Hey everyone...
Wanted to share with everyone something that has worked tremendously for me today. I love my Kemper but just couldn't gel 100% with the sound I was getting out of it from my Friedman ASM-12 and/or my studio monitors (Alesis 620's). The things I didn't like were the usual frustrations I read from some which were it never felt like I was getting the amp in the room feel (I know I know ), it also didn't sound "full" or 3 dimensional to me either from the ASM-12 or my studio monitors. Also I tend to like to walk around when I play and that really mucked with the sound sweet spot depending on where I was in the room (especially with my studio monitors).
I tried a number of options like placing the Friedman on a monitor pole to get to ear level helped a little with the sound dispersion but still wasn't doing it for me. I then hooked up the Kemper to my EVH 5150III combo amp and it started to sound (obviously) more like an amp in the room but.....all the profiles sounded very similar (especially high gain profiles) and definitely had "character" seeping through from my EVH amp. Rightly so from the EVH power tubes and also from the G12M speakers.
Long story short I went to GC today and bought a Fender Mustang IV 2x12 amp. I figured I would try it out hooked up to the Kemper and if no dice then return the Mustang. If it didn't work well with the Kemper and I liked the Mustang amp then I would sell the Kemper and keep the amp. Well I got the amp home and played around with it and was actually VERY impressed with it for $400 (bought floor model). Yes it's not in the EXACT same league as the Kemper but at that price point it's amazing and IMO its WAY better than the POD HD500x I used to have.
So I hooked the Kemper up to the Mustang IV and I FINALLY get the sound I was really hoping to achieve from the Kemper. The profiles all sound different like I hoped they would (cabs off in monitor output of course). A Vox sounds like a VOX and a Mesa Rectifier sounds like a Rectifier. It is ALL "Amp in room" sound. Sounds the same and awesome whether I am in front of or off axis to the speakers/amp cabinet. The Mustang IV obviously is a solid state so no tubes to color the sound and the speakers are Celestion G12P-80's from which I understand are fairly "flat" speakers (used in a lot of modelling amps). It's honestly the best set up for ME maybe others too who want more of a feel like a traditional guitar set up so I thought I would share. Gotta give credit again to Ingolf for giving me the idea with his Mustang III comments he made on some threads here and the video he did comparing it with some other monitors he had.
Hope this helps anyone that is really wanting to utilize the Kemper in a more traditional set up. The Mustang IV can usually be found for $300 or so used and arounf $400 new if you buy a floor model like I dd. Cheaper than my Friedman was and immensely more enjoyable (to ME) with the Kemper.
Peace!