Laney Lionheart L5-Studio 5-watt Amplifier Head/USB Interface (2024)

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

5-watt All-tube Interface

Laney’s Lionheart L5-Studio Head Interface brings its pure tube-driven roar right to your DAW! Courtesy of parallel, single-ended ECC83 and EL84 tubes, this British-built Class A amp head delivers five watts of noiseless, all-analog power directly to the DAW of your PC, Mac, or iPad via a USB connection. Its sound is smooth, organic, and poised for bitey breakup when pushed. And for true tone connoisseurs, this 2-channel head boasts a 3-band EQ with master Tone and Drive controls, plus Bright and Drive switching with Lo and Hi inputting to help perfectly suit the signal of the 6-string at hand. Out the back, a 1/4-inch headphone connection and dedicated leveler allow for quiet play while Aux and XLR Inputs provide plenty of connection freedom for various applications. Complete with top-tier upgrades such as studio-grade Reverb, an FS2-MINI footswitch, and an embroidered drop cover, the Lionheart L5-Studio imparts boutique build quality, in-depth operation, and drop-dead gorgeous tube tonality in one handsome package. Guitarists at Sweetwater are excited to see a hybrid head of such quality so well-equipped for the modern studio!

DAW-compatible tube tone

Pure tube amplification is a trade that takes years to master. Leveraging the brilliant artisans at Laney, the Lionheart L5-Studio is miles ahead of the pack. Packing both ECC83 and EL84 hand-selected tubes in its housing — all single-ended and paralleled — this 5-watt head offers you a golden ticket to the golden days of analog amp building. Experience the L5-Studio’s phenomenal tube compression, and give it some muscle to hear it growl with a natural grit that’ll satisfy the blues, classic rock, and other intensely expressive genres with effortless delivery.

With such a tremendous tonal foundation, the Lionheart L5-Studio’s USB connection offers the perfect solution for directly inputting the dimensional character of tube power into your DAW. What a bridging! It’s an ideal addition for modern producers and studiophiles who need that warm, tube-driven, analog energy within reach at their desktop. Plus, it’s loaded with helpful connections such as XLR DI, 1/8-inch Aux, and 1/4-inch Headphone with an individual Volume control to meet the demands of virtually any project at hand.

Precision control layout

You don’t have to be a full-blown gearhead to appreciate the versatility of the Lionheart L5-Studio’s control plate, but take it from us here at Sweetwater: few could ask for a greater collection of quality features! This head supplies 2-channel operation with both Lo and Hi inputting selections to match the nature of your guitar’s signal draw. Bright and Drive switching work in conjunction with Clean and Drive Volume knobs to respectively select and level your chosen path, with a nearby Drive intensity control for pouring on the saturation to your heart’s content. Toss in a switchable FX Loop, a thorough 3-band EQ, a master tone control, and a superb-sounding reverb for varying degrees of spatial enormity, and you’ve got a sensational control solution that’s composed for convenience.

All the extras

In addition to its impressive sound and functional capabilities, the Lionheart L5-Studio benefits from Laney’s meticulous attention to quality. For simple remote channel switching and the utmost spatial convenience, Laney bundled in an FS2-Mini footswitch. Plus, a premium drop cover with Lionheart embroidery protects your amp from dust, bumps, and the rigors of travel when transporting, loading, and storing during different recording occasions. The Lionheart L5-Studio is covered on all fronts and ready for action — are you?

Laney amps: stunning since ’67

The journey of Laney Amplification harkens all the way back to 1967. Lyndon Laney left behind the British group Band of Joy (and members John Bonham and Robert Plant) to venture into the expanding realms of amplifier building. From Lyndon’s family garage to stacking huge stages at the disposal of some of history’s greatest groups like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Kiss, Laney and its legacy of high-quality amp engineering has found tremendous worldwide acclaim for decades. With a long list of sound systems and characterful heads, cabinets, combos, and pedals for guitar, bass, keyboards, and more, Laney offers a stunning lineup of top-tier products with an enviably versatile appeal.

Laney Lionheart L5-Studio 5-watt Amplifier Head/USB Interface Features:

• USB connection enables direct usage with your PC, Mac, or iPad DAW
• Perfect choice for modern studios who need that vintage tube warmth
• Versatile input selection also features XLR DI, 1/8-inch Aux, and 1/4-inch Headphone with leveler
• ECC83 and EL84 single-ended and paralleled tubes provide 5-watt, organic tone, harmonic richness, and natural grit
• Class A build quality creates enviably smooth tube compression
• Great for expressive genres like classic rock, the blues, and more
• 2-channel design supplies Bright and Drive operation with Lo and Hi inputting for properly integrating with your guitar’s signal
• Clean and Drive Volume controls level the presence of your chosen channel
• Drive control saturates your signal for all the classic British tube-driven grit you crave
• Switchable FX loop makes implementing your effects/preamps of choice an easy task
• Extensive 3-band EQ and master Tone control provide endless tone-shaping possibilities
• Studio-grade Reverb control gives you total command of your Lionheart’s spatial responsiveness
• FS2-Mini footswitch and embroidered drop cover included for remote channel selection and travel protection, respectively