What a Digital Modelling Amp
should be
The power amp section, as well as the relationship and interaction between the output valves, output transformer and speakers, are a critical part of any great valve amp. Every classic amplifier's power amp has its own unique set of characteristics, and to accurately model a great sounding guitar amp, we had to precisely model its power amp section, too. Because we were intent on modeling not one, but 16 different, amazing amplifiers, we had to have a power amp that could actually change itself to model each and every one of those amplifiers.
How did we accomplish this? By inventing a new type of modeling, valve, power amplifier. Our patented Valve Reactor power amp consists of a valve power amp with an output transformer electronically coupled to a solid-state power circuit in such a way that the relationship between the output valve, output transformer and speakers is unaltered.
This ingenious design delivers a number of benefits. All of the great sounding amps we've modeled are valve amps. VOX's Valve Reactor technology enables the new AD60VT and AD120VT to produce the high dynamic range associated with these traditional valve amps-something a solid-state amp simply couldn't do. That dynamic range is one of the reasons why valve amps sound and feel so much louder than solid-state amps rated at the same output power. Also, the AD60VT and AD120VT are better able to capture the sound and feel of the amps they're modeling because their output power can be configured to be exactly the same as those amps. A 50 Watt AC15 may be an interesting curiosity, but the original was 15 Watts!
We didn't stop there. This new technology actually has the ability to switch automatically between Class "A" and Class "AB" depending on the amplifier it's modeling! In addition, it can select whether or not a model will have a negative feedback loop, as well as how much and what kind of feedback there will be. This adds immensely to the overall accuracy of the model's sound and feel because you just can't accurately model a Class "A" amp that doesn't have a feedback loop-like an AC30, for example-with class "AB" circuitry and all kinds of feedback. This is something the competition just doesn't seem to grasp.
Very Cool Effects Built In
The effects in Valvetronix amps aren't an afterthought. Each one is a carefully crafted model of one of a variety of sought after classic and popular effects. These 10 essential pedals include Compressor, Acoustic Simulation, VOX Wah, Auto Wah, U-Vibe, Octave Divider, Treble Boost, valve Overdrive, Fat Overdrive and Fuzz. As pedals, they appear before the preamp models so they can drive the preamp in the same way they would in a traditional setup.
Valvetronix heads and combos also feature Modulation, Delay and Reverb effects sections, all of which can be used simultaneously. Just like in a pro guitar amp/rack, these effects sit between the preamp and power amp sections. The Modulation Section includes models of popular Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo and Rotary effects. The Delay Section delivers Delay, Tape Echo and Multi-Head delay. A Tap button is provided for setting the delay time. The Reverb Section has three types, Spring, Plate and Room. Each section can be controlled independently from the top panel, or, in the case of Modulation, from the optional VC-4 Foot Controller.
A Valvetronix effect dial
Guitar -> one of 10 Stomp boxes -> one of 16 Preamp models -> one of five Modulation effects -> one of three Delay effects -> one of three Reverb effects -> Virtual Effects Loop -> Analog Master Volume -> Power amp model -> Celestion guitar speaker(s)
Following the signal path
When laying out the Top and Rear panels of the Valvetronix combos, we laid out the signal paths
in the same way a guitarist typically puts his setup together.
It is also another example of the painstaking attention to detail that went into the design of these new amps. We believe we have achieved our goal, that Valvetronix amps model the sound, tone and feel of 16 of the world's most lusted-after guitar amps (plus a closet full of awesome effects) like nothing else can. Get your hands on one soon. We think you'll agree that everything else is just make-believe.