Desperately Seeking 4x12 Feel with Dual-Use Clarity

New QC owner here…
I’ve been experimenting with my Quad Cortex setup, and after a disappointing experience with a Mission Gemini 1 (both with a Kemper and QC), I am ready for something radical.

I’m aiming for a dual-purpose speaker solution: something that delivers the thump and vibe of a traditional 4x12 cabinet for my guitar, yet also mixes seamlessly with my DAW backing tracks for home practice and small live gigs (in stereo). I know there are plenty of discussions about FRFR speakers for guitar, but I’m specifically interested in anyone’s experience with a set (stereo) of powered PA monitors (JBL, QSC, Yamaha, etc) in place of a 4x12.

I love my Splawn Supersport head and 4x12 but really want to go all digital.

Just run one set of outputs with a mic capture/IR to the DAW and another output to a power amp and 4x12, at least at home. At a small gig, I think there’s just compromises to be made.

The big thing with FRFR is that it won’t ever feel like an amp in the room. It’s mimicking the sound of a miced up cabinet. That’s very different from hearing a cab just in a room. It’s always going to end up feeling like you’re listening to a cd. It’s no designed to have the thump you’re gonna want.

You would be best off with a solid state power amp into the guitar cab. Realistically the setup you’re looking to get will be as bulky (if not more bulky) than a cab that has wheels tbh.

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Powerstage 700 is pretty much the same size and weight as a QC, FYI.

@5150East, grab one of those and use it through your existing 4x12.

FYI, powered PA monitors are FRFR. It’s all the same discussion. You’re forced to use IRs, which might be the bottleneck to your tonehunt, no matter how fancy you go with your monitors.

I do this by just having 2 Output Routes.
One goes with stereo fx and cabsim at the end to my Monitor Speakers / Logic at home - or FOH at a gig
One goes with Mono FX at the end to the Seymour Duncan Powerstage 170 which is connected to my Marshall 4x12. (home/gig same, just volume is different) - there’s always a cab at a gig, i just pick it just for having that “umphf” from behind.

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So I found a guy selling a pair of QSC K10s and jBL PRX915s (12”) on Facebook Marketplace. Brought my QC and one of my Jems to do some A/B comparisons and the QSCs blew the JBLs away (even with smaller speakers). After a few hours tweaking presets at home, I have to admit - it’s REALLY close to the 4x12 feel and doesn’t sounds thin at all. while I haven’t done a 4x12 comparison in my studio, I kinda don’t care. I suspect once I get better with the QC - it will sound even better.