Fender Mustang Micro vs NUX Mighty Plug Review

Started by admin, April 17, 2021, 06:43:08 PM

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Fender Mustang Micro vs NUX Mighty Plug Review



Since neither unit includes a Tuner  - recommend the USB rechargeable NUX/Cherub  WST-675 headstock Tuner shown above left -  ( $16 on Amazon)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089QRBZQ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


NUX Mighty Plug
https://www.nuxefx.com/mighty-plug.html



The NUX Mighty Plug relies on a companion NUX Mighty AMP smartphone application ( IOS/ Android) to make the settings for the 4 available USER Presets , which the momentary switch toggles in rotation 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 to select the current preset.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nux.mightylite&hl=en_US&gl=US


There is a third party MIGHTIER AMP Android app which adds more programming options, and is a must have for NUX users.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tuntori.mightieramp&hl=en_US&gl=US



The NUX also has a full USB Class compliant  Audio Interface (USB Rec Out / USB Playback In) and supports  24 bit ASIO Driver, and can be set using the Mighty AMP app for Dry No FX Out, Reamp, or Normal USB Audio Modes

If you do not have access to an iPhone/iPad or Android Phone/Tablet  - the NUX Mighty Plug has limited functionality, but will still work as long as its internal rechargeable battery is charged - ( 4 hours typical operation per charge)



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Fender Mustang Micro
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/headphone-amplifiers/mustang-micro/2311300000.html

By contrast, the Mustang Micro is point and shoot - all controls are accessible on the unit and no ability to create of store presets - Mustang Micro does not employ the Fender TONE app which Mustang GT/GTX Amps employ for advanced editing and sharing presets.

The Mustang Micro USB-C port is for charging, updating firmware, and is USB Class compliant USB Audio OUT only (not capable of USB Playback).

A unique feature is the Mustang Micro can transmit a mix of Mustang Micro Amp Models/FX, and received Stereo Bluetooth Audio on both Headphone output and USB Audio Output  - handy for making USB Audio  recordings of what you hear in the connected headphones to Win/Mac/IOS/Android. The NUX Mighty Plug USB Out will not include the received Bluetooth Audio .

In actual use comparing both side by side, I find the Mustang Micro has a higher performance Headphone amp, and lower static noise compared to NUX Mighty Plug. Mustang Micro sounds Punchy when feeding my cheap JVC HAS160A folding Headphones I carry in gig bag.  Mustang Micro has all controls onboard, including a Volume Knob (missing on Mighty plug).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HIN97M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Mustang Micro has Power to drive a higher ohm, open backed headphones.
and more Headroom to roll the volume knob back and get a different tone at lower gain without getting thin

A/B testing side by side, I observe the Mustang Micro has a higher build quality and 1/4" input plug rotates 275 degrees, while Mighty Plug rotates 220 degrees.  - edge to Mustang Micro accommodating more instrument output jack types.

For grab & go Guitar Practice, and quick learn a tune from Youtube  or jam with TuneIn Radio app Music channels on headphones as the intended use case  -  I handily prefer the Mustang Micro


https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/fender-mustang-micro-headphone-amp.2218100/



slimefuzz

Got the mightyplug mp2.  It sounds pretty good.
There is some digital artifact in some sounds, but not too distracting for practice.
I don't like the chorus, it sounds almost like long delay flange with excess feedback.
Do like the vibe and the basic amp sounds.

The mightier amp  app is great.

peace

admin

#2
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/boss-waza-air-headphones-vs-fender-mustang-micro.2248695/

MikeMM wrote>

have both (Waza Air and Fender Micro), Here is a long winded review of the Micro where I compared it against the Waza (at the bottom), might be useful:


After 24 hours, some thoughts. I'm not a high gain player, but more into classic clean to dirty sounds.

I think its great. Very simple to use and to get usable sounds very quickly. Worth every penny of the $99 I spent on it, a real bargain actually.

I thought it was going to be confusing remembering all the colors, but after a few minutes it becomes very intuitive. You always know where you are, and quickly find your 3 or 4 amps & effects you like. The dials are harder to see and find when playing a Strat, for the way you have to plug it in, and inability to turn the switches to your viewing field.

Not having to "menu dive" is great.

The Twin 57 and Vox models might even be better voiced than they are on my GTX, or at least EQ'd better than I set mine, especially the 57 Twin.

I tend to set the EQ to the lowest/darkest setting on the Micro, it evens out the tones, at least for me.

So far, I'm loving the modulated Hall Reverb. I must have spent hours last night in the dark just living there. Also enjoying the 65 Spring Reverb (especially when I set that to the highest setting), the Harmonic and Vintage Tremolos, and the Slap Back. Not much of a Chorus guy, but will explore that later.

Wish list:

I am not a high gain player, so wouldn't mind swapping some of those amps out for a classic Fender Champ, Princeton, or Super Reverb models if they are available in future firmware updates.

Gain knob. Perhaps not needed, but would have been a nice addition to dial in the amps sounds to exactly where you want them. The addition of the '65 Deluxe + Greenbox OD somewhat solves that problem for me, giving you a great overdrive sound.

Summary:

I own the Waza Air Headphones, and now this. The Waza is still incredible, you have the entire Boss GT amps, effects, and customable parameters that are present there (although made by Boss) in one unit. But the user interface is complicated (at least for me), and not very fun or intuitive to use.

You also have patches you can download from their "Tone Library" (although they have not updated them since the spring), and the spatial effects, when playing along with music you stream, can be fun and spectacular.

The Waza also has no chords, (unlike the Fender, where you need to connect headphones). It can seem like a minor thing, but not tripping or getting caught up on any wires while you play for hours (I like to walk around my place late at night in the dark) does make for an amazing playing experience that you can't get anywhere else. There is a "free" feeling there that is hard to beat, nothing extraneous gets in your way.

The Waza is a lot more, but for that price you also get the headphones and all the above, so factor that into your purchase choice as well.

But at 1/4 price of the Waza, the Fender Micro totally holds its own sound wise, and gives a great playing experience (particularly the simplicity of it), very very worth the $100 price on it. In fact, might be the best $100 I have ever spent on a guitar related product.

It is like putting your GTX in your pocket and taking it anywhere, and I'm going to get lost in it for the day now.
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