skoora
Well-known member
Got to play both these guys at length today and at volume and holy cow! Two very killer rock/metal amps. I was playing through a used Mesa 2x12 with V30's. At first I was surprised that with a LP I got plenty of top end response which the lack of, on these smaller Oranges has put me off in the past. I don't know if it was the V30's as I didn't get a chance to try another cab. I would say there's three main differences between the two amps besides power.
1. The Dual Terror is definitely a bit more together and tight for chugging. Especially the Fat channel which was spectacular for a thick but defined wash of grunt. I did find a quick jam on an ESP with EMG's brought some tightness in the OR15 though when it's gain was up.
2.The OR15 has a more pleasing midrange to me in that it has a more classic open sound to it than the strong barking mids of the Dual Terror. Plus having full control of the EQ on the OR15 made it a bit more flexible. The one knob tone control on the Dual Terror was very capable in it's sweep for the top end but you can't roll off the highs without killing your cut and definition. The OR15, because of it's tone stack I believe, responded better to volume roll off keeping a good balance on the EQ. The Dual terror sounded muddier on volume roll off.
3.The OR15 responds very well in being treated like a non Master amp. With the Master getting above 3'Oclock you definitely get a bump in gain and the amp really comes alive. So if the gain with the volume low gets too muddy, when you get the preamp up you can achieve much better results cranking it and having the preamp more around 12 O'Clock. The Dual just got louder but I suspect with it having a much thicker distortion in the Fat Channel might have a power section designed to stay tight and focused and not give it up like an old school amp. (just guessing there). The bummer about this is the OR15, even though would work as a home amp ultimately for me it would still need an attenuator to sound it's best. The Dual is good to go as is.
I left the store wanting both amps bad, and the 2x12 Mesa. They all sounded so good together it was stupid. The dual terror was used so I think I'll get it and wait on an OR15 to pop up used. I need to make sure the brightness that has lacked in the past wasn't a fluke and try my guitar with a different cab. Cranking up those amps was a riff rockin' blast.
1. The Dual Terror is definitely a bit more together and tight for chugging. Especially the Fat channel which was spectacular for a thick but defined wash of grunt. I did find a quick jam on an ESP with EMG's brought some tightness in the OR15 though when it's gain was up.
2.The OR15 has a more pleasing midrange to me in that it has a more classic open sound to it than the strong barking mids of the Dual Terror. Plus having full control of the EQ on the OR15 made it a bit more flexible. The one knob tone control on the Dual Terror was very capable in it's sweep for the top end but you can't roll off the highs without killing your cut and definition. The OR15, because of it's tone stack I believe, responded better to volume roll off keeping a good balance on the EQ. The Dual terror sounded muddier on volume roll off.
3.The OR15 responds very well in being treated like a non Master amp. With the Master getting above 3'Oclock you definitely get a bump in gain and the amp really comes alive. So if the gain with the volume low gets too muddy, when you get the preamp up you can achieve much better results cranking it and having the preamp more around 12 O'Clock. The Dual just got louder but I suspect with it having a much thicker distortion in the Fat Channel might have a power section designed to stay tight and focused and not give it up like an old school amp. (just guessing there). The bummer about this is the OR15, even though would work as a home amp ultimately for me it would still need an attenuator to sound it's best. The Dual is good to go as is.
I left the store wanting both amps bad, and the 2x12 Mesa. They all sounded so good together it was stupid. The dual terror was used so I think I'll get it and wait on an OR15 to pop up used. I need to make sure the brightness that has lacked in the past wasn't a fluke and try my guitar with a different cab. Cranking up those amps was a riff rockin' blast.
