I know you're over this issue, but i got curious how nobody asked you how you were setting your patches to go into a power amp + 412 cab. were you using "no cab" in your tone? Or were you using another output setting other than "studio/direct" (wich is supposed to kinda turn off cabinet emulation, although we all know they do their own thing). And how is your tone going to the audience? Are you using a microphone to the house PA? This piece of information is vital, you may have your tone reference messed up a little. If i go to a power amp+cab i always turn off my cab sim. At first the tone may sound a little harsh, but going through non-FRFR cabs with cab sim turned on is NOT the way to go IMO. I use the J800 pre w/ a tubescreamer in front and really like the results going through a FRFR powered monitor onstage. If what you're saying would be right, than the HD500 would be not be usable for going straight into the PA (that mostly consists in powered speakers). See, i'm not saying you don't know your way around the unit, i guess maybe your sonic reference could be different.
