Some interesting news from Kemper (Profiler Player)

[Jarick]

Add on top the fractal also doesn't have a JJ jr/JJ model. Although I imagine the HBE would be close

Yeah for sure. It's a pretty subtle difference across the midrange and response, but it's really close. The JBE mode I think may be a little further away because of the saturation, but that's an option on Fractal too.

I just found and rolled the dice on the Bert M JJ Junior liquid profile pack for $20. He has a bunch of studio profiles but six DI profiles. I tried one of those with the same IR and it's now MUCH closer to the real thing. Not quite the same clarity with string response and low end but the overall sound feel and EQ are now properly in the ballpark.

That's going to make the decision trickier...if the old Kemper profile is 90%, and if I can shoot new 2.0 profiles with the Player and get like 95%+, maybe I keep it around through the summer.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Alright an hour of pretty close comparisons and the Fractal is just much, much closer to the real thing. Granted I can't profile my amp directly but all the similar amps with the same IR are a fair bit different.

I'd say Fractal is 95% of the way there with subtle EQ, in terms of overall sound, gain, dynamics, and feel. The Kemper is like 85%. A good profile probably would be a lot closer, but not sure I'll end up keeping the Player long enough for the new OS.

All of these devices have their flaws when it comes to the "sit down in a room next to the tube amp and swap back and forth between the two and see if there's noticeable difference."*

At the same time, all of these devices can make a lot of great guitar amp like sounds and be a blast to play through.

*sometimes its because the device is lacking; often its because we are comparing Gala Apples to Pink Lady Apples; often its because trying to solve problems of our own creation is just an inherently unfulfilling endeavor.