Please read what others have said about different packs. This is like saying which is the best ice cream.
Each pack has a huge number of IR's. With various cabs/MIC setups. Each will certainly have something that fits for you.
It's an interesting idea, but you are looking for 'best', when the answer is 'what works for YOU'. Each has it's own strengths, but the bottom line is you are asking for reviews on what someone else's ear tells them; so subjective that it's impossible.
FWIW, I use 90% of stock cabs. We are well stocked there. If you have specific needs (heavy, Fender, Plexi, whatever), cab packs are great and offer some variation. I've bought a few, and found some great uses for them, but it will all come down to you deciding what you need. Also, if you watch some of the video's that tweak each cab, you can bend almost any cab to your uses.
R
Every new cab pack that I buy from the Fractal store is my favorite at the time I buy it. Just picked up the Bulb Zilla pack and it's my favorite. It's killer!I would compare the Cab Pack store to you going into a candy shop. Sure there are the ones that everyone loves (f.ex. my Cab Packs 7, 8, 13, 18, 19, 20 and after that it's too early to say) but that might not determine which is your favorite candy. Chocolate always works but is it your #1 choice? Who knows? I would encourage to read about the real life counterparts to find the cab you're after.
This is a good idea though!
So far I think it's gotten the best response out of all Cab Packs I've created. Looks like this one will be a legend of a pack and we're only in day 2.Every new cab pack that I buy from the Fractal store is my favorite at the time I buy it. Just picked up the Bulb Zilla pack and it's my favorite. It's killer!
Let us know how you like it. Getting used to changing your tone with IR's may have a slight learning curve but it's the most effective tool for sure.It looks like my first Cab Pack will be Bulb Zilla. I am going to buy it tonight and see what fun I can have.
I think this nails it. Mikko himself has said the difference between cab packs hes done has never been quality, only content. In a situation like that all a star rating would show is what speaker choice a particular user likes and that doesn't do anything for anyone other than that person. I also feel like theres plenty out there about what's in each cab pack as is, it's never more than a search or 2 away reallyI have rarely found that what is popular/highly rated equates to what I consider the "best" tone.
I think it would be more of a mistake for a "newb" (why do we see more and more people wanting things handed to them than to actually learn these days?) to buy something they may not need/enjoy just because it has let's say 10 five star ratings.
No offense to any fellow axe users, but I don't care what you guys like or don't like, I just care about what sounds good to my ears. Likewise, I'm sure my taste in no way influences what anyone else likes.
Do I like a song just because the radio says it's a hit ?
Do I not enjoy a movie just because some critics didn't like it?
Ratings really only tell you what is popular.
Is one 5 star review suggest a product is better than one with four 4 star reviews ?
Does the fact one person loved something mean more or less than five people being pretty pleased ?
I guess if your the guy who loves it, then yes, but what if your own taste is different ?
Personally, I think the axe stock irs give plenty of samples for cab packs. If you love the ML v30 it, then buy the pack, likewise gb's etc.
If you find your loving the tweed cabs, then don't buy a mesa pack, get something with more open back 12".
It's really not that hard to just go through the stock options and take note of what you like and don't like.
Should one wish for more, plenty to buy, but the stock stuff probably can appease most users nicely