Hi guys. Fairly new AXE FX II user here for the last several months. Going to ask a question that has been likely beat to death already - what is the best power amp for the AXE FX II running into a mesa rectifier 2 x 12. I currently have the Mesa Boogie 2:90. I think it works just fine but I have nothing to compare it to. I have seen people talk about the Matrix. I'd like to know if Matrix is the way to go or did I do just fine with getting the 2:90. Thanks all for your time. Cheers!
Among the best power amps in the world are the ones made by Bryston
Any Bryston power amp will reproduce, as closely as possible, the signal the Axe puts out whether going FRFR or through a guitar cab.
Having said that, a Bryston power amp might not be the "best" power amp for you.
They are quite weighty and also quite expensive.
The 2:90 was engineered to *enhance* the tone of Mesa's Triaxis preamp.
It's response is anything but "flat" no matter how you use its switches and modes.
Some guys like to take the Axe's signal and colour it through various power amps amps like this, but to me this goes against the design philosophy of the Axe.
The Axe should be able to create all the tone you need.
If it doesn't do that for you then you really have to question why you bought one in the first place. IMO
I own and currently use a Matrix GT1000 1U power amp.
It sounds quite good but, like the 2:90 and other tube power amps (even the GT is solid state), I feel it does colour the tone somewhat.
This is noticeable when compared to my Bryston 2B LP Pro which sounds noticeably better to me than the GT1000.
It's especially noticeable when the GT1000 is used to power a passive FRFR cabinet.
It sounds quite scooped compared to the Bryston (which is pretty much the industry standard for a flat power amp).
I'd like to buy a GT800 because I think that Matrix made this more to be a typical power amp (what goes in is what comes out, only louder) and they did some mods to that design to create the GT1000.
The GT800 also started out as a modified XT800 which was a PA amplifier, but the only mods here (that I'm aware of) were a lower input sensitivity (the XT's input sensitivity is actually a bit higher than the norm in my experience) and combi connecters (Neutrik plus 1/4") which the XTs didn't have.
So it's my belief that the GT800 colours the tone just a bit less than the GT1000.
But the folks at Matrix usually chime in at this point on my posts claiming that the GT1000s do not colour the tone in any appreciable way.
Still, they will admit that the GT800 and GT1000 DO sound different and will usually say that the GT800 is better for FRFR and the GT1000 is better for guitar cabs.
To my way of thinking that makes no sense.
My advice... Buy a GT800.