I have the powered kemper head so I thought passive FRFR right? just got back from GC and the guy there's telling me better to buy the powered FRFR. He said it would sound better then using the built in power amp of the kemper. Any opinions on this? also the EV ZLX-12p built in power and DSP $400 pasive $300
Anyone use this speaker? thanks for any info
powered better then passive FRFR? and Electro-Voice ZLX-12p?
- jamme61
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Generally, an active cab sounds better that its passive version with a different amp because the coupling has been optimized. Having said this, if the third-part amp is much better than the internal one and it couples well with the cab), chances are that the passive cab will sound better.
But what would you do with your Kemper power amp should you buy an active cab? Would you sell it for a passive version?
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I can bypass the power amp in the kemper and still use it with both powered and passive. Funny thing is, I bought the powered version so I didn't need a FRFR. I like the powered kemper through my guitar cabinet but, always thinking about what I'm missing without hearing the full profile with the cabinet. Thanks for the time
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In most cases a (decent) FRFR will sound better active.
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Oh well, since you want to make the experience, let al least it be a great active FRFR
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Nothing beats personal experience, only international, multi center, double blind trials.
Seriously though, evidence comes from personal trial and evaluation.
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Personally, I prefer passive just so I've got all my controls and knobs in one place, and I don't have to run power to the speaker. I'm also a little skeptical about how much better an active speaker's amp could be for that speaker than just using a good amp and some EQ if necessary.
Plus, you already bought the powered Kemper, so unless you want stereo, that's $600 you're wasting.
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I'm also a little skeptical about how much better an active speaker's
amp could be for that speaker than just using a good amp and some EQ if
necessary."How much" depends on the specific amp(s) and cab.
But the optimization of the coupling between power amp and cab, plus any eventual DSP, can make a huge difference.
If you have ever seen the graphics of coupling of several power amps with several cabs you clearly see that the amps can behave completely differently with various cabs, as if they were different amps. -
This sucks? the only way is for me to bite the bullet and buy a cab. I still like to hear everyone's opinions on this stuff. Thanks
hey maybe Kemper could make a Kemper cab, for powered and non powered KPA's, Right? Still I'll take a Kemper footswitch first, or a fix on that cabs off (but not really off) problem.
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I don't see a Kemper cab on the horizon. With so many great choices already available, and with the AA CLRs selling at 1,000 $, defining the related market competitive would be an understatement to say the least. It would take Kemper several years for gaining customers' trust (they would certainly not want to rely on Profiler's users only!).
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Plus, you already bought the powered Kemper, so unless you want stereo, that's $600 you're wasting.
I got the Kemper Power Head too but plan to go active FRFR (as soon as CLR gets the new supply in). I will now have complete flexibility to play profiled amps and cabs or to play the amps through my preferred guitar cab. Best of both worlds.
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You already have that flexibility, no?
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You already have that flexibility, no?
Yes, but only when he goes FRFR with his powerhead.
As for Kemper cabs, I don't see this happen at all.
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Yes, but only when he goes FRFR with his powerhead.
As for Kemper cabs, I don't see this happen at all.
What's wrong with running the powerhead through his guitar cab?
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What's wrong with running the powerhead through his guitar cab?
Well, nothing's wrong about that, of course. It sounds awesome.
Flexibility here means the flexibility to enjoy all the cabs as they were originally profiled.
This is only possible with an FRFR cab. -
Ingolf is right. A guitar cab will inevitably give its sonic personality to any rig, dismantling the whole concept of digital simulation.
Not that it can't sound gorgeous of course, but it will not sound like each of the profiled rigs. -
My point was that he doesn't need to buy an *active* FRFR cab to have that freedom unless having a matched amp/speaker is important. A passive FRFR cab and his guitar cab would be cheaper, probably (in my opinion) sound just as good, and he wouldn't end up with a second power amp that isn't strictly necessary.
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Well, a passive FRFR and a guitar cab are two different beasts, and the drawback of using a guitar cab (as you asked "What's wrong with running the powerhead through his guitar cab?") is what we responded about. Am I missing something?
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He originally said:
I got the Kemper Power Head too but plan to go active FRFR (as soon as CLR gets the new supply in). I will now have complete flexibility to play profiled amps and cabs or to play the amps through my preferred guitar cab. Best of both worlds.
What I meant to be asking was why he needed an active FRFR when he's got the powerhead already. Buy a good passive FRFR, and then he can plug into either that or the guitar cab depending on what he wants to do.
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Do you remember having asked "What's wrong with running the powerhead through his guitar cab?"? This is what we answered to. Just this