Some of the best tube amps under $1,000 might be available in both head and combo amp options. A head is essentially just the amp part – there’s no speaker. To get any sound you need to run it through a speaker cabinet. If you’re playing shows, this can be handy as many venues will have cabs already there, or you might be able to share one with another band on the bill, so you only have to take your head. A combo on the other hand is an all in one unit containing all parts of the amp, and the speaker.