Vox Hand-Wired Series: The Complete Guide to the AC4, AC10, AC15, and AC30
Vox completely rebuilt their hand-wired series from the ground up. New transformers, revised power supply, thinner cabinets that match the original 1960s specs, spring reverb, and an effects loop across the whole lineup. I tested every amp in the series, and the question I kept asking was the same for each one: is it enough?
This is the complete guide to all four amps, plus the head-to-head comparisons. Whether you're trying to decide between the AC4 and the AC10, or figuring out whether the AC30 is really worth the jump from the AC15, it's all here.
Vox Hand-Wired Series
What Makes the New Hand-Wired Series Different
Vox's new hand-wired line is designed to bring back the vintage 1960s Vox sound. The best way I can describe the whole lineup is solid and simplified. Here's what every amp in the series shares:
- Revised power supply circuit
- New output transformer
- Thinner cabinet matching the vintage models
- Spring reverb (real spring, not digital)
- Effects loop with +4 dB / -10 dB switch
- VFS1 foot switch included
- Top boost channel only (single channel design)
- Celestion speaker (Greenback or Alnico Blue depending on model)
Vox also gave me a 10% discount code for their direct store: use LB10 at voxampshop.com.
Vox AC4HWR1 - Is 4 Watts Enough?
Vox AC4HWR1 Hand-Wired
This is where the series starts. The AC4 is the most focused amp of the four. One EL84 power tube, a Celestion Greenback, and enough volume to fill a small room. It was the first hand-wired amp Vox sent me, and it set the tone for the whole series.
Vox means a lot to me personally. My first tube amp was an AC15. Radiohead, Queen, the Beatles, these are the artists that made Vox iconic. The AC4 is the most stripped-down version of that legacy.
AC4 Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wattage | 4W RMS |
| Speaker | Celestion Greenback G12M, 16 ohm |
| Preamp Tubes | 2x ECC83 (12AX7) |
| Power Tube | 1x EL84 |
| Controls | Volume (Top Boost), Treble, Bass, Reverb, Master Volume |
| Inputs | High and Low (Top Boost channel) |
| FX Loop | Yes (+4 / -10 dB switch) |
| External Speaker | 16 ohm out |
| Foot Switch | VFS1 included |
Buy the Vox AC4HWR1
Vox AC10HWR1 - Is 10 Watts Enough?
Vox AC10HWR1 Hand-Wired
Part two of the series, and the one that surprised me most. The AC10 is physically bigger than the old AC15C1, despite being less wattage. It's taller, almost as wide, and deeper. It's lighter than the AC15 but heavier than the old AC10. And it is massively loud for 10 watts.
One quirk worth knowing: the speaker is offset inside the cabinet. When you mic it, make sure your placement accounts for that.
AC10 Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wattage | 10W RMS |
| Speaker | Celestion Greenback, 16 ohm (offset position) |
| Preamp Tubes | 2x 12AX7 |
| Power Tubes | 2x EL84 |
| Controls | Volume (Top Boost), Treble, Bass, Reverb, Master Volume |
| Inputs | High and Low (Top Boost channel) |
| FX Loop | Yes (+4 / -10 dB switch) |
| External Speaker | 16 ohm out |
| Foot Switch | VFS1 included |
Buy the Vox AC10HWR1
Vox AC15HWR1X - Is 15 Watts Enough?
Vox AC15HWR1X Hand-Wired
The AC15 is the most iconic amp in the Vox lineup and arguably the most iconic in the whole hand-wired series. The new HWR1X comes with a Celestion Alnico Blue speaker, the same speaker you find in the AC30. That speaker makes a significant difference in character compared to the Greenback-equipped AC4 and AC10.
The AC15 occupies a sweet spot in the lineup. Enough power for most gigging situations, still light enough to carry without help, and with the Alnico Blue, it has that signature glassy top end that defines the Vox sound.
AC15 Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wattage | 15W RMS |
| Speaker | Celestion Alnico Blue, 16 ohm |
| Preamp Tubes | 3x ECC83 (12AX7) |
| Power Tubes | 2x EL84 |
| Controls | Volume (Top Boost), Treble, Bass, Reverb, Master Volume |
| Inputs | High and Low (Top Boost channel) |
| FX Loop | Yes (+4 / -10 dB switch) |
| External Speaker | 16 ohm out |
| Foot Switch | VFS1 included |
Buy the Vox AC15HWR1X
Vox AC30HWR2X - Is 30 Watts Enough?
Vox AC30HWR2X Hand-Wired
The AC30 is the legendary one. The amp that defined the British Invasion. Two Celestion Alnico Blue speakers, 30 watts of all-tube power, and hand-wired in the UK. This is the top of the hand-wired series and it sounds like it.
The question with the AC30 is never whether it sounds good. The question is whether you actually need it. For home practice, 30 watts of loud tube amp is more than most players will ever use. Where the AC30 makes sense is on stage, in the studio, or when you want to push the amp hard and let the natural breakup do the work.
AC30 Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wattage | 30W RMS |
| Speakers | 2x Celestion Alnico Blue, 16 ohm |
| Preamp Tubes | 4x ECC83 (12AX7) |
| Power Tubes | 4x EL84 |
| Controls | Volume (Top Boost), Treble, Bass, Reverb, Master Volume |
| Inputs | High and Low (Top Boost channel) |
| FX Loop | Yes (+4 / -10 dB switch) |
| External Speaker | 16 ohm out |
| Foot Switch | VFS1 included |
Buy the Vox AC30HWR2X
Vox AC4 vs AC10 - Which Hand-Wired Amp Should You Buy?
Both use Celestion Greenback speakers and share the same circuit design. The differences come down to volume ceiling, physical size, and how hard you can push them.
| Feature | AC4HWR1 | AC10HWR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Wattage | 4W | 10W |
| Speaker | Celestion Greenback | Celestion Greenback |
| Power Tubes | 1x EL84 | 2x EL84 |
| Band-worthy? | Borderline | Yes |
| Speaker Position | Centered | Offset |
| Best For | Home, studio | Home, rehearsal, small gigs |
Vox AC10 vs AC15 - Which Hand-Wired Amp Should You Buy?
This is the most interesting comparison in the series. The AC10 is physically larger than the AC15 in some dimensions, yet has less wattage. The big difference is the speaker: Greenback on the AC10, Alnico Blue on the AC15. That speaker change shifts the character of the amp significantly.
| Feature | AC10HWR1 | AC15HWR1X |
|---|---|---|
| Wattage | 10W | 15W |
| Speaker | Celestion Greenback | Celestion Alnico Blue |
| Character | Punchy, mid-forward | Glassy, chimey |
| Power Tubes | 2x EL84 | 2x EL84 |
| Iconic Vox Sound? | Close | Yes |
| Best For | Crunch players, pedal platform | Classic Vox tone, gigging |
Which Is Best? The Full Series Verdict
After testing all four amps side by side, here's where I landed.
| Amp | Wattage | Speaker | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC4HWR1 | 4W | Greenback | Home, studio, practice |
| AC10HWR1 | 10W | Greenback | Home, rehearsal, small gigs |
| AC15HWR1X | 15W | Alnico Blue | Gigging, recording, classic tone |
| AC30HWR2X | 30W | 2x Alnico Blue | Stage, studio, no-compromise tone |
The honest breakdown
The AC30 sounds the best. That's not a surprise. Two Alnico Blues pushed by 30 watts of hand-wired circuitry is as good as Vox gets. But I can't recommend it to most people because most people don't need it, and the AC15 gets you the same character at a more practical size and price.
The AC15 is the sweet spot. Alnico Blue speaker, enough power for most gigs, and the classic hand-wired Vox sound without the weight of the AC30.
The AC10 is for people who want more than the AC4 but prefer the Greenback character, or who specifically want the punchier mid-forward sound over the glassy top-end of the Blue-equipped amps.
The AC4 is for home players who want hand-wired tube tone in a small package. It's genuinely good. It's just not a gigging amp for most situations.
Watch the Full Series
- Is 4 Watts Enough? Vox AC4HWR1 Hand-Wired Amp
- Is 10 Watts Enough? Vox AC10HWR1 Hand-Wired Amp
- Is 15 Watts Enough? Vox AC15 Hand-Wired Amp
- Is 30 Watts Enough? Vox AC30 Hand-Wired Amp
- Vox AC4 vs AC10 - Which Hand-Wired Amp Should You Buy?
- Vox AC10 vs AC15 - Which Hand-Wired Amp Should You Buy?
- Why I Can't Recommend the Best Vox Amp
Links to product sites may be from affiliate programs. I receive compensation from affiliate programs of which I am a partner. Use code LB10 at voxampshop.com for 10% off your order.
