One thing I can objectively say that the AX8 offers is that the models sound and perform just like the amps they represent. If other modelers sound different from the AX8, and I know the AX8 sounds like the amps (ask @Larry Mitchell about our experience shooting a video together last week.) one can draw certain conclusions from this. While the next statement is subjective I believe it is also true: I think most people will tell you that Fractal Audio is widely recognized as having the best amp modeling in the industry.
Another thing that's objectively better on the AX8 than on all other similar products is the quality of many the effects. You can experience this yourself, for example, by listening to the reverbs, multitap delays, or pitch shifter set to 100% wet. The number and style of effect offerings is also extremely impressive in my opinion.
Finally, the one thing that no competitor can offer is Fractal's undying commitment to continual improvement, backed by a community of artists and customers that genuinely care about great tone and gear that is inspiring to play. This makes owning an AX8 exciting. It has great compatibility on many levels with the Axe-Fx II: cabs, amp and effect block settings, the concept of the grid, so there are a lot of fantastic resources you get from this overlap as well.
Please recognize that I work for Fractal, but I was a customer here first.
Hi just joined today. I've been trying choose either on for the last month and I haven't been able to come too a conclusion. Is there anyone here who has had both of these units? Which do you like better? Are there any significant pros or cons to these units?
and starting to apply his GEQ before the amp trick instantly made all my pre sets sound tighter fuller and cut through the mix better!
Bang on about the AF signature. I tried to use it just for FX in the loop of my real amp, there was that signature sound again. I think it may be the converters.I have an AxeFx2 and Amplifire. I've had the AF for a couple of months now.
I am quite disappointed by the amplifire's modeling (probably because I have used Fractal products for too long) and cannot believe how much undeserved love this thing gets on TGP. It is 'stiff' feeling, lacks the full spectrum response of the AFX (not sure how else to describe this; maybe lively or "3D") and by far the worst thing is for anything heavier than crunch it has a 'signature' like they were all built from the same model but tweaked here and there (many Line 6 products and POD era products did this). With the Axe every model is a snow flake. They are all different and have their own sound and response and feel 'alive'. The AF feels like in actuality it only has about four models with a bunch of EQ goop and that base model feels flat/fake. I'm amazed at people classing this thing with FAS and Kemper; they have to be at least partially deaf.
I use it as an FX processor and as a clean/crunch channel provider in a 4CM tube amp setup and am relatively happy with it for that use, an AX8 or similar would have been overkill as expense and space were being spared on this rig... but I am thankful I have an AxeFx. I would place it above the POD HD and below the Axe Ultra in terms of modeling quality based on devices I've owned and played extensively.
These 2 are not really comparable, IMHO. It's like comparing a Line 6 HD500 to an AX8, quite frankly.