New Friedman IR-X preamp

Finally…. A new piece of gear that really interests me….

I listened to most of their launch podcast on the way to work today. After hearing the feature set and design, I was prepared for a price over a grand, when they said $499 I started to pull over and order one.

Watching how well it cleans up on the volume knob in Pete’s video, I’m seriously considering grabbing one just to see what I think about it.

D
 
saarangnarayan said:
So I've been playing with my IR-X for a couple of hours now and it is mind-blowing how nice it sounds and just how great the tones are. Truly feels like playing through an amp. Now, I did compare the Axe FX III models for a little bit with the unit and through the same IR, they sound pretty identical. The IR-X has a tad more mids in my very quick opinion, but otherwise it sounds a lot like the Friedmans in the Fractal. I think the mids thing is down to the poweramp modelling as well, since I haven't messed with that yet in the IR-X software. I'm yet to download the software to see how the sounds change messing with the presence and thump switches, but if those are currently "off", then that might explain the mid-forwardness of the IR-X. But anyhoo, if you have a Fractal, you don't need to get the IR-X to get the Friedman sound.
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IME the mids are always lacking in all modeling that seem to be there with tube amps even into IR’s. Definitely better in the mids with a tube amp and real cab. Whether that matters a lot in a mix or to a persons use case etc is totally debatable and subjective. All this IMHO for the sensitive.
 
saarangnarayan said:
It's bloaty like the Fractals. Tight switch gets rid of the bloat. A TS-9 in front takes into proper modern gain territory.
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I still hear it in the IR X even with tight on there is the low resonance
It just sounds a bit woofy
And the top end is a bit thin but I am sure different guitars Ir and some tweaking would probably improve on those things
 
ejecta said:
IME the mids are always lacking in all modeling that seem to be there with tube amps even into IR’s. Definitely better in the mids with a tube amp and real cab. Whether that matters a lot in a mix or to a persons use case etc is totally debatable and subjective. All this IMHO for the sensitive.
Click to expand...
Definitely an overall presence in the mix vs. this weird thing where it just sits funky with everything else.
 
saarangnarayan said:
It's bloaty like the Fractals. Tight switch gets rid of the bloat. A TS-9 in front takes into proper modern gain territory.
Click to expand...
If something is bloaty on the Fractal models just do a low cut on the input EQ tab. That'd emulate what the tight switch is almost certainly doing without boosting it like an SD-1/TS808/etc.

The Friedman models in the Fractal when run direct seem very on target to me. I am not sure FAS users need this unless they want a grab and go/backup unit or just want something new/different... the power amp behavior is likely significantly more accurate on the Fractal, etc.

I do think this'll have wide appeal since it is a legit Friedman product and well thought out.
 
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JiveTurkey said:
Definitely an overall presence in the mix vs. this weird thing where it just sits funky with everything else.
Click to expand...
80r5y6.jpg
 
GTR37 said:
I still hear it in the IR X even with tight on there is the low resonance
It just sounds a bit woofy
And the top end is a bit thin but I am sure different guitars Ir and some tweaking would probably improve on those things
Click to expand...

The Friedman sound does have a big bottom end. Nearly everything he does is based at heart on his favorite plexi, so I suspect his favorite plexi is one that has a very big sound that’s got a big bottom and overall warm sound. His tonestack usually allows you to take things to a different place if you want to though.

D
 
Elric said:
If something is bloaty on the Fractal models just do a low cut on the input EQ tab. That'd emulate what the tight switch is almost certainly doing without boosting it like an SD-1/TS808/etc.

The Friedman models in the Fractal when run direct seem very on target to me. I am not sure FAS users need this unless they want a grab and go/backup unit or just want something new/different... the power amp behavior is likely significantly more accurate on the Fractal, etc.

I do think this'll have wide appeal since it is a legit Friedman product and well thought out.
Click to expand...
I know what this is going to sound like, before I even type it, but it is a thing, at least, playing my Helix doesn't feel exactly like playing a tube amp.

How does the IRX FEEL compared to the Fractal?
 
Baba said:
I know what this is going to sound like, before I even type it, but it is a thing, at least, playing my Helix doesn't feel exactly like playing a tube amp.

How does the IRX FEEL compared to the Fractal?
Click to expand...

They both feel really good to me. Both seem to have a little better feel than the Helix which doesn't have the low end thump.
 
JiveTurkey said:
Definitely an overall presence in the mix vs. this weird thing where it just sits funky with everything else.
Click to expand...
Funny you mention that That’s to me was the biggest thing with modelling a couple of years back sitting in the mix
I would take a drum track from superior drummer and it would sound like you were standing at the stage during a sound check
Then I would put the Fractal or Helix on a track and try to blend them , even just playing along I instantly noticed how small and one dimensional the modeller sounded ,
Plugging in my amp and playing along with a mic on the cab totally different experience it sound full and real

I know the modellers are much better now but I was shocked at the difference between the amp and the model sitting in a track
 
jellodog said:
Seriously though - they aren't an exact EQ match, but they do both sound great.
Click to expand...

I just realized we have similar guitars in our avatars!

I nearly bought a Cutlass when I was shopping for my guitar but I didn't have the funds yet, and it sold before I did.
 
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