mmmmmmm I think the Suhr Reactive Load IR always digitizes

[Orvillain]

The Suhr RL IR... has built in IR loading. I never use it. I only ever use the unfiltered output.

In such a situation, if you clip the IR side of the loadbox - either the amp being too loud or the DI level of the box being too loud - it still affects the tone of the unfiltered audio output. This necessarily must mean that it digitizes the entire signal, even if you're not applying an IR.

If true... mega suckage.

 

[James Freeman]

I think it's true.

I use my Suhr RL IR as passive load like a cab from the 'SPKR TRU' of the X-Load and take a line level signal from the X-Load, so the entire setup is passive. That also allows me to switch between two load curves by pulling the cable out from the 'spkr thru' output from the X-Load.

 

[James Freeman]

You can also use the Suhr RL IR passively from one speaker output and take a DI signal from the second speaker output jack of your amp into a 25k volume box then into a high impedance input or a buffer (boss pedal for example) then into your recording setup.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

It's definitely true since the Unfiltered Out does not work without power. If it was a true all-analog path (like the non-IR version), it would still work.

 

[Jarick]

Interesting...glad I have the all analog version!

Did you ever have the non-IR model?

 

[GuitarBilly74]

Interesting...glad I have the all analog version!

Did you ever have the non-IR model?

I did, and honestly, they sound the same. Whatever Suhr did for the conversion, it's well done (as long as you don't clip it, I guess).

 

[Chocol8]

It's definitely true since the Unfiltered Out does not work without power. If it was a true all-analog path (like the non-IR version), it would still work.

Very NOT true. It just means that the unfiltered out has powered components which may be nothing more than a powered analog buffer. That could also be clipped so I don't think anything said in this thread implies that the signal on the unfiltered out is or is not converted to digital.

 

[ZEN Amps]

It’s not true. Any analog design can be pushed into clipping, and there seems to be confusion between analog and passive/active in this thread.

 

[Orvillain]

Did you ever have the non-IR model?

No but I think I'm going to get one. Because I don't entirely trust that the digital circuitry doesn't add perceptible latency, as far as cloning technology goes.

It’s not true. Any analog design can be pushed into clipping.

Then why does the digital side show the clipping LED, but the analog side doesn't?

And if you crank that DI level high enough, it does sound like digital clipping. Not analog. I don't trust that block diagram right now.

 

[EOengineer]

This fear, baseless or not, was part of why I opted for the OG Suhr RL. I’d prefer to keep digital crap out of my load box.