Most times the CLR will sound better because its designed for AXE FX II boxes, around a 12 " speaker and with a flat response. Most PA's are usually 15-18 inch subs bi amped or tri amped with horn drivers using different amps running each one for vocals, horns, drums, bass etc etc. Not just guitars, even if the CLR has worked well in small venues for voice and guitar I'm told. Now, using an IR (cab simulation) from within the Axe FX II to the FOH will help its sound tone wise, but imo it won't sound as good as through the CLR sitting on the stage. FoH will be louder however...
According to Jay Mitchell(the guy who designed the CLR for Atomic) the CLR is not designed for AxeFX boxes. This design has been around for if I remember correct, something like 20 years. The CLR is "just" a flat speaker without the phase issues found in other speakers. Google Frazier speakers, which is Jay Mitchell's speaker company.
The CLR is the first time he(Jay Mitchell) involves in a product aimed for non-company customers.
Hummm well drop my drawers and shoot off bottle rockets... Because it just works so well with the Axe FX II, I just assumed it was built for the best of guitar preamps/modelers. Can you show a link to this please??? All I can find is this...
"Let's be clear here: the speaker's intended uses are not confined to guitar, and the highpass filter is a measure taken to protect the woofer from overexcursion. "Too much LF" can easily occur in the complete absence of any "issues with upstream equipment" simply due to the nature of the music being amplified."
Confined, versus designed takes on a whole nother meaning to me, meaning that its not "just" for the Axe FX II... oh well...
Anywho the point still stands about the CLR sounding better than your FoH in most cases because of the 12" speaker/flat response involved.