Eleven rack question? Power and Preamp or just preamp?

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T

ThrowBackMan

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Hey Guys. :rock:
I was looking at some info on the Eleven rack and I thought it said you could go directly to a cab and if that's so then you don't need a power amp? I'm confused :confused: as I thought the Eleven rack was just a preamp with modeling, etc, effects, etc? Someone clear this up for me? If I buy the Eleven rack would I need a power amp as well to play thru a 2 x 12 or 4 x 12 cab? I've never played thru a midi system or rack, always an amp with pedals, but wanting to change stuff around for a new rig.
Thanks
T
 
Hey :rock:!

It's a preamp only, with amp and cab sims plus fx and other stuff. If you want to play through a real cab on stage you will need a power amp. For power :D.
 
You can also use it with an active monitor :)
I've had lots of fun running my Pod XT through an active 350 watt 15" PA speaker.
 
I think what you may have heard is that if you are going to use the 11-rack live through a guitar amp that it is best to turn off the "amp" and "cab" options in the 11R - because you will be using a live amp and cab. You generally don't want to simulate any amp when you are plugged into a real amp (although you can if you want to).

On the other hand, if you are plugging the 11R into a PA or powered monitor, then you WOULD want to use the amp & cab simulation, because that kind of "amp" is just made to reproduce the sound of what is plugged into it (like a pure power amp and "hi-fi" speakers) - not control and affect the sound like a real guitar amp.
 
^ This.

I used the 11R live with a power amp and a 4x12 cab. With this setup, you turn OFF the cabinet simulators in the 11r or it wont sound right. Going straight to FOH you would turn the cab sims ON.
But you do want to leave amp sims on, thats whats so cool about the 11r....all the different amp simulators. However there are some really nice effects in the 11r as well, if youre just planning to use it in your guitar amp's fx loop ;)
 
I like the idea of using it directly to a PA speaker, etc,. That's a great idea.. Simple too!
T
 
I had one of these briefly..sounded like shit through a power amp and one of my cabs. Had the cab sims off as well. I didn't try it through a powered monitor though, that may have sounded better..I would try it through that. Cheap enough, may have to give one another try with a powered speaker..
 
RacerXRated.

Interesting. I read a review by a guy in the UK and he didn't like it either. He said it didn't really feel like a tube amp, and of course they advertise that the impendance matching is supposed to help make the feel the same as a the tube amps I understand. He just also ddin't like the effects. So, I've heard good and bad about it.. There's another guy that has reviews online / youtube that loves it and uses it live at a church. He's compared it to the POD 500 and Boss effects, etc, and loves the Eleven Rack. I've heard more good things than bad, but I'm worried. I used to gig awhile back, but it was always with a Fender Twin and pedals and I thought the pedals and tube amp worked everytime and sounded so much better than rack effects, etc, all things being somewhat equal in price, etc,.

Thanks so much
Tim

Racerxrated":24k2z8ck said:
I had one of these briefly..sounded like shit through a power amp and one of my cabs. Had the cab sims off as well. I didn't try it through a powered monitor though, that may have sounded better..I would try it through that. Cheap enough, may have to give one another try with a powered speaker..
Click to expand...
 
Take the reviews that you read on anything with a grain of salt (even mine). We all have different ears, tastes, and abilities to dial gear in... as well as other gear that we run with these things that either compliment, or sabotage each other.

Having said that, I really liked my 11R. But I liked it running into a Rocktron Velocity 300 (older two-space model) SS power amp, into a 4X12 loaded with T75s. That was my favorite setup for the 11R. I tried it with my friend's VHT 50 watt power amp and didn't like it at all. It seemed to prefer a solid state power amp for sure. And I never got a real feel with the 11R going direct, but I've got another friend who's been using his straight into the board for gigs for years... and this guy knows great tone and gets it. So we all have our own likes and dislikes. For what these things are going-for right now... I don't think you can go wrong trying one out. In fact, I plan to pick up another one and try it into my H30-loaded Tech21 PowerEngine 2X12. I'm currently running my 2nd Vox Tonelab LE into that combo and it sounds AWESOME. So I'm of the opinion that I may be able to make the 11R sound even better into it.

I had a rack Kemper at the house for a few weeks and honestly, I preferred the 11R. Certainly not saying that everyone would pick the 11R over the KPA, but for my tastes/needs the 11R fit me better. So I'd pull the trigger and try one for yourself.
 
Hey Red Label.
Yeah, I agree. You have to take those things with a grain of salt when it comes to reviews. I typically try to just get info from them about specs, etc,. I'll probably use the eleven rack for recording and gigs. Mostly recording, but I'm trying to put together a 3 piece or 4 piece blues based originals band and have found most everyone that I need. Just need some more gear such as the Eleven rack. I hate hauling amps around, etc, and this may be the answer. Now, I'm just trying to decide how to use it. I mean with a power amp and cab or with an existing amp in the effects loop, etc,. I'm also looking at a tube amp which is the 2 x 12 6505 combo or one of the heads. I really like Peavey stuff as I've had good luck with it. If I get it, I'll use it first and then try the eleven rack for recording. Thanks man so much.. T
 
flimz":mu01hqmg said:
^ This.

I used the 11R live with a power amp and a 4x12 cab. With this setup, you turn OFF the cabinet simulators in the 11r or it wont sound right. Going straight to FOH you would turn the cab sims ON.
But you do want to leave amp sims on, thats whats so cool about the 11r....all the different amp simulators. However there are some really nice effects in the 11r as well, if youre just planning to use it in your guitar amp's fx loop ;)
Click to expand...
how do you hook it up to amps fx loop? The 11r has no send an return jacks, just a loop to hook fx to itself. The 11r won't hook up the same way as my Gmajor.
 
How would you use it on stage if you didn't use a power amp and cab, or in the fx loop of an amp? Is there some other way I'm not aware of?
T
 
Go direct to the snake/board and have the sound guy pot you up in the floor monitors or something.
 
Hey Red_Label.

I was just reading this again and wanted to comment again. I wonder how you like your Vox LE going into the Tech 21 Power Engine?
As you probably know Tech 21 just came out with this thing that has a good Plexi distortion, their sans amp simulation which I love, and it also has delay and reverb and a boost in a pedal board. One small board. Preamp I guess. I'm thinking it would be great as well for just a basic setup into a power engine or ? Awhile back I had a 2 x 12 Vox amp that had the effects, etc, and preamp 12ax7 in the power amp for tube tones. It worked really well I thought, but that amp died on me and I bought it used so I was not able to do much about it. Anyway, I'm considering another as I really liked the tone in that one and the newer one's even have better amp modeling in them for metal heads, etc,. I think it also is much cheaper in a combo format and you get an attenuator as well which makes it good for both practice and gigging.

Still waiting to see an 11r at my local store to try out though!
Thanks so much..


Red_Label":177hf8dg said:
Take the reviews that you read on anything with a grain of salt (even mine). We all have different ears, tastes, and abilities to dial gear in... as well as other gear that we run with these things that either compliment, or sabotage each other.

Having said that, I really liked my 11R. But I liked it running into a Rocktron Velocity 300 (older two-space model) SS power amp, into a 4X12 loaded with T75s. That was my favorite setup for the 11R. I tried it with my friend's VHT 50 watt power amp and didn't like it at all. It seemed to prefer a solid state power amp for sure. And I never got a real feel with the 11R going direct, but I've got another friend who's been using his straight into the board for gigs for years... and this guy knows great tone and gets it. So we all have our own likes and dislikes. For what these things are going-for right now... I don't think you can go wrong trying one out. In fact, I plan to pick up another one and try it into my H30-loaded Tech21 PowerEngine 2X12. I'm currently running my 2nd Vox Tonelab LE into that combo and it sounds AWESOME. So I'm of the opinion that I may be able to make the 11R sound even better into it.

I had a rack Kemper at the house for a few weeks and honestly, I preferred the 11R. Certainly not saying that everyone would pick the 11R over the KPA, but for my tastes/needs the 11R fit me better. So I'd pull the trigger and try one for yourself.
Click to expand...
 
I've had the 11R a couple times. First, through a SS power amp into a 4x12 w/T-75s. I thought it sounded great. Cab sims were off. I paid full boat for this one - $899 I think. Then I got an AxeFx Standard. Gone.

Then, I had it and ran it through my powered FRFR setup. The luster wore off. I didn't like the cab sims at all. Definitely the weak spot. I paid $300 for it with the upgrade, no PT. Maybe worth it? Meh...

Great bang for the buck, but no real support by Avid, so no upgrades. I'm using a KPA as my main amp now, with a L6 Amplifi FX100 "in reserve". I prefer L6, as they have been pretty good about product support, especially when you consider the price.
 
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