Reactive Loads - 2026 consensus??

Orvillain

Orvillain

Goatlord
Richard Cranium
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Is there a 2026 consensus (hahaha, silly Drew!) on the best reactive loads around?

I'm only looking for the best and most realistic sounding 4x12 V30 feel. I don't care about built in IR loading, or extra doohicky features. I just want an unfiltered signal I can feed into my Axe FX III or Cab-Lab or something like that.

I already have the Suhr Reactive Load IR. It is only okay IMO. Doesn't knock my socks off.
 
Surprised someone hasn’t brought out a loadbox with a solid bunch of sic style load options. Granted I have no idea what’s involved in doing that so maybe there’s a reason why.

Fractal has 2 from memory and I’ve seen it on a few, but having like 4-6 would be cool for different amps.

Also I have no idea I use the first redseven and “it works”
 
The best one I tried is the St.Rock React:IR 2.

2dor

Post in thread 'St.Rock ReactIR 2 now available! (frequency response graphs included)'

I reshot the sweeps with a louder sine signal (only attenuated by -30dB compared to -60dB in the first round of tests).

I "shot" the Suhr through the Behringturd GI100 (tapped the signal from its XLR out instead of the Suhr) and via the DI port on the Suhr itself.
Graphs:
1719594296522.png
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I own two atm.

Fryette PS-100. It's been nothing but trouble but works fine atm. I feel I can get it to behave like whatever cab I would run direct into the amps I've owned by just configuring the load switches right.

Bluetone Loadbox. This is a made in Finland product that is a straightforward reactive load and attenuator. A network of heatsinked resistors + two coils for reactive component. -12, -15 and -20 dB attenuation, or turn the speaker out off for a pure loadbox with line out. Works fine and doesn't mangle the tone/feel of the amps I've tried with it.
 
@Orvillain the React:IR2 latest firmware also has a frequency correction IR on board which I supplied to St.Rock to make up the the delta in frequency response between their internal reactive load (MODE pushed IN) and my own Mesa 4x12 OS Straight cab.

It's static but still, does a pretty good job if you want to inch closer to the real cab without blasting the real thing.

st.Rock REACT:IR II Wishlist & SW / FW revisions

@st.Rock 1.46 is still linked to the beta dl. You're killing it! Excited to give it a spin.
www.thegearpage.net

St.Rock React:IR II available now - frequency response compared to Suhr RL, Red Seven Amp Central, Mesa 4x12 OS, Mesa 2x12

I swear I’ve seen a chart of the frequency response vs. RedSeven and Fryette PowerStation before but I can’t find it.
www.thegearpage.net
 
2dor said:
@Orvillain the React:IR2 latest firmware also has a frequency correction IR on board which I supplied to St.Rock to make up the the delta in frequency response between their internal reactive load (MODE pushed IN) and my own Mesa 4x12 OS Straight cab.

It's static but still, does a pretty good job if you want to inch closer to the real cab without blasting the real thing.

st.Rock REACT:IR II Wishlist & SW / FW revisions

@st.Rock 1.46 is still linked to the beta dl. You're killing it! Excited to give it a spin.
www.thegearpage.net

St.Rock React:IR II available now - frequency response compared to Suhr RL, Red Seven Amp Central, Mesa 4x12 OS, Mesa 2x12

I swear I’ve seen a chart of the frequency response vs. RedSeven and Fryette PowerStation before but I can’t find it.
www.thegearpage.net
Click to expand...
At least they're supporting their products, unlike Universal Audio !!
 
Suhr is best from what I’ve tested but there’s defo room for improvement. React IR is solid but the low end is weaker and the top end slightly rolled off. The older units also have an IR slot for you to add a compensation IR to match the EQ difference to your cab response, but it’s not dynamic/reacting to amp settings.

Haven’t tried Red 7, the new Two Notes or the new Friedman but I’d imagine them to be in the same ballpark (where they sound closer to the better reactive loads as opposed to nailing a cab load)
 
MirrorProfiles said:
Suhr is best from what I’ve tested but there’s defo room for improvement. React IR is solid but the low end is weaker and the top end slightly rolled off. The older units also have an IR slot for you to add a compensation IR to match the EQ difference to your cab response, but it’s not dynamic/reacting to amp settings.

Haven’t tried Red 7, the new Two Notes or the new Friedman but I’d imagine them to be in the same ballpark (where they sound closer to the better reactive loads as opposed to nailing a cab load)
Click to expand...
Have you tested the non IR Suhr vs the IR version but bypassing that feature? You’d think they’d sound the same, but maybe not.
 
Dez said:
Have you tested the non IR Suhr vs the IR version but bypassing that feature? You’d think they’d sound the same, but maybe not.
Click to expand...
They'll sound different because the Suhr RL-IR has an output buffer; it'll give better lowend. The OG/non-IR is pretty picky with what you plug it into. It needs stuff with a pretty high input impedance even if going out of the XLR balanced output. Best thing to do is go out the DI / unblanaced out and use the shortest (and highest quality) cable possible because it can pick up noise.
 
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I’ve been curious about this. I just bought a Suhr (non IR) and it worked so I called it good and haven’t tried anything else.

My only complaint is that it has too much bass. I’d prefer something more like a 1x12 g12h30
 
I actually reamped my 2204 through a Mesa 4x12, Suhr, React IR and Fryette the other day. Happy to post the files here although it’s all stuff that’s essentially been posted before. Curious to know where the Reload and Friedman fit in. I’ve had high hopes for a lot of reactive loads only to be disappointed.
 
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