Am I thinking about this the right way? (Firehawk 1500 content)

[Rocco_Crocco]

I need 2 things...

 

1) an FRFR

2) A backup to the Helix

 

Should I just get the Firehawk 1500 and the footswitch ($1300 street price) and be done with it? This should solve both problems.

 

Anyone think of a reason not to do it?

[spikey]

With Helix I love My Firehawk 1500! Sounds great to me.  :D

[jshimkoski]

A couple other good options are:

 

Matrix FRFR cabs if you want lightweight.

 

Mission Engineering make the Gemini 1 and Gemini 2 (stereo version). These have a cool dial on the back of the cab that will allow you to make the FRFR cab sound like a traditional cab.

 

I have the Mission Engineering Gemini 1 and love it.

[zooey]

No opinion when it's working, but if it's not, it's the speakers for both Helix and itself, so it's not quite a fully redundant backup rig.

[MIKEY9966]

I am going to use 2 amplfi 150, plug in to the back, and 2 Dt 25, have not hooked up yet but have the gear, any thoughts on this set up

[Rocco_Crocco]

No opinion when it's working, but if it's not, it's the speakers for both Helix and itself, so it's not quite a fully redundant backup rig.

If the Firehawk stops working, I can still go FOH with Helix and make due with the houses floor monitor mix.

[PierM]

I need 2 things...

 

1) an FRFR

2) A backup to the Helix

 

Should I just get the Firehawk 1500 and the footswitch ($1300 street price) and be done with it? This should solve both problems.

 

Anyone think of a reason not to do it?

 

I would not buy the 1500 for the Helix. I did, and I'm not happy, at all. In fact I'm now using my "old" L2M.

 

Don't get me wrong, FH1500 It's a great amp, but standalone. As FRFR is noisy as hell. The monitor input is doomed by digital HISS. MIDI control is subzero. I believe there is to much electronics involved along the path, even with the FH off, which you really don't need for a real FRFR.

 

For the price you have better solutions, imho. :)

[Rocco_Crocco]

I would not buy the 1500 for the Helix. I did, and I'm not happy, at all. In fact I'm now using my "old" L2M.

 

Don't get me wrong, FH1500 It's a great amp, but standalone. As FRFR is noisy as hell. The monitor input is doomed by digital HISS. MIDI control is subzero. I believe there is to much electronics involved along the path, even with the FH off, which you really don't need for a real FRFR.

 

For the price you have better solutions, imho. :)

Pier...thanks for this info. Is the hiss you describe loud enough to be bothersome at higher volumes, like a band rehearsal?

[PierM]

Yes.

 

At bedroom levels, it's good. Signal to Noise is acceptable.

 

When you pass 50%, and especially when you hit 3/4 at 0dBs, the HISS is ridiculous. Problem is, it is not just a subtle noise, it's some sort of white/pink noise, very high frequency, so it does really kill your signal. I do play mostly jazz and clean stuff, and for me it's a total deal breaker. I'm in fact going to sell it for that reason as It looks like L6 really does not care about (and because I think it's hardware side).

 

A workaround can be to use Helix to L/R returns in the FH1500, to avoid the gain section which is the module producing the most of the hiss, but still, even that section is too noisy if compared to other speakers.

 

My L2M (apart the fan kicking when it's hot), it does not produce any digital hiss, at all.

[talwilkins]

I started using my DT25. I loved the tone and feel but it lacked clarity and didn't cut through the mix very well.

Went for a Firehawk 1500 and was blown away. It;s amazing with Helix. Cuts through like butter.

I have no problems with noise and I play pretty loud. Actually the DT25 did make a lot of noise.

I've never had such good tone and I've never had such a quite setup.

 

I am also thinking of getting the Floorboard for the Firehawk as a backup but since I probably will never use it (I hope) I guess I'll use my HD500X as backup. Not sure yet.

[Rocco_Crocco]

I just used the 20% coupon from GC to buy the 1500 and the floorboard. If it's too noisy I'll send it back. Wish me luck!

[ColonelForbin]

When I had the FH1500 I was reasonably happy with it at home; I had trouble using at band rehearsal, in terms of hearing myself. I didn't have any white noise or hiss isues, and I am guessing with some time spent on my patches, it would have been fine at band volume - I only sold it due to some financial car repair related issues. I've been using pair of L2t at band rehearsal, and/or a DT25 "stack" (combo on top of 1x12 extension cab); and a pair of L3m at home.

 

I've gravitated back towards real tube amps, and getting really good things from Helix > Fryette PS2 > Friedman 2x12 cab.. The FH1500 as a powered monitor for Helix did sound pretty good! You will want to install the app on your phone so you can tweak the bass cut settings, global EQ, and volume level easily.

 

Run your Helix into the monitor inputs on the FH1500, don't use the 1/4" guitar in. You can send 1/4" or XLR to the FH1500.

 

The latest firmware allows to enable or disable the XLR pass-through, in terms of if you want the XLR outs from the FH1500 to route the monitor in or not.

This can be quite useful if you are trying to go direct to a PA where you cannot disable phantom power on the channel - the FH1500 XLR outs don't seem to have the same problem going to a PA as the Helix XLR outs do.