Don't believe what you hear about FRFR Speakers

[@84slow]

Love your channel. Best no BS reviews on gear. Been a fan since the early Mooer delays video.

[@luisangelmedia4459]

Thank you so much for this video. You have no idea how much sleep I have lost trying to decide what speaker to purchase for my Helix. Ironically, this is after already having purchase one used JBL eon 610. It sounds great but I went down a rabbit hole thinking maybe it could sound better, could it, maybe. But your video clearly shows all speakers can work and each one has their own pros/cons. I can go to sleep in peace finally. Just another example of chasing GAS more than actually sitting down and practicing to get better! You are doing god's work here.

[@5yearsout]

I don't why but I find some solace in the fact that I'm the only one who stresses about what to buy, it doesn't help me any but at least I'm not alone.

[@scottm3775]

I can’t say how much this review helped. Probably saved me at least a $1K! Thank you so much 😊

[@TheZanger]

As a pro live engineer I sometimes even asked a guitar player if they had ears on the back of their calves…angle that small amp, put it on a case or a stand AND in front of you or a bit on the side. And indeed if you have one of those digital sim things, the floor monitor or in ears will do great!

[@leeh5150]

Hi Henning. Long time since we talked. As you know I'm a bass player. Well after many sound problems when performing in churches, I finally landed on the right setup. A Zoom B6 modeler thru a HeadRush FRFR 108..... (yes I said 108) speaker. That HeadRush is magnificent in the bass frequencies. And I play 5 string. I can carry a few items to the stage, hear myself and DI out of the Zoom to the FOH. (Personal Note....Everybody else look away) (When last we met at NAMM a few years ago, you had just put your dog down. I had to do the same last month. Man that messed me up.) Always love watching your channel. P.S. The amp project is still on going.

[@izahanismail5646]

put a camera on the binaural mic where ‘eyes’ should be … that would make a cool ‘in the room experience’ video

[@therealjakeott]

The biggest kick of these modeler systems is stereo output, imo. Just one of any of those top-end FRFRs might sound good, but a matched pair of any FRFR will be loud enough for any stage (totally played a massive venue last weekend with my Helix into two Headrush 108s and was louder than everything else on stage), AND you can get a stereo image in your effects that will blow your mind!

[@michaelwilson2497]

Do you find the 8" speaker loses anything from a 12"? I just went to Fractal AX8 and through my 5" studio monitors it sounds so synthetic.

[@JayGarcia19]

​​​@@michaelwilson2497 I tried the two frfrs in a store and I can tell you that they have the same volume and power (which for the size is impressive). Although the 112 has this very marked bass that is somewhat excessive in my opinion. Finally I decided on the 108 as it had a more crystalline sound. I hope to buy another one soon so I can have the pair.

[@joebranston6330]

How do you monitor yourself? I'm assuming the 2 headrushzz are pointing at the audience?

[@rafaelsencine4946]

@@michaelwilson2497really? Well I was thinking to get a 4” Edifier R1700bt probably I Will be desapointed? ( just playing in home some chug metal things)

[@michaelwilson2497]

@@rafaelsencine4946 a year later LOL. I am on a Tone Master Pro thru a 10 channel board with 8" JBL studio monitors. I did go down the 12" frfr monitor route. Just couldn't get in synch with the AX8. Much happier now. Powered monitors seem to work better with these modelers. Imo

[@EasyHeat]

Revisiting this just now? I did put on my headphones, and hilariously I just got overwhelmingly amused, albeit simultaneously a tad awkwardly uncomfortable whilst having you ASMR whispering soo close into each of my ears! LMAO! Do it again!! Ha! OMG! I honestly really needed that laugh today. Seriously... Thank you Henning! 💌

[@steveliberty]

I got into modeling via the HX Stomp. Now, I also have an Iridium. I love using them because of the convenience and flexibility of tones. I started with an Alto TS310 frfr. It sounded good, but it didn't fill the room (VERY directional), and it didn't quite feel right. I switched to a regular guitar cab and a small power amp, and it changed everything for me. My main cab is a 1x12 loaded with a JBL K-120, but I also have several others, including a Monoprice 1x12 loaded with a V30 ($149 - crazy!). I have several power amps, some of which are DIY built form a $4 single board amplifier, and others are actually stereo HIFI amps (I play mono, and just use one channel). All of these options sound great, and work very well for my needs. Does my tube amp sound and react better? Sure, but marginally, and they are heavy. This solution (power amp and guitar cab) is working best for me. Nice video Henning - I agree that the frfr thing is largely a marketing ploy, and almost any wedge will do pretty mucg the same.

[@martiboucat]

I use my stomp through the fx return of an old 90s carlsbro 80w amp and on the cd input of a mini Peavey Rage 158 and i really think this will always sound better than a stage monitor. I really want to check the Blackstar idcore100 because of the stereo fxloop return on a dual speaker cab.

[@sXeSnowmansXe]

I'd be really interested to see a review of the Harley Benton G212-A FRFR cabinet with the stereo power amp. Kind of looks like a whole lot of good FRFR features combined into one unit, but there really aren't any reviews out there.

[@daniellaudman8580]

I was thinking about one of those as well

[@azharkhan8796]

Amp demos need to be done this way. Mic'd up amp demos are so useless to me. Nice format here!

[@gmac8852]

Absolutely right.

[@ロクアンドロールしかないでも好きだ]

Doesn’t matter if they are mic’d or not by the time it goes through the ADC-DAC conversion of whatever device you are accessing this content on it’s no longer authentic anyway.

[@iurigrang]

@@ロクアンドロールしかないでも好きだout of everything, mic, mic position, speakers you’re listening on, your room, subjective impressions, you really decided to focus on the ADC/DAC conversion as where the authenticity is lost? Damn son

[@iurigrang]

oh, I also forgot, the guitar/pedals they’re playing through, their playing style, the preamps of their recording gear, the amp on your side, youtube compression. Heck, I even notice the difference between some of my cables a lot more than I do between DACs. really, ADC/DAC conversion isn’t even top 10 factors that would make that less legitimate.

[@upStomp]

I don't think you can trust audio demos on KZbin, or any other audio/video streaming service unless just doing an a/b.

[@bennettshapiro7711]

The reason the peak output rating means something, is because it tells you how much clean headroom you have. That is kind of important. There are momentary peaks in almost any kind of music. Clean headroom means but those peaks aren’t going to square wave and damage your speaker.

[@bassyey]

Does square wave damage speaker? Should I not play fuzz? I have one with square wave.

[@JohnvanCapel]

@@bassyey TL;DR Just don't play your fuzz with everything else cranked to max volume, and you'll be fine. Pumping a square wave through a speaker, in itself, isn't damaging. It's overloading the power-amp connected to the speaker so much that it starts to either distort to a square wave by itself or clip more on top of an already-squared-out wave, that's liable to cause damage. At that point, you're already supplying a high-amplitude load to the speakers, but due to the power-amp clipping it's also converting some of what should be high-amplitude low frequencies into even higher-amplitude high frequencies, which can overload tweeters in one of several ways - if you're lucky the speaker will just tear itself out, if you're unlucky it overheats the coil inside the tweeter and you get a fire. A square-wave from a fuzz pedal or a synth, typically, will get compressed down to safety by a non-clipping power amp. If you're running the power-amp hard enough that it can't cope, though, the addition of the fuzz effect will generate even more high-amplitude high-frequency content.

[@ElectricVillage]

Excellent video. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on using the ANT gear for bass.

[@MFKitten]

Problem with those binaural mics is that they add a resonance in the ear cavity that our ear already adds to the headphone sound. You should ideally do a narrow EQ cut at the resonant peak to get it level with everything else. Our brains only filter that out once. Doubling it up by leaving it on just makes everything harsh.

[@officialpoa3171]

*I have been doing 10" speakers for years. Also the thing is when you are on a stage, the Fills and Monitors on a pro stage will be 15"... 12" are great but when you use 10's plus the sound going through the rest of the PA.... It will feel like playing with your regular 4x12 miced up.*

[@kmcg101]

Thanks for the review. Can you do one for bedroom level powered speakers? I'm done playing out and would like to make my rig as small as possible. I have a line 6 express and I'd like to swap my 1000 watt PA speaker for something smaller.

[@duncancartledge1667]

Nice comprehensive review of different options. Tried the Alto and Headrush 108 in the past but settled on the Powercab Plus 112. To be fair it’s horses for courses but I like the modelled speakers in the powercab and the tilt legs so it can be used as a wedge type monitor, plus it has options for FRFR, using as a modelled speaker, or as a monitor ( has a hidden setting for that which removes the EQ that makes it sound like a cab) . I think it’s fair to,say it is not plug and play though, needs some time setting up and matching to your modeller ( in my case Strymon Iridium and sometimes an old POD XT) . Spot on comment that it’s easily scuffed and no corner protection so wouldn’t really stand up to road life. Main use for me is running amps through load boxes.

[@marksvideochannel3592]

I too love the Powercab+. Sold my SV20 because the Helix LT and Powercab+ can get very close. Well close enough for me.

[@RaxFx]

would have been nice to see a Friedman ASM-12 Active Monitor and the Harley Benton G212A-FR Active Cabinet, both in wedge format

[@jlbaxe]

I have the Friedman ASC12 cab….it is good but I have to dial out the bass-y-ness. I use a tube stereo amp and Friedman ported 1x12s with EVM12L 300w BLS speakers. I use Helix for effects mostly and Synergy Syn2 preamp in a loop. I had the same issue with my Axe fx 3, it sounded great through amp/cabs. I use an eq in a loop for the ASC12 cab and it is better and close to an amp in the room.

[@KratosIsSick]

Whenever I need a detailed run down on "how things work" this is the go-to channel.

[@guitarflyer172]

I played an outside gig with the Headrush 12” and a Peavey PVX12 and used a headrush 8” as a monitor. It was more than enough volume and I was the only member not mic’d up.

[@21stcenturymetal31]

For me in my small studio at home one Headrush FRFR108 into my MX5 works great. Cheap and very compact and works great for that purpose.

[@heavybrett-al4082]

👍yea I'm using the 108 with a pod go, and it's pretty impressive.

[@jcserrano1663]

Dear Pauly, can you test the G66 10's that Marco Fantom created with Redsouns ?

[@Firesign85]

Do you think tht 108 is good for low volume playing without gettomg boxy? Not sure getting iloud micro monitors, using a yamha thr as frrfr or the headrush. Just for low volume in an apartment

[@littletardis]

I have the Headrush as an alternate to a Mackie 8” monitor and have to say I have gone back to the Mackie. However both fit into the boot of my MX5 which is good.

[@papafsb444]

I have the headrush 112 with a hx stomp. Sounds great.

[@monty5066]

Everything you said in the first 3 minutes was exactly why I bought TWO Headrush FRFR108's. I use them as powered PA tops, on solo/duo gigs, and as monitors for full band gigs. Highly recommend, if any one is curious. Great sound, lots of power, and cheap as chips.

[@annabailey8987]

exactly dude. Ironic.

[@erpece]

Great video again! I have a small Headrush FRFR to go with my Helix and it has a ground lift option, which I think every FRFR should have. I noticed (to my suprise) that not all FRFR's have a ground lift. That will surely cause hum, especially in a stage environment.

[@thegregramirezcovers]

Hey Henning, fantastic video. On this subject, I have a request for you to review the Harley Benton G212A-FR Active Cabinet - It's specced beautifully and is killing the price range of its competitors. Wondering if it's any good. The Thomann reviews are all top.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Great timing. I had the same experience with the PC212 and have been looking at trying the coaxial floor monitors.

[@andreafox7267]

Great demo! I was considering the RCF range but decided to go for QSC K8.2 and K10.2. These are excellent, hifi quality, really powerful speakers. I use an 8” stereo pair for guitar and they sound great.

[@andreafox7267]

@Gordon I’ve got a pair of 8” and a pair of 10”. 10” are for synths and piano and 8” I bought as monitors for project that never happened so I use them for electric guitar straight from pedal board. They’re not cheap but they are excellent quality. I’ve had Alto & JBL before which were great for the money but no where near as powerful or as good audio quality.

[@andreafox7267]

@Gordon they are the QSC K10.2’s.

[@frankiebananas2784]

Yes such a difference in quality.I have 2 K 10’s and 1 K 12 in my DJ performance and when I am not working plug my pod go in it and sounds great.There are many used ones available at good prices.

[@secretstorymusic]

I dont have a dedicated FRFR because I just use a floor wedge with the band mix. For my purposes the QSC K12 1st gen] has been outstanding. You can find the first gens used all day for $600-800

[@tobysalas]

I use the QSC K12 and sounds amazing. Qsc is awesome.

[@FunkyELF]

That's what the guys at Sweetwater told me when I was looking for a drum speaker. They said just get a good PA. I use a Mackie Thump 15. They told me I should get minimum 15" if I'm going to be using drums. Now I use it for everything because I use Ableton to loop... Drums, bass, keys, guitar (through Pod Go) I actually have a pair of them but typically use just one because two are overkill in my music room... If I want stereo I use headphones. I bring out the two when we jam outside or play a movie outside on projector.

[@RMartin631]

I just bought the Positive Grid Spark 2 with the Cab (140 watts) and couldn't be happier. I've owned everything from Kustoms to several Marshalls and I've never been this happy. The modeling is spot on and it is plenty loud.

[@dsam6990]

I always seem to do things differently, but hey... so as my permanent home gear setup I now use a dream 65 running into a Roland PM30 drum speaker, which is such a great choice cos you have 3 stereo jack inputs with their own volume controls and a RCA stereo input, together with a master volume and a 3 band EQ, this EQ is very essential when you want to mix the drums and guitar thus allowing you to find the best compromise for both instruments.With the RCA I plug my laptop via my Tascam 2x2 to play back my recordings, my BB goes into channel 1, Dream into 2, and there's a cable ready for my phone on channel 3. It really handles the different frequencies very well, which makes sense cos on drums thats what you need from the low kick to the high sounding high hat and cymbals. In my opinion you dont want it flat when you intend to mix in drums or external music, you need to have some control on the EQ to get the best

[@boogie8313]

Thanks to you of because of you (will judge when I receive my order 😅), I pulled my trigger on the NX 10 SMA to monitor my Kemper Stage.Thanks for your input here and the quality of your vid.

[@davetbassbos]

As a bass player I'd usually be sent into the PA even in the 50 person capacity bars we used to play, are guitarists with the modeling heads starting to do that?

[@faethe000]

Yah, guitarists are notoriously conservative and resistant to change when it comes to gear, but they're gradually switching to modelers and PA too.

[@saarangnarayan123]

I've played two bigger gigs like that and do that all the time at home as well with my Axe Fx. It's very hassle-free to be honest, but yes, as Henning said, it's not the same as going through a cab and head. But I'll be honest, it's much much more relieving and stress-free to know that you don't have to worry about tubes and power and all that sort of stuff, and you don't have to worry about micing and relying on the sound guy(s) to know what you want to sound like. With a modeller, you can just tell them to basically treat your signal like a keyboard and not mess with it at all unless they have a regular routine for the room.

[@ayeapprove]

Yeah If I have IEM It's not a problem

[@ithemba]

Don't depend on it though. As a life engineer in a small venue I can attest to the problem of limited number of PA channels. It'd be a nightmare if guitarists would start to be dependent on a channel in the mixer as a general rule.

[@ayeapprove]

@@ithemba wait, I thought it's either micd or direct, who still uses their backline as PA?

[@DavidFeilyMusic]

Would love to see a comparison of the RCF HD10 and the NX10

[@miketuttle9319]

I came across a simple home playing rig - I have a Spark, I rand a line from the headphone output into the aux of a Champion 20. I'm planning on getting a Champion 40 for the 12" speaker rather than an 8". Simple, but good for home playing and getting a bigger sound than just the Spark.

[@roybuis7646]

So Henning, I want to buy a Fractal FM3 (or FM9), and use it in my appartment to have fun with all the amp & cab models and recreate some album sounds to play along to my favourite songs with a tone that fits. I don't gig. I don't play in a band. I don't play live. I'm just a bedroom rockstar. What should I pick if I want an FRFR monitor that makes the models sound amazing, good clarity, but is suitable for home/appartment use?

[@RichardLainegard]

Henning, I might be wrong here, but aren’t those meant to simulate an actual cab on stage (like the Kemper cone) hence, the idea being that you’re meant to run a main out to FOH with IR simulating a mic`ed cab, and another output with the IR disengaged to the FRFR on stage and use its built in modeling to get the sound of an actual cab on stage (at least, that’s the idea with the Kemper cabs). So in that regard, it’s not meant to replace a PA speaker, but to mimic how you would use a real amp on stage.

[@EytschPi42]

Hey Richard, No, FRFR cabs are full range so they will sound horrible without an IR applied to the signal.I would be like going into a mixer with just an overdrive. Some FRFR cabs have features geared towards guitar players, but essentially they are full range PA speakers in guitar player friendly shapes… but in reality a wedge is the friendlier shape because you can actually hear yourself and that is the whole point!

[@RichardLainegard]

@@EytschPi42absolutely, but some of these products come not with IR’s to mimic a mic’ed cab, but aims to reproduce the sound of the speaker in the room (as I said, only aware of Kemper’s design that uses a speaker modelling that can be activated for the output that goes to the FRFR, so that you get more of that “real amp in a room” sound on stage, and the FOH gets a signal with the mic-IR. For example then, if those cabs have built-in speaker emulation, you’d be expected to run into it with the Cab-IR turned off, and feed FOH from another output. Speaking about wedges, I recall that Vai used wedges with V30’s in as additional monitors at the front of the stage, pointed upwards towards him.

[@tumadsvids]

It doesn't mean 'Gives you Loud' it means Flat response. I.e. doesn't color the tone and not necessarily a P.A. Speaker at all but can be used as such. Also a guitar cab usually has ONE speaker (2, 4) that delivers all the tone spectrum and is capped at certain frequencies (has less range overall) that a guitar does not need to be at. A Flat response has at least a main driver and a horn to cover a much wider frequency spectrum in general. When you say 'bullshit' you are forgetting that some players want to hear more than a guitar cab can produce or want to combine that speaker with other inputs or sources. 35:12 -36:06 is the only thing I agree with here.

[@bennettshapiro7711]

I guess the other thing I should say here, is that in my experience, any of these powered wedges will work, because we have EQ in our rigs to adjust for the sound of the box. Some of these boxes are darker, and some of them brighter. Some of them have accentuated mid range. But we can adjust for all of that. So there’s really no reason to go with something really expensive.

[@chopperdeath]

I agree. EQ is huge. If you have a 31 band EQ you can fix almost any issue. An easier solution might be a 2/3 band parametric. I could see a person wanting a wider or taller soundstage a 4x12 might offer, but electronic processing can mimic a wide soundstage in a pretty convincing way now. It's good to be alive with all this great sounding gear.

[@rangerdoc1029]

Which is why I think FRFR is bullshit. They're clearly not as they all sound so different. May as well just get a PA

[@smartmammal9926]

Unfortunately, the product ANT ASM 10 is no longer available. I have a HeadRush FR-108 I purchased used. Pretty good sound. Not good for Bass. Would need the Fr-112 for bass I would guess.

[@tonepilot]

Wish the RCF models didn’t need speakon for power. Standard IEC power cables are available anywhere. Speakon, not so much. Great review.

[@veitbartels7126]

Its powercon! Big difference ;) - See it from the otherside: Powercon is lockable, so you dont plug it out by accident.

[@deans.4705]

If I can run xlr right out of my modeler to the front of house P.A. and they are happy with the sound, it would make sense that any half decent P.A speaker should pretty much do the trick.

[@steveball4609]

Nice one Henning, yet another top review. I'm using a Helix LT with a Yamaha DXR12 MkI and must say its opened my eyes to how good technology has become. It has however taken a little adaptation to get used to a powered speaker and amp/cab/mic modelling and the phenomena known as the Fletcher Munson Curve.I'm used to using tube amps and guitar cabs for most of my gigging career and, Ive found there are a fair few differences to how things are projected/dispersed and different eq'ing. I'm lucky that I work in a school music dept and have the facility to turn up the DXR12 with the Helix in a classroom after school to eq the unit for F.M.C effect. I think they're 95% there sound wise and for the convenience and portability they're brilliant.

[@bojames7841]

Curious that the Headrush frfr is missing from his lineup good powerful at a good price point and he didn’t mention it in his modeling pedalboard list. Things that make you go humm

[@XMetalChefX]

I think its cause Headrush uses a already existing speaker cab company butjgets a custom nameplate option. Dont quote me on that reasoning for him, just a known fact.😊

[@othermyke]

Ya the head rush is just an alto with a replaced nameplate

[@reverendprophet]

i was out looking to see if I needed to buy a guitar head to power this old 4x12 i have and instead, I heard about FRFR then I found this video 2nd. And you saved me. I already have a pair of powered PA monitors. Boom. You just saved me at least a few hundred dollars.

[@simonwilliams7608]

I wonder if it would be fair to suggest that "filling the room" might be just what we need to be satisfied when practicing (or just having some fun) at home or with friends, but it's not what's needed in an F.O.R. mix, or probably on stage either if we're really wanting to hear the rest of the band and where we fit in? Just a thought 🙂

[@brucedickinson8993]

6:06 IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE AN REAL PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS! Please, all the time, touch the equipments, hold them, record in diferent angles with you in their sides... thanks!!!! Amazing

[@bemorecheetah]

Just bought a Mackie Thump 15A Powered PA Speaker for bass to use with my HX Stomp - sounds incredible and VERY loud - got it in the BAX sale for £270 - into the input, out to the FOH - life is sweet!

[@grantloud]

Interesting video, but I'd be very interested to see a comparison that included powered PA floor monitors.

[@EytschPi42]

These are powered PA floor monitors

[@brianthomas1764]

Great video thank you - the solution I am using is to use my Bass Guitar amplifier with my new Pod Go . Whilst not a true FRFR solution it has a wider , flatter freq. response and doesn’t colour the sound as much. I set all my patches through the bass cabinet headphones connection to ensure it sound like my patch. Interested in your thought ps on this - Cheets

[@TheBeatlesGuiseDuo]

Yes I've noticed many guitarists on a stage will blast out the room and the stage, which sounds bad. While their amp's sound is pointed at their legs they can't tell how crazy loud it really is to everyone else! Why so many won't just angle up the amps I can't understand. At 3:19, the big difference between a normal full range PA speaker/monitor, and the FRFR made for guitar, is probably the DI line out to FOH which can't be done (I guess?) from a PA speaker. Also with these guitar combo sized FRFR cabinets that have cab sims, since modeler pedals have cab sims built in already, you make a good point, just use them instead. It's confusing. Or why not use eq from inside the modeler to remove all the unwanted frequencies from a common "full range" PA speaker? So now it's basically simulating an FRFR. So if you already have a spare PA speaker, why not just use that and save some $erious buck$? Mostly all guitar amps have only lower wattage woofers and usually no tweeters or horns. FRFR have HF tweeters and the normal PA speaker has a bigger horn for HF. BOTH have high wattage woofers. It's sort of mixed up as to what is going to work well and SOUND like the "amp in a room" we all want. One more caveat is why couldn't you send your guitar MONO signal to both a speaker on stage and to FOH directly from the modeler? The bottom line is how it sounds, I'd better get to some testing. P.S. what about comparing an FRFR speaker to using a normal guitar amp, but through the amp's Effects Loop, with the 4 cable method? Of course you'd have to remove those cab sims that don't fit the actual cabinet (IE 2x12, 1x10 etc).

[@SeanSilas_IronWrath_GTR]

Thank you for the review!! I love my Kemper which is the powered version going into a Dr Jekyll GuitarWorks 2x12 ported cab with Eminence EM12n speakers! So awesome but, I needed to hear myself more so I removed the back casters on the cab so the cab is at a angle!!! NOW I can really hear myself. It would be nice to have one of these facing me like a monitor. Thank you man again!

[@philw8049]

I have a headrush frfr108 and gotta be honest, I think it sounds fantastic. Having said that I had no confusion about what it is, which is basically a powered pa speaker with a 2 channel mixer. I am fine with that, the price is not bad at all either.

[@chriscuthbertson]

Yep its a Alto TS208 with a different badge. Alto and Headrush are part of the same company,

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

I have the small headrush too and use it with a few different modellers. The top end has to be rolled off as it gets harsh at high volume but it has some kick to it for a small unit and good bass response. Also it is pretty loud!!

[@rojocinco]

And what do you think about Bosé S1?

[@rainingsideways6001]

I've got the headrush too. It sounds good but..... Not accurate. If I dial in a sound on the headrush, it sounds entirely different on recordings/ thru studio monitors. Just my 2 cents.

[@Righetho]

@@rainingsideways6001 I also got them, pair of 108s, and they sound “different” from the recordings due to ambient interference, ain’t it? I usually take it into consideration, just my 2 cents with a genuine question.

[@GuitarSundayChannel]

Would be awesome to compare RCF units vs the G66/RedSound monitors. Similar price range

[@strathound]

Hilarious commentary. Subscribed. I've been looking for a good floor wedge for all my shows. Looks like this can serve double duty there.

[@bostonmike9003]

Just picked up the RCF NX10 here in the US $1200 I am a fan of your videos. Wondering if you had anymore content using the NX10 ? Any more thoughts on it since the time you have posted this video ?

[@EytschPi42]

I use it all the time… it’s great

[@johngonzales8224]

I agree with you but in most several cases the Headrush frfr and the Harley Benton are a little cheaper then a PA speaker. I have tube amps and frfr to use with Line 6 and Mooer units. I usually use an amp and cab but the other day I had a tight stage so i went with my line6 pod go and a headrush frfr112 and the sound was great the the crown enjoyed the sound I felt it was very accurate in my tones.

[@mikemackinaw]

Last weekend I gigged in a small to medium bar using 2 Headrush frfr108 through a Line 6 Firehawk modeler. The Headrush claims 2000 watts each... I had to have both speakers turned up 3/4's to hear properly when they are on the floor directly in front of me. It did sound good,but I was taken back on how high they needed to be turned up. I am still on the fence with frfr speakers instead of an amp.

[@MusicheadRick]

Idk what you are doing, but those headrushes are extremely loud. 3/4 ? Depending on what you are doing on your unit it can easily damage your ears.

[@dpround]

Watts are a terrible measure of the amount of noise a speaker can make. The efficiency makes a huge difference. HiFi speakers are typically 89dB/w, PA speakers could easily be 102dB/w. Every 3dB difference is twice the sound output. The difference between 102 and 89dB/w is 13, which is more than four doublings or 16 times as much sound for the same number of watts. Efficiency is a typically a function of size, at 12 inch speaker will typically be a lot more efficient than a 8, but an 8 is much easier to carry!

[@barbarafogle3541]

Using less than half of their ability is not a good argument for lack there of. Using a eight inch speaker in a love setting also has its disadvantages.

[@williamfoster4463]

I have the headrush 8 inch which is fine for me for home use personally think you are missing the point of the line 6 powercab with built in cab sims I think this is so you can turn the speaker Sims off in whatever device you have which normally have Mic Sims built in which supposedly give more of a guitar cab emulation that we guitarists are use too

[@dgwstx]

Did you happen to try the Celestion F12-X200 speaker ? I think it's best of both worlds, especially when placed into the Celestion reference design cab.

[@robertlibutti6605]

One thing I appreciate about Henning is he doesn't edit out his flubs. So many guys have cuts between every two words.

[@alexng3375]

Could u please use the same setup and review the mission frfr as well?

[@suchfire]

Now this might be an old video, but RCF support referenced it in a recent email! The ANT one seems to be discontinued, then again ANT is supposed to be RCFs cheaper line. RCF then again is somehow affiliated with db technologies. Then Thomann usually assimilates good stuff... Might i ask what happened to that ANT ASM 10 and is there a recommendation for 2024?

[@mirecmusic]

I bought the Headrush 108 for a personal guitar monitor on stage and i give it an A- only because it could tilt up just a little more as i use it up front near my ME80 pedal board setup.My amp is in back of me so i get a good front back tonal and volume response.It will not take the place of an amp.I played it both ways as a monitor and a stand alone amp XLR out to the house. As a stand alone it doesn't have the guitar amp feel nor the volume.Good cabinet though.

[@dezertson2011]

You always use cab emulation with FRFR speakers. I use the Celestion IR’s from a two notes cab and it sounds great.

[@rafaelsencine4946]

Amazing vídeo! Should be shared in worldwire for all 👏👏👏👏👏

[@pierredeslandes9896]

Hi, @3:35 : "why run IR on the cab when you have them on your helix gear ??" ---> when you don't have gear that has (a decent) built in IR. Which is probably the case of most preamp in pedal format. Having a built in IR lets you lug around a preamp pedal and a powered cab with IR. And you're good to go.

[@achutomo]

it not replace any real amp+cab, so does it more for flexibility ? thx Great Video.

[@craigwalters9064]

Hey Henning. Thanks for all the honest reviews. But doesn't playing with the door open piss off the neighbours?

[@EytschPi42]

it’s rock’n’roll to piss off the neighbors !!!!!

[@jorismak]

Got a pedal board with a victory preamp and an amp tweaker depthfinder after it. When I can make noise , it goes into a solid state Poweramp into a 1x12. When I need to manage volume or even use headphones, the pedalboard goes into an IR loader and into a Thomann t-box 108 something something. A 8" pa speaker ,which is enough for my room then.

[@emvdhout]

true, nothing sounds like a guitar speaker. But the issue is that nowadays more and more setups are feeding the PA system through line signals and not by miking cabs. So the fun of these FRFR (or just PA) speakers is that you try to hear yourself the same way the audience hears you.

[@jworks6320]

Been a year. Any recommended frfr close to sound the same on PA?

[@4142Wilb]

I use a Zoom G6 thru a SD power stage with Celestion FrFr and it’s good for what it needed for with out lugging around a 60lbs tube head and 100lbs 412 cabinet.

[@nedim_guitar]

Great, informative and fun video! I'm angeling my amp when I play because my ears aren't on my feet. 😁

[@lenni-hazels]

Have you tried the Fender FR-10 and FR-12 cabs/amps? AFAIK they are not completely flat response and do color the sound but only ever so slightly that it nudges the thing towards a more cab-like experience, at least that is the concept as far as i understand it.

[@keithamyx1215]

A musician who is also a THINKER. You're awesome MAN!

[@fretbuzz_]

Great video. If you review something like this again you could use a program like rew to measure the actual output into the room.

[@DKprojects9]

I have a pod go and originally bought it with a headrush 108, ended up returning the headrush and getting 2 studio monitors for stereo. I have now bought a bunch of IRs from multiple makers and even though I can get good sounds, I always find using a real amp and cab OR even just running my pod go into an amps fx loop return with IRs off sounds best. I always think there is something wrong with me and the way I'm doing everything cuz it seems like everyone (on youtube) is always recording and doing demos with IRs and other software on their computers but at home in my room playing...I think FRFR speakres w/IRs sucks compared to a real guitar speaker cabinet.

[@barbarafogle3541]

You may want to try a bigger location or smaller speakers. You may have sound being redirected. I'm not sure just my opinion.

[@DYKItsMe]

I wonder, why you didn't include the ICOA Speaker, you mentioned in another video. I also wonder, if coaxial speaker design, stereo (2 Monitors) and analog (or DSP with latency) is an important part of the equation with the sound and feel of amp modelers.

[@stixdiamond]

Hi Henning , i am using 2 alto ts310 with my Helix floor + and happy enough , however im having to use them for something else so the obvious thing would be to buy another 2 the same for my helix ( £550 ) but im tempted by the harley benton 2x12 FRFR which can run stereo and is only (£250) BUT i can find NO videos or reviews at all ( other than the Thomann one ) , thought you would have done one , Have you tried them , any info would be appreciated , Cheers from Scotland

[@fluorophoremusic3679]

I'm super confused by this topic. I have a 2x12 cab with a hellatone 30 and hellatone 60. I'm moving more toward the modeling route and plan to sell my tube amp, but keep the cab because I don't want to just plug into the house. Instead of a powered speaker, can't I just use an appropriate watt solid state amplifier to power my cab and just plug a modeler (helix, pod go w.e.) into the solid state amp? I would just turn off the cabinet sim or IR...because I have a cab. Then, Keep the solid state amp on a relatively transparent clean setting and there you go...would I have a similar thing as a marketed FR powered speaker? Is it a totally flat response? No, that I realize. But, will it be transparent enough and comparable to?

[@checkitout611]

You truly do an excellent job of keeping the talking and demo in perfect amounts. I got lucky and was able to purchase an RCF NX 12 for $100 more than the NX 10 and I truly love it. To be fair I also own (and was already familiar with RCF) HD-10 tops (and for stage monitors) and RCF 8004 subs as well for playing out. I can't recommend the NX series enough if you are even thinking about getting the 10 or 12 to compliment your modeler. I use the Quad Cortex through mine and the clarity and headroom is fantastic. Another nice option not listed here (that I have tried) is the ATOMIC CLR NEO MK II. On that note don't be afraid to try the HD-10 as a monitor either as I used one before moving up to the NX 12 (which was recently).

[@DavidFeilyMusic]

I use an HD 10 and have been loving it. Is the NX10 a huge upgrade? Im using a Hx stomp and radial stage bug to send the XLR to FOH and use the 1/4” thru to the HD10.

[@checkitout611]

@@DavidFeilyMusic Huge? No .... they are a bit smoother with more detail (especially in the mid / high end) but I'd stick with the HD if you already have it. It's a great speaker. 👍

[@jeffh7348]

did you see all the bugs on the floor

[@ScienceofLogicTV]

Two days ago I plugged my Joyo Oxford Sound into the FX Return of my Marshall DSL20CR (combo) and I got the best tone out of this speaker I've ever heard - at a reasonable volume. The problem is that once you do this with a combo that doesn't have a separate volume control for the power amp section, the preamp pedal will control the volume entirely with the power amp being fully on. And 0,25° on the volume control decide on room volume or hearing damage. So I think I just buy an IR Pedal, plug it into my old 12" Thomann wedge and enjoy playing. I would have used pedals with my Marshall onstage too, so screw it.

[@jacksonhoward3743]

My Band uses the Yamaha DBR12 as our PA tops and they are absolutely awesome. We use IEMs for monitors most of the time, but in the rehearsal room they act as our vocal and guitar speakers primarily. They are light, rugged and sound awesome. We have played a variety of outdoor stages with them and they are plenty loud and we often get compliments on how great they sound. Can't recommend yamaha dbr12 speakers enough!

[@samueldiker]

@@S1L3NTknight You can hear a fan when it is silent, but it is quiet.

[@brianlebrun2382]

Excellent video. I run a concert array with RCF speakers and yes, they are expensive but damn, it's clear and loud (30000 watts!). I think you missed the point though about those of us using a modeler and needing to hear. I run a Headrush FRFR112 and at 2000 watts it'll knock your head off....but that's a monitor. What about those of us who want a little something coming off the stage? I have 2 tube amps (one has a 4x10 cab) but I carry lights and sound and don't have room for a conventional amp much less the desire to hook up the 4CM and shut off speaker sims. That's where the Powercab comes in. It's smaller but has power and yes, it has kick back legs so you aren't tickling your ankles with the sound. Any programs I use will be designed around that speaker. You're 100% right about the "feel" of a real amp....the sound jumps right out at you but sometimes there's a need for a trade-off....convenience vs my back. Keep the videos coming.

[@Adipsia1]

Great video Henning. If you're spending £1k+ for a modeler that will give you access to a wide range of amp and cab tones, why would you want to skrimp on the speaker output... assuming that you didn't already have decent headphones or monitors ? I have an Atomic CLR that I've had for some time... sounds lush even at lower volumes. I'd definitely go for the RCFs.

[@ryanwylervids]

In the US I can’t find the ANT AMS 10 or the RCF NX10 SMA on the market. Is there a current offering also available in the US that you can recommend to get the same results? I’d prefer to get the cheaper ANT 10 AMS, but willing to go up to the RCF NX10 SMA price range if there’s no longer a similarly priced product that is as good as the ANT 10 AMS.

[@joshwalshthe1]

I am seriously wondering as a guitarist if to try this ! It would get rid of alot of problems when showing up to new venues !

[@skwinged]

Do you think it would make any kind of sense to go with even cheaper PA speaker? Like for example thomann's speakers released under the brand Fun Generation? Or is it going too cheap? That actually may be an idea for some test of yours.

[@fedboy21]

Im in a market for an frfr. How did it compared to a let say Yam*ha studio monitor 5 or 7 inch or others brand??? Is it the sound have big differences??? Im talking about the sound and feel not about the usage for stage and not. Ooh btw u have to try and review the NUX PA 50.

[@s27flanker]

First things first, awesome channel&work! Did you mention that any monitor feels like an amp in the room. Can you get that feeling with an amp? (But still get good sound) From your comments, I deduce that powercab 112 and katana 100 mkii as amplifier are not good enough. But what about katana using "power amp in" for helix/headrush/kemper? Also, katana artist mkii power amp in? It has a better speaker, but maybe it is not flat/good enough? Another amps that do a good job with modelers? Did you have/test the line6 stagesource l2t? It should be a good competitor here, But it's hard to find it since yamaha bought line6. It has the same thing about not feeling like an amp in the room?

[@s27flanker]

I've found the gemini gm-1 & the laney lfr-112 both seems very nice! But until I'll go to a store to test them it is hard to say.

[@billwarner213]

Hello! I would like to respectfully offer my opinion that the Mission Engineering Gemini-2 cabs really are AMAZING! I purchased one (and then another for stereo) to use with my Quad Cortex, and I could not speak more highly about them. They truly give you that heavy, thumpy 4X12 cab feel with a very “open” amp-in-the-room tone. HIGHLY recommended!

[@williambronchick4350]

Doesn't that weight like 60+ lbs, thus defeating the point of a modeling rig? CONVENIENCE!

[@SimonsBand1]

@@williambronchick4350 the point of modelling rig is the access to so many different tones, not just convenience

[@babtanian]

I purchased the 1 x 12 PowerCab and I liked it fine at moderate volume, but hated it at gig volume. So, based on your commentary, it may not be representative of a typical FRFR experience?

[@bobbreckenkamp4641]

What guitar is that at 9:17??

[@SerhiiYashchuk]

Eventually will you prefer a real guitar tube amp 112 or frfr? I am worry to pay much and regret in sound quality downgrade if I switch from 6505+ 112 to frfr

[@Curt.dammit]

Hardest channel name for me to remember and search for, but the results are always worth it.

[@EytschPi42]

Just search for HP42

[@Curt.dammit]

@@EytschPi42 well, shit…

[@bernie_smith]

Absolutely love my Atomic Neo CLRs. Super wide audio dispersal, two inputs with switchable link through. 3 modes of operation: floor monitor, back line and on pole use, with corresponding DSP settings. They make a great small PA too and I also use them as studio monitors. Never played through a set of speakers of this comparable size where I can crank my acoustics so high before low end feedback sets in. Bass guitar sounds superb through them too. Not sure if they are still in production though?

[@Adipsia1]

Agree totally. I purchased my Atomic CLR some years back and it's superb in every respect.

[@alext.3186]

I wonder whether any reviewer care about latency of DSP in that frfr/monitor active speakers? I think it may be critical issue since it sums up with your amp modeller latency, whether it fractal or hotone.. It's sad, but I couldn't find specific information about the latency of any of the speakers with DSP from the behringer f1220d to the yamaha db(x)r10/12..

[@donnmontoya3397]

I spent too much time checking out and investigating the "right" FRFR speakers for my modeler. I have a Fractal Audio AXE FXIII w/ multiple outs for simultaneous FOH, on-stage speakers, and/or recording. I use either a CROWN XLS-402 or a CARVIN FET 1000 power amp(not a big fan of class D), both workhorses, and a pair of PEAVEY P-115 passive 2-way PA speakers for a stereo sound that duplicates what I hear in my headphones. This setup works anywhere, at any volume. Everything I bought used in Los Angeles via Craigslist(except the FRACTAL). Paid $100 ea for the power amps and $250.00 for the pair of PEAVEY's. I bought an extra P-115 for $99 that I could use for a monitor through the FRACTAL if desired(w/ a small power amp). Everything fits on a cart with two or three guitars and a bag for all cables, etc. I have no issues...

[@mrpandelas4387]

It would be great to do a comparison between the dB Technologies FMX12, the tbox pro DSX 115 M and the tbox pro Mon A15!

[@Scott__C]

Nice comparison, like the dual ear mic to hear the room. At the end, you say an amp will fill the room, but it will be upstage pointing at the audience, while a wedge most likely will be in front of you pointing at your head so they're serving different purposes. The amps were originally made that loud to allow the audience to hear the guitar. That's not necessary anymore. Not saying don't play an amp, but 100 watts is superfluous these days unless you're in a giant venue.

[@j.jester7821]

I have a few modeling amps. They all sound decent, especially Tech 21 amps. Still in the end, nothing sounds as good as plugging into an analog tube amp that has a decent guitar speaker.

[@ESTOERP]

What about iLoud MTM studio monitors as FRFR "cabinet" for house practice ?

[@EytschPi42]

yes, of course!