Kemper Amps Forum

Still own AFX and KPA since Dec. 2011. It's not easy to tell wich feels better. The AFX reacts very good when you vary your picking or roll back the volume, it's almost like with a real amp. But it's a long way to good presets.For me finding the right cabs is the keystep to come to good results. Even then you can hear the special voice that the AFX has. At the other side the KPA feels wrong when I roll back the volume, small turns have too much impact compared to what I expect and it's irritating. Ok, nothing to worry about, so I got to get used to make smaller turns. But it has an own voice too! As long as I feel a difference between the modelers and the real amps, wich I can say for both, AFX and KPA, it's hard to say if one is better than the other. All I can say is that both add their own voice. Don't flame me. There will come a time when a KPA2 and an AFX3 will be released because there is still room for improvements. or is there anyone claiming that this is the end of the evolution?.

Quoted from "schneidas"

Very true!
I think it's funny that some are cancelling their KPA orders just based on the fact that Cliff stated he will offer profilling too. No one knows if his take on profiling will have the quality and realism of the KPA. Again - hype machine!

Yes it's true, i'm one of them, (and 4 other people i personally know) I was interested on the KPA, mostly to experiment, not because I was unhappy with the AXE II, having been using the Axe from the start, I trust Cliff's word, and it would make no sense to get the KPA at this time, I like C.Kemper's work I've owned a few Virus Synths, and they're very nice, and obviously the KPA judging from the clips I've heard sounds very nice as well, so I hope Kemper does well, i just won't need one now.

Quoted from "MaxTwang"

Quoted from "schneidas"

Very true!
I think it's funny that some are cancelling their KPA orders just based on the fact that Cliff stated he will offer profilling too. No one knows if his take on profiling will have the quality and realism of the KPA. Again - hype machine!

I'm the opposite, I've had the KPA ordered since early June (before the Axe waiting list started) and received an AxeII in September. While I'm happy with the AxeII to the point I'm selling off other gear, I know I won't be satisfied until I give the KPA a chance and had both for long enough to see which one I plug into most, if not all, of the time. I don't care about realness or accuracy, my criteria is which one do I enjoy playing - when I wake up in the middle of the night, which one gets me out of bed to play. If it's both, I'll keep both.

The announcement by FAS just makes me wan't both even more. I'll have a ring-side seat to the web-hype smack-down AND be able to evaluate and enjoy the technological advances myself.

+1 on this!
I would be interested to know in which department the Axe FXII (from a subjective point of view) complements the KPA (apart from yeah the effects but that's objective isn't it). I think a spoiled kid like me would enjoy (sex with) both the units, why not . So lucky bast!rds who own both of them let me know what you like of the AXE and what you like of the KPA (and also which position they perform better --just silly jokes had a tough day apologies if that offended anybody). Thank you very much!

Quoted from "uweoverdrive"

I´ve had a axe standard for 3 years and now I´use a kemper for 5 weeks. Yesterday my AXE II arrives.

Besides the bugs that will be solved in the near future there is only one thing that is better in the AXE and that is the playing feeling.

The axe responds better and deeper to the pick attack. The other things as mentioned incl. the price difference are superior in the kemper.



And so the question is: Is this something that´s only may opinion and if not could this be bettered with an future update by kemper !!!!!!



I think the playing feel is as important as the sound.

I disagree there. The dynamics and feel of the KPA are more accurate. You just have to profile and amp with it and do A/B comparison between the real amp and the profile to see that. Right now in the only place where the Axe FX II is superior is in the quality and number of effects and I am sure the KPA will never get close in that area.

@uweoverdrive - It's interesting to know about the Axe and pick attack feel, is that including adjusting the pick attack control in the Kemper? Do you feel it's a particular dynamics issue or a difference in latency?

I was thinking that maybe the amps internal compressor would allow you to adjust the dynamic behavior of the Kemper too, to adjust the curve for when rolling back the volume on the guitar or changing pick style to make it more or less responsive/reactive. If not then maybe Christoph could add that feature?

It is Hard to describe for me. It is no latency because when you pick the tone is very fast to hear.
It is no dynamic problem because the kemper is very dynamic. It is a Little Bit like playing through a Transistor amp, the tone comes fast but is Hard and Not so elastic like a good tube amp or the axe.

I'm a Little Bit sad because everything else is better with the Kemper like easy to use, the sound an so on.
I fear that this could be Hardware Thing that couldnt be changed or updated

In the moment i'm Not able to dial this Out with the compressors.

Please help me Christof Kemper

@madh i haven't profiled anything yet. Is ist possible when you compare the Amp
With the profile that both are Running through the Kemper Hardware ?

Quoted from "uweoverdrive"

@madh i haven't profiled anything yet. Is ist possible when you compare the Amp
With the profile that both are Running through the Kemper Hardware ?

Sorry but I don't understand your question.