But you can get a smaller backup was my point. I carry a simple tech21 sansamp to get me through a gig. although never used it as I've never had an amp go down on me ( ooh err).
given that tubes are less reliable than solid state its even less likely with the KPA, BUT I think you can;t go wrong with either.
The portability of the DXR is brilliant though!
I think you have more options here...you can access new types of delays to a slot very quickly. You might want to add them to favs in advance etc but I don;t think its that far away. Fior example, you want to change from vintage chorus to something more modern. You select that slot with chorus, scroll the the closest one, select it, adjust parameters, save...done. the challenge you've actually got is that you've got so much to choose from that you'll experiment even more 
Is it as quick as a dedicated unit, then no. Is it possible to change things during rehearsal, totally.
I do it during gigs ( change preset volumes, change gain etc.) although what you want to do is a little more involved but I don't see why not.
Have you changed the volume of the rigs themselves ? That's pretty low..
The only thing I'll add is that i did have to get used to it.
This is the same for any amp, you have to get comfortable with it but that hump is bigger with the KPA because:
1) there are so many sounds to choose from and therefore find and adjust
2) Something digital cannot surely sound this good (physiological). It took a few people to compliment me on my sound to get confidence!
Its worth the effort...
Just as a side comment, I love gear, I always look at new gear, guitars pedals etc....although sine I've had the KPA I've not been tempted by any amp or pedals in the last 2 years. Anyone that knows me, that's a pretty big compliment to the KPA! Another reason my wife loves it, much cheaper in the long run
I think the points above are well made - in other words its your situation that is the issue, you will have this problem with any equipment as the limitation here is your ears - unlike a valve amp which would be a totally different ball game.
However, don't give up just yet, there are things you can try as stated. Also I think the expectation you have set, that you can get the same sound at very low volume compared to practice or gig volume is achievable as physics interferes with this.
Persoanlly I don;t use the KPA at home except to set it up for gigs but many people use it for recording as a powerful tool so it has the sound in there.
Getting a house won;t solve it either, as my wife will tell you
Good luck, hope you find an answer/happy medium.
Can't comment on the firehawk sound etc cos never used one but basically you are buying a full function amp to take to every gig alongside the Kemper ( bit harsh I know).
Persoanlly I'd go Yamaha DXR for convenience and for bigger gigs for the "look" get an unloaded fake cab ;). Cheap, light etc.
I often put my Kemper on the bass rig as well ( as a stand) so there are options. This is also better for tigher pub gigs, depending on the venues you typically play..
I don't think you'll go wrong with either however!
In feel the opposite, love the new display! I just have to put my glasses on
I was an old tube guy as well.....in terms of portability for gigs...OMG...I now just take my rack and a 1 x12 to monitor and my remote. Set up in about 5 mins...
Never sound checked so quick as its a consitant feed via XLR to the desk....sound guys love it! It sometimes feels like the Kemper is focused on Studio work but be in no doubt its a serious live weapon!
Don't worry about what profiles come with the stock unit because.....there are 10,000+ you can access for free from the rig exchange! But there are some great rig packs as standard and some very cheap third party rigs.
There is a very comprehensive effects list, delays, reverbs, chorus, flangers, pitch shifting and whammy, noise gates, compressors...
3-) For you guys gigging with the Kemper and going directly to FOH, how
good does it sound even if the bar doesn't have the best PA. is it still
acceptable? right now I'm using a pedalboard with a Palmer Pocket amp
which is not the best sound but it's acceptable and I can use my normal
guitar pedals). I don't need THE BEST
The quality of the PA is a factor whatever you use, the limiting factor won;t be the Kemper. So does it sound good through a PA, totally. Will it make a crap PA sound good? Of course not. Will you get the best out of the poor PA, yes
4-) will an FRFR system sound AS BIG and full as a tube amp and a cab
speaker? I play mostly clean/od blues/soul/pop ala John Mayer but I
would like to have the option of playing some rock and metal too and
having the system sound big and full.
This is has been debated many times...my personal view is that it is slightly different not necessarily better or worse. I can;t even describe why its different. The Kemper is certainly not clinical like many other digital devices, its very responsive. Tube amps with a guitar cab have that natural compressed thump that sometimes isn't there BUT this is so related to how its set up. I think you'll love it but there is a slight adjustment you have to make...I went from Tube amp to Kemper with guitar cab to FRFR and I wouldn't go back now....
as ingolf says, just set all the pre-sets at home first. This is no different to using a cab vs FOH. Also as the Kemper responds like a tube amp, lowering the guitar volume will often just clean it up, not totally reduce volume.
Also, don;t forget to sound check your loudest volumes so you don;t overload the desk...
Also, deoending upon your monitoring ( i.e. you going through a cab as well) make sure your volumes aren;t linked, so you can change your on stage sound but keep the feed to the PA constant. Most people set the volume output tothe master outputs to around -18db to the PA
Probably the toaster is more compact than the rack. I'd go powered for flex but they are a touch heavier. I like this as an FRFR cos its small and light...
http://digitalguitargear.com/camper-plus/
Or go non powered and get a yamaha DXR10..
When you mean loop, do you mean looper for recording overdubs? If so, yes by you need the remote. If you mean effects loop then yes it does.
This is always a risk with anything - a car, PC etc...all can be superceeded....but as Monkeyman says, if its already does the job, so what?
Also I'm struggling to think what else they would do...
BTW the longer you hesitate, the more likely it is that it will happen and you'll have missed out. On that basis, you should buy one immediately :).
The only thing that gets me with the DXR10's is that they aren't exactly aesthetically pleasing and i have gone the whole hog with this rig and spent a lot of money so i wanted the best of the best both sonically and aesthetically and as much as the DXR10's sound great they dont look great and really i wanted something that i could put the head on top of.
Our other guitarist has a DXR and its excellent. He also has an empty Marshall 4 x12 for the "look". The dxr is pointed at the band which is even better...just a thought.
Yes I have the foot switch, as stated what it controls is managed by the Kemper.
You can change the mode to switch on and off stomps and a few other variations but I use it to scroll up and down ( you can even change which button controls up or down).
If you have the remote it does nothing else that you can't do on the remote. I use it purely for rehearsals as its smaller to carry than the remote ( I have 3 expression pedals also on my board) where I can just use a couple of performance slots.
I think the sound is always compromised via IEM's so interested in how you get on as I'm using lower to mid range stuff.
Great news you have enjoyed your live performance, top job. Its so nice when people compliment your sound...
I have done "silent" rehearsals and had various dealings with IEM's live...
My views are:
If you use the amp in the KPA to drive a single speaker you'll be in mono and lose all of the great stereo delay, reverb, and modulation/panning effects. The fact that the internal power amp is mono was an unpleasant surprise for me, since I was planning to drive a pair of guitar cabs. I would have bought the unpowered one if I'd known. I can't fathom why it was done this way.
So for this reason I recommend a pair of powered FRFR speakers unless you have a separate stereo power amp in your rig.
This is very true and an important consideration. For me it wasn;t an issue as I don't rely on the stereo aspect of effects but some do.
I had the same dilemma and went to a PA shop and tried a load next to the DXR ( as a reference) with my Kemper.
I bought one of their own brands ( so possibly not much use to you unless you are in UK/Midlands) but definitely go and try a load.
OR try this - I think its excellent!
Keep them until your happy, many people still use pedals. Personally I find the Kemper has everything i need...
Kemper also do a dual switch ( which I didn't reliase). I have this and the remote....I use the dual switch for rehearsals as its easier to transport and the remote is for me ideal for live.
I use about 4 sounds but having instant access to the tuner, clear display of what patches you have and the endless possibilities with effects to me makes it ideal.
I also had the FCB1010 and its good but you need to dual midi cables to get the most out of it plus power.
If you can afford it, go for the remote, single cable, quick to set up, endless flexibility and you can add expression pedals if you want..
