds really nice, especially if you run a good reverb in the FX loop, which is foot switchable. I call that effect out specifically because the on-board reverb is a little lacking for my personal taste, but I'm sure it's enough for the average player.

The low power mode that brings the 5 watts down to 0.5 watts is an awesome feature to have. Especially if you want to drive the extra dirt on the tubes and get some interesting lead sounds. Otherwise the full 5 watts is what I prefer, because I like the extra headroom, it just suits my playing style and tonal preferences much better. The stock speaker is a Celestion Ten-30, so I wasn't scrambling to jam in a replacement speaker, I think it sounds fabulous, although the speaker-out option into a 1x12 Eminence Wizard gives this thing a whole other layer of tone you didn't know was there. 12 inch speakers always sound better compared to a weenie 10 inch in my opinion, especially since I like to drive the power up when playing, the additional surface area gives chords less of that "fart" sound and the voice coil is typically a little bigger, so you get more open output.

The 'tone shift' and 'deep' buttons are not necessarily an "always on" type of deal for me, but they are fun to experiment with, it definitely gives you some extended options that most combo amps lack. Remember also, this is a Marshall, not an Orange, so the treble starts to get really tinny at around 1 O'clock, but if you're going for a really shrill treble sound, this amp has it. I replaced the stock Marshall power tube (12BH7) with an Electro-Harmonix gold pin, and it put this amp in that class of shredability in terms of where my hands are expecting a certain amount of reactivity at different volumes.

This amp was purchased to have another smaller amp around my house for when I just want to shred a little, so I'm not running 16 effects pedals through this thing. I pretty much just play as-is, with the occasional exception of a Big Muff Pi pedal that I modded to get those syrupy, long-sustain guitar solos with some reverb to splash it around.

I bought this thing brand new, and it has a volume drop problem. I replaced all the tubes, and eventually troubleshot it down to a problem with the FX loop's relationship to the power amp stage. As long as I keep the footswitch plugged in and the FX loop turned off, I don't have any problems (at least for now). This isn't my daily driver or anything, so there's no urgency to rip it apart a second time and get into heavy diagnostics. I've actually heard a few players complain about this problem, so I suppose this is my "buyer beware" caveat.

Roles:

Guitarist Music Producer Audio Engineer

Genres:

Surf music Jazz fusion Metal

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