C
Chronic Narnia
Well-known member
I have a Fryette PS100. I might grab a SYN2 and some modules. Is it better to use the preamp input or go directly into the effects loop like you would with a real amp?
romanianreaper
Well-known member
No definitely use the preamp input. I had my 20IR hooked up like that before the Syn-2 arrived and sounded good but was noisier. I have the Syn-2 out in mono into the preamp input of my PS-2a and love it!
jchrisf
Well-known member
The SYN-2 into PS-2A sounds better than just the 20IR (no PS-2A) into a cab?
romanianreaper
Well-known member
Oh yeah, definitely. But I love the 20IR too and it is just one of those el84 versus 6l6 things. The 20IR sounds better to me than other el84 amps i've owned and can do metal and chugging riffs. It just doesn't do the 6l6 level of chug.
I always struggle to explain what I hear with el84 amps compared with 6l6. It is more "crisp", less lows, not as tight, etc. It still sounds great and like I said, i'm a fan of the 20IR. One of these days I should do some sort of comparison clip.
I don't think anyone would feel let down with a 20IR. It is a great amp. Once you plug into the Syn-2 with a bigger power amp though it opens up and just feels bigger. Even thru my Orange 1x12, a lot of that boxy sound disappears and sounds huge.
jchrisf
Well-known member
Yeah, I love my 20IR. I will play it through my PS-2A as an attenuator just like I would any other amp through the speaker out but I really don't notice a difference in tone.
S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑
Hack
I feel like if you used the ps2 as a power amp and let the thing breath rather than attenuating, you would notice what makes it special. Too many people dismiss the power section because they play at low volume (not engaging the power section)
jchrisf
Well-known member
My room must be too small because my ears can't take it.
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Hack
I get that. The room space makes a difference as well as the surfaces
romanianreaper
Well-known member
That is surprising to me that you don't notice a difference but as mentioned by Hack, probably because you are still using the el84s, attenuated, versus the 6L6s.
I have owned the JJ Jr., Pink Taco V2, and 20IR, all with el84s. I think playing clean, rock, blues, etc., I would probably not be able to differentiate between an el84 or 6L6 power amp. With metal, especially palm mutes and hitting a big power chord, I can hear these other things appear.
As soon as i plugged the Syn-2 into the Fryette, the modules sounded "heavier" and there was more of tamed mids, low end, etc. that sound more brutal.
C
Chronic Narnia
Well-known member
Have you compared the 20IR output vs. using the preamp input on the PowerStation then running into itself to use the loadbox to get line level back into a modeler or wherever for IRs?
romanianreaper
Well-known member
I'm able to play the Fryette PS-2A at super low volume and not even using the low button. I'm new to the Fryette stuff. Do you have a PS-2a or the first one and is there a big difference?
romanianreaper
Well-known member
No I haven't done that. I'm trying to remember how I had it hooked up when I first got it.
jchrisf
Well-known member
I have the PS-2A and I'm pretty new to it as well. For some of the settings on my 20IR I find the volume to be a bit touchy at low volumes so I thought I'd put it into the PS-2A to attenuate. It was really good for that. I also wanted to see if it made a difference in tone if I cranked the 20IR and it really didn't.
Honestly, I can get the 20IR super low volume without the PS-2A but I just wanted to compare.
Shask
Well-known member
For Metal, pretty much, the bigger the power amp, the better.
buller
Member
I run a SYN-1 with the Deliverance module into my PS-2A into my 212 cab and it does a great job at moderate home volumes without any attenuation. Kinda wish I got the Pittbull module instead but Deliverance module sounds really mean boosted with an MXR Custom Badass OD
Shask
Well-known member
I have the Ultra Lead, but always considered picking up the Deliverance also, lol. I have read there is a lot of overlap between them though, so not sure if it is worth it to have both.
romanianreaper
Well-known member
Yeah that is how I am. Rather than have modules that are similar, I'd rather get different sounds.
Shask
Well-known member
Yeah, I pretty much bought one from each maker so that I didn't duplicate too much. I have several of them now though, so not sure what I want to get next.
MadAsAHatter
Well-known member
I've run my Synergy modules several different ways, each giving slightly different results. It confirms in my mind how much the power amp plays a part in the final sound. Let me start off by saying nothing sounds bad, but some setups sound better than others.
SYN2 into an EL84 amp - It works, but is my least favorite setup. Playing metal doesn't work out well. Modules; like my Powerball, just don't have the girth that you'd expect. Tiny tubes = tiny sound; or something like that. It sounds good, but there's room for improvement and comparatively just doesn't have the same oomph as big boy tubes.
Randall RM100 - Being a 100 watt amp with big tubes and big iron, it fills out the sound. This is the setup that seems to add the most color to the final sound too. That's not a bad thing, but could be the 1-2% difference that determines if you love or just like the module. To me it's better suited for M-flavored modules than more American sounding modules. Then I do have it set up with EL34's so that's probably a factor.
SYN2 into a PS-100 - This is the most well rounded setup. The Powerstation has close to the girth/fullness of a 100 watt amp, but is very neutral sounding. In this setup the module does 99% of the lifting on sound. So it works well in pretty much any situation; assuming you like the module's sound in the first place. For most people; unless they have a preferred power amp, a PS2 or PS100 will likely be the best way to go when using a SYN1 or SYN2.
SYN2 into the same brand amp - Examples would be the Savage going into an ENGL amp, or the IICP going into a Mesa Mark amp. This setup is probably the closest you can get to the module sounding like the actual amp. You get the power amp characteristics that are meant to go along with the module. So the Savage module sounds more like an ENGL with that signature compressions. The IICP sounds more like a Mesa Mark series if that makes sense.
SYN2 into an EL84 amp - It works, but is my least favorite setup. Playing metal doesn't work out well. Modules; like my Powerball, just don't have the girth that you'd expect. Tiny tubes = tiny sound; or something like that. It sounds good, but there's room for improvement and comparatively just doesn't have the same oomph as big boy tubes.
Randall RM100 - Being a 100 watt amp with big tubes and big iron, it fills out the sound. This is the setup that seems to add the most color to the final sound too. That's not a bad thing, but could be the 1-2% difference that determines if you love or just like the module. To me it's better suited for M-flavored modules than more American sounding modules. Then I do have it set up with EL34's so that's probably a factor.
SYN2 into a PS-100 - This is the most well rounded setup. The Powerstation has close to the girth/fullness of a 100 watt amp, but is very neutral sounding. In this setup the module does 99% of the lifting on sound. So it works well in pretty much any situation; assuming you like the module's sound in the first place. For most people; unless they have a preferred power amp, a PS2 or PS100 will likely be the best way to go when using a SYN1 or SYN2.
SYN2 into the same brand amp - Examples would be the Savage going into an ENGL amp, or the IICP going into a Mesa Mark amp. This setup is probably the closest you can get to the module sounding like the actual amp. You get the power amp characteristics that are meant to go along with the module. So the Savage module sounds more like an ENGL with that signature compressions. The IICP sounds more like a Mesa Mark series if that makes sense.
romanianreaper
Well-known member
Hey supposedly the Rockerverb one is coming out soon!
The ones I have my eye on are the Bogner Uber, TDLX, and BE DLX.
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