Matrix GT800FX VS GT1000FX Update!

[harddriver]

Would it be worthwhile to upgrade to the GT1000FX, I like the 2 space rack giving more space for components and cooling but I am also sure the GT800FX would suffice and they are more readily available used. I was thinking of going new here as well since I see these are MADE in USA now and would like to support them.

GT800FX $650.00 versus GT1000FX $799.00

 

[vander]

Never played through the 800 but I had a GT 1000FX for a while in a wet dry wet setup with a 100 watt Marshall and it sounded great and kept up volume wise. Cool unit.

 

[Chris6870]

I had the GT1000FX. It was ok. Not amazing.Have you checked out the PowerStage? I switched to Seymour Duncan PowerStage 170 and think it sounds better, cheaper, readily available, there is a 3 band EQ which is nice and no rack needed for the 170. There is also a rack mount model if needed.

 

[Stradazone]

For what it's worth the rep at Matrix told me that the 1000 sounds more tube-like than the 800

 

[aftec]

Never had the 800 have the 1000. Clean, pristine, needs to be around 1 o'clock to start being ballsy, no real character, flat, a tube poweramp has more depth, sparkle and dynamics. Perfect for WDW, and stuff with poweramp emulation.

 

[harddriver]

For what it's worth the rep at Matrix told me that the 1000 sounds more tube-like than the 800

I read that same quote at Matrix's site. Thanks for the input Al, I'm just trying to justify if it will sound any better than my ole Peavey 50/50 power amp.

 

[harddriver]

Never had the 800 have the 1000. Clean, pristine, needs to be around 1 o'clock to start being ballsy, no real character, flat, a tube poweramp has more depth, sparkle and dynamics. Perfect for WDW, and stuff with poweramp emulation.

I think I hear the depth and dynamics in this YT vid I found.

 

[Purpleibby]

I had the GT1000FX. It was ok. Not amazing.Have you checked out the PowerStage? I switched to Seymour Duncan PowerStage 170 and think it sounds better, cheaper, readily available, there is a 3 band EQ which is nice and no rack needed for the 170. There is also a rack mount model if needed.

Been lookin' at that one too(powerstage700). If you're going to clean power a post power amp signal a clean ss power amp is appropriate, if not a tube power amp would be. You need that coloration if you're amplifying a preamp or pre-tube power amp line out.....

With the powerstage's eq, it looks like something that could bridge that gap possibly for both applications.

 

[harddriver]

I found a Matrix GT1000FX, I'll let you guys know how it sounds when I get it.

 

[errrrrl]

Never had the 800 have the 1000. Clean, pristine, needs to be around 1 o'clock to start being ballsy, no real character, flat, a tube poweramp has more depth, sparkle and dynamics. Perfect for WDW, and stuff with poweramp emulation.

I think I hear the depth and dynamics in this YT vid I found.

Wow that was drastically different. Makes me want a Mesa power amp even tho I don't need one

 

[Stradazone]

The Mesa 2:90 sound great, use to use one with my ADA and CAE 3+ preamps, but when I owned it even with very little use, it broke down on me 3 different times and had to send it out for repair finally had enough and sold it, maybe I just had a lemon, but that was my experience with it

 

[Chris6870]

Mesa has more presence. I wonder if that is due to the onboard EQ. I found the same thing comparing the PowerStage (also onboard EQ) to the Matrix. The Matrix selling point is its flat EQ.

 

[K-Roll]

We had a GT1000FX in the band where I play and if you are running it through a 16 Ohm speaker cab it was barely able to cut it while I was playing my 50w tube amp through a similar 16 ohm cab (both orange PPC412). It just sounded thin and weak and started clipping real bad. I suspect if you had a cab wired @8 Ohm or say a pair of passive monitors to math -you'd get an audibly louder response. Mind you, we did tweak the amp model EQ to make sure it's not V shaped mess and we had to almost max mids on each and every preset and remove the cab section etc to be able to get something reasonable out. This was with a kemper and a helix .

Funnily enough the seymour duncan powerstage sounded a lot more ballsier with enough dB to send the signal through. I was quite disappointed seeing its 1000w but that does not give you an accurate idea on what you'll get in the end result. So a modeler through a GT1000 through a real cab 4x12 was a real weakling.

 

[Shask]

Mesa has more presence. I wonder if that is due to the onboard EQ. I found the same thing comparing the PowerStage (also onboard EQ) to the Matrix. The Matrix selling point is its flat EQ.

The Mesa definitely sounds more mid scooped in that video. Makes sense why I always have to mid scoop everything a lot to sound "normal" when I use my GT1000FX.

I have always wanted a 2:90, but it just seems like way too much for home use.

 

[harddriver]

Here's AL with DLR, loading down a Suhr SL68 and then reamping with a Matrix GT1000fx driving four Marshall 4x12's probably at 8 ohm loads(two 16 ohm cabs parallel) each for each channel.

That's some slammin tone ya got going on there Al, as good as anything I heard Ed' with live, KUDOS! The Matrix sounds like it's punching and percussive in the mix. I know Dave Friedman really likes them and uses them in all his WDW setups and I trust Dave's ears so I decided to try one.

 

[harddriver]

The Mesa 2:90 sound great, use to use one with my ADA and CAE 3+ preamps, but when I owned it even with very little use, it broke down on me 3 different times and had to send it out for repair finally had enough and sold it, maybe I just had a lemon, but that was my experience with it

Every Mesa Boogie I owned had issues, I had a dual recto, Mark III+, I bought the Dual Recto new and I baby my gear. I know alot of people run them for years and never have an issue but I'm glad I never sold my Marshalls.

 

[Racerxrated]

Here's AL with DLR, loading down a Suhr SL68 and then reamping with a Matrix GT1000fx driving four Marshall 4x12's probably at 8 ohm loads(two 16 ohm cabs parallel) each for each channel.

That's some slammin tone ya got going on there Al, as good as anything I heard Ed' with live, KUDOS! The Matrix sounds like it's punching and percussive in the mix. I know Dave Friedman really likes them and uses them in all his WDW setups and I trust Dave's ears so I decided to try one.

The thing to do if it's underpowered is to rewire your 16 ohm cab to 4 ohms. Then you'll have enough. My HH M900 is 400w per side at 4 ohms, 250 at 8ohms and through my 16 ohm Marshall cabs around 125w. More than enough for home playing but if I had a smaller rated SS power amp I'd have to rewire for 8 or 4 ohms to make it work.

 

[Texhex]

If you are running one of the Matrix amps into a 16ohm 4x12 you need to be running the amp in bridged mode for maximum output, otherwise you are missing out on a ton of power.

Tech specs on the GT1000:

Number of channels- 2
Watts per channel rms @ 4 ohms- 500
Watts per channel rms @ 8 ohms- 325
Watts per channel rms @ 16 ohms- 150
Bridged mode rms @ 8 ohms- 1000
Bridged mode rms @ 16 ohms- 650
Input sensitivity 0.775V
Frequency Response (+/-3db ref 1kHz) 8hz-24kHz
Weight 9lbs

 

[harddriver]

My Matrix GT1000FX 2 unit came in yesterday. I hooked it up and compared it to my ole Peavey 50/50 that has presence and resonance. I got a little more low end with the Peavey because I add it with the resonance knobs but it had less clarity, was a little saggier and seemed to color to tone more than the Matrix. Granted I don't know how old the tubes are in my Peavey.

I stood in front of the dry cab and then in front of the wet cabs and I find that the Matrix reproduces the dry cab tone more exactly almost identical but with delays. I was all ready to not be impressed... but I played it for quite a while and I have to say I really like it, my delayed tone actually sounds better more fidelity I guess.

The Matrix punches well and sound really good and basically has a clarity and ability to reproduce my dry tone as much to a tee as I've heard. I will log some more hours on it but so far it is impressive considering there are no traditional transformers in this thing, regular or toroidal, still scratching my head on that one, no power x-former, no output x-former????????.

I'm sure HH V800 would punch even better, how could it not? But the Matrix is pretty good.

I'm not sure if it would keep up on a loud stage at 16ohms each channel but it is plenty for playing at home and sounding good.

 

[Racerxrated]

Nice. I think short of an HH amp the Matrix is a great choice for a no color power amp.