Axe-Fx III sounds thin, tinny, and anemic -- Power Amp?

Moke said:
The ML preset that you are referring to (and all of the Factory presets) is very likely intended for FRFR systems. The preset was dialed in using one of his awesome IRs. When using a 'real' cab, all bets are off. Even if your power amp is working correctly, and you bypass the Cab block, it will sound very different than the headphones/FRFR.

Try a passive FRFR/PA speaker with your power amp if you have, or can borrow one to rule out the power amp as the issue.
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This makes sense. I only have a QSC powered speaker — would that work?
I have tried creating a preset with just an amp in the chain (I used the SOLO100) and I still could not get away from the thin sound. Is there a preset I could try that is more geared towards my setup?
 
Fletch said:
So, I have it in parallel mode now on the amp with it connected to the X output on the power amp (as suggested on page 12 of the matrix manual) to the cab. No difference. If I switch to stereo and try either A or B its the same sound but the volume is much lower.
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From the manual:
For BRIDGED MONO mode, Output is exclusively available from OUTPUT X, do not use at any other time.
 
Fletch said:
This makes sense. I only have a QSC powered speaker — would that work?
I have tried creating a preset with just an amp in the chain (I used the SOLO100) and I still could not get away from the thin sound. Is there a preset I could try that is more geared towards my setup?
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The QSC would work fine to check your Fractal. But it won't help diagnose your Matrix, as the QSC is already powered.

You may find that you won't need it anyway.. ;)
 
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I'd try a different power amp. Someone else posted about similar issues with a Matrix power amp not long ago. Then again there are a lot of people using them that are very happy with them. I haven't tried them.
 
What’s your speaker? I have K12s and they sound great for FOH or as a monitor with the Axe. You might want to try it at a show or something. Just go direct into the PA and use the QSC for your monitor. I was skeptical the first time I did it but it sounded great and I haven’t used a cab on stage since.
 
JiveTurkey said:
From the manual:
For BRIDGED MONO mode, Output is exclusively available from OUTPUT X, do not use at any other time.
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I have a GT1600X and never had a problem with it using 2 FR212's. I would try using Stereo or Mono as needed (channel A) setup on Matrix amp vice Bridged mode using proper cables and see how that works for you. Do you need to been in Bridged mode (800W)? I also have my 4CM setup using my JP-2C rack mount and 2 4x12 Mesa Cabs and that sounds unbelievable using 4CM preset with no cab and amp.

Some notes:
-Bridged Output X is used exclusively for this mode, do not use at any other time. Using output channel A or B while Bridged mode is selected will give a thin, out of phase sound, lacking bass through those outputs.
-Parallel Mono Mode Indicator shows if (parallel) MONO mode is selected on the rear panel. For channel pair A and B only Input A will be used to drive both channels. Full independent level control of the amplifier output stages is still possible via the Gain controls.
-Bridged Mono Mode Indicator shows if Bridged mode is selected on the rear panel. It is most important that this indicator is not illuminated unless bridged mode is required. This is because when bridged mode is selected, Channel A will be out of phase with Channel B and combined to give a higher power mono output. This will result in poor bass response and an unsatisfactory sound if left and right outputs are used. In this mode Channel A controls the output level.
 
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Fletch said:
This makes sense. I only have a QSC powered speaker — would that work?
I have tried creating a preset with just an amp in the chain (I used the SOLO100) and I still could not get away from the thin sound. Is there a preset I could try that is more geared towards my setup?
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For the sake of comparison, do try using the QSC powered speaker with cab and power amp sims on. If that sounds decent-ish, that means the Matrix power amp is not doing what you want. Then you can set about solving that problem.
 
If you are more familiar with a valve power amp, and the sound it produces, in my humble experience, you will never get a solid state amp to sound to a valve amp. Why, because it is solid state.

For all the hope in the world it won't even come close.

I owned the Matrix Gt1600 and after speaking with numerous "Well Educated" Specialists and percivered with with my thin, fizzy, sound until I realised that what I was trying to do was, overcome, in my head that a solid state amp would sound and react like a valve amp. It doesn't and never will. Sadly, I had been sold a dream.

So, If its Valve Amp - in - the - room sound you are looking for, ditch the solid state Matrix as I did, and forget trying to make it sound like a valve amp. I can faithfully promise you, you cant do it, no matter what you try. I spent months trying.

Buy something like a Fryette Powerstation 2.

Which I what I use and couldn't be happier with my Valve amp in the room sound.

As soon as you plug in... The world becomes normal again, and F*ck me is it good!
 
Yes.
Matrix power amps are thin and flat sounding
The only SS power amp I like is the velocity.
Because it sounds and feel like a tube amp with resonance control.
The PS2 will give you more punch than any Matrix amp.
 
This is not helping, Neale. There are many pros using a solid-state amplifier and they are not wrong. While I agree that the PS sounds better than my solid-state amps, it’s not a world of difference. And certainly no explanation of the problems of the OP.
 
yek said:
This is not helping, Neale. There are many pros using a solid-state amplifier and they are not wrong. While I agree that the PS sounds better than my solid-state amps, it’s not a world of difference. And certainly no explanation of the problems of the OP.
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Of course it's helping.
Matrix power amp are really hyped.
Because of this, I have bought one and was really disappointed.
The same conclusion, thin and fizzy and no punch (GT1000).
The Fryette is a really better choice in my opinion.
 
I actually went and searched through Cliffs posts about the Matrix, and IHHO (In His Humble Opinion), it's not all units. It's just some that are duds.
 
Tonic said:
Of course it's helping.
Matrix power amp are really hyped.
Because of this, I have bought one and was really disappointed.
The same conclusion, thin and fizzy and no punch (GT1000).
The Fryette is a really better choice in my opinion.
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Tell that to Metallica who have been using Matrix amps for backline amplification for years now.
 
OP:

Are you using a stereo preset and sending one only one side to your speaker?

In the cab block, are there two cabs being used with panning?
 
I’ve used various Axe FX units for over 12 years now and always struggled with getting a satisfactory amp in the room sound with SS power amps and conventional guitar cabs. The one thing that can get you very close is to get the settings in the Amp Speaker page right for the cab that you are using. There are a lot of variables to tweak on this page and it took me absolutely ages to get the parameters right on my Axe II. Fortunately, things have got a lot easier lately in the Axe III with the introduction of the speaker impedance curve parameter which changes all of the speaker page settings at once to match particular named cabs.

So try this if you haven’t already done so. On the front panel, go to the Advanced page in the amp block and scroll down to the bottom of that page. Just above the Output heading, you will see a parameter called Speaker Impedance Curve. Scroll through the different speakers listed and you should surely be able to find one that sounds good with your particular cab. Getting that right can make a big difference.
 
I really appreciate all the response and help! Tonight I will go back and try a few recommendations posted since my last trials. This is a bit new to me as I have mostly been using combos for much of my playing life with only a single beat-up old Ibanez tube screamer held together by duck tape.

Budda - I will have to check the presets I have been using, but I believe it is just one cab. I have a preset with just a single amp that I started to work with to see if I could dial in a tone with no cab in the loop. It still sounded thin, but I am also very new, so I will go back and see if I can make some other adjustments.

I believe it was Cliff (??) who originally mentioned trying a different power amp. I do have a Mesa Mark V 35 combo -- could I use that as a test? Any recommendations on how I should hook it up?

As far as the Matrix (re: different modes). I originally had it in Stereo and the volume was really low. Someone suggested bridge mode (along with setting the output on the Axe FX to +4dB) to help fix the issue and it worked. So I now have it in bridged mode using the X output to the cab. I will try it in parallel mode.

Some things I will try tonight:
1. Make a few recordings and post it.
2. Different presets -- there was mention of the ML labs being targeted specifically for use with FRFRs and may not sound godd even with cab sim turned off.
3. Powered QSC - I will run from the Axe to my QSC speakers at least to check the out on the Axe.
4. Mark V - Should I use this as a test bed? What would be a good test?

Really appreciate the help!!!
 
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Keep us posted! I'm a little worried about Wednesday on my end but I'll be ok :) I got the Matrix primarily because it was a great price and is a single space power aamp.No illusions of tubes expected for me :oops::D


...and it goes back to GC if anything is funky.
 
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