The tube amp versus amp modeler debate is a particularly hot topic of conversation right now, and while the general trend seems to suggest a large portion of players are moving to the digital ranks – IK Multimedia's game-changing TONEX ONE was 2024’s biggest-selling pedal, according to Reverb – there are still those who may be skeptical of the field.
Such skepticism usually centres around one simple fact: playing through a modeler simply feels different to playing through an amp, and while tones of modelers (the TONEX ONE especially) are never in doubt, the phenomenon of ditching a combo that ‘pushes air’ for something that only goes through front-of-house or studio monitor speakers can be too much to entertain for some.
Further still, those who do make the switch are sometimes doing so without optimizing their new rig, which results in a strange in-between setup that can leave players feeling underwhelmed.
That’s where the FRFR cab can make such a difference, and with the TONEX Cab, IK Multimedia has sought to deliver the ultimate solution to your modeler needs, from rehearsing to gigging and everything in between.
Full-range, flat-response speakers are ideal companions for modelers, purely for the fact they can be used to monitor and project the authentic tones of your digital rig without coloring them in any way whatsoever.
For casual players, they’re the perfect solution for projecting the fine-tuned tones you may have spent hours dialling in, and for active performers, they’re the ideal way to ensure what you’re hearing on stage is the same as what the audience is hearing out in the crowd. Plus, you get the ‘moving air’ phenomenon back.
As we’ve already put on record, IK Multimedia’s flagship TONEX Cab – designed to go along with a TONEX Pedal, TONEX ONE, or any modeler, for that matter – is one of the best pieces of kit modeler fans can buy.
Without an FRFR (as this writer can attest, having first made the switch to an ampless setup sans FRFR) you can leave yourself hamstrung, and with the lack of stage volume feeding back what is coming out front-of-house, it can result in a rather unfavourable playing experience.
It can be jarring, but the feature-packed TONEX Cab solves any such problem – but it goes above and beyond the standard functions of a regular FRFR. Powerful enough for any venue, it boasts 350 W RMS / 700 W Peak, with a unique AMP TONE dial that lets you roll between full-range response to traditional amp-in-the-room realism.
Specifically, the ‘Live’ setting enhances the mid-range focus for cutting through a mix. It can also affect how the TONEX Cab disperses sound, further adding to the ‘real amp’ feel of the powered speaker.
Other specs include LF, MF and HF controls for fine-tuning tones depending on space, custom drivers courtesy of a custom 12” Celestion speaker and 1” HF compression driver for superior sound quality, and comprehensive connectivity that comes via XLR /1/4" combo jack, AUX, MIDI, USB and more.
Not only that, it’s lightweight, compact, easy to transport and is optimized for the stage, with integrated side flip-out legs for angled projection. Therefore, those who may have ditched amps purely for logistic reasons and weight concerns need not be worried about the TONEX Cab, which can seamlessly be integrated into a setup.
With multiple EQ controls and IR loading capabilities, the TONEX Cab is one of the most powerful and feature-packed FRFR solutions available.
“For those looking to amplify a modeler of the slimmed-down, pedalboard-friendly ilk, the feature-packed TONEX Cab offers a lot of extra scope in a compact, intuitive and pleasingly loud FRFR package,” Guitar World’s Pete Emery wrote in his review of the Cab.
“Where the TONEX Cab shines is through in the AMP TONE feature and extending the capabilities of smaller, pedalboard-friendly modelers.”
Head over to IK Multimedia to find out more.
