Starfighter
Experienced
Hello friends!
Thought I would post a preliminary and non-scientific review of the Atomic CLR active wedge for the mediocre bedroom players (like myself) who are searching for the holy grail - how to make the most of the awesomeness that the Axe FX II puts out.
Background info
To put this into context, here´s a little background info: I am a newbie guitar player, started as an adult. My skill is limited to playing along to my favorite songs, mostly U2 and easy rock songs - and a little metal now and then. So my setup needs to reproduce the chimey AC-30-sound of The Edge with my Strat, and meaty Marshall-like power chords with my Les Pauls. I play mostly at home along with backing tracks - once in a while I play with a couple of other guitarist friends, and I´ve practiced with a band a handful of times.
I use headphones a lot (Grado Labs PS-500s through a Little Dot DAC II headphone amp/dac fed from the SPDIF OUT of the Axe FX) since I live in an apartment. For bedroom playing, I have been using Adam A3X studio monitors - with which I have been very satisfied. Enough headroom and oomph for the bedroom situation, and it has really given me a taste of that stereo sweetness the Axe delivers.
My decision process
But I also needed something that I could bring to guitar-and-beer sessions with my friends, and to band practice. I read a lot on this forum before I went for the Matrix Q12a. My experience with the Matrix has been positive, it´s a great piece of gear. Excellent build quality, clear and accurate sound and lots and lots of volume. In time, I felt the GAS coming on for a stereo setup - so back to the research board. My alternatives after a lot of reading up and listening to iPhone clips on YouTube (sounds familiar? :mrgreen) - came down to this:
Now why didn´t I just buy one more Q12a and get it over with? Well - the thing is. The Q12a is great piece of gear, but I found that I wasn´t able to dial in my patches in a way which gave me the same satisfactory sound as I got with my headphones or studio monitors. I felt I was lacking a bit in the low ends, in the fullness of the tone and general "oomph". It felt a bit thin - to my personal preference, mind you! (Disclaimer: I am perfectly aware that this is most probably due to my own inability to dial in my presets correctly - and no fault of the Q12a. Besides, I was running the Q12a in a mono setup comparing it to stereo setups - which of course isn´t fair at all. But I couldn´t financially justify buying another Q12a just to make the comparison fair.) In addition, the Q12a is cooled by a fan. It doesn´t make much noise, but to fan-noise allergic like myself even a little is too much. (Yes, I have replaced the stock fan in the Axe FX - voiding my warranty in the process
)
So I came down to the 2 alternatives listed above. I live on the 5th floor in a building with no elevator, so the NL-setup really appealed to both me and my back! However, I ended up with giving FRFR another chance. I really love using cab sims (thanks, Ownhammer!), and I want to be able to use my same presets for FOH in a band situation as I use in my bedroom. I know some guys are using NLs with cab sims on and like it, but it´s still not FRFR - so it will color the sound in some way. Maybe to the better in some cases, but it won´t be the same sound that I have dialed in using FRFR gear. So when the decision to go FRFR was made, here´s a list of the arguments that persuaded me to go for the CLRs opposed to other FRFR solutions:
Ordering and delivery
I got on the list in the end of July, and received my 2 CLRs in late October. Usually I am very impatient when it comes to delivery of gear I have already decided to buy. In this case it was all right, since new gear is coming out all the time - and I really didn´t decide to buy the CLRs before I actually received my invite. And Tom King has been helpful with information all along, always giving rapid responses to my emails.
So finally, the order was made! I had some technical trouble on my end with the payment, again Tom King promptly helped my by email and phone so it was quickly sorted. I got my DHL tracking number, and I must have reloaded that webpage about 100 times. The funny thing was, as I work for an airline - I actually witnessed the DHL aircraft I knew was carrying my CLRs landing from Brussels as we were taxiing out for our departure:
Guess who was in a hurry to get home!
Review
So finally, my CLRs were in da house! The CLRs came in a sturdy package, with no damage. At first I couldn´t find the power cables that were supposed to be included, so I emailed Tom King believing they had missed something. To my embarrassment, they were secured to the inside of one of the cardboard supports. (Thanks to Tom King for being civil about it, :lol) So I placed them in the wedge position, quite close - about 50 cms on each side of my position, and connected them to the XLR output 1 of the Axe FX. I then plugged in my Les Paul, bridge volume pot on the guitar at 10 - and laid down some heavy strumming in a loop to perform the gain staging of the CLR as per the manual. Really easy, just adjusted the input until it tickled the red on the CLR panel, and turned it back down a hair. I set the master volume of the CLR to 12 o´clock and the DSP to "TILT". Picked my U2 One-preset, turned up output 1 volume on the Axe FX II a little bit and I was good to go!
First impression:
Switched to the Farfegnugen-preset (Das Metall-amp, higain metal) and ripped off some power chords.
Switched to my Strat and my Where The Streets Have No Name-preset, played with the Zoo TV version in the background through the Axe and the CLRs:
Playing some of my favorite MP3´s through the Axe and the CLRs:
Ok, so this is not a review in the real sense of the word. It´s more of a really really subjective opinion from a not-so-good-guitar player looking for what he thinks of as great sound. But guys and gals, I have found it. I know; I haven´t tried it at gig volumes yet. I haven´t even tried it in a band setting. You have RocketBrothers extensive review for that.
But I can tell you, for me this is the missing link. This is what I have been looking for. This is what completes my Axe FX rig and puts its awesomeness out there. I now have the rich, full stereo sound I wanted with the added benefit of using my cab sims. Yes, they are heavy. Yes, they are expensive - at least from the bedroom players perspective. But they are so very much worth it. And I think the cost is justified by the level of quality with this product.
So have I found any cons? Well I have already mentioned the delivery time, weight and cost. I noticed after a while that they had some noticeable hiss when I wasn´t playing. After reading about a similar experience on this forum, I turned the Master volume on the CLRs down to the 9 o´clock position (25%). Hiss gone. More than enough volume for my use. Might have to crank it up a little in a band setting, but then the light hiss will not be an issue in any case.
To close off, I would like to mention that I hope that this thread doesn´t derail into a slagging contest. I will probably keep my Q12a, as it is a great product - and it gives me the opportunity to try out a WDW-rig when I feel ready to try that out. I have only positive experiences with both Matrix and Atomic - great products, and the customer support of both companies are absolutely stellar!
I called this a preliminary review, since I have only tried the CLRs in a bedroom setting so far - and only in the wedge position. I might chime in later when I get the chance to try them in different settings, and when they have accumulated some more playing time.
So take this for what it is - the personal opinion of a really happy amateur guitar player! :encouragement:
Thought I would post a preliminary and non-scientific review of the Atomic CLR active wedge for the mediocre bedroom players (like myself) who are searching for the holy grail - how to make the most of the awesomeness that the Axe FX II puts out.
Background info
To put this into context, here´s a little background info: I am a newbie guitar player, started as an adult. My skill is limited to playing along to my favorite songs, mostly U2 and easy rock songs - and a little metal now and then. So my setup needs to reproduce the chimey AC-30-sound of The Edge with my Strat, and meaty Marshall-like power chords with my Les Pauls. I play mostly at home along with backing tracks - once in a while I play with a couple of other guitarist friends, and I´ve practiced with a band a handful of times.
I use headphones a lot (Grado Labs PS-500s through a Little Dot DAC II headphone amp/dac fed from the SPDIF OUT of the Axe FX) since I live in an apartment. For bedroom playing, I have been using Adam A3X studio monitors - with which I have been very satisfied. Enough headroom and oomph for the bedroom situation, and it has really given me a taste of that stereo sweetness the Axe delivers.
My decision process
But I also needed something that I could bring to guitar-and-beer sessions with my friends, and to band practice. I read a lot on this forum before I went for the Matrix Q12a. My experience with the Matrix has been positive, it´s a great piece of gear. Excellent build quality, clear and accurate sound and lots and lots of volume. In time, I felt the GAS coming on for a stereo setup - so back to the research board. My alternatives after a lot of reading up and listening to iPhone clips on YouTube (sounds familiar? :mrgreen) - came down to this:
- Matrix GT1000FX with 2x NL12s or NL212s
- 2x Atomic CLR active wedges
Now why didn´t I just buy one more Q12a and get it over with? Well - the thing is. The Q12a is great piece of gear, but I found that I wasn´t able to dial in my patches in a way which gave me the same satisfactory sound as I got with my headphones or studio monitors. I felt I was lacking a bit in the low ends, in the fullness of the tone and general "oomph". It felt a bit thin - to my personal preference, mind you! (Disclaimer: I am perfectly aware that this is most probably due to my own inability to dial in my presets correctly - and no fault of the Q12a. Besides, I was running the Q12a in a mono setup comparing it to stereo setups - which of course isn´t fair at all. But I couldn´t financially justify buying another Q12a just to make the comparison fair.) In addition, the Q12a is cooled by a fan. It doesn´t make much noise, but to fan-noise allergic like myself even a little is too much. (Yes, I have replaced the stock fan in the Axe FX - voiding my warranty in the process
)So I came down to the 2 alternatives listed above. I live on the 5th floor in a building with no elevator, so the NL-setup really appealed to both me and my back! However, I ended up with giving FRFR another chance. I really love using cab sims (thanks, Ownhammer!), and I want to be able to use my same presets for FOH in a band situation as I use in my bedroom. I know some guys are using NLs with cab sims on and like it, but it´s still not FRFR - so it will color the sound in some way. Maybe to the better in some cases, but it won´t be the same sound that I have dialed in using FRFR gear. So when the decision to go FRFR was made, here´s a list of the arguments that persuaded me to go for the CLRs opposed to other FRFR solutions:
- The great reviews on this forum (thanks to all the guys putting in the effort)
- The versatility of the wedge shape
- The different options on the I/O panel of the active CLR (thanks to Pete Thorn for the Youtube-video on that)
- The passive cooling of the amp module
Ordering and delivery
I got on the list in the end of July, and received my 2 CLRs in late October. Usually I am very impatient when it comes to delivery of gear I have already decided to buy. In this case it was all right, since new gear is coming out all the time - and I really didn´t decide to buy the CLRs before I actually received my invite. And Tom King has been helpful with information all along, always giving rapid responses to my emails.
So finally, the order was made! I had some technical trouble on my end with the payment, again Tom King promptly helped my by email and phone so it was quickly sorted. I got my DHL tracking number, and I must have reloaded that webpage about 100 times.
The funny thing was, as I work for an airline - I actually witnessed the DHL aircraft I knew was carrying my CLRs landing from Brussels as we were taxiing out for our departure:
Guess who was in a hurry to get home!
Review
So finally, my CLRs were in da house! The CLRs came in a sturdy package, with no damage. At first I couldn´t find the power cables that were supposed to be included, so I emailed Tom King believing they had missed something. To my embarrassment, they were secured to the inside of one of the cardboard supports. (Thanks to Tom King for being civil about it, :lol) So I placed them in the wedge position, quite close - about 50 cms on each side of my position, and connected them to the XLR output 1 of the Axe FX. I then plugged in my Les Paul, bridge volume pot on the guitar at 10 - and laid down some heavy strumming in a loop to perform the gain staging of the CLR as per the manual. Really easy, just adjusted the input until it tickled the red on the CLR panel, and turned it back down a hair. I set the master volume of the CLR to 12 o´clock and the DSP to "TILT". Picked my U2 One-preset, turned up output 1 volume on the Axe FX II a little bit and I was good to go!
First impression:
WOW! Can this really be? Listen to that rotary!
Switched to the Farfegnugen-preset (Das Metall-amp, higain metal) and ripped off some power chords.
Oh my god!! I am the Champion of Metal - I can feel my hair growing down my back and my trousers tightening!
Switched to my Strat and my Where The Streets Have No Name-preset, played with the Zoo TV version in the background through the Axe and the CLRs:
The first time ever I have played myself to tears (in a good way, at least :lol)...
Playing some of my favorite MP3´s through the Axe and the CLRs:
Awesome!
Ok, so this is not a review in the real sense of the word. It´s more of a really really subjective opinion from a not-so-good-guitar player looking for what he thinks of as great sound. But guys and gals, I have found it. I know; I haven´t tried it at gig volumes yet. I haven´t even tried it in a band setting. You have RocketBrothers extensive review for that.
But I can tell you, for me this is the missing link. This is what I have been looking for. This is what completes my Axe FX rig and puts its awesomeness out there. I now have the rich, full stereo sound I wanted with the added benefit of using my cab sims. Yes, they are heavy. Yes, they are expensive - at least from the bedroom players perspective. But they are so very much worth it. And I think the cost is justified by the level of quality with this product.
So have I found any cons? Well I have already mentioned the delivery time, weight and cost. I noticed after a while that they had some noticeable hiss when I wasn´t playing. After reading about a similar experience on this forum, I turned the Master volume on the CLRs down to the 9 o´clock position (25%). Hiss gone. More than enough volume for my use. Might have to crank it up a little in a band setting, but then the light hiss will not be an issue in any case.
To close off, I would like to mention that I hope that this thread doesn´t derail into a slagging contest. I will probably keep my Q12a, as it is a great product - and it gives me the opportunity to try out a WDW-rig when I feel ready to try that out. I have only positive experiences with both Matrix and Atomic - great products, and the customer support of both companies are absolutely stellar!
I called this a preliminary review, since I have only tried the CLRs in a bedroom setting so far - and only in the wedge position. I might chime in later when I get the chance to try them in different settings, and when they have accumulated some more playing time.
So take this for what it is - the personal opinion of a really happy amateur guitar player! :encouragement:
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