Help Deciding Between Atomic Reactor Or Powered Pa

[frettfreak]

I am looking for some current advice on what to do in my situation.  I am looking for something that i can get GREAT sound from, use when i jam with a couple friends (just drums usually, but once in a while there will be another guitar), and just to play by myself at home.  I have an X3 Live, and currently just bought a tech 21 power engine 60.  

 

Now, maybe i dont have my patches setup right, i am not dismissing the possibility that this is user error, but i am really not impressed with the PE60 at all.  Its LOUD and can crank, but i am not liking the tone at all.  I have the X3 set to studio direct, have turned down the room to 0 on mic sims, and while the sound is acceptable, it DEFINITELY not what i hear when i put my headphones on (which is what i thought i would be getting).

 

That being said, i am open to keeping the PE60 if i could get a great sound from it, but i have search all over, tried a lot of suggestions and i am just not impressed.

 

right now, i have a good deal on an atomic reactor that i could pick up (i think the closed back and tubes would help the sound a lot) or my other thought would be to buy a powered PA speaker. I am trying to keep around $300-$400 and am totally ok with used gear. i am absolutely clueless about PA speakers though so i dont know if the ones in that price range are worth it (there are a lot that get great reviews, just not sure if it will work for my purposes. 

 

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

[radatats]

suggest you check out this link before you buy the Atomic...

 

http://line6.com/supportarchivenew/thread/6465

 

Which ever way you go, you really should try each one if possible with your X3 in the store before you buy...

 

Personally, I am waiting for this to be released next month (hopefully)...  and yes, I will test it first...

 

http://www.behringer.com/EN/products/KXD12.aspx