Same here! I just listed my BigSky on Reverb five minutes ago. I'm not going to make the same mistake I made when the Eventide H90 came out. It completely destroyed the market value of the two H9's I bought the year before!
I would love to find out how clean each unit could get. Everyone, including John, seems to start immediately turning up the gain. I'd like to hear how it sounds with the gain at 9 o'clock or even a little lower. If neither can get super clean, it would mean placing the pedal on a separate looper or AB switch since it can't be completely bypassed. I know some people will say you don't get a Friedman to play clean, but in addition to electric guitar, I play classical/nylon-string, jazz arch top and acoustic steel-string guitars. In those instances, it would be nice to get a nice clean, warm tube sound without any cabinet IR's.
This is a problem I find with every TH-cam reviewer, although I find John's videos usually the best. But everyone goes straight into driven tones and often extreme metal tones. Very hard for me to judge an amp that way.
@@noonsound4894 Maybe it's not too late. If you're reading this, John, and you still have both pedals on hand, would you kindly record a demo of these pedals set with the lowest gain possible without significantly raising the noise floor? Maybe a dynamic jazz standard with one of your hollow-body guitars? Either way, thank you for all that you do!
@@dr.gregoryweisswassernd7251 No, the gain is always at 12 o'clock or above on the IR-X. Yes, he does have the gain turned down fairly low and the gain switch on the minimum on the IR-D for a little bit. I think most guitarists who only play rock/blues would be satisfied with how clean the IR-D can get. Now, after re-watching the video I'm leaning towards the IR-X, just wish I could hear its clean channel with the gain at 9 o'clock.
My understanding is the IR-X is based on the BE, and the IR-D is basically a twin sister. 2 identical channels on IR-D. Both channels based loosely on JTM45
Thank you for this very clear comparison. I have the IR-X and I'm very happy with it but might want second option in the future with a higher headroom clean channel. After your video it is clear that would not be the IR-D, although it sounds really great. And, as you said and demonstrated, they do overlap quite a bit. Thanks!
That ir seems very dark…they are quite different (especially in the higher frequencies) but it’s a little difficult to hear when all the highs are cut of...great playing as always 👌
Another video, where you don't fully compare the two. Until you compare the IR-X Channel 1 'Plexi' Channel to similar gain level settings on the IR-D, you aren't comparing them. The IR-D's dual Dirty Shirley Channels, kind of sit, gain wise between the IR-x's 2 channels with overlap on both.
Sounds fantastic. And I love your melodic playing over the chord progression. Have you made a video about how you approach soloing? I hear a lot of interesting arpeggio / scale fragments (like Eric Johnson) in your soloing but it would be very interesting if you could show the typical 'building blocks' of your solos.
Wow really glad I stumbled across this video. I was about to order an IRX because I was afraid the IRD wouldn’t have enough gain due to its JTM45 roots. But it does! In fact I like the IRD way more. Thanks!
@@pcee4946 thanks good to know! Now putting this pedal into the JTM45 category makes even less sense because it doesn’t have a power amp. Apart from probably a modeled one.
Great job, cool to see these two directly compared. Question: how do you connect the output and how (with what kind of speakers etc) are hearing the sound in your room? The final parts after my modelers always sound crappy, feel like I'm missing the point...
I'm glad that i watched your Video. Just got the IR D and was so surprised that the Gain need turned so low for Cristal Clean tones. I love the tone but the gain behaviour is sensitive. But good that there are two Channels to handle this.
I just bought the IR-D....I own a "twin sister" amp and I was on the fence with the purchase on the IR-D because I already have those tones in my amp but I thought why not on a fly board....my desire to have more tones almost had me buying the IR-X
I have owned both. For broken cleans and classic rock sounds, IR-D is by far better to my ears. It’s more flexible with gain structure adjustments per channel.
The IRD seems to have just a tad more chime with clean, but the IRX has just the right amount of low mids with gain. Wish I could get both channels on the same pedal haha.
Great comparison, thanks! I just got an IR-D and super chuffed with it. Wondered about adding an IR-X. Might go for a Dream 65 to add the Fender cleans (though the cleans on the IR-D are pretty good, they are very slightly hairy) Oh yeah, super tasty playing too!
IR-D is it for me, have one on the way. My reasoning is dependent on my use case. I’d rather have two channels with the same basic sound just slight tweaks to gain and eq, and the use that with external od’s and fx. Makes the transition more seamless going from just about broken up to all out rock lead, keeping the overall tone “coherent” I guess. I will also put a small aby-box in there, so that when going out if the loop of the IR-D into my time based fx, I the split the signal so that one goes back into the IR-D and the to FOH with the cab and power amp sim, and one is just the with fx going to a power amp and cab on stage for gigs where that might be needed. A third use case would then be to go straight out from the balanced out, defeat the IR and to a SS power amp and cab on stage and mic that.
Great video John! I’ve been running the HX effects in 4CM recently but I’ve noticed that just running through the pedal and out of the fx send to the input of the amp alters the tone, sucking a bit of low and adding a harsh like quality up higher. Is this something you’ve noticed as well?
The IR-D seems to have a bit more of an “open” sound to the gain structure, where the X seems a bit more compressed.....which makes sense based on the amps they represent. I’m looking at getting one soon and I think I like the D for that openness. Great demo! 🤘🤘
Both units are good if you play them through the right gear... Listen to both run through an OX Stomp, using their IR's and FX and you will see... And no, I'm not selling them, and don't work for UA. Enjoy! BTW- the HX-FX isn't a bad choice either although I give the nod towards the UA for their great IRs and Mics.
First off, really good playing. I currently have the IR-D, I'm on the fence about it. On one hand, it sounds fantastic and it's very straight-forward and easy to use. But it doesn't have a bypass switch and I mostly hate IR's mostly, especially the ones in these. Many people are getting fantastic tones from those IR's, but I can't get them to sound right to my ears. Though I have plugs with much better "cab sims", that kinda defeats the purpose personally. And it's 500 clams. Is it really worth it over an amp sim? I seem to go back and fourth. I think the answer is yes, but I just hope it's not one of those things that you buy and then in a few months you've got it up for sale.
I have an IR-X. If the IR-D works the same way, you can disable the IR by pressing and holding the Channel 1 button (or you can do it in the software editor).
I play with an amp and pedals. What would be the best way to hook this up through the front of the amp or through the effect loop with the IR on or off? Good comparison thank you
Do you hear (and feel) no tonal loss when using the Friedman in the Loop of the L6? On my board, I get a slight but noticable loss in tonal quality when running the 4cm with my IR-X and HX Stomp
I had the same issue using the IR-X with a HX Effects. I ended up working out a pretty complicated signal chain that lets me do a stereo wet/dry/wet rig, though I have to use a Jet Red Sea pedal to do it.
If you are using the main out and bypassing the IR the power amp simulation is still on. You need to use the preamp out to bypass the power amp simulation
I hope someone designs a tube driven preamp like these, but one that will do more high headroom Fender-like cleans. Probably not as marketable are the more gained up sounds, however.
I had the irx for a while and moved it on. The built in boost didn’t give me that liquid lead feel I wanted. Is it fair to say both pedals need a decent OD in front to get that liquid lead tone?
I’d like to know if playing with IRs through a FRFR sounds better at home volumes than IR disabled into a real cab. I often read playing through a real cab sounds better but is that when playing at a 95db+ volume to get the air moving?
@@IceGuitarist23 I've gigged the IR-X through the Fender FR-12 and it was some of the best sounds I'd gotten without a real amp. I've always struggled with modelers and this was literally plug and play. Boss SD-1 in front and a TC Plethora in the loop for delays/verbs. Good stuff.
@@bmann792 Yes. I've split the Friedman Send to return of an amp and Friedman balanced out to FOH but lately I just use balanced out only to Fender FR10 or 12 speaker and that has a passthrough that goes to FOH. It sounds really good and much easier to tweak (for me) than a modeler.
I'd like to complain about an earlier comment from (grammar algorithm). This was uncalled for and rude to address a famous guitar player about the poor condition of his thumbnails. This is the hight of abuse and bigotry, and unfortunate as a spoonerism (Albert Tug.. porn algorithm.)👎
I’m just here to escape the Strymon MX videos …
First 5 videos in my feed are demo’ing the Strymon MX 😂
😂Absolutely, it’s to much
Same here! I just listed my BigSky on Reverb five minutes ago. I'm not going to make the same mistake I made when the Eventide H90 came out. It completely destroyed the market value of the two H9's I bought the year before!
Amen!
X2 and glad Tonex thing died fast too! 😂
Finally someone showing me how clean the IR-D can go.
Very much appreciated, sir.
The only option is both, win/win.
To me, it seems like the IR-D sounds more tubby than the IR-X. Makes the IR-X have more clarity in note articulation.
X will be more modern voiced
I would love to find out how clean each unit could get. Everyone, including John, seems to start immediately turning up the gain. I'd like to hear how it sounds with the gain at 9 o'clock or even a little lower. If neither can get super clean, it would mean placing the pedal on a separate looper or AB switch since it can't be completely bypassed. I know some people will say you don't get a Friedman to play clean, but in addition to electric guitar, I play classical/nylon-string, jazz arch top and acoustic steel-string guitars. In those instances, it would be nice to get a nice clean, warm tube sound without any cabinet IR's.
This is a problem I find with every TH-cam reviewer, although I find John's videos usually the best. But everyone goes straight into driven tones and often extreme metal tones. Very hard for me to judge an amp that way.
@@noonsound4894 Maybe it's not too late. If you're reading this, John, and you still have both pedals on hand, would you kindly record a demo of these pedals set with the lowest gain possible without significantly raising the noise floor? Maybe a dynamic jazz standard with one of your hollow-body guitars? Either way, thank you for all that you do!
He started by showing the clean sound comparison of both units. Maybe you all missed it.
@@dr.gregoryweisswassernd7251 No, the gain is always at 12 o'clock or above on the IR-X. Yes, he does have the gain turned down fairly low and the gain switch on the minimum on the IR-D for a little bit. I think most guitarists who only play rock/blues would be satisfied with how clean the IR-D can get. Now, after re-watching the video I'm leaning towards the IR-X, just wish I could hear its clean channel with the gain at 9 o'clock.
I had a 6505+ so the clean channels a step up for me
The run you play 1:12 - 1:19 is just amazing! That alone is worth the vid. The rest is greatly informative. Thanks mate!
My understanding is the IR-X is based on the BE, and the IR-D is basically a twin sister. 2 identical channels on IR-D. Both channels based loosely on JTM45
JTM45 power section but the pre is JCM800, its a hybrid design by Dave.
Anyway you can show us how you routes your signals to get the A/B comparison?
Thank you for this very clear comparison. I have the IR-X and I'm very happy with it but might want second option in the future with a higher headroom clean channel. After your video it is clear that would not be the IR-D, although it sounds really great. And, as you said and demonstrated, they do overlap quite a bit. Thanks!
That ir seems very dark…they are quite different (especially in the higher frequencies) but it’s a little difficult to hear when all the highs are cut of...great playing as always 👌
Another video, where you don't fully compare the two. Until you compare the IR-X Channel 1 'Plexi' Channel to similar gain level settings on the IR-D, you aren't comparing them. The IR-D's dual Dirty Shirley Channels, kind of sit, gain wise between the IR-x's 2 channels with overlap on both.
Sounds fantastic. And I love your melodic playing over the chord progression. Have you made a video about how you approach soloing? I hear a lot of interesting arpeggio / scale fragments (like Eric Johnson) in your soloing but it would be very interesting if you could show the typical 'building blocks' of your solos.
Has done a lot of them, you can find them on the same page.
Wow really glad I stumbled across this video. I was about to order an IRX because I was afraid the IRD wouldn’t have enough gain due to its JTM45 roots. But it does! In fact I like the IRD way more. Thanks!
JTM45 power section but the pre is JCM800, its a hybrid design by Dave.
@@pcee4946 thanks good to know! Now putting this pedal into the JTM45 category makes even less sense because it doesn’t have a power amp. Apart from probably a modeled one.
Great job, cool to see these two directly compared.
Question: how do you connect the output and how (with what kind of speakers etc) are hearing the sound in your room?
The final parts after my modelers always sound crappy, feel like I'm missing the point...
I'm glad that i watched your Video. Just got the IR D and was so surprised that the Gain need turned so low for Cristal Clean tones. I love the tone but the gain behaviour is sensitive. But good that there are two Channels to handle this.
Great playing man 👍
was not expecting the IR-D to sound so much better. has a chime and better dynamics and still enough gain on tap
Yeah, I've always wanted the BE-100 tones, but the IR-D sounds so much better.
I just bought the IR-D....I own a "twin sister" amp and I was on the fence with the purchase on the IR-D because I already have those tones in my amp but I thought why not on a fly board....my desire to have more tones almost had me buying the IR-X
I’m looking at this setup with HX Effects & IRX. How did you set it up?
I think prefer the IRX as I always prefer clean...
I have owned both. For broken cleans and classic rock sounds, IR-D is by far better to my ears. It’s more flexible with gain structure adjustments per channel.
So which one do you prefer? Sounding surprisingly similar here through the same Ir.
The IRD seems to have just a tad more chime with clean, but the IRX has just the right amount of low mids with gain. Wish I could get both channels on the same pedal haha.
I agree, both pedals have elements that I like. Here’s to hoping the next pedal released is both in one 😂
Great comparison, thanks! I just got an IR-D and super chuffed with it. Wondered about adding an IR-X. Might go for a Dream 65 to add the Fender cleans (though the cleans on the IR-D are pretty good, they are very slightly hairy)
Oh yeah, super tasty playing too!
What IR are you using?
Would like to hear a comparison between these pedals, the Helix and the Tonex
I bought the IR-X when it came out and I like it, but I wish I'd known the IR-D would follow it; I would've waited.
IR-D is it for me, have one on the way. My reasoning is dependent on my use case. I’d rather have two channels with the same basic sound just slight tweaks to gain and eq, and the use that with external od’s and fx. Makes the transition more seamless going from just about broken up to all out rock lead, keeping the overall tone “coherent” I guess. I will also put a small aby-box in there, so that when going out if the loop of the IR-D into my time based fx, I the split the signal so that one goes back into the IR-D and the to FOH with the cab and power amp sim, and one is just the with fx going to a power amp and cab on stage for gigs where that might be needed. A third use case would then be to go straight out from the balanced out, defeat the IR and to a SS power amp and cab on stage and mic that.
Do you remember what guitar and what pickup on it was used during the test? Love the tone, especially around the 4 minute mark
Great video John! I’ve been running the HX effects in 4CM recently but I’ve noticed that just running through the pedal and out of the fx send to the input of the amp alters the tone, sucking a bit of low and adding a harsh like quality up higher. Is this something you’ve noticed as well?
The IRX does 80’s metal and has a far warmer clean tone. Sold.
@johnnathancordy-O-N-TELE-GRAM I’m not Nigerian and you’re not John Cordy .
Why bipass not everyone has an H FX man so close
The IR-D seems to have a bit more of an “open” sound to the gain structure, where the X seems a bit more compressed.....which makes sense based on the amps they represent. I’m looking at getting one soon and I think I like the D for that openness. Great demo! 🤘🤘
In some YT vids you can hear a significant difference in voicing between the two units, not much in your review vid, not sure why.
Could be bc he bypassed the IR’s at the beginning, so both running thru same?
Both units are good if you play them through the right gear... Listen to both run through an OX Stomp, using their IR's and FX and you will see... And no, I'm not selling them, and don't work for UA. Enjoy! BTW- the HX-FX isn't a bad choice either although I give the nod towards the UA for their great IRs and Mics.
Interesting, i couldn’t return my ox stomp fast enough. Added latency and disconnection. Much prefer running the irx with its own built in IR. Jme
The IR-D looks better so buy that 😝
More is more, so there is no reason to choose, buy both.
Yngvie was so right.
First off, really good playing.
I currently have the IR-D, I'm on the fence about it. On one hand, it sounds fantastic and it's very straight-forward and easy to use. But it doesn't have a bypass switch and I mostly hate IR's mostly, especially the ones in these. Many people are getting fantastic tones from those IR's, but I can't get them to sound right to my ears. Though I have plugs with much better "cab sims", that kinda defeats the purpose personally.
And it's 500 clams. Is it really worth it over an amp sim? I seem to go back and fourth. I think the answer is yes, but I just hope it's not one of those things that you buy and then in a few months you've got it up for sale.
I have an IR-X. If the IR-D works the same way, you can disable the IR by pressing and holding the Channel 1 button (or you can do it in the software editor).
@@davestarns TTBOMK, that just disables the IR's. BTW, I kept it.
I play with an amp and pedals. What would be the best way to hook this up through the front of the amp or through the effect loop with the IR on or off?
Good comparison thank you
Do you not see a performance drop off between bedroom volumes and Stage/Performance volumes?
Got mine today. Love it!
Do you hear (and feel) no tonal loss when using the Friedman in the Loop of the L6? On my board, I get a slight but noticable loss in tonal quality when running the 4cm with my IR-X and HX Stomp
I had the same issue using the IR-X with a HX Effects. I ended up working out a pretty complicated signal chain that lets me do a stereo wet/dry/wet rig, though I have to use a Jet Red Sea pedal to do it.
How about in front of a clean tubeamp?
I believe if you're bypassing the IR on each, you're also bypassing the power amp Sim?
If you are using the main out and bypassing the IR the power amp simulation is still on.
You need to use the preamp out to bypass the power amp simulation
I hope someone designs a tube driven preamp like these, but one that will do more high headroom Fender-like cleans. Probably not as marketable are the more gained up sounds, however.
Kingsley Maiden D , Dumble style Preamp. Best in business.
@@Bero70 Thanks for this. Looks great, but I’m hoping for something with built in cab sims/IR’s.
I wonder if the side knobs on the IRD for gain/ch1 and boost/ch2 can get you cleaner and/or dirtier than the IRX?
I believe it is actually "boost gain" for each channel. It is confusingly labeled.
Love the IR-D! Never really liked the IR-X tone...
I had the irx for a while and moved it on. The built in boost didn’t give me that liquid lead feel I wanted. Is it fair to say both pedals need a decent OD in front to get that liquid lead tone?
You should try the Effectrode Blackbird
Does this sound or feel drastically different to you than using a digital amp model if you are playing into say the Fender FR12?
I would like to know how they sound through the frfr too
I’d like to know if playing with IRs through a FRFR sounds better at home volumes than IR disabled into a real cab.
I often read playing through a real cab sounds better but is that when playing at a 95db+ volume to get the air moving?
@@IceGuitarist23 I've gigged the IR-X through the Fender FR-12 and it was some of the best sounds I'd gotten without a real amp. I've always struggled with modelers and this was literally plug and play. Boss SD-1 in front and a TC Plethora in the loop for delays/verbs. Good stuff.
Any experience direct to pa ?
@@bmann792 Yes. I've split the Friedman Send to return of an amp and Friedman balanced out to FOH but lately I just use balanced out only to Fender FR10 or 12 speaker and that has a passthrough that goes to FOH. It sounds really good and much easier to tweak (for me) than a modeler.
Dirt sounds pretty close. Irx has a nicer clean channel. Happy to stick with my X
Friedman should just make a 3-channel version with one DS channel in the middle.
Goddammit.... GAS attack here. Thank you🙄🤣
the ir d sounds better
Davis Gary Davis Cynthia Lee John
Too bad they don’t have stereo outs!
Daniel Road
Martinez Daniel Thomas Michael Lewis John
Lewis Melissa Moore Gary Williams Jose
it's quite a nonsense to play with great analog products with 2 tubes with the bad digital products LINE 6 (I was a user and never again !)
Коля Боря Вася
Бодя и Вован
Martin Michelle Jones Steven Davis Jeffrey
You mean , "Which is Better?"(grammar algorithm)!!😄
I'd like to complain about an earlier comment from (grammar algorithm). This was uncalled for and rude to address a famous guitar player about the poor condition of his thumbnails. This is the hight of abuse and bigotry, and unfortunate as a spoonerism (Albert Tug.. porn algorithm.)👎
White Donald Martinez Shirley Clark Dorothy
they do not sound great for Metal vs TWO notes and Blackstar
Walker Melissa Clark Lisa Lopez Karen