Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $203
Budget/Beginner
$300
$801+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Orange Micro Dark". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
The Orange Micro Dark is your key to unlock immense power in a compact package. This 20W hybrid amplifier head is small in size but massive in tone, adding more gain to your sound than ever before. Built on the legacy of the renowned Micro Terror and Dark series, this amp packs a mighty punch.
At the core of the Micro Dark is its 12AX7 preamp tube which effortlessly produces a rich, creamy tube overdrive and a harmonic distortion that metalheads and shredders will love. This ECC83 tube adds a distinctive warmth and depth to high gain tones, providing the authentic tube saturation you need for an all-out rock performance.
Don't let its diminutive size fool you – the Micro Dark is incredibly versatile. With simple controls for gain, shape, and volume, you can easily dial in your ideal tone. From bass-heavy tones rich in low-end to high-emphasized metal tones, this little beast has got you covered.
The Micro Dark also features a headphone output with CabSim circuitry for silent practice, enhancing its functionality. Pair it with the optional PPC108 1x8 cabinet for a portable yet gig-ready rig, or use the FX loop to incorporate your favorite pedals. This mighty mini amp is ideal for shredders and rockers on the go, offering mammoth tones in a compact form.
Key Features:
- 20W hybrid amplifier head
- High-gain preamp with 12AX7/ECC83 tube
- Easy to navigate controls: Gain, Shape, and Volume
- Headphone output with CabSim circuitry
- FX loop for incorporating your favorite pedals
- Compact and portable, ideal for practice, performance, or recording
- Optional pairing with PPC108 1x8 cabinet for a gig-ready rig
- Delivers rich, warm, authentic tube overdrive and harmonic distortion
Product specs
| Type | Hybrid |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Total Power | 20W |
| Preamp Tubes | 12AX7 |
| EQ | Shape tone control |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" (8 ohm) |
| Headphones | 1 x 1/4" |
| Effects Loop | Yes |
| Power Source | 15V DC power supply |
| Height | 5.31" |
| Width | 6.5" |
| Depth | 3.74" |
| Weight | 1.72 lbs. |
FAQs
-
What kind of tones can I expect from the Orange Micro Dark?
-
The Orange Micro Dark offers a wide range of tones, from warm cleans to smooth overdrive and heavy, crushing distortion, thanks to its hybrid design with a 12AX7 preamp tube.
-
Is the Orange Micro Dark suitable for gigging?
-
While the Orange Micro Dark is compact, its 20-watt power output can be loud enough for small gigs, especially when paired with a suitable cabinet.
-
Does the Orange Micro Dark have an effects loop?
-
Yes, the Orange Micro Dark includes an effects loop, allowing you to integrate your effects pedals between the preamp and power amp stages for greater tonal flexibility.
-
Can I use headphones with the Orange Micro Dark?
-
Yes, the Orange Micro Dark features a headphone output, making it convenient for silent practice sessions.
-
How does the Orange Micro Dark compare to the Micro Terror?
-
The Orange Micro Dark is designed for heavier music styles, offering additional low-end thump compared to the Micro Terror, which provides a more mid-range focused sound.
Videos
Ola Englund
WILL IT CHUG? - Orange Micro Dark
WILL IT CHUG? - Orange Micro Dark
Ola Englund
Orange Micro Dark VS Micro Terror Shoot-out
Toby's Guitar Gear Demos 🎵
Orange Micro Dark Review - Tested through a small & a big cab!
Rob Chapman
ORANGE Dark Terror vs Micro Dark
Ola Englund
Orange Micro Dark Guitar Amplifier Head - Product Video
Orange Amps
Orange Micro Dark: 20W Hybrid Amp
Science of Loud
7 Budget Friendly (But Rad) High Gain Amps!
Riffs, Beards & Gear
the Orange Micro Dark and FX Pedals
Landon Bailey
Orange Micro Terror vs Micro Dark
Brian’s Unique Guitars
Orange Micro Dark Amplifier Head - Mini Amp, BIG Sound for Metalheads!
PMTVUK
The Orange MICRO DARK Is A Blues Amp!
Soul String
Orange Amps Micro Dark unboxing and review
Josh WH
Reviews
PROS
-
Compact and highly portable
-
Versatile tone range from clean to high gain
-
Surprisingly loud for its size, capable of gigging
-
Effective with both single coils and humbuckers
-
Effects loop included for pedal enthusiasts
-
CabSim on headphone out for quality practice
-
Solid build quality with a metal casing
-
Works well as a tube preamp
-
Shape knob offers unique tone sculpting
-
Compatible with various cabinet sizes
CONS
-
Only one channel, limiting on-the-fly tone changes
-
Headphone out quality does not impress
-
Shape knob may be confusing compared to standard EQ controls
-
No aux input for playing along to tracks without extra equipment
-
Volume knob is very sensitive, hard to get low levels
-
High gain settings can introduce unwanted fuzziness
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Orange Micro Dark.
Use cases and applications
-
The Micro Dark, when paired with a 1x12 cab loaded with an Eminence Governor, handles genres from clean blues to heavy metal effectively due to its versatility.
Source -
The amp's natural distortion is best suited for larger cabinets or when using headphone out with cabinet simulations for a better sound profile.
Source -
While marketed as a practice amp, it can be used for shows if mic'd properly.
Source
User experience
-
The amp performs well when used with a 2x12 cab, delivering a satisfying 70s crunch when the volume is pushed and gain is lowered.
Source -
Owners suggest pairing the Micro Dark with a boost or overdrive pedal, like a Tube Screamer or TC Electronics Spark, for enhanced distortion.
Source -
Some users report that the Micro Dark's small size and light weight make it susceptible to being pulled off cabinets by cables, suggesting a stress relief method like looping cables through the cab handle.
Source -
Some users find the high-gain settings unusable, describing them as fuzzy and lacking clarity.
Source
Features and functionality
-
The shape knob provides tonal versatility, offering modern metal sounds past 2/3 o'clock and old-school tones around 9 o'clock.
Source -
The effects loop on the Micro Dark is frequently cited as a critical feature for users who incorporate modulation and delay effects, offering enhanced tonal shaping capabilities.
Source -
The volume control is extremely sensitive, transitioning from quiet to excessively loud with minor adjustments.
Source
Mods and upgrades
-
Replacing the stock 8-inch speaker with a Celestion V30 in a larger cab, like a 12-inch, improves headroom and sound quality dramatically.
Source -
Adding an EQ pedal significantly enhances the amp's potential, with the Boss EQ being a recommended option.
Source -
Swapping the stock AX-7 tube for an AT-7 can enhance clean tones and break-up quality.
Source -
Swapping the stock 12AX7 tube for a 12AU7 tube helps tame the volume sweep, allowing for more gradual volume control and slightly more clean headroom.
Source
Setup and maintenance
-
Removing the back panel of the 8-inch cab and relocating the jack can significantly improve sound quality by eliminating boxiness.
Source
Comparisons
-
Owners of both the Micro Dark and Micro Terror consistently prefer the Dark for its versatility and better integration of effects, especially for modern and high-gain tones.
Source -
The Joyo Meteor offers additional features like clean/dirty channels and Bluetooth for a slightly lower price, potentially providing better sound.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 29 Reviews and 113 Ratings
67
Awesome, just awesome.
I fail to understand the negative reviews of this for outlandish reasons. Of course it is not a good country amp. The clean sounds can be thin, or early to break. Yep. And if you bought it for those reasons your are stupid and unfit for reviews. It rocks. It rocks even for 2x the money. I run it through a 1x8 and it is a fun practice amp with a better sound than my solid state practice amp. I also run it a 2x12 and it is just what I want -- a fracking awesome amp. Great gain sound, less mid range honk than other oranges. When I push a TS (well, I prefer the OT-OD but that is crazy man) and it is a tight beast with fantastic responsive. Go buy it.
903
Perfect little amp to have around for tests or practice
I swapped out the stock preamp tube with an Electro-Harmonix Gold-Pin 12AX7 High Gain tube, and this amp can give me perfect cleans for surf music or crank up to a very decent crunch. Decent enough to record with, and when layering tracks it sounds like a much more powerful amplifier. It responds very well to running distortion pedals through the front, and the FX loop is indispensable. Being able to run a reverb pedal in the loop on a sturdy 1x12 cab makes this amp sound larger than life, and at 20 watts it can certainly hold its own.
.jpeg?v=1783310480)
65
wow!
Even Dagan Wilkin said it, It sounds like a big 120w marshall. yet its the size of a postage stamp. I don't know how orange did it! sure its big brother has slightly more to offer, and the lack of switchable channels is a slight disappointment, but for the intended use, you don't need that! crank the gain, roll back the shape a little, boost with a ds1 … its a plexi! I've never encountered a sound like that other then guitar shops that stock plexi's and huge marshalls.
167
Good For the Price
Good Tube sounds for the money, however the Volume control is a bit strange and goes from nothing to oppressively loud in a fraction of a turn. Was very difficult to dial in a bedroom level with it.
34
Phenomenal
"From 'clean' to 'Kerry King' with just the turn of one knob" is how I described this diminutive head to a friend. OK, so maybe that isn't completely accurate, but for the price, you absolutely cannot beat what this little powerhouse can do. I am currently running this head through the matching 1x8 Orange cabinet, but I hope to soon purchase the Orange 2x12 cabinet and run it through its paces. It's a steal for under $200, and with the additions of the cabinet simulator in the headphone jack, as well as a fully functioning effects loop, there really is no better, no more portable, and no more powerful practice/gigging unit. Thoroughly impressed.
253
I love it!
This amp is the best amp you can buy for the money in my book - IF you have a speaker cabinet hanging around. There enough range for cleans, crunch and high gain stuff, and it can even cut a rehersal. I wouldnt try to gig with it, especially if you need loud clean sounds. But for a bedroom, garage situation - the orange micro dark has you covered.
184
The best sounding, smallest, lightest, tube pre-amp amplifier you could ever want.
This amp has an effects loop, is much louder than it looks, and most importantly for me, as a practice amp, it lives with my pedals in a suitcase, weighing less than a kilogram, and allows travelling to the rehearsal space to be an easy affair. It sounds great!
548
Great amp, especially for the size and price
Dont be fooled by the size of this thing, if you plug it into a big enough cab, you get MASSIVE sound from this small amp, especially if you go through the FX loop return, and use a volume pedal to limit your volume or by using a larger cabinet
278
Best mini amplifier I've ever owned.
This little tube amp is just something I bought to have something to get me through the next 7 months, or til I buy the next amp witch I'm looking into now. Anyway's this little tube amp with a tiny 8inch speaker it came with is sick. If your looking for something small that packs a hell of a punch, & is full of all those 1 of a kind Orange tones. Then this is what your looking for.
Artist usage
Add artist
According to Gibbons's artist profile on the Orange's page, he uses the Orange Micro Dark guitar head.
During the 2016 tour, Matt Pike utilized an Orange Micro Dark amplifier head to project the guitar sound through the venue's PA system, as documented in an image on Imgur.
.jpg)
"Today I picked up a new home riffing device. #orangeamps @orangeamplifiers #monolord"
According to orange's official website, this is one of the orange products she uses.
re-amping guitars on this monster head. Shout out to @orangeamplifiers for the heater! Bringing the fire tone to #beartoothLP2 #orangeamps #microdark
.jpg)
In this photo posted by Orange Amplifiers, Tommy Henriksen can be seen holding the Orange Micro Dark amp. Photo is captioned:
Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henricksen from #AliceCooper with their #MicroDark #OrangeDarkSeries
For "fun" gigs I throw an Orange Micro Dark in my gig bag and use whatever cab is handy at the venue.
In a Facebook photo shared on Chris Linck's page, Attila's guitarist is seen using an Orange Micro Dark guitar amplifier head while tracking guitars.
Anil Öztas used an Orange Micro Dark amplifier from 2018 to 2019, as confirmed by BackstagePRO.
Album Usage
The Orange Micro Dark has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Orange Micro Dark, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
-s.webp?v=1783316530)
Community setups
Show yours
Similar
Add recommendation4 alternative and related items for Orange Micro Dark, curated by the Equipboard community.
$144.97 - $160.00
Loading an Eminence Wizard 12" into an empty cab like a Seismic and stacking the Orange Micro Dark on top has never let me down. I can roll back for excellent cleans or get some really doomy sounds out of this setup.
$460.00 - $699.00
This is the big brother version, all tube, not solid state power amp like the Micro Dark.
-m.webp?v=1783316530)
$119.00 - $159.00
$150.00 - $219.00
More Orange Guitar Amplifier Heads
$240.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$600.00 - $949.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,379.00 - $1,699.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,890.00 - $2,749.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$729.00 - $1,199.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$119.00 - $159.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,799.00 - $2,499.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$838.87
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$622.00 - $799.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$460.00 - $699.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,448.32
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,549.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$529.00 - $749.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$419.00 - $599.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$150.00 - $219.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,324.54
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,115.40
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$1,300.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$900.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
$941.12 - $1,999.00
in Guitar Amplifier Heads Rank
-m.webp?v=1783177657)
$1,799.00 - $2,139.00
.jpg?v=1782612968)
$3,105.92 - $3,499.00
.jpg?v=1783267404)
$622.00 - $799.00
$2,143.60 - $2,749.00
$419.00 - $599.00
$1,512.00 - $2,299.00
$1,300.00
$969.00 - $1,199.00
Accessories & Related Items
Gear Guides
Most Popular Guitar Amplifier Heads
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
luxiuGear IQ 44626
-
