Chris Hurley
Power User
I haven't used the QC but I've used the others and I repeatedly rank the Fractal as the best of the bunch. Kemper would be my second choice even though it never sounded closer than "sorta close" any of the six or so times I had one. It isn't bad at all- it is noticeably different.
The Fractal is so close you can use it to see if a tube amp is doing something unusual. I had a Synergy Fryette module and I noticed some fizz on the note decay. I fired up the Fractal model of that amp and the fizz was there. Case closed.
The Fractal is a tractor trailer load of swiss army knives. I take that back... It is a sea-going tanker vessel full of swiss army knives. It is amazing what it does.
Still, I sometimes enjoy the experience of using a regular tube amp. I am certain that I am not alone. The tactile experience of the knobs and switches is gratifying to me at times. I also noticed that on a switcher I could get to where I couldn't tell a difference, if I played one for a while and switched to the other, I could tell a difference again and had to adjust a little more. Some of that may just be minor volume differences.
I would encourage people not to sell off anything that is hard to replace that they love in order to buy a Fractal. Something common that you can buy all day long? Sure- sell it off. Something special? You may eventually be sorry. I'm not taking anything away from the Fractal- it is awesome. I'm just saying a special tube amp that you can't easily replace? Maybe not.
The Fractal is so close you can use it to see if a tube amp is doing something unusual. I had a Synergy Fryette module and I noticed some fizz on the note decay. I fired up the Fractal model of that amp and the fizz was there. Case closed.
The Fractal is a tractor trailer load of swiss army knives. I take that back... It is a sea-going tanker vessel full of swiss army knives. It is amazing what it does.
Still, I sometimes enjoy the experience of using a regular tube amp. I am certain that I am not alone. The tactile experience of the knobs and switches is gratifying to me at times. I also noticed that on a switcher I could get to where I couldn't tell a difference, if I played one for a while and switched to the other, I could tell a difference again and had to adjust a little more. Some of that may just be minor volume differences.
I would encourage people not to sell off anything that is hard to replace that they love in order to buy a Fractal. Something common that you can buy all day long? Sure- sell it off. Something special? You may eventually be sorry. I'm not taking anything away from the Fractal- it is awesome. I'm just saying a special tube amp that you can't easily replace? Maybe not.