MF10 FRFR speaker vs Atomic CLR - My honest review!

01:42 - Intro
04:12 - Background
05:00 - Specs
06:32 - How do they sound?
07:21 - Aren’t all FRFR’s the same? What you HAVE to do when trying new speakers!
08:41 - FM10 vs CLR: First Impressions
10:04 - Does it give you the ‘Amp in the room’ sound?
10:59 - Does it translate well to other speakers / FOH?
13:12 - How MF10 sounds to me: Sound sample
17:07 - Conclusions. MF10 or CLR?
Hey folks! This is an in-depth look at the MF10's by G66.com, a great FRFR speaker solution that is claimed to be more cab-like than other FRFRs to give Amp Modeller users a traditional feel closer to the 'Amp in the Room'. I was lucky to have both the Atomic CLRs and the MF10s here with me at the same time and have put the MF10s through their paces. I'm a long time CLR user (8 years) so this was a great opportunity to really compare the two solutions.
I hope you find it useful!

[@berndkiltz]

Yes, finally a usable review of FRFR Monitors. Good Job!

[@ZenRigs]

Glad you found it useful!

[@DAVEBLISS2007]

Great fair review, very easy to follow. You are articulate and informative. Good Job. Sold Me on the MF10 FRFR speakers.

[@ZenRigs]

Thank you - glad you found it useful!

[@samwilcockmusic]

Subbed. Great channel, you come across as very well informed yet affable and approachable!

[@ZenRigs]

Much appreciated!

[@matthewseed6016]

Great video, very good info. Love your enthusiasm too. Keep up the videos.

[@ZenRigs]

Thanks so much - I really appreciate that!

[@goswo]

Hello Sir. I have been a die hard tube nerd for 35 years. But, for different reasons, I am now entering the “digital” world, and feel like a complete new bee. Trying to find the right frfr, and holy bip, thats not easy. Been searchin and searching and just about to give up and stay with my beloved amps. Then your video comes up. Very very helpful, and the best out there. Thank you for being very trustworthy (just what I need right now)

[@ZenRigs]

Ah, thanks man - really glad it helped. All the best with your journey into digital!

[@goswo]

@@ZenRigs :-) ohh another thing: You play with a good amount of drive but I will be using for more “Americana” style, with a solid sounding clean tone on the edge of break up (pedals) and very often with harmoniv tremolo etc. So basically I will try to get the most amp’ish clean tone as possible. Do you think the cabinet (mayne I wil buy two and go stereo) will work for a good clean tone?. All the sounds I can find are with some or alot of drive, and that sounds great -)

[@ZenRigs]

@@goswo oh yes, absolutely - I play clean most of the time and it sounds fab!

[@FrankSteffenMueller]

Fantastic video. Thanks Sukh :)

[@caseylockwood5512]

I hear you about the MF10 sounding dark. I noticed it right away and came to watch reviews to see if anyone else was hearing the same. But it does sound damn good, especially that low-mid thump. That cab combined with the 10" speaker gives a really tight and defined bass that I've not seen in other speaker solutions outside of actual guitar cabinets.

[@Adipsia1]

Thanks for a superb video. I almost entirely record in my little office/studio - I don't gig - and initially I bought an Atomic CLR around six years ago. Given the volume-contraints of where I live, I almost always use my Axe-Fx3 connected to my Eve Audio SC207s when recording. There are times when I use my CLR as part of a dry-wet-wet setup which is cool, but truthfully I think that for many of us who don't gig anymore, you're probably better in getting some really good studio-monitors especially if you don't need trouser-flapping volumes any more. Love to hear your thoughts.

[@ZenRigs]

Thanks for the feedback! I think it’s important to play through whatever inspires you. For low level home studio use, I prefer a good pair of studio monitors, which is how I play most of the time. Sounds fab!

[@RideRockPunk]

Very good comparison

[@michielnijboer]

Thanks for that review, very interesting. I’ve never had the opportunity to try the CLR, everybody’s raving about them but they’re almost impossible to get. I’ve ordered a pair of Elis.8 now from G66, looking forward very much to those and curious how they’ll compare to my current setup and also if your conclusions about the MF10s apply as well. My current setup is a combination of an FRFR speaker (a Dynacord axm12a with coaxial speaker) with a tube power amp (Atomic Reactor 50/50) into a 112 cab (V30). This is for me the best of both worlds in terms of sound and feel, but it’s not the most practical.

[@ZenRigs]

The CLRs are truly fantastic, but it's a different experience. If you're after a clear wedge monitor, I think CLR is the winner. If you want more traditional sounding speakers, it's the MF10s for me. Can't lose - they're both brilliant!

[@michielnijboer]

@@ZenRigs I would expect the CLR to be similar in concept to the Dynacord then. I’d still love to try a CLR some day, but the thing I miss most when I play only through the Dynacord is the feeling of something that makes you all excited. You were spot on when you said that that is what makes you play and perform better. I guess for some time I forgot about that and was too concerned about FOH etc.

[@ZenRigs]

@@michielnijboer I think a lot of people ended up chasing that idea of making it great for FOH, regardless of how it sounded to you. FOH will take care of FOH - you just need to be inspired to play. The CLRs gave me that, no doubt, but these just feel more cab like and less monitor-like, which I guess was their goal.

[@rondress1548]

That tone was killer and the song had a very bad horsie sound and feel.. Loved it! Hope you make that preset available... Thanks for this video, I've been on the wait list and wondered this very thing...

[@ZenRigs]

Thank you - and it's my pleasure! I'm giving the presets away for free with every purchase of my debut album now, which you can get from www.ZenRigs.com. Cheers! Sukh

[@wesrowe8732]

Fantastic review - what I’ve been looking for. I currently use my FM3 in 4 cable method with my valve amp and get great results, however, I am looking for a lighter solution! (Currently recovering from a hernia repair surgery!!) and these seem like a great option. I mainly only play small pub venues with no PA - will this be loud enough? If it’s loud enough to keep up with drums and all, I figure it’s fine. Bigger venues we have booked have PA so all good there.

[@ZenRigs]

thank you! they’re plenty loud but for bigger venues a PA is always the way to go for projection. cheers!

[@JM-eq3sx]

Great review. I think Redsound makes the G66 MF10 for them. Are there any design differences between the two cabinets besides the labels?

[@ZenRigs]

Thanks for watching :-) No, the only difference is the label. Exact same speaker

[@looping2323]

Hello, and very thank you for your review. I have an atomic clr neo mk2, qsc k12.2, mesa thiele with a celestion f12m 150... and i'm looking for an other sound, and these mf10 are perhaps the solution! i will try them, for sure!! I have just a question, what are the stand under the speakers? for studio monitors or specifics to these cabs? Thanks again and great playing too!

[@jimmynorris]

Have you tried the Elis.8 stereo bundle yet? Marco Fanton actually seems to like them better than the MF10s now, and that's saying something.

[@jameslanclos568]

Here is my MAJOR question ??? Can you get feedback from an FR FR powered speaker cabinet ??? I’m shopping for one because I have a Quad Cortex. Any advice?

[@ZenRigs]

Hi - yes, no problem with obtaining musical feedback at all

[@pbosche]

I hear very little talk of the Powercab 112’s anymore. I have 2 for stereo. I can’t imagine many other frfr’s sound or feel better for modern modelers. Any firsthand experience with them? I’ve not thought I needed to look at anything else.

[@ZenRigs]

Hey mate - I've never tried the Powercab before. However, if it sounds good, then it is good! The rabbit hole never ends so if you've got a sound you're happy with, just enjoy!

[@FLdb-wj4wc]

I'm using the powercab 1x12. I like it but it's 35lbs. If this is just as good at 20lbs I want to try it. The problem is I don't see an option for united states'.

[@Tru_Gamer]

Hey bro can you clarify what you mean, the CLRs are better for gigging...but the MF10s have better tone? I don't understand your logic? Please advise! I'm also interested in a JBL SRX812P which looks an absolute beast what do you think? I have no idea what specs mean what lol! Thanks. Surely that means you think the MF10s are better no?

[@ZenRigs]

I don’t think I said that at all…

[@bvaladez74]

The tone on the tracks were killer of course, but how would that be a demo of your FRFR speakers in the room? Wouldn't you be going direct out of your Fractal to your interface? Unless you've mic's the FRFR cabs, then into your interface, then it would actually be a demo of the cabs right?

[@ZenRigs]

Hey Brian - as I say in the video, I did NOT record the speakers with mics etc - as that has already been done REALLY well by Marco Fanton and Frank Stefan Mueller (and I even provide links to go hear their audio samples). I explained in the video that I wanted to demonstrate that the MF10s sound incredibly close, in the room, to my recorded tone, which is what you hear in the video. Thanks for checking it out :-)

[@bvaladez74]

@@ZenRigs Ah. Ya it's not really clear, even after hearing you say that. You're saying that "Here's my recorded direct Axe Fx tone and take my word for it, the MF10s sound this way in the room" LOL. Got it. Well ya it's all too subjective. Your Axe Fx direct tone is amazing. All of ours is. Your amp in the room tones are a whole other experience. Technically tonally, they sound similar...yess. But it's a feel thing, a rumble, a punch, a vibe, a sweetness you get with an amp in the room experience. You can't really audibly compare the 2 just by mentioning it. Or just by playing tracks from a recording. Doesn't translate at all. Some have come close to distant mic'ing their FRFR speaker to give you a room experience in a youtube demo.

[@ZenRigs]

@@bvaladez74 Not asking anyone to take my word for anything - I'm giving my OPINION on how they FELT (rather than just putting up a perfect recording) and I'm suggesting the best way for you to form your own opinion is to try the out for yourself. Anything recorded will sound like a recording - you can't convey 'Amp in the room' in any recording. Folks creating the demos will make them sound good, no matter what. Nobody is going to post a recording of anything sounding deliberately bad! My intention, as a very happy CLR user for years, was to say these are cool, and different, and share my experience. I say in the video that the only way to really know is to check them out yourself with G66's money-back-try-them-at-home offer. As you rightly say, it's all about feel, vibe, punch rumble - you're spot on mate. The only way to know if that's gonna work for you is to give them a whirl. I'm not affiliated with G66 at all - or anyone for that matter. Just a guitar player that had both speakers and wanted to share what knowledge I could in the best way I could. Go check out Marco and Franks videos (links in my video) - which will give u amazing quality recordings.

[@levipeto]

I may misunderstand it: You are showing a direct recording from the FM3 to demonstrate how the MF10 sounds in the room?

[@ZenRigs]

Yep - as I said in the video, I found it pointless recording the monitor with a mic as others had already done it really well and it still wouldn't capture how it sounded to me in the room. The direct recording, however, is EXACTLY as it sounds to me sitting here next to my rig.

[@DAVEBLISS2007]

I have been using 2 x ZT Club 12" combo amps with my AX8 gear and these (jazz) anps are super loud and punch well above their weight 130db spl. I would go for the MF10´s if I had sufficient income from live gigs.

[@jeeeeev]

Damn what a lucky lad. Back when that amp was still in production, I couldn't afford it since I was still a student. Its been forever since I am searching for a ZT Club locally from where I am.

[@atlaspath5803]

Have you compared Mf10 with a passive MF10 OR two Elis8 powered in stereo?

[@ZenRigs]

I use the MF10 in stereo and also just the powered cab for gigs. Stereo is more fun and just louder with more thump as you’d imagine, it they’re great as a pair or singly. I’ve tried the ELIS 8 as well and they’re surprisingly close to the MF10. Less weight in the sound as guys expect from a smaller speaker but they are very loud and the tilt-back design is very very cool.

[@atlaspath5803]

@@ZenRigs thanks for the reply. Can you give me two examples of the thump. My idea of thump is power chords and low Eb note like SRV does in some songs? Also is the Elis8 not dark like the MF10 - is this correct at all?

[@ZenRigs]

Neither are ‘dark’ - you just need to EQ your tones appropriately. Thump is thump! It’s still down to your preset to a degree but the physics of a bigger cabinet and speaker move more air and have more bass. Both great speakers!

[@RsqSqr]

For home use Active MF 10 will do?

[@ZenRigs]

Yes, absolutely! I use mine at home all the time. Great at low volume too

[@Guttalaser]

Hi Sir, apologize if i revive this 2 y.o. video. One thing that is not covered i think is how both Atomic and G66 reproduce other kind of sounds (I mean basse/synths/hammond/pianos AND a full mix). Ok, i know the first answer: both are FRFR so they can reproduce well the full mix or other instruments, BUT they are speakers expecially tailored to the amp/cab/guitar sound from digital modelers and is very frequent the situation wher one throw at those speakers a mixed backing track PLUS the guitar sound from the modeler, so the question is: what do you suggest in this situation (in a stereo config) the Atomic or teh G66? In other words, say you are in a "one-man live show" and have a backing track and play live the guitar through a digital modeler... who sonuds best Atomic or G66? The question in suborder is: how do you record the guitar tracks, do you throw both the backing track and the guitar sound to those speakers or the backing track goes to a pair of studio monitors and the guitar goes to the tomic or the G66? Tnx in advance for your help to make my decision.

[@ZenRigs]

Hi mate, I don't use the speakers for playing anything else through -just the guitar. It's voiced to sound more like a guitar cab so I use this for live playing. For recording, I go direct to the DAW For playing at home, music/backing tracks is through studio monitors and guitar through the MF10s. Hope that helps!

[@Guttalaser]

@@ZenRigs Tnx Man... yep This clarifies a lot!

[@XChristianNoirX]

My exp with the CLR Neo MKII is.... None of my presets made on that thing have translated to anything else at all... Ever. Direct recording were totally off... By miles. People said it was like a studio monitor, but I haven't had that experience. I even out it on full range as a wedge, to not scoop the sound, but my recordings were super boomy and shrill... Scooped basically. :/

[@JM-eq3sx]

MF10 and ELIS.8 vs PRO/M? How are they different?

[@ZenRigs]

Haven’t tried them yet mate so couldn’t say.

[@JM-eq3sx]

@@ZenRigs Since I asked, I found that the Pro/M is mono, contains single amp (not dual for the stereo option), more power. Otherwise the same cabs. I had thought the speaker might be made of a different material. 2 lbs lighter than the original.

[@saltydog8913]

Will these speakers feed back like a real amp?

[@ZenRigs]

Yep - great natural controllable feedback. I use these live and they work great!

[@laujauffret]

Yes, realy !

[@AKustik632]

Are you selling one of your CLR's soon? :) I'll buy it!

[@ZenRigs]

Lol! Sold within a couple of weeks of trying the MF10s. CLRs are fantastic, but I’m really enjoying the MF10s still. Can’t go wrong with either :-)

[@laujauffret]

Im selling mine

[@AKustik632]

@@laujauffret Hey! Can I contact you? thanks!

[@laujauffret]

I'm selling the other one, mf10

[@xklopan]

Are these available in the US?

[@ZenRigs]

I'm pretty sure I heard of someone in the US getting them imported. Perhaps get in touch with G66 and see what they say?

[@xklopan]

@@ZenRigs will do thanks 😊

[@thesash7063]

You can contact Mirko from Red Sound, he will ship to the US. I do use the MF10 and Elis8 for around 8 weeks now and they are the best FRFR speakers I have ever played in 25 years.

[@glennw9927]

I’m in the US and bought their Elis.8. They ship via DHL and arrived in 3 days from Italy. Just go to their site (RedSound site not G66) and use the “Contact us”. They will respond and explain the process. Very easy.

[@arstocker]

@@glennw9927 did you pay any import taxes in the US?