“A no-compromise amplifier solution”: Synergy teams up with Wampler and Friedman to launch its machine-learning power amp – and promises to change the

[Kelly]

This was in another thread, I think, man. Looks like an interesting product, though I'm a bit sceptical about the "machine learning" aspect.

It's also super expensive, I'd rather use something that is sub-$1000. I mean, as good a builder as Friedman is, where are the machine learning algorithms coming from?

Is it just something that mimics cab response, like the Boss Waza TAE? I'd rather be able to choose myself, what does a machine know about tone.

All said and done, I'm probably not the target market though, and Friedman may have perceived a gap in the market that this addresses.

Wampler is releasing just the amp plus IR loader for $599. If the technology is just adjusting the amp without converting the signal to digital it may be really good.

 

[tallcoolone]

Dave gives a thorough run down of what it does as well as the new Phil X head.

I like Dave and have owned most everything he’s put out. This is a stereo Waza TAE without the delay/reverb/compression/boost/eq from what I can tell.

 

[nightlight]

I like Dave and have owned most everything he’s put out. This is a stereo Waza TAE without the delay/reverb/compression/boost/eq from what I can tell.

Interesting video. I'd be interested to see how the solid state power amp compares to the Fryette versions that use tubes.

The idea of a test tone being run through the cab to learn its characteristics a la profiling sounds amazing as well.

Will look forward to demos in the wild.

 

[tallcoolone]

Wampler is releasing just the amp plus IR loader for $599. If the technology is just adjusting the amp without converting the signal to digital it may be really good.

Again, Roland/Boss put this out a few years ago at the same price point. And it has effects built in

 

[glpg80]

Dave gives a thorough run down of what it does as well as the new Phil X head.

I wonder if you can you bridge each 90W side to run a single cab at 180W or run 90W in parallel from a single source?

 

[stratjacket]

I tried the Fryette PS before and didn’t like the idea of loading down my guitar amp only to power it up again at a lower power amp. Seems like the idea of pushing speakers was lost a little bit. I just have no interest in that. I really have no interest in doing that with machine learning solid state. I bet it sounds good and a quality product no doubt just not how I would use a Reactive load.

If it ever get released it as just a Reactive Load with stereo out and some features WITHOUT the power amp, I’d buy it for sure. I know I could use it that way, but I don’t want to pay for the extra power amp I will never use. I will have to wait in case they ever release a stripped down version but probably unlikely.

 

[thegame]

I like Dave and have owned most everything he’s put out. This is a stereo Waza TAE without the delay/reverb/compression/boost/eq from what I can tell.

The Waza has its own intrinsic power amp character and that’s it, correct? I don’t believe it “learns” / profiles the host amp’s character the way this does.

 

[ZEN Amps]

The Waza has its own intrinsic power amp character and that’s it, correct? I don’t believe it “learns” / profiles the host amp’s character the way this does.

The IR-Load doesn't learn anything about the host amp, it's a preset power section emulation achieved via DSP - including presence and depth. Like Two Notes have power amp emulation in their WOS plugin. The latter is pretty ordinary, so hopefully this one is better.

Verbatim from the Synergy rep:

"There's no model to be chosen on IRLOAD."
"poweramp that sounds and behave exactly like a Friedman 100W tube poweramp."

"ML part does the interaction by driving the speaker and working with depth, presence and resonance."
"it's all about how the poweramp drives the speaker in regards to voltage current and relative phases."

So the claim is it's "learning" the behaviour of the cab, and then uses this data to make the solid state power amp / cab interaction mimic a tube power amp / cab. Tail wagging the dog but like I said, could be a cool box.

Fryette must be rolling his eyes on this one... it's a solid state power station with additional features that apparently sounds exactly like a tube one. So essentially a replacement device to the one his company likely makes a large share of its profit from.

 

[tallcoolone]

The Waza has its own intrinsic power amp character and that’s it, correct? I don’t believe it “learns” / profiles the host amp’s character the way this does.

No, the TAE has adjustable resonance and presence—looks like the Friedman has ‘reactance’, depth and presence. Consider me skeptical of the vague voodoo sounding marketing speak—just tell us what it does and why it’s important. Don’t get me wrong—IMO the TAE is the greatest tool for tube amp using gigging guitarists since I can remember but I’ve been playing tube amps for 30yrs and there is no ‘feel’ compromise with the TAE. Def don’t want to sacrifice built in effects for a hopeful improvement in that area. Without the onboard effects I just don’t get the point.

 

[ners]

They really need to expand on the ML part of this because despite having ML experience I have no idea how they're really applying it here.

I also have a TAE and not sure this is worth the upgrade yet. I'm assuming the ML stuff is just a more fine-grained approach to the Z-High & Z-Low knobs on the TAE.

It's been a while since I didn't use my TAE but I remember the biggest negative impact just being low volume not pushing speakers enough, so unless the Friedman thing is solving that some how...