Suhr Reactive Load Vs Fractal Audio X-Load

[EOengineer]

I definitely wouldn't be playing this thing in my apartment at all, never mind these settings, if I didn't have the Suhr. I have no experience with other load boxes, but had enough experience with the amps into cabs to know it works fucking great. Only reason I went for that over the Fractal was because I found one used for like $50 cheaper than I could have gotten the Fractal at the time.

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There is no better solution currently, especially when running vintage spec Superleads. I absolutely love playing my 1959 and 2204 through the Suhr.

The idea to limit IRs to 20ms when a large amount of IRs are 200ms-500ms was not a good call by Suhr.

And this is exactly why many of us choose to keep our reactive load and impulse response processing separate. I’m frankly still shocked Suhr hasn’t corrected that flaw with the current version…and it is a flaw. A giant one.

 

[Desertdweller]

And this is exactly why many of us choose to keep our reactive load and impulse response processing separate. I’m frankly still shocked Suhr hasn’t corrected that flaw with the current version…and it is a flaw. A giant one.

Agreed on both counts. Back in the day when we’d pay for recording time in a studio you generally stuck to 1 cab and that was it. Now we have the freedom to use different IRs on different instruments and different songs, so there’s so much more freedom. It’s a better workflow with more options to add IRs in the DAW so you can mix and match for the right sound for the song. I’ve had some songs where greenbacks or cream backs worked better than my 4x12 V30 cab and it’s great to have those options specifically when mixing the track.

 

[Chocol8]

I think that is why Suhr hasn't upgraded the onboard IR handling. A 20 ms IR is fine to feed to front of house for a bar gig, and probably as good or better than micing the cab with a beat up beer soaked 57. Most other uses, you aren't going to use the built in IR's anyway.

 

[Allexi]

The thing is that Suhr is using russian IR module produced by AMT. It is off the shelf product. Suhr didn’t developed it and just integrated it into RLIR.

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[nicolasrivera]

By this time i have learned something that few will tell you, there is not one reactive load unit thats the better fit for all amps. Each amp sounds and feels a bit different with each unit, its up to you to decide if one units serves the best for your amp, and this is an expensive research as you need multimple reactive load units to experience this.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Got my new to me Suhr non-IR RL, hooked up my Mark V:35 with the load and my new Helix Rack.

 

[AlbertA]

Cabs and loads tested through the Ceriatone Chupacabra 50W I got today:

- Mesa 2x12
- Mesa 4x12 OS Straight
- ENGL 1x12
- ReactIR
- ReactIR but hooked up to the THRU port on the Suhr Reactive load
- Suhr Reactive Load

What's interesting is the blue line on the plot which is the ReactIR going to the THRU port of the Suhr (this one's hooked to the Speaker port on the amp).

Looks like a lot more high-end content makes it through than if you were to run the Amp directly into the ReactIR.

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Interesting, the Mesa 4x12 Oversized resonance at around 98Hz? Isn't that what the What the Fractal LB-2 is targeting?

Most other impedance curves I've seen of the Mesa 4x12's usually have a resonance around the 110Hz though.

 

[AlbertA]

So what's the consensus?

Suhr non-IR RL or X-Load LB-2 ?

I'm trying to decide which one to get.

 

[Mikael Dez]

So what's the consensus?

Suhr non-IR RL or X-Load LB-2 ?

I'm trying to decide which one to get.

https://reverb.com/item/89268472-suhr-reactive-load-8-ohm-di-box-2015-present-black

 

[Mikael Dez]

^^^ Not mine I swear! I'm playing through mine right now and I got it under $300 used - I love this thing <3

 

[Humbug]

So what's the consensus?

Suhr non-IR RL or X-Load LB-2 ?

I'm trying to decide which one to get.

I suppose it depends on what sort of cab you like. The Suhr is roughly comparable to the impedance curve of a greenback 412, though with quite a bit less mids and more highs. And more lows, depending on which greenback you compare it to. The LB-2, iirc, is more similar to an open back 112. There are quite a few threads on this forum getting into some serious nerdery about reactive loads. Edit: Oh, I just realised I'm in one

 

[Chocol8]

So what's the consensus?

Suhr non-IR RL or X-Load LB-2 ?

I'm trying to decide which one to get.

What is your usage scenario? The non-IR Suhr has the higher impedance passive DI (usually not a problem), the RL-IR is active for the outputs but needs 9v power. I prefer the loads in the Suhrs better but the X-Load does have an active XLR out but it adds the ability to be powered through 48v phantom power which is kinda cool.

 

[AlbertA]

I suppose it depends on what sort of cab you like. The Suhr is roughly comparable to the impedance curve of a greenback 412, though with quite a bit less mids and more highs. And more lows, depending on which greenback you compare it to. The LB-2, iirc, is more similar to an open back 112. There are quite a few threads on this forum getting into some serious nerdery about reactive loads. Edit: Oh, I just realised I'm in one

I'm currently playing through a 2x12 PRS Stealth with Celestion v-types - I should probably measure its impedance curve to see where it lands.

If I were to get a 4x12 - I would probably go for a Mesa Recto oversized though.

 

[Humbug]

I'm currently playing through a 2x12 PRS Stealth with Celestion v-types - I should probably measure its impedance curve to see where it lands.

If I were to get a 4x12 - I would probably go for a Mesa Recto oversized though.

I'd be very interested to see the curve of the v-type in a 212 - would you share the result?

I don't think there is a load on the market that matches either of those cabs, though maybe the REact:IR-box can get you there with some digital magic?

 

[Chocol8]

Also, what amp? Higher NFB amps are a LOT less sensitive to the load than something like a Vox or old Tweed circuit.

 

[Blix]

Also, what amp? Higher NFB amps are a LOT less sensitive to the load than something like a Vox or old Tweed circuit.

Speaking of Vox, did a clip with the Suhr load when I had the AC10C1 for a while. Sounds rather killer. Kicking in a Klon KTR halfway in:

 

[AlbertA]

Also, what amp? Higher NFB amps are a LOT less sensitive to the load than something like a Vox or old Tweed circuit.

A PRS Archon classic.

 

[2dor]

A PRS Archon classic.

You might like the Suhr a little bit better with that one; has a bit more "umph" in the lowend (out of the box). You could potentially mod the X-Load to get the same thing.

 

[AlbertA]

I ended up with the Suhr Reactive load, since it was available new locally at Guitar Sanctuary (gotta support those local shops).

Has anyone modified theirs with taller feet? I need it to clear the handle of my PRS Archon so It can nicely sit on top of it.

 

[bikescene]

Speaking about the Suhr Reactive Load and Voxes, I compared the SRL vs a speaker typical load on a Vox AC15 recently. The Suhr gave the amp a larger bottom end that is pleasing. Less than accurate for the smaller 1x12 IRs I was using, but more well suited for distorted sounds.