Not a Deal - TONEX Cab - DOA

[Brian Walton]

Website to open a ticket seems busted too.  I've been a massive proponent of TONEX (own multiple pedals as well as the software).  But this was an unbelievable disappointment taking it out of the box and it won't even turn on after waiting well over a month after the initial pre-order was supposed to close.  

[IK Multimedia]

Sorry about the ticket thing, our IT staff is aware of site issues and is working on them.  In the mean time could you PM me your IK username and order number and I'll see what's going on?  We will take care.

[Brian Walton]

37 minutes ago, IK Multimedia said:

Sorry about the ticket thing, our IT staff is aware of site issues and is working on them.  In the mean time could you PM me your IK username and order number and I'll see what's going on?  We will take care.

Yes, thank you.

[IK Multimedia]

I verified with our Support Manager that your issue is being handled with urgency.

[Mr No Name]

Ik multimedia are one of the better companies imo, make some very good plug ins at a decent price, not tried their physical equipment.

Hopefully you just got a dodgy unit and it's not a major manufacturing fault at the factory, that would be a disaster.

[kitekrazy1]

22 hours ago, Mr No Name said:

Ik multimedia are one of the better companies imo, make some very good plug ins at a decent price, not tried their physical equipment.

Hopefully you just got a dodgy unit and it's not a major manufacturing fault at the factory, that would be a disaster.

That's their best stuff

[IK Multimedia]

For those having issues, we posted this around but I wanted to post here (since I'd probably get deleted if I posted in its own thread):  Important Update: We will be taking our sites and services down for maintenance to fix the intermittent issues on our web platforms/services. We expect the outage to last 30 minutes but it could be longer (though we aim for it to be 30 minutes). Thank you for your patience and support, we appreciate it and you.

[Mr No Name]

1 hour ago, kitekrazy1 said:

That's their best stuff

they've got some tiny computer speakers that are supposed to be very good, can't recall the name, like the Function one of computer speakers.

 

they are quite expensive though.

[IK Multimedia]

iLoud Micro Monitor, and iLoud Micro Monitor Pro.  Much more than just computer speakers, they are legit and you can absolutely mix with them on the go.  The non-pro are only $/€349.99 MSRP and currently in US/Canada are on sale for a great deal lower.  I have a couple of pairs of those and haven't made the jump to the Pro units but I'm getting those for my downstairs jam spot / DAWless quick recording area.

[Brian Walton]

On 5/29/2025 at 12:12 PM, IK Multimedia said:

I verified with our Support Manager that your issue is being handled with urgency.

Update, replacement amp arrived today and this one turns on.  Won't be able to crank it past low bedroom volume until tomorrow but glad to report that it can get fairly quiet as most reviews kept focusing on how loud it was on "3." 

Appreciate the help getting this sorted and resolved quickly.  

[ALC]

On 5/30/2025 at 9:04 AM, Mr No Name said:

they've got some tiny computer speakers that are supposed to be very good, can't recall the name, like the Function one of computer speakers.

 

they are quite expensive though.

 

On 5/30/2025 at 3:16 PM, IK Multimedia said:

iLoud Micro Monitor, and iLoud Micro Monitor Pro.  Much more than just computer speakers, they are legit and you can absolutely mix with them on the go.  The non-pro are only $/€349.99 MSRP and currently in US/Canada are on sale for a great deal lower.  I have a couple of pairs of those and haven't made the jump to the Pro units but I'm getting those for my downstairs jam spot / DAWless quick recording area.

I got the iLoud Micro Monitor when there was a refurb sale on Reverb.com (B-stock from IK Multimedia) (under $200) two years ago.  They sound amazing for its size.  https://reverb.com/shop/ikmultimedia?condition=b-stock

I just checked and it’s currently on sale for $229.99: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/news/?item_id=18051.

Edited June 1 by ALC

[Craig Fowler]

5 hours ago, Brian Walton said:

Update, replacement amp arrived today and this one turns on.  Won't be able to crank it past low bedroom volume until tomorrow but glad to report that it can get fairly quiet as most reviews kept focusing on how loud it was on "3." 

Appreciate the help getting this sorted and resolved quickly.  

Be curious to see what you think of it when you've had a chance to put it through it's paces properly.

[Brian Walton]

On 5/31/2025 at 11:25 PM, Craig Fowler said:

Be curious to see what you think of it when you've had a chance to put it through it's paces properly.

Wouldn't say I've fully put it through the paces yet (I'm not like the youtubers that spend a hour with something and then create a video on it as though they are an expert), but will share a few of my initial thoughts.

Obviously the source matters (the capture, ones guitar, etc so I expect a wide range of experiences using this cab)

With the the right capture, I felt I could get really good clean tones both at bedroom and gig volume.  As is always the case, really low bedroom volumes you won't feel the dynamics and tone the same way - but if you turn up the volume a bit - the things you hope for and expect are there.

Comparing this side by side with a high end tube amp and grail speakers/cab with low/mid gain harmonic content going on.  This is where a really high end tube amp is going to be quite a bit richer and more 3D sounding.  Part of that has to do with the fact Tonex captures are going through a mic (either in the capture or the IR used), a recorded tone really dumbs down what your ears hear in the room with a wonderful tube amp and effectively that what we get with a TONEX + CAB rig is like that recorded tone.  This isn't to say it can't sound quite good - it simply isn't going to sound like the best tube amps on the world playing through the best cab in the world when it comes to glorious harmonic content swirling around the speakers and in the room.   I'm also comparing this to arguably the best amp ever made and captures I've done of that same amp.  Someone with a normal tube amp is more inclined to say the two are favorable to each other.

 

IR loader means you can use acoustic IRs and amplify your Acoustic.  This setup is actually some of the best I've ever gotten my Taylor 814ce (fishman , not ES equipped) guitar to sound direct without a mic.  This of course also is very dependent on having the right IR, guitar and pickup system match.  The Mic - Live knob really helps push a mic captured IR to be more focused and punchy (in a good way) that tends to get lost in a PA rig.  I put a feedback buster in the sound hole and turned it up go solid gig volume and liked what I was getting.  Drastically better than the old piezo to PA days, this sounded like a miced guitar (but only using a Piezo and IR) 

One of my primary uses for this thing, which I've always struggled with, is using an amp for a "live looping" rig.  Either electric or acoustic.  I put an S-Drum, Jamman, TONEX with various captures in front of it.  Putting an S-Drum through an actual guitar amp sounds terrible.  of course I can hear the fidelity limitations of the JamMan but this is a solid rig for doing a small gig or just jam and practice at home.  I'll eventually setup my real looping rig (using Melda's MLooper with high end fidelity and drum VSTs on top) but this gave me an idea of what an actual portable rig would do, and it met my expectations overall.

As an electric guitar rig with TONEX out front without all the other tone sucking pedals it is certainly usable, as it should be given the $800 street price plus $400 TONEX.  I think ones perception of it will how close they are hoping it replicates the amp/rig they captured.  If someone is a clean player, honeslty I think this is an amazing rig given the size, weight, and over all sound quality.  For higher gain stuff, it does allow much more freedom than an non master volume amp does (and all the truly best amps are non-MV due to the fact a MV creates compromises in a circuit.  The Mic-Live control does make the whole FRFR capture based rig sound far more like an actual amp - even if it can never fully overcome the harmonics/mic capture limitations I mentioned before.  I do wonder what would happen if we get some IRs in the future that can remove the mic coloration and represent what an in the room speaker sounds like and behaves....maybe that plus a direct capture gets us closer to the true live amp representation.  

The "high end" sound.  This is going to depend on the capture, but some amps that can be painful in person with the top end when cranked - I'm pleased to report that with the right capture and IR - you can get a pleasing top end.  It is loud enough that you can get ringing in your ears even with those pleasant tones.  Noise level seems very low as long as you are giving it a good signal to noise ratio on the input.

 

Because of my combination of needs - Electric guitar amp, Acoustic Guitar Amp, Live Looping - I have yet to play an amp that does all 3 as well as this unit does in a singular portable package.  

I do find it annoying that they didn't include headphone jack on it, so if you want to run your entire rig through it like I'm doing for live looping, you have to send that DI style output to an interface/mixer when then has headphones.  A built in headphone out could have been an easy and not too costly addition.  

The construction seems adequate. It does not feel like a high end boutique amp build.  (everything from the knobs, pots, switch, handle, cab materials and construction.  I hope it lasts for decades like I expect an amp to.  

For people that need to switch amps + speaker types (i.e Fender clean to Marshall crunch to Vox Chime) but only have one single amp/speaker, I've yet to come across anything that can do it better.  Those who only want the Marshall sound through a pre-rolla 30 greenback sound - well you might be better off with a power amp and a dedicated cab loaded with a pre-rolla 30 green back and use a real amp (or maybe even a Tonex DI capture).

 

Due to the Tweeter + Woofer setup in this amp - micing it would be a major pain - but the good news is that the DI output can really replace that need.  

 

 

 

[IK Multimedia]

On 6/8/2025 at 3:27 PM, Brian Walton said:

IR loader means you can use acoustic IRs and amplify your Acoustic.  This setup is actually some of the best I've ever gotten my Taylor 814ce (fishman , not ES equipped) guitar to sound direct without a mic.  This of course also is very dependent on having the right IR, guitar and pickup system match.  The Mic - Live knob really helps push a mic captured IR to be more focused and punchy (in a good way) that tends to get lost in a PA rig.  I put a feedback buster in the sound hole and turned it up go solid gig volume and liked what I was getting.  Drastically better than the old piezo to PA days, this sounded like a miced guitar (but only using a Piezo and IR) 

First, thanks for the detailed writeup, very cool and glad to hear a lot of these points.  To the quoted part:  What IRs are you using?  I know that matching everything is an art form but I am curious nonetheless.  I am going to have to search for some that work with TONEX Cab and my gigging acoustics too because I can see using it for acoustic guitar and I am happy that I can very easily work in some electric which I tend to avoid sometimes due to the logistics of solo gigs and all.  Thanks again for the great writeup!

[Brian Walton]

26 minutes ago, IK Multimedia said:

First, thanks for the detailed writeup, very cool and glad to hear a lot of these points.  To the quoted part:  What IRs are you using?  I know that matching everything is an art form but I am curious nonetheless.  I am going to have to search for some that work with TONEX Cab and my gigging acoustics too because I can see using it for acoustic guitar and I am happy that I can very easily work in some electric which I tend to avoid sometimes due to the logistics of solo gigs and all.  Thanks again for the great writeup!

My favorite IR so far is actually a custom blend that I made using different IRs, putting them in Melda's Convolution plugin, mixing and EQ to taste then exporting that IR.  

I would post it here, but I think at least one part of the "mix" IR was from a paid pack (will have to double check)

I think one IR was from a Martin D28  https://www.acousticir.ovh/rubrique3.html

Maybe this free one?

 

Then combined with mixed and edited with an IR from this pack

https://worshiptutorials.com/product/tlr-816-acoustic-ir-pack/

 

Not sure your practical experience with art of matching Acoustic IRs, but my suggestion is to look for an IR made with the same pickup system you have in your guitar as #1.  Then #2 is a guitar similar to yours (from maker, shape, wood, etc) and lastly experiment with what you find as the starting point, then explore further.

My Taylor has the old Fishman Maxtrix system in it.  There are actually some Fishman Aura 814 IRs around (I also have an outboard Fishman Aura - but find I can get even better tone with the right IR).  I'm not sure where I got them, but I think they were likely created using the Aura unit itself as they sound very similar to my actual physical unit using the same models.  I've never loved the tone of the 814 guitar itself, but the playability is fantastic.  The mix of the Martin D28 gives a warmer roundness to the tone, and then the 816 gives some of that Taylor clarity and cut.  I do not think the 816 was captured with my same pickup system which is a shame.  

I would suggest grabbing the WT free pack to see pickup models they use work with your particular guitar:   https://worshiptutorials.com/product/acoustic-ir-sample-pack/

Also explore free IRs here:   https://www.acousticir.ovh/rubrique3.html

3 Sigma also has some good offerings though I wish they had a free sample to let people get a feel if their "universal pickup support" actually works for you:   https://www.3sigmaaudio.com/acoustic-impulses/

 

I've also tried creating my own IRs using the pickup, guitar and melda plugins but haven't created one that I like on its own yet (always end up mixing it in with another IR - and using that mix to output a new IR.  

 

[IK Multimedia]

Thanks, that's great information.  I have used each of those resources and have had some luck with IRs from each of them but I have to admit I never thought of blending them, that's brilliant thank you.

[Craig Fowler]

Really appreciate the careful review, Brian - and great tip on the IR for acoustics, which I would never have thought of. I replaced the Fishman system in my Taylor 300-series with an LR Baggs Anthem - it's a huge improvement for recording, but still lacking in an amplified context, so this is really useful info!

[Brian Walton]

1 hour ago, Craig Fowler said:

Really appreciate the careful review, Brian - and great tip on the IR for acoustics, which I would never have thought of. I replaced the Fishman system in my Taylor 300-series with an LR Baggs Anthem - it's a huge improvement for recording, but still lacking in an amplified context, so this is really useful info!

I've used an Anthem as well (though not in my 814ce -it was in a 4Kish Martin and liked it).  Getting the 1st big Aura helped prevent me from doing a similar swap years ago - though was never really fully content with it.  But then IRs came along and made me glad I didn't swap it out because that Fishman Matrix system was probably the most universally used in "good" acoustics for the longest single system which makes it a bit of a standard for having IRs created with them.  It is also far more reliable than say the ES system.  

 

Blending IRs was the first time I felt like I could trade a direct sound for a mic setup when conditions were not good enough for micing (or if I'm doing live looping where an actual mic is a nightmare).  Using the blending and eq technique (plus the on board mic/live knob) really helps dial in a usable "direct" sound that is so elusive in the Acoustic guitar world.  The number of master players I've heard play with terrible tone live using insanely expensive instruments (ala James A Olson guitars) is really something due to the historically failed technology.  

[Brian Walton]

3 hours ago, IK Multimedia said:

Thanks, that's great information.  I have used each of those resources and have had some luck with IRs from each of them but I have to admit I never thought of blending them, that's brilliant thank you.

Let us know how it turns out.  There is certainly some magic to finding the best properties of each and getting them to work together.  I feel like I've never been satisfied with any single capture.   (but even micing my own acoustic - I end up pairing warm sounding mics to get tone closer to what I want out of it than say putting a pretty neutral sounding mic like an AKG 414 on it.  (though it has gotten better over the years - I think the all mahogany Taylors like the 514 are much better recording guitars).  

The 814ce Aura captures (that used the same pickup system as well) I can tell those should be a great match, the problem is more the fidelity of how they translated that to the Aura and then it gets turned into a traditional IR.  I think if we had a true IR from that combo with my guitar it would in fact feel like a good representation of the instrument Mic'd.