Two Notes Reload II, with "Celestion-Approved Load"

[EOengineer]

Avantone CLA 100

This looks like a really interesting option. Do you have first hand experience with it?

 

[GuitarBilly74]

This looks like a really interesting option. Do you have first hand experience with it?

Yes. I had one until recently and used it to add post effects to my 77 Super Lead.
It sounds awesome, loud clear and punchy. . It sounds like the old MOSFET power amps.
It's also convection cooled so there's no fan noise.

I only sold it because I got a killer deal on a Fryette Power Station so I'm using that now.

But I think it's the best deal on a SS power amp these days. I'll buy another one eventually.

 

[Ross Davies]

If there’s anything I’ve wanted in life, it’s a versatile load.

Whoever is writing their marketing material is laughing their balls off right now.

EDIT: OMG that promo video. I fell off the couch when the guitarist does the high leg kick. In the studio. That’s…a thing.

Ross from Two notes here! Glad to see everyone interested in Reload II. I will be doing my utmost to answer any questions you have so please let me know!

REF the high leg kick - even more impressive in person! He catches some serious air! :)

 

[Ross Davies]

I think it will be comparable to the Captors, etc. It's nice and generic sounding and works with all the DynIRs.

It's actually a complete rework of our reactive load technology so you can expect a big difference between this and our Captor / Captor X.

 

[Ross Davies]

From TOP, I went there so you don’t have to.

View attachment 39243

Phenomenal Quote there! :)

 

[Ross Davies]

I think there is a rep here? @AmyTwonotes

Amy is no on maternity leave so you are left with me! :)

 

[Ross Davies]

Kinda surprised they did not put their own tech in there for a cab sim output option, given that they license that out to everyone and this looks like a high end device...

Understood that there is some added cost there but it would have been a significant value add over the powerstation in addition to the stereo power, in my mind. The Captor X has it, f.ex.

At $1K it sits between the two PS models in the US... which makes it a hard sell. In spite of a 'Celestion Approved' impedance curve.

It is a fair statement and one we have heard a lot since Reload II's launch last week. Reload II actually sits in our all-analog solutions range and as such we opted to focus on bringing the best attenuator / amplifier to market with some tools players can use to expand the capabilities of their amplifier (i.e. the FX Loop and Tone Shaping Controls).

 

[Ross Davies]

It broadly described that, yes.
But if we wanna get pedantic I’m totally with PW, it doesn’t attenuate the signal it loads it down and then slaves it.

The idea that it falls under attenuator is like vibrato bar called tremolo, tremolo on Fender amps being called Vibrato, slurring on guitar being called legato. We all know what is meant but just because some folks can’t be arsed to get it right and other lemming off it doesn’t mean we have to follow that.

My personal pet peeve is the use of re-amp for slaving an amp.
Re-amp means taking a line level signal and changing it to unbalanced instrument level to feed it into an amp, not taking a speaker level signal and changing it to line level.

But hey I’m in Germany where they decided to use the word bendings to mean bends, which prior was the German word for pulling strings…

It is indeed a fair point and I completely understand your comments - however, we felt an attenuator / amplifier best describes what Reload II does.

 

[Ross Davies]

I don't care about a Celestion approval. I care about objective tests, not marketing gimmicks.

We hear you and I am 100% certain there will be plenty of impedance curves posted by 3rd parties - our concern is that if we post the data, much like stating the rigorous testing enacted by Celestion and our own engineers, it will be seen as a marketing ploy of sorts. With that said, I am certain when the tests are published, everyone will be pleasantly surprised! :)

 

[Ross Davies]

I have to admit, after reading all this, I still don't know what or whom the reload ii is actually for?
To me it's just an overall weird product.

It obviously is heavily based on the Power Station.
For me the Power Station always lacked a balanced IR output, but this "All tube, play your tube amp (with the tubes in it) as loud as you want, with tubes, did I say tubes?" kinda made sense to me.
Now, this thing supplements the tubes for (I'd assume) class D power amps. In Stereo.
Why?
This thing ain't cheap.

The "approved load response" nonsense:
Firstly, I don't really understand this impedance curve debate to begin with: If you can't make compelling recordings or live shows with the Captor X, it's clearly not a problem of impedance curves making meaningful musicking impossible.
That said: A somehow compromise combined impedance curve won't stop that argument.
It would take selectable, precisely modeled curves for different cab models to cater to that crowd, and the reload ii just does not deliver there.

In the studio, I'd want a IR out, to be able to commit to tones fast.
And there the whole stereo loop thing does not make sense to me, either.
If you are inclined to do IR in the box, why would you want to commit to FX on the input with all this convoluted hardware trouble?
Without even having a dry DI signal?

Live, this looks really fun as a WDW-interface.
But then I'd want three IR-outs to go to FOH or a multitrack recorder, (or, again, at least three DI outs, to slap on IRs on later, when recording).
And for a WDW interface this thing seems excessively expensive for what it offers.


I don't get this.

Thanks for reaching out. Our ethos in designing Reload II was to produce an Attenuator / Amplifier first with options to expand the capabilities of an amplifier; in terms of the target use cases:

• To tame an overly powerful amp so it operates at a reasonable volume
• To add an effects loop to an amp that doesn’t have one
• To give more power to an amp that lacks it
• To amplify a line-level signal into a speaker cabinet
• To convert the output signal from an amp head to line level, so you can send it to an audio interface, a computer, a cab sim
• Add an extra set of controls to your amp (Depth/Presence/Mojo)
• And it allows you to connect to any speaker cabinet without worrying about its impedance

In terms of the Class-D poweramp built into the unit; I can assure you this was not an inexpensive component - in fact, we tested multiple solutions prior to settling on this one for its transparency (another core consideration for this addition to our line)

 

[Ross Davies]

ok, let me rephrase it:
what this product does is obvious, what I don't understand is why a brand known for its virtual cab didn't include the main feature they are known for in this product, in 2025.

It is a fair point indeed, however our analog line of solutions seem to always get overlooked! The original Reload was not a digital solution either so we wanted to keep this core to the design of Reload II.

 

[Ross Davies]

It looks like another great product from TwoNotes
Shame it couldn’t have a smaller footprint and rack mount option ?

Thanks! In terms of the footprint, a multi Impedance reactive load is sadly a large affair and occupies a lot of the space in the unit - making this any smaller would have been impossible - rest assured it is as compact as possible!

However, on the rack mount options - we include the rack ears in the box

 

[MirrorProfiles]

We hear you and I am 100% certain there will be plenty of impedance curves posted by 3rd parties - our concern is that if we post the data, much like stating the rigorous testing enacted by Celestion and our own engineers, it will be seen as a marketing ploy of sorts. With that said, I am certain when the tests are published, everyone will be pleasantly surprised! :)

I’d love to hear some audio examples comparing the effect of its load against some commonly used cabs and speaker types. Ideally with a couple of amps that are known to be fussy with its cabinet.

Would it be possible to have some officially signed off examples that show it sounding comparable to a real cab load?

 

[Jkist7]

Nothing else to say except that kick goes hard

 

[laxu]

Does this use an in-house built poweramp for the stereo outs, or e.g a stock ICEPower module?

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

We hear you and I am 100% certain there will be plenty of impedance curves posted by 3rd parties - our concern is that if we post the data, much like stating the rigorous testing enacted by Celestion and our own engineers, it will be seen as a marketing ploy of sorts. With that said, I am certain when the tests are published, everyone will be pleasantly surprised! :)

Or just go with Crlestion used the Suhr is their standard before.
Operative word used...

 

[Orvillain]

@Ross Davies - Hey dude! Drew from inMusic! Nice to have you here! Welcome! Someone will soon ask you what your favourite pickle is, dill or sweet. The correct answer is both! :)

 

[Orvillain]

We hear you and I am 100% certain there will be plenty of impedance curves posted by 3rd parties - our concern is that if we post the data, much like stating the rigorous testing enacted by Celestion and our own engineers, it will be seen as a marketing ploy of sorts. With that said, I am certain when the tests are published, everyone will be pleasantly surprised! :)

I'm super interested in this. If the loadbox impedance curve is a lot better than the first unit, then I could see picking this up to go alongside my Suhr RL.

 

[Elf]

I like their products, it would be interesting to see how this unit compares to the Fryette Power Stations and Boss WAZA Tube Expandres?

 

[Ross Davies]

I’d love to hear some audio examples comparing the effect of its load against some commonly used cabs and speaker types. Ideally with a couple of amps that are known to be fussy with its cabinet.

Would it be possible to have some officially signed off examples that show it sounding comparable to a real cab load?

Thanks so much for getting back to me. This is indeed in the works but we have opted not to do this ourselves as we feel it will have more validity coming from our influencer network! Stay tuned for updates!