Kemper Amps Forum

This thread is a chance for me and *anyone else* including Mr. Kemper, to speak their mind concerning the KPA. The idea here is not to simply complain, but to offer helpful suggestions to improve the product for everyone:

I will start with this observation: I believe the KPA is a very innovative product, with vast potential - for this reason it *will* be copied (the highest form of flattery), and it is important for the originators to stay ahead of the game.

My main issue with the KPA is not it's EQ matching abilities (they are excellent), nor it's current effects arsenal (they are limited, but adequate), nor it's Cab matching capabilities, but rather the basic nature/character of the main 'distortion engine' that is used to build all the different distortion and gain models when profiling. It simply doesn't sound/respond tubey enough - to my ears, it sounds/feels somewhere between a digital simulation and solid state, especially on the transients and attacks. There is a certain 'crackle and sputter' graininess that gives it away for me - I realize that the EQ & Cab matching is enough for many users, but I believe the *nature* of the distortion must become more analog/tubelike for the final result to be totally convincing. At $1800 US, this is certainly not a typical consumer item - it is one of the 'Mercedes in the world of Chevy' modelers - this means it must perform well enough for serious pros, along with everyone else. EQ matching alone is not enough in the recording studio - all the qualities must be there, or they start wheeling out the tube amps.... *DISTORTION Matching* is the weak link of the KPA (and many other modelers as well). IMHO, the KPA engine has not fully captured the essence of quality tube distortion in all it's glory and complexity....

And what say You?

I am certainly willing to take such a test, but only in person, for obvious reasons... It would need to be a double-blind test, with no amps or cabs chosen in advance - fair enough.

Quoted from "richaxes"

Radley, with all my respect...
There is no such thing as a distortion engine or anything like this. There is no such thing as a fundamental amp model or anything.
Out of curiosity, are you playing the KPA through a tube PA and a cab? Because many users doing this reported that the profiled amp sounds exactly the same as the original when played this way. Don't expect the same results that you would IRL with an FRFR or studio monitor solution...

Rich - Do you know this for a fact? All the info I have read indicates there is one 'master amp engine' that generates all the distortion profiles, and that is what I am referring to...

Again, this is meant to be *helpful* folks! Why must it become a downer?

I agree that many of the AFX amps sound similar, but are you implying this does not happen with the KPA amps? Not even sure the AFX is important in this discussion since we are wanting to make the KPA the best it can be, regardless of the competition.