The PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head is a PRS amplifier, currently around $976.65. Close alternatives include the EVH 5150 III and the Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier. It pairs well with the Suhr Shiba Drive and the Browne Amplification Gritador.
PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head
PRS · amplifier
The PRS Archon 50 is a two-channel 50-watt head from PRS's modern high-gain line, pairing a clean channel with a high-gain lead channel. Where the HDRX captures late-sixties British character and the Archon Classic aims at retro rock tones, the standard Archon is the contemporary high-gain member of the range, built for saturated modern rhythm and lead work with tight low end. At 50 watts it has enough output for stage use while remaining more practical than a 100-watt head. It suits hard rock and metal players who want a modern two-channel high-gain amplifier with a genuinely usable clean side.
What stands out
“Chosen by players wanting modern high gain from PRS , which is the main decision within the range”
— from the community notes
“Used for hard rock and metal”
— from the community notes
“The PRS Archon 50 is a two-channel 50-watt head from PRS's modern high-gain line, pairing a clean channel with a high-gain lead channel”
— from the listing
“Where the HDRX captures late-sixties British character and the Archon Classic aims at retro rock tones, the standard Archon is the contemporary high-gain member of the range, built for saturated modern rhythm and lead work with tight low en…”
— from the listing
“A tight, saturated, articulate high-gain voice with strong sustain and definition for modern metal and hard rock, balanced by a glassy, full clean channel, the MkII tightening the low end over the original”
— from the reviews
- high gain
- hard rock
- clean
- tight
- modern
- low end
- lead
- heavy tone
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head is commonly used in
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- Christian Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Stack Suhr Shiba Drive on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Stack Browne Amplification Gritador on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → shimmer)
Put Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress after PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head in the signal chain, clear of PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Put Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 in PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head's effects loop, clear of PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12
Electro-Harmonix
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Run Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 in PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head's effects loop, clear of PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
12% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio leans toward tight, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Goes in front of the amp
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Cheaper alternatives
Marshall JCM900 2100
Marshall
55% similarityShared character: metal, hard rock, bass
PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head
PRS
54% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, sustain, hard rock
ENGL E633 Fireball 25
Engl
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Peavey 6505 II
Peavey
52% similarityShared character: original, sustain, metal
Mesa Boogie Mark Five:25 Head
Mesa Boogie
49% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, wide range, high gain settings
Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head
Randall
49% similarityShared character: high gain settings, definition, metal
ENGL E630II Savage 60 Custom Shop Head
Engl
48% similarityShared character: metal, hard rock, high gain settings
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (Multi-watt)
Mesa Boogie
48% similarityShared character: metal, hard rock, high gain settings
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
48% similarityShared character: hard rock, bass, response
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
EVH 5150 III
Evh
53% similarityShared character: sustain, metal, hard rock
Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
Mesa Boogie
53% similarityShared character: wide range, metal, hard rock
Friedman Small Box 50 Head with 1x12 Cabinet
Friedman
52% similarityShared character: wide range, metal, classic rock
Mesa/Boogie Badlander
Mesa Boogie
51% similarityShared character: definition, metal, response
Marshall Jmp Master Volume 1970s
Marshall
50% similarityShared character: metal, hard rock, high gain settings
Randall Lynch Box
Randall
49% similarityShared character: metal, hard rock, bass
See all alternatives to the PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head?+
The closest matches in character are the EVH 5150 III, the Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier, the Friedman Small Box 50 Head with 1x12 Cabinet. Budget picks: Marshall JCM900 2100, PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head, ENGL E633 Fireball 25. Boutique upgrades: Peavey 6505 II, Mesa Boogie Mark Five:25 Head, Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head.
What pairs well with the PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Suhr Shiba Drive, Browne Amplification Gritador, Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff — Stack Suhr Shiba Drive on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward.
How much does the PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W Head cost?+
Around $976.65 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).