glideman

I get great recorded material from both. In a mix, it's hard to tell. Live and solo in my house? I very slightly prefer Kemper. And it could all be in my twisted little head. LoL!

I own and use both equally... Helix is usually for church and gigs I want a minimal setup for. Kemper is when I want to Cadilac mode it and don't care about the extra pedal and head unit. I slightly prefer the amps I have in my Kemper, but it's mostly a wash once you learn to tweak Helix and make tones. Effects slightly favor Helix. They're both awesome units and if you can afford both, it's really worth it!

I'll pick the Archon model over the 800 any day of the week... JMHO...

I get plenty outta my Xitone MBritt convertible open/closed back. A 2x12 Xitone with the class D Matrix amp panel built in should knock your d@ck in the dirt... LoL!

I never use my Helix and Kemper together. Effects are good enough for me in Kemper to not need Helix when using it. Helix is my compact rig, and Kemper is my Mac Daddy rig.

Cool. I checked it out on a Google search a little while ago. Fender looks like a nice powered PA speaker... they're about as proud of it as JBL is of theirs... hehehe.

Never seen the Fender Fortis thingy before.....

Bottom line, with Helix, you can tweak the tone to sound whatever you want it to sound like within reason...

You've also heard from people that have not heard just how "fizzy" a lot of real amps can be...... especially higher gain ones... Whatever is there that I don't like, I can dial out with Helix. I love my Kemper, too, and I liked the Axe FX II XL+ I had (owned the AX8 as well for several weeks). I sold all the Fractal and kept Helix and Kemper. I'm just as happy with Helix as I am/have been with the others.

Xitone MBritt model 1x12 coaxial (Celestion with Matrix amp module built in) with open/closed back convertible option. Screams in all modes and configs!

There is actually a mode on the Xitone MBritt that cuts off the horn driver/tweeter if you want to load some patches that are built for guitar cab. There's also a DSP mode on it where the Tweeter is cut off, but it's still FRFR (just a little warmer since the horn driver is off). It's a VERY versatile cab for $1000.00 shipped to my door. Throw in the convertible open/closed back option and you can use it for all kinds of different feels/sounds. and it can be LOUD (or soft).

I use the same patches I would pump through any other FRFR into the Xitone. There's some new stuff I've programmed since it came in, but I pretty much use the same philosophies I did with other patches, regardless of whether I use Low cut/High Cut.

Xitone is probably more optimized for guitar. Still think I could run anything through it, though. Has 5 dsp eq modes. Seismic Audio is a coaxial monitor. You can run anything through it.

If you can swing $1000 range, Xitone makes the MBritt model powered coax speaker that has a built in Matrix amp. Ask for the open/closed back custom hybrid version. You can run it open or closed back with an easily removable rear panel section. It's killer!

There's a global setting for the volume/expression pedal(s) that makes it's value "global" or per preset. The global, I believe, will retain the current position of your expression pedal even when switching presets.

Seismic Audio makes a powered 15" coaxial monitor that does a great job! Bass and treble controls, too, in case you feel the need to shape the tone a little.

Also of note with the Xitone MBritt, for the same price you can ask for a custom convertible open/closed back version of the MBritt. It features an easily removable/replaceable panel on the lower rear instead of the open back grille look in the pics. It has a couple more DSP settings for a total of 5. I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine!!!

Either that or wait for the 2x12... hehehe. I like Stereo okay, but not really wanting to tote around two amps for most gigs. I love this thing more and more every time I plug into it, though. I run my Kemper through it, too, and it cranks the paint off the walls, too! Don't have the F word stuff anymore, but I'm sure it would get along with them, too. The in the band mix just solidified the greatness of this FRFR cab. I've practiced with the band in open back mode and it sounded good, too. Closed back was the gig.

I was able to coax some feedback in the middle of Stranglehold... nice harmonic howl!

Depends on the Matrix cab design and whether it uses the Celestion coax speaker. However, the Matrix won't have the open/closed back option. I ran direct to front of house and direct to the Xitone (actually fed the Xitone and used thru jack to feed FOH). The basic tone through JBL SR II FOH was about the same, but the Xitone was like having a real amp sound that filled the stage and out front well. It's hard to describe... I've never been so in love with my digital modeler stage sound since I quit going through a tube power amp and guitar cab. It's so subtle, but very noticeable to me and other musicians. It took me 10 weeks to get mine due a couple of unforseen circumstances. I would plan on 3-6 weeks depending on what Mick says.

That Matrix amp module in that thing has some bawlllsss, too!

Feel like you're toting a little combo amp in, too, the way it's shaped and built. With that moose metal speaker handle, the 40 something pounds doesn't feel that heavy.

LoL! Best order quick due to build/wait time... Hehehe! That thing is like butter...

It's truly a great on stage FRFR!!! I expected it to sound good in the mix after really cranking it up almost full tilt at the house a few times. It sounded better in the mix than I ever expected, though!!! It was GREAT!!!!! I just can't say enough good things about it! I could swear I had a tube amp on stage!!! I was a tube snob for many many many years!

Wow... Tons of compliments from the band and from some guitarists in the audience. Really felt/sounded like an amp on the stage! What a great experience!