RG16 + Iso Xfrmers vs. Lehle/Voodoo Labs for multi amp rigs?

[DRC]

I'm kinda in a pickle here. I have been waiting for my tax return to come in to get an RJM RG-16 to switch (and at times blend) two heads and use the rest of the loops in the EFX loop of one of the heads. A while ago I tried out a Lehle pedal (the RED one) and it sounded great. I know there isolation transformers in the Lehle box. I'm guessing that there are in the Voodoo Labs switcher as well. After emailing Ron from RJM, he told me, to avoid a ground loop problem I would probably have to build a custom Jensen pass through box. At $88 a transformer and the cost of the rack...I'm wondering what I should do. I know the Lehle unit is MIDI switchable which will help, but I really don't have another $350 lying around to get both.

I guess what I wanna know is: Are amp switchers like the Lehle, Voodoo Labs and the Mesa Amp switcher the same as routing out of the RG16 but with an iso transformer at the end? Are there any buffer amps involved? Can an RG16 and a rackmounted, passive box of Jensens sound as good as any of those three units?

If anyone has had any kind of ground loop problems (or none at all) using just a loop switcher as an amp head router let me know.

 

[RACKSYSTEMS]

Yes the rjm and iso's are the same. You can do your switcher and 2 iso transformers to do what you need to do. You don't have to use Jensens I don't. A dual iso transformer box would cost 120.00 from me. There are a few other things to know about the setup when you get ready to do it. Whats your stuff you want to control?

 

[DRC]

Yes the rjm and iso's are the same. You can do your switcher and 2 iso transformers to do what you need to do. You don't have to use Jensens I don't. A dual iso transformer box would cost 120.00 from me. There are a few other things to know about the setup when you get ready to do it. Whats your stuff you want to control?

The signal flow is going to be like this:

Guitar to RG16 > Loop 5 out/in to an MXR line driver that feeds a volume pedal > Loop 6 out to a Dr.Z RxES > Loop 7 out to a Dr.Z Stangray > Loop 8 out to a Bogner XTC (I am under the impression that Loops 5-8 are isolated thus having the amp switching at the back end.)

In the EFX loop of the Stangray:

Amp Send > Suhr Isoboost > Suhr Minimix IN> Suhr Minimix Send > RG16 Loop One in > Loops 1 thru 4 send to a pair of TC M-One's and a pair of MPX1's > Effect Outs to a line mixer > Line Mixer mono out > Minimix Return > Minimix OUT > Amp Return.

I was always under the impression that Jensens were the most transparent and that's why they used them in the Mesa unit.

Thanks for the input.

 

[RACKSYSTEMS]

Are you using the rjm buffer on the guitar in? if so you won't need the line driver. Also jensens are not all that transparent they are good but there are other options that are good.