The Red Seven sounds the best to me here. Driftwood sounds a little cloudier/warmer. Suhr sounds good but is thinner and brighter. Red Seven sounds sort of like a happy medium between the Driftwood and Suhr to me. I own the Suhr.
Would be good though to have also loaded with a real cab, similar to what the IR is of, maybe a 4-12" with V30. Not mic'd, just as a load - and then compared the tone of all the boxes to a real cab as load.. The main purpose of a load box is to allow your amp to safely perform EXACTLY or as close as possible to how it would connected to a real cab. I don't like to think of the load as "a way to EQ your amp". In this test you're basically hearing the differences in the loads against one another, but what we should be evaluating is what actually loads LIKE A CAB, so it's as close as possible to a real cab as load! An EQ in the FX loop, or changing IR's is a great way to change the sound up, but IMHO (mainly for safety) I dislike the "load as an EQ" approach.
And I 100% agree with you, however a lot of people (dare I say it most people) use the loadbox without a cab to be able to play silently in their homes/studios. So yes, the test could’ve been more accurate by hooking up a cab; but this shows at least that 1. Load boxes do make a difference, and 2. The testing is done in a situation most people would actually use it.
Pete, how would this be accomplished safely? I want to connect my amp to an actual cabinet strictly for the load, but capture the tone from the amp only so I can use if with IRs
I sort of had the same view on reactive loads and always felt the best one would be one that made my cab sound the same whether it was being directly driven by my amp or by a re-amped signal of the RL line out. The challenge is doing this test and being able to hear how your cab reacts? Last weekend I actually did a test of this exact thing as I currently own the Fryette Powerload IR, the Suhr RL IR and a Fractal Xload. All have direct cab through connections which allows a direct connection of the amp to cab and you then hear the cab as it would sound plugged into the amp. This direct through can also be unplugged from the RL without risking the guitar amp as the reactive load takes over duties without the Cab connected. So I set up a seymour duncan solid state pedal amp next to the reactive load I was testing. It was set flat and is a super transparent SS power amp based on other tests I have done. I had the SS amp connected directly to the reactive load line out. To test the differences I got different guitar loops going and basically moved the speaker cable back and forth from the RL speaker through and the SS power amp speaker out. Kept plugging these in and out of each connection while listening to the differences from my cab. This might have been a bit risky on the SS amp not having a speaker plugged in at times but it survived okay. The volumes between the direct amp through and SS amp were matched. I did this test using a Mesa mark 5 on clean and high gain settings and compared both a mesa recto traditional cab with V30s and a marshall greenback 4x12 cab. Volume was medium to loud but at a volume I would be typically listening to my cabs and setting my amp tones for recording. My findings were that all 3 RL units were quite close to the direct cab sound. I tested the suhr first and then the xload and they were super similar and expected the fryette to be the same. However the Fryette PLIR with its reactive load toggles set to the middle settings was indistinguishable from the direct cab connection. There was a clarity from that unit that the direct amp to cab sound had but which the other units didnt have. That was the same for both cabs and also for clean and high gain tones. Now again they were all close to the amp to cab sound and neither would disappoint but the Fryette definitely got me to what I felt was an exact match. I didnt have the other units mentioned here to test but for me with what I found out I dont need them as the Fryette unit is outputting a line out tone exactly as I would be hoping for and that I can trust from there it is up to my IR's to do their thing.
@PeteThorn I’ve tried loading down with a SUHR RL original, using my cab as the actual load. It’s a silly comparison IMHO because even if it responds more like the actual cab, that doesn’t necessarily means it sounds BEST for certain applications. Does anyone really care that the Suhr might respond similar or identical to an actual mic’d up cab, if for example the driftwood sounds more wholesome for chugg type riffs? Well it depends on what you’re going for. Here’s my two cents: Go with the Suhr if you play Fender type guitars. I believe the ‘sparkle’ of the Suhr box on the tone really complements these tones and type instruments well (like the Suhr guitars). On the other end if you’re looking for a specific ‘bark’ for chugging, I don’t think anyone would argue that some of the other boxes here like the driftwood, sound ‘better’ for that type of heavy riffing application. For what you do Pete, I see why you prefer the Suhr my friend. Your stuff sounds great for your applications. I’ve never heard you (Pete) try to riff in drop tunings using the Suhr, however. Just a heads up to anyone else reading along.
Hi Mendel! Nice video and thank for the shootout. Difference between XLR outs and Direct out in Amp Central is the on XLR you always have an AD/DA conversion, while Direct output still 100% analog, that is why last one sounds "more on your face". Matter of facts, Direct out can be used even without included power supply. Great option for studio guy like you.
Wow, this explains why every time I try to record my Dual Rectifier with my Captor X it sounds so thin and harsh. I also noticed the same thing about adding low end back in with the 'Enhancer' controls inside the TwoNotes software, but it always sounded artificial to me.
If you had also included the Fractal X Load, and the St Rock React:IR (and anything else popular that I might not be aware of), this would have been one of the definitive loadbox videos on TH-cam.
Great video. I remember seeing a similar kind of shootout on Rabea Massaad's channel and Sonic Drive Studio. I have been using a Two Notes Captor, then bought a Torpedo Live, and then a Captor X. For some reason, my amps always sounded better through the Captor and the Torpedo Live than the Captor X so I basically stopped using the Captor X. There is also a clear difference between these three Two Notes products, but I haven't tested it like you have. I really noticed the difference with certain amps but also when trying to profile amps using a loadbox and IR. The Kemper could not accurately make a profile from the Captor X on certain amps and channels, but the Torpedo Live worked every time. It is cool that you showed the Enhance feature to bring back some of that low end. That does help to redeem the Captor X. If you don't need an in-built IR loader, I also agree, the Driftwood sounded the best. You've got me thinking that I should sell off some gear and reinvest in a better loadbox. Thanks for putting in the effort to share this with us.
Noticed the Driftwood doesn't have a volume pot nor a "Thru" port. If they put out a revision of the unit with those 2 things, I'd probably consider getting one instead of my Suhr
@@TudorAdrian You can use a DI box like a countryman Type 85 or type 10 or the neve RNDI between the amp and the load to get an even better line out. They have a speaker mode (high attenuation pad) for that exact same purpose.
This is the Video we needed! Superb presentation. As a Captor X owner I always thought it was me all this time haha. My ears IMMEDATELY gravitated to the Driftwood. Looks like Im in the market for one of those!
I have the Captor X imbeded in my Revv 100R mk III and I found it sounds different than that captor X standalone. I dont really notice the brightness of it, but then again I might just EQ my amp to avoid it (I also use the software two notes has to EQ my amp/IRs a bit to get rid of frequenices I dont like). I have the older captor and I find it that some two notes IRs sound better while using it with my 5150 Combo; if I use the same ones with my 100R it sounds a different. This test is really good because it shows which ones could work better with different people's taste. The Wall of Sound IR loader that you can use with The two notes stuff is great; they are also about to launch a brand new wall of sound/guitar sim software soon. Not sure if any of the other load boxes come with software.
Driftwood for me. I have actually purchased one so I am excited to get my hands on that when it arrives. RedSeven was very good too but a little too feature packed for me. The main thing I liked about the Driftwood was the low end. You can always eq that out if need be but can’t be added as easily. It was very balanced and not harsh at all. If it ends up being a little dark I can always run a high shelf to bring that presence back and it will be a minor eq tweak. Great video Mendel 🤘👹🤘
Hi Mendel, great comparison video!! Your video helped me made my decision and I got myself a Red Seven Amp Central. Unbelivable sound and feel!!! Thank you.
This video helped inspire me to compare the XLR out of my Captor-based Revv G20 with the internal load engaged vs connected to an actual cabinet (but STILL using the XLR out from the Two Notes unit). It was shocking how different the output was, disabling the internal load brought in a TON of
@@Luancwav you can use the XLR out from the Torpedo unit while the head is connected to a physical cab. When a real cab is connected, the internal load on the Torpedo is disabled. Not silent though.
Great video, I was looking for this comparison for quite a while, and I really appreciate how in-depth you went into it. I have the Suhr and a Fryette PS-2, but I had been wondering about the RedSeven for the past year, and none of the videos I watched until now made a proper comparison. I didn't even know about the Driftwood. I agree these last two come on top, but listening to your comparison of the RedSeven and the Driftwood, I think I'm leaning more towards the former, I'm liking the sparkle in the top end it brings. Indeed the Suhr - which is what I mostly use these days - sounds as if there's a chunk missing in the mid-range when compared to those two, making the top-end overly emphasized. Thank you!
Red7 XLR with no cab in the bank will be going through an extra round of conversion :) great vid, not a lot of people think about this aspect. Worth considering the Fryette PLIR as well.
Hey there, if you like the Driftwood loadbox, you should know they're actually shadow built and designed by an Ukrainian engineer called Vasillius, his company is called "St.Rock" and he does a racked 8Ohm loadbox and it's very affordable ! Consider checking it out if you can catch one, it's all I use now, at least untill I get my hands on a Fryette PS100 which I'm hearing is the best loadbox/amp-cab butler/attenuator money can buy at the moment
Excellent comparison and very well put together. I actually expected to like the Drifwood a lot more here, but for me it’s too dull. The Red Seven seemed nicely balanced, and even the Suhr (despite the top end being annoying) with some different settings I think I could make it work.I find with darker amps, if I have to boost the presence a lot, they start to sound weird. The Two Notes ones just don’t have the low end at all, the reload has lows but they don’t chug dynamically like the others do. Would be AWESOME to do a similar test with some real cabs providing the load to see which load boxes get closest to which cabs. They all have their own differences and character too but I still feel like there’s something about that which reactive loads don’t fully get still. I did a similar test to this a while ago, but didn’t have access to Driftwood/Fryette/Red Seven/Two Notes stuff. It does include about 10 cabs though so you can hear how they all vary :)
Agree 100% with your assessment. Red Seven sounded the best. Suhr needs more mids and lowend, but you could give it that by adjusting the amp. Driftwood was slightly cloudy/warm/dull sounding.
Great comparison but I feel like one key player in this space is missing.... the Boss Tube Amp Expander. I've got the Captor X, Hotplate and the TAE and the variable impedance controls on the TAE are pretty slick. Even though I can EQ around this with the captor X, it's nice to have the high and low response controls right there on the unit. One thing that I think missing from the discussion is the context of where and how these things are being used. As a live player primarily, the TAE having more routing options, amp channel control, midi for switching effects, built in solo boost, FX loop, dedicated house line output, etc are all really killer features that help justify it's price tag but on the other hand, you have to have an actual computer connected via USB to change anything in it. The captor on the other hand has a very slick bluetooth phone app that works well and lets you make tweaks as needed during sound check. The other aspect of this is that when using one of these IR loaders with a PA system, the lack of low end on the captor is no longer a thing. It's huge, BUT... my biggest beef with the captor on stage is that if I'm actually wanting to run a speaker cab behind me (vs an FRFR with a volume control), the 3 way toggle switch on the Captor X is terrible. You either are playing that cab at full volume or way too quiet where as the TAE has that volume knob for the cab output letting you set it exactly how loud you want it and it doesn't mess with the signal going to the house. No one makes a perfect solution but I lean more towards just using an FRFR on stage (mainly because of smaller size and I'm using IEM's anyways so stage sound isn't critical for me).
Nicely done. Glad my reload does not suck lol. And the Fryette would have been very interesting, huge fan of Stevens work, I expect it to be really good.
I have the torpedo captor and the redseven. RedSeven all the way!! I actually really dislike the torpedo, only kept it because it has that attenuator feature which is great for playing at home!
Nice shootout. The lineout thing happens also to me with my fryettes powerloads (I have V1 and V2). I prefer the lineouts also vs the XLR. Having also the driftwood, I also found it to have more low end than other loadboxes but a bit congested in the low low mids. That said the fryettes are the best to my preferences. They are the most versatile can handle 200w and vary impedance and ultimately sound the best and the cleanest. My collection: marshall powerbrake, Weber mass, SPL reducer, suhr RL, captor 8ohm, torpedo reload, driftwood, fractal xload, fryettes powerloads V1 and V2.
@@justsomerandomguyman no I haven't, but would like to if red seven release a version without IR loading. I prefer to use 100% analog load boxes because that way they are always future proof and don't need any power. The thing with IR loading one's is that they require AD and DA conversion. Usually they are more cheap converters and also the IRs aren't high resolution or high sample rates. Having a separate IR loading solution allows for more flexibility or fidelity since technology is always evolving. I my self am only interested in recording with the best quality I can afford and use dedicated conversion. But if I were to play live or for jamming purposes I would still prefer to have a separate IR loader and would probably use a 2notes cab M plus since it runs at 96khz.
I revisited this after watching it when it was originally uploaded. Driftwood sounds blanketed to my ear now, like some high end is rolled off. Same with the reload. The two notes does sound quite a bit different than the rest. Low end rolled off and high highs boosted a little bit. I think I like the suhr or redseven the most
Suhr is the most accurate to me. The driftwood sounds like when you are playing a signal at a lower rated impedance removing the highs. I guess in your case you like that because the better chugs or sound to your ears.
Hey Mendel! Friend of mine and me went into a rabbithole about this a while ago because i always felt the captor i had sounded flat. And the conclusion was that the captor X and the normal ones before all use a U-shaped impedance curve, which is not accurate to what a cab produces. Loadboxes like the Suhr, X-load, Redseven, ST.rock all use much more correct impedance curves which makes them sound way more accurate and represent your amp better. This is a way for Twonotes to cheap out a bit and i think that's sad. I bet they used the same components but tweaked the curve a bit to at least recover some depth and low end instead of the very mid focussed sound of the older captors.
Great video and a very well made test. I have other opinions on which were the best and worst but that is not important. My wallet is going to take a beating from this test though.
There is a European guy on YT who ran a loop through about six different attenuators and measured the frequency response of each, so that the signal could be seen on a graph and we didn't have to rely on our faulty ears. Red Seven did poorly. Suhr was pretty good. Ox was best. I think all reactive load boxes do the job well though. Still, all other things being equal, nothing sounds as good as a guitar directly into an amp and then directly into a cab. I use a Fryette PS2A for attenuation. Recording is a secondary concern, for me.
Hi Mendel, nice video, really helpful. I've just upgraded from Torpedo Reload to Red Seven Amp Central. One question, is the Line Out a balanced output? Should I use a TRS cable? Thank you for your time.
Holy moly Mendel. This was amazing, as usual for you. You are the gold standard my man. …by chance, do you ever do 1 on 1 coaching? I can’t seem to get my drums to sit well in the mix, and, I suspect that I’d be years ahead of I just had some good coaching. 🙏
Would be interesting to know what the volume was set to on the EVH 5150? I find going pass 11 o'clock increases presence, and anything pass 1 o'clock starts to sound unpleasant. I have the Suhr Reactive Load IR.
Thanks for the video, I'm now very interested in trying driftwood as my first reactive load to use with 6505. I like that it is the unit that does one thing, gives me hope that it will do it better than other multifunctional products. Want to find something that feels more fun to play in real time at home as compared to plugins :D Really curious how the Fryette Power Load IR would compare as it also has cab sim and they say it has a bit different feel than the IRs :/
Nice video! I have an LB2 and I really like it. The Suhr sounds tighter, and the Reload and RedSeven also sounded good. However, I found the Captor X to be a bit too 'thin' for my taste. Have you tried recording using the Tonex Capture device's XLR output directly into the interface, and using the output from the power section to the loadboxes for silent recording? Theoretically, this should provide the most 'unaffected' tone from the amp head, without the 'coloring' from the loadbox (depending on which impedance curve it's based on). Since it sits between the amp head power section and the loadbox, the output used would be from the Tonex Capture, not the loadbox. Cheers!
I have a feeling that the IR loading circuitry and how it is imemented makes the sound less pure perhaps. For example, on the RedSeven, when you use XLR out, even though you don't have an IR loaded in the unit, perhaps extra circuitry to make IR loading happen affects the signal. It seems that your test is really good for totally silent recording in the studio. However, a lot of us want to not only load IR's but also attenuate the cab... It seems like this causes me, personally, some options paralasis. 😂 Maybe I need to really purchase 2 separate ddvices, each for their best intended purpose. I also wonder what it would be like if you pumped out of the driftwood to another attenuator after it... Hmmm I currently have the Waza TAE, and although I haven't used it for recording, iw as looking elsewhere because I haven't fount the attenuation perfect... Usable but not perfect.. But my real gropes with it are that the Fx loop isn't only mono, but it sounds like garbage (!) and editing the unit isn't as convenient as with the Captor X. You have to drag around a laptop just to edit your effects (which sound pretty good actually), adjust EQ, or turn the Fletcher Munson Curve correction feature on and off. Also, I've heard some other demos where the recorded IR sounded terrible compared to the Two Notes Studio stuff.. Anyhow... This sure is another rabbit hole to fall down, get tangled in some roots, and perhaps suffocate in! 😅
For me the best are the Redsevem the Suhr and the Driftwood and that's why. The Driftwood il full, preserves the body without sounding muddy but I fell a little bit of congestion in the lower mids. The Suhr is the one with the Redseven that preserve the "sparkle" the best of the bunch, and that's a good thing because I sold my original Captor and the Captor X because I felt like a resistance while I was playing, like a compression and that was not a good thing.
Hey Mendel, as I've said before great comparison video, very helpful! There is no chance you could do a similar thing with the Boogie CabClone IR + compared to one of those, let's say the Redseven? There isn't much out there about the CabClone IR. I supposedly has a Tow Notes circuit board in it, but from what I've heard so far, sounds better than the other Two Note Loadboxes. Would be really interesting to hear how it compares to the real good sounding ones. Well, and than there also is a Fractal Loadbox, supposedly pretty good, too...
I don't feel so bad with my Reload now! I was wondering if I should jump to a Suhr but my solution is from amp into CAB BEFORE the load. Load still has an effect on tone but less in a pass through scenario compared to right off the load. I also like loading the CAB from my phone app.
@@Mendelian Nahhh Bro OX Box is so thin (soundwise) and too expensive. Also Boss WAZA but overpriced too)))) I have all these Load boxes now in my possession. (only driftwood is missing) and i can tell you they all sound tooooo compressed in the low end. BUT i found how to fix it. I just connected to a real cab (Mesa 4x12 traditional) and it sounds so good. Yes it's loud. But it sounds so natural and open.(without any compression) And they all sound different with same cab connected. Red Seven is my favorite. It sounds super balanced and raw. Thank you Bro. The best video load boxes shootout on entire TH-cam!.
the suhre was like the more close to real cab sound ?? the problem with these tests is we cant hear the real thing and switch to the load box instantly via switch, lvl matched to have a better a/b
driftwood has some low mid conservation .I guess next step is price vrs sound quality great vid it's been missing.any way you could compare the driftwood built-in amp model on thier small amp?
Looks like my captor x is going back to Thomann. Driftwood sounds the best here. Edit: Did some googling, seems like the Driftwood is really just a load box without headphones out or IR loading? RedSeven is the winner for me, if that is the case.
I agree that the Driftwood sounds good, but I also think it's too dark compared to the others. It sounds a tad muddy. That being said, the only one that is actually bad sounding to me is the Capto X.
I agree the Red 7 is the most balanced out of all of them. To me the driftwood lacks definition, especially in the top end, which is why it seems chunkier than the others. Suhr and captor x are very similar, but the Suhr is more defined. The reload seems like someone put a blanket over it. For me, it’s a toss up between the Red7 and Suhr. If price isn’t an issue, the Red 7 gets my vote.
Mendel, did you explain in the video why the Two Notes Torpedo Reload is discontinued? I am curious about this. Just because it is back in their product portfolio again.
Thanks for the video. Maybe a stupid question but you need to eq for the mix with for example the Red seven? Because maybe the captor sound different but already mix ready.. Or you think is better anyway? Thanks
Can i plug an headphone directly on the Driftwood Amplifiers Reactive Loadbox ? ( im looking for simple device to allow to with headphone on an Engl Fireball 100) thank
Hell, they all sound fucking great to me. Different voicings, if you will. I just got a Captor X as my first major upgrade and introduction into this "space", so I'm still learning it. I'll say this video has confirmed that I made a good purchase :). I don't think I could have gone wrong with purchasing any of these! Thanks for the video! p.s. My 6yo daughter falls asleep to Terrorvision when I put it on while driving. The heavier the better. (Huge compliment)
Hey Mendel, great comparison video! However, I am a little new to the whole loadbox thing, so I have a rather not-advanced question: How is the signal chain exactly? I mean, do I understand it correctly that you went from the head into the loadbox without using any IR's inside the loadbox? So the amp-signal goes into the DAW unflitered straight from the loadbox, and is it only inside the DAW where you did apply an IR? If so, which IR did you use in the DAW? Would be helpful to know... Cause I was thinking in case of the Two Notes for instance: If the Two Notes IR's itself are good enough coudn't that compensate for some lack of low end sufficently? - Even though I know that you can't make up entirely for something that isn't there initially...
How’s the build quality of the RedSeven? Everyone I ask keeps telling me to buy the Captor X, but I really like the sound of the RedSeven better. I also prefer a no BS approach, meaning, I just want to load the IRs into the unit and start playing, instead of having to tweak any software, like the Wall of Sound. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Identical on the simple loadbox aspect maybe, but the Reload has other many features that the Captor X doesn't have, which would need certain components that are not in the Captor X.
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The Red Seven sounds the best to me here. Driftwood sounds a little cloudier/warmer. Suhr sounds good but is thinner and brighter. Red Seven sounds sort of like a happy medium between the Driftwood and Suhr to me. I own the Suhr.
Would be good though to have also loaded with a real cab, similar to what the IR is of, maybe a 4-12" with V30. Not mic'd, just as a load - and then compared the tone of all the boxes to a real cab as load.. The main purpose of a load box is to allow your amp to safely perform EXACTLY or as close as possible to how it would connected to a real cab. I don't like to think of the load as "a way to EQ your amp". In this test you're basically hearing the differences in the loads against one another, but what we should be evaluating is what actually loads LIKE A CAB, so it's as close as possible to a real cab as load! An EQ in the FX loop, or changing IR's is a great way to change the sound up, but IMHO (mainly for safety) I dislike the "load as an EQ" approach.
And I 100% agree with you, however a lot of people (dare I say it most people) use the loadbox without a cab to be able to play silently in their homes/studios. So yes, the test could’ve been more accurate by hooking up a cab; but this shows at least that 1. Load boxes do make a difference, and 2. The testing is done in a situation most people would actually use it.
Pete, how would this be accomplished safely? I want to connect my amp to an actual cabinet strictly for the load, but capture the tone from the amp only so I can use if with IRs
@@Mendelianhow would this be done with a cabinet as a load? How would you tap the signal essentially to get it into an interface?
I sort of had the same view on reactive loads and always felt the best one would be one that made my cab sound the same whether it was being directly driven by my amp or by a re-amped signal of the RL line out. The challenge is doing this test and being able to hear how your cab reacts?
Last weekend I actually did a test of this exact thing as I currently own the Fryette Powerload IR, the Suhr RL IR and a Fractal Xload. All have direct cab through connections which allows a direct connection of the amp to cab and you then hear the cab as it would sound plugged into the amp.
This direct through can also be unplugged from the RL without risking the guitar amp as the reactive load takes over duties without the Cab connected.
So I set up a seymour duncan solid state pedal amp next to the reactive load I was testing. It was set flat and is a super transparent SS power amp based on other tests I have done. I had the SS amp connected directly to the reactive load line out.
To test the differences I got different guitar loops going and basically moved the speaker cable back and forth from the RL speaker through and the SS power amp speaker out. Kept plugging these in and out of each connection while listening to the differences from my cab. This might have been a bit risky on the SS amp not having a speaker plugged in at times but it survived okay.
The volumes between the direct amp through and SS amp were matched.
I did this test using a Mesa mark 5 on clean and high gain settings and compared both a mesa recto traditional cab with V30s and a marshall greenback 4x12 cab. Volume was medium to loud but at a volume I would be typically listening to my cabs and setting my amp tones for recording.
My findings were that all 3 RL units were quite close to the direct cab sound. I tested the suhr first and then the xload and they were super similar and expected the fryette to be the same. However the Fryette PLIR with its reactive load toggles set to the middle settings was indistinguishable from the direct cab connection. There was a clarity from that unit that the direct amp to cab sound had but which the other units didnt have. That was the same for both cabs and also for clean and high gain tones.
Now again they were all close to the amp to cab sound and neither would disappoint but the Fryette definitely got me to what I felt was an exact match.
I didnt have the other units mentioned here to test but for me with what I found out I dont need them as the Fryette unit is outputting a line out tone exactly as I would be hoping for and that I can trust from there it is up to my IR's to do their thing.
@PeteThorn I’ve tried loading down with a SUHR RL original, using my cab as the actual load. It’s a silly comparison IMHO because even if it responds more like the actual cab, that doesn’t necessarily means it sounds BEST for certain applications. Does anyone really care that the Suhr might respond similar or identical to an actual mic’d up cab, if for example the driftwood sounds more wholesome for chugg type riffs? Well it depends on what you’re going for.
Here’s my two cents:
Go with the Suhr if you play Fender type guitars. I believe the ‘sparkle’ of the Suhr box on the tone really complements these tones and type instruments well (like the Suhr guitars).
On the other end if you’re looking for a specific ‘bark’ for chugging, I don’t think anyone would argue that some of the other boxes here like the driftwood, sound ‘better’ for that type of heavy riffing application.
For what you do Pete, I see why you prefer the Suhr my friend.
Your stuff sounds great for your applications.
I’ve never heard you (Pete) try to riff in drop tunings using the Suhr, however. Just a heads up to anyone else reading along.
Hi Mendel! Nice video and thank for the shootout. Difference between XLR outs and Direct out in Amp Central is the on XLR you always have an AD/DA conversion, while Direct output still 100% analog, that is why last one sounds "more on your face". Matter of facts, Direct out can be used even without included power supply. Great option for studio guy like you.
Awesome! Thanks for the clarification 🤘🏾
Yup - I've just recently got the Driftwood as well and it's a banger.
Wow, this explains why every time I try to record my Dual Rectifier with my Captor X it sounds so thin and harsh. I also noticed the same thing about adding low end back in with the 'Enhancer' controls inside the TwoNotes software, but it always sounded artificial to me.
With that being said, I wonder if it is something TwoNotes can remedy with a firmware update or something.
Such a quality content! Thanks a lot!
Cool video dude! The RedSeven sounds the best here to me but the Driftwood definitely also sounds quite chonky :)
Those were my 2 favorites as well.
If you had also included the Fractal X Load, and the St Rock React:IR (and anything else popular that I might not be aware of), this would have been one of the definitive loadbox videos on TH-cam.
Great video. I remember seeing a similar kind of shootout on Rabea Massaad's channel and Sonic Drive Studio. I have been using a Two Notes Captor, then bought a Torpedo Live, and then a Captor X. For some reason, my amps always sounded better through the Captor and the Torpedo Live than the Captor X so I basically stopped using the Captor X. There is also a clear difference between these three Two Notes products, but I haven't tested it like you have. I really noticed the difference with certain amps but also when trying to profile amps using a loadbox and IR. The Kemper could not accurately make a profile from the Captor X on certain amps and channels, but the Torpedo Live worked every time.
It is cool that you showed the Enhance feature to bring back some of that low end. That does help to redeem the Captor X.
If you don't need an in-built IR loader, I also agree, the Driftwood sounded the best. You've got me thinking that I should sell off some gear and reinvest in a better loadbox. Thanks for putting in the effort to share this with us.
As always i really appreciate how intelligent and well spoken your presentation is. Really nice comparison here. Thank you!
Was very curious about the Driftwood one. Thanks for taking the time to put this together
Noticed the Driftwood doesn't have a volume pot nor a "Thru" port. If they put out a revision of the unit with those 2 things, I'd probably consider getting one instead of my Suhr
@@TudorAdrian You can use a DI box like a countryman Type 85 or type 10 or the neve RNDI between the amp and the load to get an even better line out. They have a speaker mode (high attenuation pad) for that exact same purpose.
Got the Suhr, supposedly the impedance curve is modeled after a Greenback.
it is
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This is the Video we needed! Superb presentation. As a Captor X owner I always thought it was me all this time haha. My ears IMMEDATELY gravitated to the Driftwood. Looks like Im in the market for one of those!
What is/was it that you thought it was just you regarding the captor x?
The video we needed! Thanks Mendel!
I have the Captor X imbeded in my Revv 100R mk III and I found it sounds different than that captor X standalone. I dont really notice the brightness of it, but then again I might just EQ my amp to avoid it (I also use the software two notes has to EQ my amp/IRs a bit to get rid of frequenices I dont like). I have the older captor and I find it that some two notes IRs sound better while using it with my 5150 Combo; if I use the same ones with my 100R it sounds a different. This test is really good because it shows which ones could work better with different people's taste. The Wall of Sound IR loader that you can use with The two notes stuff is great; they are also about to launch a brand new wall of sound/guitar sim software soon. Not sure if any of the other load boxes come with software.
Well done, truly enjoyed the comparison dug the riffs as well
I love the Driftwood too, i never liked the sound of the amp + IR, maybe because all this time i heard with the captor x hahahaha
Nice video!
Awesome that you did this comparison.. I was shopping for a reactive load box. What I learned here was I need a EVH5150 III Stealth, haha.
Hahaha lol’d hard here
Very helpful video, thanks for making it.
Driftwood for me. I have actually purchased one so I am excited to get my hands on that when it arrives. RedSeven was very good too but a little too feature packed for me. The main thing I liked about the Driftwood was the low end. You can always eq that out if need be but can’t be added as easily. It was very balanced and not harsh at all. If it ends up being a little dark I can always run a high shelf to bring that presence back and it will be a minor eq tweak.
Great video Mendel 🤘👹🤘
Hi Mendel, great comparison video!! Your video helped me made my decision and I got myself a Red Seven Amp Central. Unbelivable sound and feel!!! Thank you.
This video helped inspire me to compare the XLR out of my Captor-based Revv G20 with the internal load engaged vs connected to an actual cabinet (but STILL using the XLR out from the Two Notes unit). It was shocking how different the output was, disabling the internal load brought in a TON of
How would you bypass the internal load for the captor?
@@Luancwav you can use the XLR out from the Torpedo unit while the head is connected to a physical cab. When a real cab is connected, the internal load on the Torpedo is disabled. Not silent though.
Great video, I was looking for this comparison for quite a while, and I really appreciate how in-depth you went into it. I have the Suhr and a Fryette PS-2, but I had been wondering about the RedSeven for the past year, and none of the videos I watched until now made a proper comparison. I didn't even know about the Driftwood. I agree these last two come on top, but listening to your comparison of the RedSeven and the Driftwood, I think I'm leaning more towards the former, I'm liking the sparkle in the top end it brings. Indeed the Suhr - which is what I mostly use these days - sounds as if there's a chunk missing in the mid-range when compared to those two, making the top-end overly emphasized. Thank you!
Red7 XLR with no cab in the bank will be going through an extra round of conversion :) great vid, not a lot of people think about this aspect. Worth considering the Fryette PLIR as well.
Thanks, and big thanks for recommending me the Driftwood; loving it. Will check out the fryette.
Oooof. Deal breaker…
Hey there, if you like the Driftwood loadbox, you should know they're actually shadow built and designed by an Ukrainian engineer called Vasillius, his company is called "St.Rock" and he does a racked 8Ohm loadbox and it's very affordable ! Consider checking it out if you can catch one, it's all I use now, at least untill I get my hands on a Fryette PS100 which I'm hearing is the best loadbox/amp-cab butler/attenuator money can buy at the moment
It`s not true. Driftwood amps use st.Rock`s AMP:IR module in their amps. But load boxes is Driftwood own design.
Great video, shocked how much worse the captor x sounds compared to the others. Killer riffage as usual!
Excellent comparison and very well put together.
I actually expected to like the Drifwood a lot more here, but for me it’s too dull. The Red Seven seemed nicely balanced, and even the Suhr (despite the top end being annoying) with some different settings I think I could make it work.I find with darker amps, if I have to boost the presence a lot, they start to sound weird.
The Two Notes ones just don’t have the low end at all, the reload has lows but they don’t chug dynamically like the others do.
Would be AWESOME to do a similar test with some real cabs providing the load to see which load boxes get closest to which cabs. They all have their own differences and character too but I still feel like there’s something about that which reactive loads don’t fully get still. I did a similar test to this a while ago, but didn’t have access to Driftwood/Fryette/Red Seven/Two Notes stuff. It does include about 10 cabs though so you can hear how they all vary :)
Agree 100% with your assessment. Red Seven sounded the best. Suhr needs more mids and lowend, but you could give it that by adjusting the amp. Driftwood was slightly cloudy/warm/dull sounding.
redseven is actually really good, it keeps the character of the driftwood but cleans up the chug bloom a bunch
Great comparison but I feel like one key player in this space is missing.... the Boss Tube Amp Expander. I've got the Captor X, Hotplate and the TAE and the variable impedance controls on the TAE are pretty slick. Even though I can EQ around this with the captor X, it's nice to have the high and low response controls right there on the unit.
One thing that I think missing from the discussion is the context of where and how these things are being used. As a live player primarily, the TAE having more routing options, amp channel control, midi for switching effects, built in solo boost, FX loop, dedicated house line output, etc are all really killer features that help justify it's price tag but on the other hand, you have to have an actual computer connected via USB to change anything in it. The captor on the other hand has a very slick bluetooth phone app that works well and lets you make tweaks as needed during sound check.
The other aspect of this is that when using one of these IR loaders with a PA system, the lack of low end on the captor is no longer a thing. It's huge, BUT... my biggest beef with the captor on stage is that if I'm actually wanting to run a speaker cab behind me (vs an FRFR with a volume control), the 3 way toggle switch on the Captor X is terrible. You either are playing that cab at full volume or way too quiet where as the TAE has that volume knob for the cab output letting you set it exactly how loud you want it and it doesn't mess with the signal going to the house.
No one makes a perfect solution but I lean more towards just using an FRFR on stage (mainly because of smaller size and I'm using IEM's anyways so stage sound isn't critical for me).
Nicely done. Glad my reload does not suck lol. And the Fryette would have been very interesting, huge fan of Stevens work, I expect it to be really good.
I have the torpedo captor and the redseven. RedSeven all the way!! I actually really dislike the torpedo, only kept it because it has that attenuator feature which is great for playing at home!
this video was insane good work on this one!
Nice shootout. The lineout thing happens also to me with my fryettes powerloads (I have V1 and V2). I prefer the lineouts also vs the XLR. Having also the driftwood, I also found it to have more low end than other loadboxes but a bit congested in the low low mids. That said the fryettes are the best to my preferences. They are the most versatile can handle 200w and vary impedance and ultimately sound the best and the cleanest. My collection: marshall powerbrake, Weber mass, SPL reducer, suhr RL, captor 8ohm, torpedo reload, driftwood, fractal xload, fryettes powerloads V1 and V2.
Have you compared the Fryette with the Red Seven?
@@justsomerandomguyman no I haven't, but would like to if red seven release a version without IR loading. I prefer to use 100% analog load boxes because that way they are always future proof and don't need any power. The thing with IR loading one's is that they require AD and DA conversion. Usually they are more cheap converters and also the IRs aren't high resolution or high sample rates. Having a separate IR loading solution allows for more flexibility or fidelity since technology is always evolving. I my self am only interested in recording with the best quality I can afford and use dedicated conversion. But if I were to play live or for jamming purposes I would still prefer to have a separate IR loader and would probably use a 2notes cab M plus since it runs at 96khz.
@@luisguimaraes2176 Bro try to connect cab to you Frytte. U gonna get much more rich and uncompressed sound.
@@thanos4480What do you mean connect a cab?
@@chronicnarnia use real cab with Frytte it''s gonna sound better.
Interesting comparison
I revisited this after watching it when it was originally uploaded. Driftwood sounds blanketed to my ear now, like some high end is rolled off. Same with the reload. The two notes does sound quite a bit different than the rest. Low end rolled off and high highs boosted a little bit. I think I like the suhr or redseven the most
Also, the low end that you love with the driftwood will disappear in a mix, which is why it sounded dull in the mix.
Suhr is the most accurate to me. The driftwood sounds like when you are playing a signal at a lower rated impedance removing the highs. I guess in your case you like that because the better chugs or sound to your ears.
This was fantastic. Subbed
great video, thank you for this, awesome!
S.t rock React IR, the best react load! Good choice!
Hey Mendel! Friend of mine and me went into a rabbithole about this a while ago because i always felt the captor i had sounded flat. And the conclusion was that the captor X and the normal ones before all use a U-shaped impedance curve, which is not accurate to what a cab produces. Loadboxes like the Suhr, X-load, Redseven, ST.rock all use much more correct impedance curves which makes them sound way more accurate and represent your amp better.
This is a way for Twonotes to cheap out a bit and i think that's sad. I bet they used the same components but tweaked the curve a bit to at least recover some depth and low end instead of the very mid focussed sound of the older captors.
Great video and a very well made test. I have other opinions on which were the best and worst but that is not important. My wallet is going to take a beating from this test though.
There is a European guy on YT who ran a loop through about six different attenuators and measured the frequency response of each, so that the signal could be seen on a graph and we didn't have to rely on our faulty ears. Red Seven did poorly. Suhr was pretty good. Ox was best. I think all reactive load boxes do the job well though. Still, all other things being equal, nothing sounds as good as a guitar directly into an amp and then directly into a cab. I use a Fryette PS2A for attenuation. Recording is a secondary concern, for me.
I believe he made a correction in the second video of the series, stating that the PS-100 had an even flatter EQ curve.
Hi Mendel, nice video, really helpful.
I've just upgraded from Torpedo Reload to Red Seven Amp Central.
One question, is the Line Out a balanced output? Should I use a TRS cable?
Thank you for your time.
Holy moly Mendel. This was amazing, as usual for you. You are the gold standard my man. …by chance, do you ever do 1 on 1 coaching? I can’t seem to get my drums to sit well in the mix, and, I suspect that I’d be years ahead of I just had some good coaching. 🙏
Would be interesting to know what the volume was set to on the EVH 5150? I find going pass 11 o'clock increases presence, and anything pass 1 o'clock starts to sound unpleasant. I have the Suhr Reactive Load IR.
Thanks for the video, I'm now very interested in trying driftwood as my first reactive load to use with 6505. I like that it is the unit that does one thing, gives me hope that it will do it better than other multifunctional products. Want to find something that feels more fun to play in real time at home as compared to plugins :D
Really curious how the Fryette Power Load IR would compare as it also has cab sim and they say it has a bit different feel than the IRs :/
Nice video! I have an LB2 and I really like it. The Suhr sounds tighter, and the Reload and RedSeven also sounded good. However, I found the Captor X to be a bit too 'thin' for my taste. Have you tried recording using the Tonex Capture device's XLR output directly into the interface, and using the output from the power section to the loadboxes for silent recording? Theoretically, this should provide the most 'unaffected' tone from the amp head, without the 'coloring' from the loadbox (depending on which impedance curve it's based on). Since it sits between the amp head power section and the loadbox, the output used would be from the Tonex Capture, not the loadbox. Cheers!
I have a feeling that the IR loading circuitry and how it is imemented makes the sound less pure perhaps.
For example, on the RedSeven, when you use XLR out, even though you don't have an IR loaded in the unit, perhaps extra circuitry to make IR loading happen affects the signal.
It seems that your test is really good for totally silent recording in the studio. However, a lot of us want to not only load IR's but also attenuate the cab... It seems like this causes me, personally, some options paralasis. 😂
Maybe I need to really purchase 2 separate ddvices, each for their best intended purpose.
I also wonder what it would be like if you pumped out of the driftwood to another attenuator after it... Hmmm
I currently have the Waza TAE, and although I haven't used it for recording, iw as looking elsewhere because I haven't fount the attenuation perfect... Usable but not perfect.. But my real gropes with it are that the Fx loop isn't only mono, but it sounds like garbage (!) and editing the unit isn't as convenient as with the Captor X. You have to drag around a laptop just to edit your effects (which sound pretty good actually), adjust EQ, or turn the Fletcher Munson Curve correction feature on and off. Also, I've heard some other demos where the recorded IR sounded terrible compared to the Two Notes Studio stuff..
Anyhow... This sure is another rabbit hole to fall down, get tangled in some roots, and perhaps suffocate in! 😅
Great vid dude. got a sub
For me the best are the Redsevem the Suhr and the Driftwood and that's why. The Driftwood il full, preserves the body without sounding muddy but I fell a little bit of congestion in the lower mids. The Suhr is the one with the Redseven that preserve the "sparkle" the best of the bunch, and that's a good thing because I sold my original Captor and the Captor X because I felt like a resistance while I was playing, like a compression and that was not a good thing.
Always love Driftwoods but in this case in this unit some deafness is present. Maybe some tweaks can do changes but on this Red7 is best
Hey Mendel,
as I've said before great comparison video, very helpful! There is no chance you could do a similar thing with the Boogie CabClone IR + compared to one of those, let's say the Redseven?
There isn't much out there about the CabClone IR. I supposedly has a Tow Notes circuit board in it, but from what I've heard so far, sounds better than the other Two Note Loadboxes. Would be really interesting to hear how it compares to the real good sounding ones. Well, and than there also is a Fractal Loadbox, supposedly pretty good, too...
I don't feel so bad with my Reload now! I was wondering if I should jump to a Suhr but my solution is from amp into CAB BEFORE the load. Load still has an effect on tone but less in a pass through scenario compared to right off the load. I also like loading the CAB from my phone app.
As a scoop fiend, the suhr sounds the best
Bro Fryette is missing here. Also very popular load box.
Also the Rivera RockCrusher
And the Ox Box
@@Mendelian Nahhh Bro OX Box is so thin (soundwise)
and too expensive. Also Boss WAZA but overpriced too))))
I have all these Load boxes now in my possession. (only driftwood is missing) and i can tell you they all sound tooooo compressed in the low end. BUT i found how to fix it. I just connected to a real cab (Mesa 4x12 traditional) and it sounds so good.
Yes it's loud. But it sounds so natural and open.(without any compression) And they all sound different with same cab connected. Red Seven is my favorite. It sounds super balanced and raw.
Thank you Bro. The best video load boxes shootout on entire TH-cam!.
the suhre was like the more close to real cab sound ?? the problem with these tests is we cant hear the real thing and switch to the load box instantly via switch, lvl matched to have a better a/b
driftwood has some low mid conservation .I guess next step is price vrs sound quality great vid it's been missing.any way you could compare the driftwood built-in amp model on thier small amp?
Riff 2
Driftwood : 17:19
Suhr: 17:24
Redseven: 17:39
Need to do an update with the Boss Waza.
Looks like my captor x is going back to Thomann. Driftwood sounds the best here.
Edit: Did some googling, seems like the Driftwood is really just a load box without headphones out or IR loading? RedSeven is the winner for me, if that is the case.
Correct, if you want headphones and IR loading get the RedSeven.
Have you ever tried the ps2a fryette?
I agree that the Driftwood sounds good, but I also think it's too dark compared to the others. It sounds a tad muddy. That being said, the only one that is actually bad sounding to me is the Capto X.
I agree the Red 7 is the most balanced out of all of them. To me the driftwood lacks definition, especially in the top end, which is why it seems chunkier than the others. Suhr and captor x are very similar, but the Suhr is more defined. The reload seems like someone put a blanket over it. For me, it’s a toss up between the Red7 and Suhr. If price isn’t an issue, the Red 7 gets my vote.
The driftwood is “darker” which is why some may like it more.
The Suhr is the clear winner in my studio.......of course that's the only one i have😅
Mendel, did you explain in the video why the Two Notes Torpedo Reload is discontinued? I am curious about this. Just because it is back in their product portfolio again.
But where is the st.rock react:ir ?)
Driftwood clearly wins. I feel the Rivera Rockcrusher is often neglected but is as good as the above tested...at least better than the captorx
🤘 great job man!
Briefly what are your thoughts about Blu guitar amp X?
Thanks for the video. Maybe a stupid question but you need to eq for the mix with for example the Red seven? Because maybe the captor sound different but already mix ready.. Or you think is better anyway? Thanks
Hi Mendel! Can you tell me what the output of the Driftwood is? Standard guitar cable or balanced TRS? Thank you!
really nice content, but the guitars sound processed, it would have been great to have heard them in mono.
I thought the Suhr sounded the best, at least to my ears. The Driftwood sounded muddy to me.
Captor X n Redseven i love it but all load box good and we know have a pros and cons
What do you like about the captor x?
Can i plug an headphone directly on the Driftwood Amplifiers Reactive Loadbox ? ( im looking for simple device to allow to with headphone on an Engl Fireball 100) thank
Can I ask you what you did in the enhancer section on the captor to get the sound you got? It actually sounded really good
Hell, they all sound fucking great to me. Different voicings, if you will. I just got a Captor X as my first major upgrade and introduction into this "space", so I'm still learning it. I'll say this video has confirmed that I made a good purchase :). I don't think I could have gone wrong with purchasing any of these!
Thanks for the video!
p.s. My 6yo daughter falls asleep to Terrorvision when I put it on while driving. The heavier the better. (Huge compliment)
Hi. Have you never tried Freyette Power Load IR?
Hey Mendel, noticed that you switched to the iLoud Precisions, any chance that you will do review and why you switched from your Adam´s?
Jup review coming up!
Hi Mendel. Which software do you use to load your ir's?
Hey Mendel,
great comparison video! However, I am a little new to the whole loadbox thing, so I have a rather not-advanced question: How is the signal chain exactly? I mean, do I understand it correctly that you went from the head into the loadbox without using any IR's inside the loadbox? So the amp-signal goes into the DAW unflitered straight from the loadbox, and is it only inside the DAW where you did apply an IR? If so, which IR did you use in the DAW?
Would be helpful to know... Cause I was thinking in case of the Two Notes for instance: If the Two Notes IR's itself are good enough coudn't that compensate for some lack of low end sufficently? - Even though I know that you can't make up entirely for something that isn't there initially...
Amp into Loadbox into DAW. Daw is where I used one of my IR's believe it's Queensroad Cab Nr 1. So all loadboxes went into the same IR.
Awesome, thank you! @@Mendelian
Just saw, you explained it all just perfectly in the deep dive section, just should have watched that all through first, sorry.
Man...what are you running through that EVH. I cant get mine to sound like that
Queensroad cab 1 from same named IR pack.
How’s the build quality of the RedSeven? Everyone I ask keeps telling me to buy the Captor X, but I really like the sound of the RedSeven better. I also prefer a no BS approach, meaning, I just want to load the IRs into the unit and start playing, instead of having to tweak any software, like the Wall of Sound. Any thoughts? Thank you.
It’s a tank: full on metal.
@@MendelianThank you so much!
red seven top
captor x is weak aie aie aie 😮.
Are you planning to redo your tonex catpture with the best loadbox?
Already doing it :)
Great! are you planning to make a NAM pack too?
6:04
6:16
just want to play a valve amp (Engl fireball 100)with headphone which model do you recommend ?
RedSeven
@@Mendelian thank a lot! :)
I felt like the driftwood was the worst sounding. It had no high end at all compared to all the others. It’s all muffed sounding.
12:00 don’t make it anymore because of some components… but internally identical at the same time… sus 😂 what was missing… the right screw or what
Good observation haha
Identical on the simple loadbox aspect maybe, but the Reload has other many features that the Captor X doesn't have, which would need certain components that are not in the Captor X.
Yup… the driftwood wins
Captor is more like craptor.