paulmapp8306
Fractal Fanatic
Ill say this - and all IMO.
Monitors, along with any other true FRFR solution, including the atomics (though there better than a lot) SOUND almost exactly like a tube amp - BUT, they dont feel like one.
Its the ummph, the air behind you, the push and grunt if you know what I mean. ive tried the Atomics, ive tried FBTs, QSCs ARTs and even £1.2k EACH Codas. Nothing sounded quite right. The cosas were the best but still missing something. I do use monitors at home - Adam A7s, but Id still rather run 9and do mostly) my Power amp and cab for practice - even ao low volumes.
Personally I feel the best way to make an Axe rig sound AND feel like a tube rig is a power amp and cab. My current cab is a V30/G12h Aniv mix. It does sound great BUT I cant use cab sims. Its fine for me, and for my current useage because I still get a lot of versatility (think of having a single cab with 30+ heads to put through it) - and loading the cab with a pair of EVM12Ls is my long term goal. there the most neutral true guitar speakers available and have massive power handling. It means you get propper guitar cab feel, with the ability to use (or not as you choose) the cab sims.
As for the Amplification - Valve power amps I had found valve power amps the only way. i used an Art SLA and tried the Rocktron Velocity and QSC offerings (cant get Carvin in the UK easily) - and evded up with a VHT 2:50:2. I prefered it to the Marshalls which sounded fizzy, and the Mesas that had too much Mesa tone going on 9if you get me). Didnt try the engls but have heard great things about them.
THEN, Matrix showed up. The development of the GT800FX from their XT800 has been great. There is still a difference, but its quite subtle and its an EQ thing rather than a respose thing really. The Matrix is stiffer, tighter and harder sounding (which is actually a better fit for some tones - particulary high gain) the VHT is rounder, softer and bouncier. HOWEVER, you can get the Matrix to sound almost identical to the VHT using EQ, and advanced parameters (particularly the B+ value, Sag and Damp) - its harder to get the VHt to sound like the matrix because it always has that bounce and roundness. Thats not a bad thing. i ended up selling the VHT - BUT only because of the weight. If buying new there is the price as well (as I already had the VHt it wasnt a factor for me). Even at $800 the Matrix is cheaper than the VHT, and weights 3.7kg against the VHTs 15kg.
the Atomics are OK - but I found they didnt get that loud, and when pushed got a bit flubby, They do sound better to me (well more like a real amp) at lower volumes, but personally I wouldnt use them for anything other than personal monitoring onstage. I dont think they work as traditional back line. You useage will determin if there a good enough fit for you.
As I said at the start, this is all IMO, but Ive tried a lot of kit trying to get what your after. For me, the choice would be a Matrix GT800FX power amp with a 1 or 2x12 traditional cab loaded with
EVM12Ls. Sounds and feels like a real amp, the speakers can handle the full output of the Matrix, and they sound good at all volumes - including bedroom levels.
However, as DADA has said - IF you can try stuff before you buy do so, and decide with your own ears. The difficulty there is the Matrix is direct only and the Atomics you pay for first (though they do have a 14 day trial so you can send them back).
Only you can make the ultimate desciciopn as to what fits your needs the best.
Monitors, along with any other true FRFR solution, including the atomics (though there better than a lot) SOUND almost exactly like a tube amp - BUT, they dont feel like one.
Its the ummph, the air behind you, the push and grunt if you know what I mean. ive tried the Atomics, ive tried FBTs, QSCs ARTs and even £1.2k EACH Codas. Nothing sounded quite right. The cosas were the best but still missing something. I do use monitors at home - Adam A7s, but Id still rather run 9and do mostly) my Power amp and cab for practice - even ao low volumes.
Personally I feel the best way to make an Axe rig sound AND feel like a tube rig is a power amp and cab. My current cab is a V30/G12h Aniv mix. It does sound great BUT I cant use cab sims. Its fine for me, and for my current useage because I still get a lot of versatility (think of having a single cab with 30+ heads to put through it) - and loading the cab with a pair of EVM12Ls is my long term goal. there the most neutral true guitar speakers available and have massive power handling. It means you get propper guitar cab feel, with the ability to use (or not as you choose) the cab sims.
As for the Amplification - Valve power amps I had found valve power amps the only way. i used an Art SLA and tried the Rocktron Velocity and QSC offerings (cant get Carvin in the UK easily) - and evded up with a VHT 2:50:2. I prefered it to the Marshalls which sounded fizzy, and the Mesas that had too much Mesa tone going on 9if you get me). Didnt try the engls but have heard great things about them.
THEN, Matrix showed up. The development of the GT800FX from their XT800 has been great. There is still a difference, but its quite subtle and its an EQ thing rather than a respose thing really. The Matrix is stiffer, tighter and harder sounding (which is actually a better fit for some tones - particulary high gain) the VHT is rounder, softer and bouncier. HOWEVER, you can get the Matrix to sound almost identical to the VHT using EQ, and advanced parameters (particularly the B+ value, Sag and Damp) - its harder to get the VHt to sound like the matrix because it always has that bounce and roundness. Thats not a bad thing. i ended up selling the VHT - BUT only because of the weight. If buying new there is the price as well (as I already had the VHt it wasnt a factor for me). Even at $800 the Matrix is cheaper than the VHT, and weights 3.7kg against the VHTs 15kg.
the Atomics are OK - but I found they didnt get that loud, and when pushed got a bit flubby, They do sound better to me (well more like a real amp) at lower volumes, but personally I wouldnt use them for anything other than personal monitoring onstage. I dont think they work as traditional back line. You useage will determin if there a good enough fit for you.
As I said at the start, this is all IMO, but Ive tried a lot of kit trying to get what your after. For me, the choice would be a Matrix GT800FX power amp with a 1 or 2x12 traditional cab loaded with
EVM12Ls. Sounds and feels like a real amp, the speakers can handle the full output of the Matrix, and they sound good at all volumes - including bedroom levels.
However, as DADA has said - IF you can try stuff before you buy do so, and decide with your own ears. The difficulty there is the Matrix is direct only and the Atomics you pay for first (though they do have a 14 day trial so you can send them back).
Only you can make the ultimate desciciopn as to what fits your needs the best.