I was all set to by Synergy Syn20 ir. Then I remembered how much the FM3 offers and couldn’t pull the trigger

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Enchilada Jones

Roadie
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I have recently added the TwoNotes Reload II and intended on selling off all my accumulated modeling gear because the Reload II gets ‘real amps’ into real cabs and/or into my monitors via DAW.
It also takes line level or instrument level to send modelers to those destinations, and there in lies the dilemma…

For less than a Syn20 ir +one module an FM3 gets me so much more. The number of modules needed to match the Fractal FM3 literally don’t exist and if they did would cost 1000% or more than an FM3. Since the power amp is already covered by Reload II I ordered the FM3 instead.
Selling Opus and Nano Cortex and a few others covers most of the FM3 cost. I’m feeling downright fiscally responsible!

Does my logic hold sway with my fellow gear heads or am I missing something?
 
I think the Opus and Nano should easily be covered by the FM3, which could also provide tons of effects coming out of the amp and Reload.

There's something to be said for a fun multi-effect unit IMO...running my new JJ Junior into the Suhr RL and Axe FX 3 is a blast. But also the same setup into an HX Stomp is fun. I could easily see running the amp and load box into a Helix 4CM too for variety of effects, channel switching or swapping virtual amps into the mix.
 
mavrick102000 said:
The difference of Ola's demo with the SynIR20 vs the same module with the Syn50 power amp was night and day difference even with the same output volume.
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Sometimes I wonder if that's the amp being better or just having different EQ at lower volume. Didn't watch the video though. But with the Blackstar Amped you can change the virtual tubes and that shifts the EQ a decent amount.
 
Jarick said:
Sometimes I wonder if that's the amp being better or just having different EQ at lower volume. Didn't watch the video though. But with the Blackstar Amped you can change the virtual tubes and that shifts the EQ a decent amount.
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For sure there can be an EQ shift, but overall there was for lack of a better term "balls" and thud to the tone the 20 didn't have in that setting through the same cab. It was significant.
 
Wattage is not as relative to volume as it is to tone.

20 watt amp - lots of mids, boxy sounding, can lack bass and overall depth. Really great for vintage tones, cleans, leads. Lacks for heavier genres.

50 watt amp - massive increase in depth over lower wattage amps. Generally the jump to larger PTs and big bottle tubes makes a difference in tone, providing a more balanced overall sound with better depth and control.

100+ watt amp - everything that makes the 50watt amp great but more of it. More depth, more presence, more “hell yes” feeling from playing it.
 
The SYN20 IR sort of sits in no man’s land in my opinion. It’s all-in-one, so I can see where it would be a cool solution, but it’s not quite the big bottle power section experience, and has a relatively narrow digital back end setup. A SYN1 or SYN2 enclosure and then choosing your own adventure from there (Running into an amp return, a dedicated power amp, or a more comprehensive digital backend device) will always be more flexible. It’s cool for size and simplicity though, and being Synergy you know the modules are great.

Most people into Synergy integrate it with other setups (analog, digital, or both) or lean fully into the modular analog thing and build a dedicated rig around it. In either event, most people in to Synergy like it because it’s not a modeler. So if you’re viewing it from a modeler feature-set checklist standpoint, just stick with a modeler.
 
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The thing you want from the SYN20-IR would be the poweramp Structure stuff.

It is a shame that nobody makes a truly configurable poweramp with power scaling and other feel altering features.

Of course with Fractal you can simulate that stuff yourself.
 
Enchilada Jones said:
Does my logic hold sway with my fellow gear heads or am I missing something?
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It all depends on whether you actually sell those items, or find a reason not to. Pro tip…don’t plug them in anymore ;)

If I was in the market for an amp, the syn 20 would be very high on my list, if they offered a combo I’d probably go for it.
Reason, I could swap 2 amps for 1 + 2 modules = less gear & same results. If you want a super broad pallet of sounds…modeler is indeed a more practical solution.

I wouldn’t worry about the 20w one bit cause a/ I never experienced lower watt amps to have too little low end, and b/, of headroom is of concern, I’ll bring a 2nd amp with a loop and slave it via the return.
 
AFKAEjay(retired) said:
It all depends on whether you actually sell those items, or find a reason not to. Pro tip…don’t plug them in anymore ;)
...
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Yea, already boxed a bunch of items up and have them listed on gear exchange.
Trying to reduce the overall gear horde and also go with real amps as my preferred choice, they almost always sound and 'feel' better. Since I can't play loud very often I keep collecting digital devices searching for the best plan B.
I wanted it to be the Syn20 to stay with 'real' amps as well as increase the number of amp 'voices' available but the FM3 (will be my 3rd time and 7th Fractal overall...I know, it's a sickness) is the best value per voice so I have to do it.
 
laxu said:
The thing you want from the SYN20-IR would be the poweramp Structure stuff.

It is a shame that nobody makes a truly configurable poweramp with power scaling and other feel altering features.

Of course with Fractal you can simulate that stuff yourself.
Click to expand...
The new KSR has some cool features like a negative feedback control. The Mesa 2:90 has deep and modern voicings that change the sound of the amp substantially.
 
Enchilada Jones said:
Yea, already boxed a bunch of items up and have them listed on gear exchange.
Trying to reduce the overall gear horde and also go with real amps as my preferred choice, they almost always sound and 'feel' better. Since I can't play loud very often I keep collecting digital devices searching for the best plan B.
I wanted it to be the Syn20 to stay with 'real' amps as well as increase the number of amp 'voices' available but the FM3 (will be my 3rd time and 7th Fractal overall...I know, it's a sickness) is the best value per voice so I have to do it.
Click to expand...

I’m always bouncing between digital and analog, but my modeling unit is also at the core of my analog rig as an efx/ir unit in 4cm, so I was never tempted to sell any of them. Hybrid setups also blur the differences between digital/analog in the sound/feel department, imo. As a result, I look for my “main voices” in my amps, D and Fender style in my case, and trust a model into the return of an amp to handle anything else. (Which I never want/need lately, but it’s there)
 
The amount of features doesn't make a product better though. Android has more features and is more flexible than iOS. That hasn't stopped iOS from being the preferred phone OS by USians. It's all about what features you prefer/need, how you interact with the product and what political/security reasons you may have (might be more applicable to phones than amps, but nontheless).

I would ask myself these questions:
- Why did you want to get the Synergy in the first place?
- Do you really need all the features a modeler offers? For instance, do you actually need 300 amp models?

All that said, if you're happy with the FM3, good for you. Keep it. Use whatever that brings you joy and gets the job done.
 
- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ - said:
And here people making fun of me in fractal thread for my quick jump from fm3 to fm9 :P yet we should be picking on you lol :D
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I’m a hopeless case I think. My first Fractal was when the Ultra was released and ever since then I’ve owned some version during at least 2/3 of any of those years.
I kept convincing myself the user interface was enough of a pain in ass to go with different modelers, from Eleven Rack to QC etc, or a simple modeler as an ‘amp only ‘core squeezed into pedal board type rigs. Helix Floor was the one I owned the longest. I had it from 2015 to mid 2024. I miss it often.

Since around the time when the first AxeFx III was released the Fractal modeling has been the best you can get in my mind. Even still, fear of missing out made me want to experience as much of the other stuff as I could.

I guess that’s why I’m way more excited about the arrival of my 7th Fractal than I ever was about anything else that was inbound. I know what it can do sound wise and I no longer stumble around the front panel so purging the collection and getting that compact AxeFx is going to be a relief.
How long it lasts this time I don’t know. I no longer even try to lie to myself lol.
 
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Tanax said:
I would ask myself these questions:
- Why did you want to get the Synergy in the first place?
- Do you really need all the features a modeler offers? For instance, do you actually need 300 amp models?

All that said, if you're happy with the FM3, good for you. Keep it. Use whatever that brings you joy and gets the job done.
Click to expand...
For about a year I went through a Synergy Syn50, a Syn 30, a Syn 2 with a Synergy rack power amp. Probably had 5 modules total.

I know I don’t need 300 amp models but I do like to be able to switch it up for inspiration and I’ve convinced myself the Fractal into my Soldano Astro 20 or into the Reload II will sound as good as any of my previous Synergy rigs did with no additional expense to collect new ‘amp modules’.
 
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