Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Lysander]

Yes, but contrast that with the Stadium. The Mk2 is actually shipping and has new features even though we're waiting for the new profiling, but the Stadium is not shipping. Yet the Kemper has a dramatically lower level of interest than the Stadium. It seems like there's a large difference in the amount of enthusiasm people have about the two.

Not to be a smartass, but there's a clear reason why that's the case.

I think Kempers are great, but there's basically nothing major separating OG and MKII units.

 

[Eagle]

Okay. Just saying, it’s something we can go round and round about. I’ve done exactly what you’ve described, with a powered toaster, with about four different amps same day, and it just didn’t sound or feel as good as the FM9. Same amps (JP-2C, Triple Crown, Jube, JCM800).

It’s fine and great if you like it, obviously many people do. But it’s not definitive, ESPECIALLY high gain stuff.

I agree on high gain but I just use my vh4 for that.

 

[molul]

Yes, but contrast that with the Stadium. The Mk2 is actually shipping and has new features even though we're waiting for the new profiling, but the Stadium is not shipping. Yet the Kemper has a dramatically lower level of interest than the Stadium. It seems like there's a large difference in the amount of enthusiasm people have about the two.

Apart from mk2 being almost the same device with almost no new features, and the Stadium bringing an overwhelming amount of new stuff to the table (even though we're still months from the release and not all features will be available from day one), I also wonder why that might be.

 

[AlbertA]

I think people would be more positive about it if they called it a Kemper 1.1 or something. I know Fractal has used a MK2 moniker for a "a little better stuff" type upgrades, but with Kemper having had the same hw for so long it feels like users want something more than that.

I mean when I read MK2 I didn't expect any major upgrades - that's what MK monikers are for - is this a US thing only?

 

[Richard_G]

I don't know. In a lot of cases, I think of MK monikers as small incremental changes, often due to parts becoming obsolete and so forth.

Then you have Mesa Boogie.

With regards to Kemper; I believe people (rightfully) were expecting more after all these years.

 

[laxu]

I mean when I read MK2 I didn't expect any major upgrades - that's what MK monikers are for - is this a US thing only?

There's no real meaning to the moniker.

I think it's the lack of Kemper updating the hardware together with the marketing that makes people think of the MK2 more like a new generation of Kemper even though it isn't.

 

[molul]

To be fair, yes, mk2 is not "New flagship next gen device", and Kemper hasn't marketed it as that.

The problem is that the first profiler was released in 2011. A next gen was expected, and now that mk2 is available, nobody could realistically expect an actual next gen flagship in a few years.

 

[laxu]

To be fair, yes, mk2 is not "New flagship next gen device", and Kemper hasn't marketed it as that.

IMO all of their marketing for it had a lot of wording that makes it seem like it's so much better than the previous one.

A New Era of Effects: 20 Blocks in series
A new Era of PROFILING: KEMPER announces a new PROFILING technology for the MK 2 series. Availabilty is expected during Summer.
More than 100,000 individual frequency points meticulously analyzed for the most precise powerful amp recreation ever achieved.

Compare this to Fractal:

"Fractal Audio Systems proudly announces the immediate availability of the FM3 Mark II Turbo. This advanced, compact floor unit elevates the FM3 with a more than 10% boost in DSP power, plus larger, easier-to-read footswitch displays."

 

[Mongillo19]

It just seems more and more like Kemper trying to get ahead of a competitor (Line 6) than anything at this point.

For example, @Jarick do you think you would have tried the KPP if the Stadium had been announced prior to KP Mkii news? Or would you have just saved your money?

At the very least I think it would have made the decision a little less certain

 

[Richard_G]

The changed words in the Kemper marketing after the launch is quite embarrassing, and does not look good for those hoping the MK II would be a vast improvement.

 

[Frodebro]

I’ve spent the last 6 months touting that I have a QC and engaging in that thread - even though I think it’s the most hated device on this forum I never once received any sort of hate or bashing from anyone

Neural pulled some questionable shit at TOP when the QC was first launched, which led indirectly to the banishment of certain people and the launching of this forum. So bashing on that company comes from a slightly different place than the usual “what I have is the best and you’re a sucky poophead if you like something different” mentality. Which in itself is a shitty way to see the world.

 

[quadgear]

Neural pulled some questionable shit at TOP when the QC was first launched,

Oh do tell....

 

[molul]

Neural pulled some questionable shit at TOP when the QC was first launched, which led indirectly to the banishment of certain people and the launching of this forum. So bashing on that company comes from a slightly different place than the usual “what I have is the best and you’re a sucky poophead if you like something different” mentality. Which in itself is a shitty way to see the world.

I knew this forum's origin was some big issue at TOP, but didn't know the details. Wow...

 

[Frodebro]

Oh do tell....

I thought it was pretty well known around here. The megathread that started at the launch of the QC had a bunch of curiously brand new members who never posted anywhere else on the forum, slathered the QC with praise, and argued with people who questioned stuff about it. Suddenly long standing members found themselves perma-banned after questioning the awesomeness of the QC. There was speculation that money was being paid to TOP to censor people who bashed the QC or asked questions that put it in a bad light.

A similar thing happened at the launch of the TMP. Brand new members galore, and bans for those that didn’t embrace the emperor’s new clothes.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Neural pulled some questionable shit at TOP when the QC was first launched, which led indirectly to the banishment of certain people and the launching of this forum. So bashing on that company comes from a slightly different place than the usual “what I have is the best and you’re a sucky poophead if you like something different” mentality. Which in itself is a shitty way to see the world.

Oh yeah I know, and I mean despite all that I never had any negative interaction with any other forum members here. This place is pretty chill I think

 

[LP59]

IMO all of their marketing for it had a lot of wording that makes it seem like it's so much better than the previous one.

A New Era of Effects: 20 Blocks in series
A new Era of PROFILING: KEMPER announces a new PROFILING technology for the MK 2 series. Availabilty is expected during Summer.
More than 100,000 individual frequency points meticulously analyzed for the most precise powerful amp recreation ever achieved.

Now that they've edited that description of the new profiling, they need to put an asterisk next to "20 blocks in series". It's 16 on the Player level 1. In either case, 8 of those blocks are "fixed" effects, which are quite limited compared to the Mk1 effects.

 

[Frodebro]

Now that they've edited that description of the new profiling, they need to put an asterisk next to "20 blocks in series". It's 16 on the Player level 1. In either case, 8 of those blocks are "fixed" effects, which are quite limited compared to the Mk1 effects.

It really is too bad that they didn’t thoroughly update the signal routing capabilities, That kinda keeps them permanently behind just about everyone else at that level in the market. Even dual paths would have been a huge improvement.

 

[[Nathan]]

I thought it was pretty well known around here. The megathread that started at the launch of the QC had a bunch of curiously brand new members who never posted anywhere else on the forum, slathered the QC with praise, and argued with people who questioned stuff about it. Suddenly long standing members found themselves perma-banned after questioning the awesomeness of the QC. There was speculation that money was being paid to TOP to censor people who bashed the QC or asked questions that put it in a bad light.

A similar thing happened at the launch of the TMP. Brand new members galore, and bans for those that didn’t embrace the emperor’s new clothes.

Sounds like all new modelling platforms need a kickback fund to grease forum owners. What an incredibly sad reality that companies think about that and forum owners participate in it. Maybe just bring out a good product and people will like it, what a concept.

 

[Frodebro]

Sounds like all new modelling platforms need a kickback fund to grease forum owners. What an incredibly sad reality that companies think about that and forum owners participate in it. Maybe just bring out a good product and people will like it, what a concept.

Cliff pointed out that there was a known banned member posting under an alt in one of those threads and received a vacation for speaking up.

 

[LP59]

It really is too bad that they didn’t thoroughly update the signal routing capabilities, That kinda keeps them permanently behind just about everyone else at that level in the market. Even dual paths would have been a huge improvement.

As you can see from the past 14 years, because of the way their audio processing is designed, they can only make small changes. And, because the Mk2 doesn't add any cpu power, they were limited in the kinds of effect blocks they could add. Dual amps or even dual paths seems to be infeasible in the Kemper.