Why You Need An FRFR Speaker For Your Multi-Effects Unit!

#addictedtogear
Getting the best sound out of your multi-effects unit after is easy at home but can become quite more challenging when you are using it for live venues and gigs. This is when an FRFR speaker can come to the rescue and allow you to get the optimum sound from your unit. Today we discuss how FRFR differs from normal cabinets and how they do their magic!
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[@brianrosemusician]

I'm glad to have found your channel. I was already considering getting an Ampero, which led me to your channel, when the tech at my local MusicGoRound told me about using a Headrush with a multifx pedal which led me back to your channel. Keep up the great work! 👍🏻

[@76booge]

I never even knew about these speakers with multi effects units. This is so helpful.

[@vincentjackson3472]

What a bloody awesome video! Cheers man!! Love the work, effort and info wrapped up in this video!

[@bluesfer]

Really really good video, you answered every question i had on this subject, thank you, excellent job!

[@MarvinSheats]

Great review. I use the Headrush FRFR 108 along with a Boss ME-80 and it's perfect for me. I play jazz, fusion, rock, etc. in church and outdoor venues. With having a back and neck issue; you are right... the portability is perfect for me. Thank you.

[@kitko33]

I had a FRFR cabinet custom built in 1997 - it used four wide band speakers (a speaker with in integrated tweeter). I used it both with a guitar amp and Zoom 4040. The guitar sounded great.

[@wolfgangcordsen3430]

Thanks for the explanation! Very useful.

[@mirecmusic]

I'm new to this conversation but a vet in playing live shows.I always like when I play on big venues stages,because 95% of the time we have a back line and a wedge monitor in front of me for vocals and to hear the other musicians as well as my guitar.I wanted to find a small personnel monitor so I could hear my guitar in front.Without it I need to find that sweet spot on stage to hear what I'm playing. In the past few years I start seeing keyboard players using these PA system like monitors and it got me wondering what if.Then I saw the Headrush FR FR 112 and108 amp monitors.I bought the FR FR 108 and now I use the amp as a back line amp and the 108 as my personnel up front monitor.I know I can come direct out of my pedal board Boss ME80 and more but I come out of the line out on the amp into the FR FR 108,it works for me. Now my sweet spot is up in front at the mic, my pedal board, and the Headrush FR FR 108.

[@brendangilmore4297]

Thank you for that - you explained things very clearly :)

[@DannyGarrett]

great vid clarified some things for me and I ordered one of those headrush units after.

[@giorgenesgelatti3987]

Thanks for this video! Very educational

[@stevens8089]

Great Presentation, Very informative. Thanks

[@Cherry_Sunburst]

Excellent video, thanks a lot!!! Cheers from germany.

[@5150show]

Absolutely brilliant thank you Tony , cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@ronpatterson5483]

Great honest review. Thanks.🤘🤘

[@elvingonzalez3152]

Great video, you answered all the questions I had.

[@TalkingBullion]

Thanks for the review...very informative!

[@NickintheStates]

Great video man! There are always so many question with FRFR stuff, especially with the increase in pedals and amps with impulse response built in.

[@addictedtogear]

Thanks Nick, the FRFR speakers work really well with muti-effect units. I'm loving it so far!

[@ccostantyt]

Thanks ... all very clear ... great video!!

[@davidcardona2772]

You Sir made a very good explanation of frfr ..thank you so much.Be blessed!

[@addictedtogear]

You're most welcome

[@ChristianThoresen]

Thanks for this video!

[@tjnugent62]

I did a gig with the FRFR Headrush speaker system with a Tech21 RK5 v2. It sounded incredible.

[@iriereviews]

That was exceptional!

[@maximumguitarage]

Great Video! Very Informative. I will say you brought a very good point, if it is your first time in Modeling game then start with the mid range FRFR. You very may well be back to your pedals and tube/solid state amps. Thank You!

[@yiannisfaitakis]

I use one of these (bought used for a ridiculous price) with a Yamaha THR30ii. It sounds incredible and this is now my rig pretty much along with a wah wah pedal. Can easily keep up with a very loud band.

[@bretthowe8748]

I use the Headrush 112 with my zoom G5n. Amazing tone. Yes, I had to tweak my settings, but when it’s “pushing air” it sounds amazing. I have a backup pedalboard with a joyo Oxford sound on the end, and ran that through the Headrush before my last gig. (Like to have a backup plan for gigs) and it sounded almost as good as my orange tube amp & cab. I can’t say enough good things about these cabs. Been gigging with it for about 12 months. So good. And finally, for rehearsal, I use it as a wedge with the band mixed into the second channel. Easy setup, hassle free. 😊

[@ExoShaman]

Thank you so much for this overview!

[@diegoguzman155]

This a great technical, educational and in depth review, excellent video Sir.

[@addictedtogear]

Thanks for watching

[@mikeyo3230]

Excellent snd informative video. TY

[@addictedtogear]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Kamikaze3557]

I use my headrush as a PA along with my cab sim modeler. Of course I’m just a bedroom musician and I’m happy.

[@jamieoakley2953]

Great video best on KZbin about these speakers, thanks!

[@addictedtogear]

Wow, thanks!

[@therightdude]

I use the unit s shipping box as a sound shield to record with a mic. Very simple and sounds awesome.

[@mick8435]

Good review - bought one to go with my Boss GT 100 - Sounds fab with some messing! - thanks

[@coeurvaillan]

Hi! i have the gt10, you seem to be satisfaid with your Boss. Do you have some advices?

[@trancegotten3699]

Just bought ge200 I am waiting for it. Now I will buy this thank you for this video!

[@addictedtogear]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@uk7769]

"You pick the one right tool." - Anton Chigurh

[@traceyroberts2447]

I use the the 12" Head Rush cabinet with my Pod Go. Sounds fucking amazing. I like alot low end. But tweak your lows and this combo sounds incredible.

[@shubooty]

Thanks for the thorough review. In addition to using this for my amp modeling unit (GE300), I’d like to use the second input for backing tracks and / vocals out of a little Beringer Xynyx mixer. Would that work?

[@paulgrindley8192]

Great review. Straightforward factual information thank you

[@addictedtogear]

Glad it was helpful!

[@simonsamuel3877]

@@addictedtogear why can't guitar amp sound good with the multi effects pedal? Can't we just turn of the amp's effect and give processor's sound out? Aren't they made to take guitar sound?

[@simonsamuel3877]

@@addictedtogear also I have seen guitarist give mic to their amp in live, then to the PA systems. What is your view about that?

[@amir.zolghadr]

Hi Tony. Thank you for the great video. Very helpful and professional as always. Please, what’s the difference between frfr and an active monitor (eg Adam or Alto). I heard great things about both technics. Thanks in advance!

[@addictedtogear]

They are quite similar but the FRFR are flat so there is not coloration to the sound.

[@gordon9177]

I purchased the Tech 21 for my 11rack ('13) back '14 or so. I then purchased the Headrush in '17, couple years later this damn thing comes out. geeze.

[@jwp2460]

Awesome video and very informative! I'm considering buying an FRFR system in the future and trying to decide between two of the Headrush cabinets or a Line6 Powercab Plus 212. Its not really an apples-to-apples comparison at all and there's also a big price difference between the two. I can see pros and cons of either approach but your video really helped to answer some of the questions I'd had concerning loudness, low end, and overall gig-worthiness of the Headrush cabinets. These seem like a great option and very reasonably priced. Have you tried the Line6 Powercab Plus 212? Just curious what your impressions are of that as an option.

[@tossedpenny]

Your video sold me on the 108. Just put in an order for one. If all goes well I'm going to do a 2nd one for stereo down the road.

[@addictedtogear]

tossedpenny let me know how you like it!!

[@SjaakShirly6559]

Great informative video. Still confused about the difference between Power cab (Line 6) and FRFR. Some say it’s the same. Or is it just marketing tricks?

[@mokshathrumusic3277]

Thank you for the informative video. Can i connect the CAB Sim DI Out of an Amp Head directly to the XLR input of a Headrush FRFR speaker ? Thanks.

[@PhilipCockram]

Cool speaker and good explanation Tony. I use a PA system in combination with my tube amp . There are 2 DI outputs on my pedal board and I also mix in the amp sound before and after the effect loop . It's nice to have all the connections . Not very portable though . LOL

[@addictedtogear]

Hi Philip, try lugging a 4x12 cabinet and head to a gig. This is a much more portable solution if you ask me. Cheers!

[@tonefish3825]

I looked at these, but since I a went with the Hotone Ampero, I decided to go with 2 - 8" studio monitors to take advantage of the stereo output of my Multi-Effects unit.

[@addictedtogear]

I did the same at first. If you are not giging with the Ampero then that works fine.

[@murderforsacrifice9460]

Thank you Tony!

[@addictedtogear]

My pleasure!

[@Joeistauchdabei]

Thank you very much for the detail information. Greetings from germany

[@addictedtogear]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Joeistauchdabei]

@@addictedtogear very helpful. Now i know what i must buy

[@montiac22]

I watch your video's all the time and own the same Headrush 8" you have here. I also own the Ampero One. Should I upgrade to the model Ampero you have with the XLR's. Is it really that important to have XLR's when hooking up to a FRFR? thanks

[@angusorvid8840]

An excellent, helpful video that answers questions I didn't even think of asking. I didn't know about how the speakers were laid out and they these cabs also included tweeters. I'm getting a Boss GT-1 soon and a flat response speaker would work well. But I never knew much about them. I want to capture the great tones I can hear on earphones through a monitor. I was also wondering if the sound would be as good as with a PA system like they would have at a club.

[@addictedtogear]

Glad you enjoyed it! The PA speakers would sound good but different. Thats why I like using this, its small enough to carry around and always sounds the same.

[@benallmark9671]

Great explanation Tony. Do you still use this ?

[@pepppery]

I purchased a thr-100 head, and thought if I got the headrush 1x12, it would be great as I could model the 5 amp sims and all of the cabinet sims (10 combos)that came along with it. After a few days, I found the sound to be really off, kinda thin, kinda hollow. I tweaked my eq and no luck. On a lark I plugged into a ampeg 2x10 cab I have for my micro bass head, and voila my modeling amp sounded amazing. So I returned the Headrush. Fast forward a few months after getting my nux- mg 30 I tried playing that through the headrush 1x8 cab at a GC, and it still didn't sound good, even the sales person agreed it was not good and he was trying to sell me the headrush. Perhaps you need other gear to tweak tones and what not, but for plug and play aspect of this frfr it left me searching for other options for my mg-30, most people on yt play though studio monitors.

[@kengilano8546]

Great review !

[@addictedtogear]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@PowMusic]

How will vocals sound going into these? I'm looking for a speaker to go with my looper - so that all my signals go into the same speaker

[@addictedtogear]

I haven't tried it but I think it should be fine.

[@teerexness]

I use an Alto TS315 full range PA speaker. It's loud, clear and faithfully reproduces the sounds my Helix and my Variax can produce. For $40 more than the Headrush FRFR, you get a 15" speaker. Alto also makes the Headrush speakers.

[@addictedtogear]

Nice but i get more than enough bass from my 8 inch speakers. 15 would be overkill for me.

[@teerexness]

@@addictedtogear It can come in handy with same of the Variax models. The Altos do double duty as PA speakers in my rehearsal room. I just grab one when I'm doing a gig. So they earn their keep!

[@AmritP]

good video but the part about the PA speakers vs FRFR is wrong. The PA speakers are also flat response full range. only real difference is their sound cone difference (how they project the sound).

[@BigRalphN]

Absolutely. FRFR is a money making venture only.

[@philiptownsend8348]

FRFR speakers create their own problems where guitar is concerned

[@bloodynin9757]

@@philiptownsend8348 which are?

[@Andreas_Straub]

If your modeler creates "dirty" high frequencies (digital noise) the tweezer in the FRFR speaker may create intermodulations and make this even worse.@@bloodynin9757

[@HumbleHeartMinistry]

Thanks you! I been on the search for a amp that would sound good with my Digitech RP-1000, and I saw your other video, and decided to buy two of them to run in stereo. Do I just use regular guitar cords from multi-effects pedal to speaker, and use a XLR from output in speaker to to input in other speaker to run in stereo? Or do I run both speakers direct to the muli-effects pedal? I think I know the answer, but not 100% Thanks for your great video`s!

[@maxcruz666]

Thank you

[@JTNMax]

Headrush pedalboard owner here, and going direct to PA mixing console when playing live. Want to dial in your live sound? Ditch the FRFR stuff and buy a powered PA monitor with a small built-in mixer and connect via XLR just like using a PA (keep mix eq flat/neutral). I much prefer dialing in my rigs through something like the audience is going to hear me through anyway and the sound tech will thank you for it. And if you sing like I do, you are going to have a monitor in front of you anyway unless using IEMs. House PA’s for the audience are not made up of FRFR’s nor headphones. Hope that helps someone. Cheers!

[@addictedtogear]

Nice tip, but if you are going to do that why not just use the global setting of the Multi-Effects units for the EQ setting?

[@JTNMax]

​@@addictedtogearMy suggestion was to use a speaker like the audience will hear so you can dial in at home what will work great live, set global eq howeveryou want. But live, a PA engineer/tech will dial in your sound via the console mixer so why not get a great tone at home that easily transfers to a main PA. I use the PA monitor right in front of me at home or live so I get consistent tone. Live the only difference is the HR runs XLR to mixer, comes back to my monitor via monitor mix.

[@bassolomeo]

Great video!

[@jakstrike1]

Great vid, thanks. Would you need an (audio) amplifier/poweramp to boost signal from the ampero into an frfr system for home use? Say 2 fairly small monitor speakers.

[@addictedtogear]

jakstrike1 no the Frfr speaker is already amplified. Thanks for watching...

[@PonyBubp71]

I have a Boss Singer Pro Amp & I wonder if I could plug it into the back directly & use it like a monitor? If so can these be looped or chained together (don't know if I'm saying that right?)

[@bobbreckenkamp4641]

I use a traditional pedalboard with the Walrus ACS1 pedal amp and use one of these Headarush powered 8" speakers when I want a little stage volume (we are ampless and use only IEMs typically) and find it sounds great. I also use it to set my pedal settings without using my IEMs it sounds realistic. Very frustrating to set all your pedals using IEMs, only to fire the board up through FOH and find it sounds crappy.

[@rubentrevino6288]

Excellent video

[@addictedtogear]

Thank you very much!

[@mrbarr63]

Is it better to turn off the internal speakers from the GX100 while connected to the Eurolive activé PARA/monitor?

[@jokerjove]

first of all, thank you very much! it was really helpful. Do you recommand this model or any other types of FRFR speakers with Zoom g9.2tt ?

[@addictedtogear]

This one works fine for me.

[@milkdud3618]

I want to tweak HX Stomp programs in my headphones first before tweaking in the FRFR. Which headphones do you recommend. My in ear monitors sound way different than the bassier headrush

[@franciscoespinolasanchez4699]

Would you recommend using headrush 12 and hotone ampero to play bass guitar with a metal band? I'm really considering that coice. Thanks in advance.

[@IlyaZhuravlev]

One more nice video Tony. Thanks. I use the same Headrush 108 with my Kemper Stage and completely happy with it. I found this combination very useful for any kind of live gigs and rehearsals and for very reasonable price.

[@addictedtogear]

It works very well and doesn't break the bank!

[@shanewalton8888]

This is incredibly useful. thanks Tony

[@EthanRom]

Basically, these multi fx pedals are already programmed to have some sort of amp cab emulation so if you plug it into a normal amp, it’s like you’re plugging an amp into an amp. That’s what I’m understanding at least

[@SujeetGT]

There's always an option of turning off the cabinet simulation in most of the units, this way you can go to the return of an amp.

[@Andreas_Straub]

But then you get a totally different sound compared to the original preset.@@SujeetGT

[@coeurvaillan]

Hi! i bought this unit to play with my gt10. Is it normal that the sound is synthetic and thin? I have 2 weeks left to take my decision to keep it.. I used to play the gt10 with my traynor and the sound is much fuller. Do you have some advices? Thanks you very much!

[@salmosekka997]

i have a helix floor and as a beginner what speaker would you recommend to go with it

[@coppulor6500]

thanks for the great explanation. quick question: wouldn't it be better to get a cab with a 10 or 12" speaker to better reproduce the low end?

[@coppulor6500]

never mind - posted right before you explained how much low end it has lol. Still, there is a big difference in clarity between a bigger speaker and a bass port for instance. thoughts? maybe a 10" might be the sweet spot?

[@Retro-Hippie]

I have a "TC-Helicon Perform-VG Vocal and Acoustic Guitar Processor"...would this work well with an FRFR headrush?

[@dennisheyes8477]

Thanks Tony for another great video. You explained everything very well but I am a bit thick and naive about these matters as I have always just plugged into a combo for my gigs that are just in small pubs/clubs. My question is just so I'm clear, would I be able to just use a FRFR like the Headrush or Line 6 Powercab with a Helix plugged into it and do my gigs with nothing else, not even going through the PA? Sorry again for asking what may appear to a lot of others a stupid question.

[@addictedtogear]

Yes. The Headrush FRFR is powered. So can plug the line 6 into it and rock! Simple as pie!

[@chingersfreind]

What about an acoustic guitar amp? They are clean and can reproduce those higher frequencies.

[@brianrosemusician]

Is there an advantage to getting the 112 over the 108?

[@VexxJam]

You answered a lot of my questions. Great video 👍

[@addictedtogear]

Thank you!

[@coeurvaillan]

Which multieffects or modelers are the best to play with it? Fractal Axe Fx or what else?

[@bobbyjazz]

Can i use it for vocal?

[@mixodorians12]

Thanks mate, great vid, I just bought the Harley Benton FRFR 1x12 and it is fantastic (and very inexpensive) for my HXFX and Mooer Preamp live combo. Can really get some chewy tones with it. Really does well with distortion. Might get two and run stereo.

[@addictedtogear]

Great to hear! I'm sure you will enjoy it.

[@joshwalker3139]

What;s the difference between an 'FRFR' speaker liek the headrush, and a standard powered PA speaker like the Yamaha DXR12?

[@arschi6554]

There is no difference.

[@richardshirley8408]

I run my helix into a standard Kustom 1x12 Floor monitor and it sounds exactly the same. And was 1/3 of the cost.

[@gtrdaveg]

A Yamaha DXR12 is about twice the price of a Headrush FRFR 108. You could say that FRFR speakers are a gimmick - kind of like razors for women - but if they're pretty much the same price as PA speakers then who cares?

[@mrscorona62]

Hi Tony, great explanation of FRFR speakers. I know you mentioned they are designed a little differently than PA speakers, but I'm curious if in addition to using these for guitar monitors/amps, could a pair of the FRFR-108s be used as PA speakers for small outdoor gigs and such (e.g. a couple of acoustic/electric guitars, vocalists and a bass guitar routed through a mixer)? Thinking about getting a pair and potentially having them do double-duty as PA speakers. Thanks.

[@addictedtogear]

I think they would work in a pinch.

[@4142Wilb]

If I’m using the modeling cabinet and not an IR can I still use a regular guitar cabinet? And does the use of an FrFr speaker in a cabinet need to have a port and not be sealed?

[@addictedtogear]

You can use it but it would color the sound of the patch.

[@humanitygone3958]

These are cool and sound pretty good. But it’s extremely far from flat. The low end is extreme, I had to redo all of my presets on my axe fx and lower the bass on all of them.

[@addictedtogear]

Yes the bass does come through. It could be that the bass is also boosted in the stock presets too!

[@srajangupta2867]

I have heard that the base problem is fixed if you put it on a stand? There are some reverberation for the ground. If you have tried it?

[@vellocetday5432]

Hi, great Video. Do you turn off the cabs of the multi effects unit, or they are left on, like on a normal patch? I have this speaker with a GT1000.... It sounds wrong, too bassy.....I use it with FX unit cabs on.... should they be off? Thank you

[@addictedtogear]

You need to adjust for the increased bass

[@sporkcrx]

I have a couple of the same headrush wedges and love them. My question is, instead of buying a set of recording monitors, I wonder how well these would work for mixing since they're frfr as well?

[@addictedtogear]

Not sure how well those would work for general mixing of music. I think there are other better options available.

[@johnong2655]

I'm curious. Waiting for someone to give some input

[@DrSimonBignell]

Not nearfield like studio monitors generally are, so the cone on these is designed differently for pushing the mono sound further out.

[@virginiasimsim8746]

can you use this as an audio/vocal monitor?

[@jerryb4716]

Is this the samething thats used to amplify electronic drums?

[@davidgerdes5394]

I can not thank you enough for this video. I have an old Line 6 Spider combo amp, and i just picked up a Zoom G5n multeffects board. I bypassed the amp to where i am just getting the sound but it stil does not sound good. Having you explain this really helps . I was thinking of getting a new amp, but after this, i rhink i will be going with an frfr, possibly the Headrush model.

[@addictedtogear]

Glad I could help!

[@texasbootlegger3752]

What type of cable are you using from your multi effects pedal to the Headrush?

[@deepblue1963]

Is this compatible with a Spark 40? 🤔

[@pauljosse]

So this with a headrush into the pa and into one of these would be a good choice vs lugging marshall stack?

[@addictedtogear]

Yes it would!

[@Helljaybass]

Hi! Question please. If I split two signals from my bass and use each of the line on one FRFR 112, would that cause a problem? Thanks in advance.

[@emmanuelabdonpizarro8158]

It should not. Use a DI box to split. ive done this at home no issues, instrument goes into the DI box the the normal out goes into my audio interface and the out of the audio interface (one channel only like Left channel) goes into Ch1 of my frfr and the THRU of the DI box goes into the Ch2 of the frfr as raw/dry signal.

[@carlofrancisco5256]

Could these be used as an e-drum amp?

[@carlosmora1753]

Hey. I am indeed looking forward to connect direct in order to avoid the inconsistencies of burned cabinets or damaged amps. I got what you explained about the difference on a PA and this FRFR speakers, but I still don’t know what does it mean when you say, connect to the front house or connect to a mixer. Looking for your answer!!

[@ianguitar7532]

It's the same thing. You run your cable out from your multi effects unit to the mixer, which controls the front-of-house sound - the PA.

[@EthanRom]

It means you don’t need to mic the speaker. You can just line out the signal straight to front of house. Guy before me got it already, just adding to it

[@wakatak2130]

I'm honestly looking for a bad review right now on the headrush 108. i use one on a pole with the new mx5 pedal and i like it. Pushes some air too. i want someone to tell me I'm crazy, but these are just great speakers.

[@addictedtogear]

I'm not sure you will find a bad one. Let me know if you do. Cheers!

[@pittbasstank5161]

@@addictedtogear is that a flat speaker,Sir?

[@richardp1962]

What is your opinion on connecting FR speakers to a Strymon Iridium ? Is it do-able ? I come from a combo amp/speaker world so i’m somewhat unsure about the use of a modeling amp with cab speakers. Thanks.

[@migueleespinosa2632]

Any unit that has cab/IRs should be used with a FRFR including yours.

[@bokistotel]

Can this be used as a speaker for my digital (desktop) amp connected trough Scarlett 2i2?

[@jimmccumsey1134]

I was thinking a similar question

[@everennui1]

Just buy studio monitors if you're going this route.