Tube/SS hybrid.
The tube is probably for tone. No, there's no preamp distortion - It's a power amp.
It sounds great! More affordable than a Matrix too.
It's 11lbs. If you're used to Matrix and class D amps then the Koch is probably heavy (and professional). ART power amps are heavy without tubes so, they're probably semi-professional.
I get that its a power amp - that's my point / question - I don't see what function a typical preamp tube has in a clean hi-headroom low coloration power amp intended not to overly color the tone of what it's processing, ie, a modellers' output which already has its own preamp/power amp coloration incorporated. If the Ax7's function is to add tone, my question still is / why?, what sort of tone could it be adding in a power amp context?
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The tube is merely for the input/preamp signal process before hitting the power amp. Perhaps, I misspoke regarding the tube providing “tone”, however it may add tone in the form of “punch”.I get that its a power amp - that's my point / question - I don't see what function a typical preamp tube has in a clean hi-headroom low coloration power amp intended not to overly color the tone of what it's processing, ie, a modellers' output which already has its own preamp/power amp coloration incorporated. If the Ax7's function is to add tone, my question still is / why?, what sort of tone could it be adding in a power amp context?
I have to agree with the sentiment above: seems like the old: "Lets throw a tube in there so buyers see it and think "ooooh tubez!" regardless of if it makes any sense. Also, that Ax7 may sound great to me too, but I'm not sure if that's a good thing: I'll have a power amp to use with my modeller that should not be coloring my tone, but it has this great sounding preamp tube in it that colors my tone, and will be applied on anything and everything I route thru the power amp! (hmmmm ???, hope I don't change my mind about how much I like the sound of that Ax7 tube
Maybe theres something to this I don't get as I mightv seen it elsewhere. Maybe its intended to mimic a power amp tube's tonal influence somehow (tho I also have mixed feelings about genuine tube power amps to monitor modellers since their real power tubes are doubling (possibly muddying) the already present modelled power amp tubes). In the mean time I'll stick with my very transparent MatrixGT1kfx to monitor Axfx thru FRCabs and traditional guitar cabs.
IMO the tube is a Marketing Fixture.
Sorry, I'm no expert but not convinced. Power amps like the ones you mentioned don't have preamp sections as I understand them - afaik, they are dedicated tube power amps with the primary tube influence coming from power tubes like ie EL34, 6L6 etc ... (totally different from typically preamp type tubes like 12Ax7 I think). I've heard of dedicated tube power amps having 12Ax7s in them for the role of phase inverter (to feed split opposite signals to the power tubes ... ? - something like that? - not sure on the detail - out of my depth on that stuff). In this case tho, its a SS power amp so 12ax7 as phase inverter doesn't seem to make sense either. Marketing seems a likely answer, which steers me away from it.
All of the tube amps I listed use preamp tubes at the input. I've worked on all of them, as well as Mesa's. They're to amplify and/or shape the guitar signal to a level the power amp can use for driving a speaker.
The 12AX7 is used as a buffer, and they are in just about all tube power amps.
If I went with a rack unit, so the size wouldn’t be that big of an issue, I’d certainly choose something with more power.
The price is great though.
Well there’s a reason for that.
"Carefully tailored, guitar-specific EQ" is a red flag to me. Let the Axe do the modeling, just drive a speaker please.
On the good side, those claims are often BS.
When corrections need to be made due to on-site conditions, it's convenient to have an easily accessible correction, isn't it?
Global Output EQ...
Combining the 2 options is a good thing
I personally don't think so...I agree with Dave.
I understand the approach.
That's a different thing.
