Reality 112FR

1 x 12" high accuracy loudspeaker cabinet for FRFR guitar and acoustic instruments - the ultimate solution for the amplification of both acoustic instruments and digitally modelled guitar sounds.

The requirements are the same - maximum accuracy, excellent audibility and controlled feedback. The only difference is that the output level for FRFR guitar in a rock band is usually much greater than the SPL for solo acoustic instruments - but this means that the Reality 112FR has the headroom to handle multiple acoustic instruments, vocals and even recorded music, making it a true gigging problem solver. Don't expect thunderous or massively deep lows (it isn't a bass cab) but it'll still give enough fatness for most full-range acoustic music.

Please skip the following if you just want to get to the specs or buy one - this is the story of why this cab is how it is:

This is not just a lightweight FRFR cab with classic styling - it's so much more! The Reality 112FR combines the might of Celestion's F12-X200 full-range live-response coaxial loudspeaker with an AVD enclosure and custom rear-firing tweeter / adjustable crossover, for the best possible reproduction of modelled/profiled tones.

Full Range Flat Response is not enough because this only describes steady state sound in one location. If you want "high accuracy" (and if you want to hear your digital magic then you really do) then you need the following:

1. Accurate frequency response (aka FRFR)
2. Accurate polar response
   
3. Accurate transient response
   
4. Accurate dynamic response

These are the four critical links of sound reproduction. You may not know it but you WILL hear the weakest link - it's no good having "perfect" FRFR if the dynamic, transient or polar response is poor because the human ear is very good at hearing the deficiencies, not the best aspects.

This isn't our first FRFR cab, we've been doing this since Barefaced started out making radical high accuracy bass cabs. The Big Baby 2 and Big Twin 2 are already being used by bassists, keyboardists and guitarists who need to hear the truth of their tone, some through amps like Kempers. But the BB2 and BT2 have so much more low frequency depth and output than any guitarist needs, making them bigger, heavier and more expensive. So this is our first guitar specific FRFR cab.

We found that the F12-X200's coaxial 12" driver and tweeter with integrated crossover made for a great-sounding, efficient and elegant starting point but how it was used made a big difference in the resulting sound.

An F12-X200 in a closed cab does a good job of frequency response but polar response isn't so good further off-axis. Transient response is good too but dynamic response is limited at lower frequencies like with louder or chunkier rhythm guitar work.

An F12-X200 in an open cab will do slightly better with polar response but worse frequency response; transient response will still be good but dynamic response will really struggle when playing louder chords, low notes, etc.

Another option is a speaker like the F12-X200 but without the coaxial tweeter (using DSP to boost the higher frequencies where the cone's treble output is dropping). This can achieve the target frequency response and transient response, the dynamic response will be similar although more demanding on amps (causing clipping at high SPL) but most importantly the polar response will be very poor at higher frequencies. However it's far less expensive than having a coaxial speaker with a crossover.

An F12-X200 in an AVD cab achieves good frequency, transient and dynamic response with much improved polar response up to the upper midrange / lower treble region. However testing showed that improving the polar response higher up made a huge difference in real world situations.

Adding a rear-firing tweeter with its own custom crossover to coherently combine with the AVD's ouput makes the polar response a near perfect figure 8, which gives you incredibly consistent tone wherever you're listening from. It's almost surreal to hear the improvement in audibility from turning up the tweeter control, considering that tweeter is firing away from you!

Specifications

Features

• Barefaced AVD-8 enclosure for superior audibility, efficiency, power handling and truly accurate FRFR sound
• Celestion F12-X200 coaxial 12" 2-way driver - "Full Range Live Response"
• Rear-firing Eminence APT80 tweeter with custom 4th order crossover for radically improved clarity and tonal accuracy
• Independent adjustment of rear-firing tweeter for acoustic correction in real rooms on real gigs
• CNC machined dual-density plywood construction - better tone, gig tough, lower weight
• Single top strap handle - low profile to fit under amps; steel core, brackets, bolts and t-nuts for durablity; replaceable chrome trim for aesthetics; rubber sleeve for comfort; nylon washers to add friction and damping to ensure it remains rattle free
• Rubber feet on base - medium compound to damp vibration and add stability, tall enough to clear another handle if stacking
• Dual combi 1/4” + speakon sockets - use standard 1/4" leads, or have a locking speakon on the cab end which you can leave locked in place during transport
• Two grill cloth options: Deep Black or Bright Silver, with white piping
  
• Two tolex options: British Raging Green or Black In Black
• Custom tolex or grill cloth also available - extra cost, subject to availability, longer lead times likely.

Questions

What is an "FRFR" guitar cab and what is it for?

Full Range Flat Response guitar cabs were created so guitarists using modelling amps (as originally popularised by Line6) could hear the true sound of their modelled amp AND cabs - rather than hear the sound of the guitar speaker they were using. So the earliest FRFR cabs were simply little PA speakers as they have reasonably FRFR.

How is the Reality 112FR different?

At Barefaced we know that FRFR is not enough - we want TRUE SONIC ACCURACY. That means not only frequency response but also polar response, transient response and dynamic response. No other FRFR guitar cab on the market properly addresses all four aspects of tonal accuracy. In your bedroom, sitting right in front of the speaker you'll notice it feels more 3D, like you're surrounded by tone with so much presence without harshness - but take it to a rehearsal or gig and you, your bandmates and your audience will be blown away by how well they hear you, not louder but just THERE in the mix, wherever they're standing. And that creates a virtuous circle of performance, where the whole band ends up playing better and making better music. This is about making music, not just reproducing it like in the world of hi-fi!

How can this be a guitar cab and an acoustic instrument cab too?

FRFR guitar cabs do not sound like normal guitar cabs - a normal guitar speaker has limited bandwidth and large amounts of colouration (i.e. distortion) which filters the sound of an electric guitar through an amp giving the tones we all know and love. An FRFR speaker is fed a modelled sound like those that come from guitar speakers, so there is no need for the speaker to add another layer of colour. It's a bit like cooking - if the chef has already added the seasonings, herbs and spices and then you add the same again at the table it won't taste good. With modelled sound including speaker and cabinet emulation you want the actual loudspeaker to simply turn that electrical signal into acoustic sound without changing it, not adding more spice.

But if you want to hear an acoustic instrument louder then you need to put a mic or piezo pickup on it, maybe add some EQ to help and then turn that up loud with a clean amplifier through a really honest sounding speaker. And in an ideal world you want that speaker to be omnidirectional, filling the room with sound just like an acoustic guitar does - just like the Reality 112FR!

What is an AVD-8 enclosure and what does it do?

"Augmented Vent Diffractor - Figure 8" is the latest patented technology from Barefaced Audio. It improves low frequency efficiency and power handling whilst reducing distortion, generates rear-firing midrange output with even response and broad dispersion and integrates a phase coherent rear tweeter. The end result is highly accurate response from both front and rear of the loudspeaker, giving incredibly "real" live sound and outstanding resistance to the problems caused by noisy bandmates or difficult room acoustics.

How does the AVD-8 enclosure work?

This may take a while to get your head around! At lower frequencies the slot and horn acts as a Helmholtz resonator, like a reflex port. Above these frequencies the slot allows midrange and treble frequencies through, diffracting them sideways for improved dispersion, with the horn panels improving acoustic coupling with the room.
If the AVD worked like a horn then output through most of the midrange and all of the treble bandwidth would be minimal (because in a horn the air masses in the coupling chamber, throat and horn act as an acoustic inductance with a low pass effect). Fortunately the AVD system instead allows good response into the lower treble region but that leaves a few octaves missing from the rearwards output for many guitar sounds.

The AVD-8 system therefore has a high output low distortion tweeter mounted on the rear baffle This tweeter is crossed over where the 12" driver's rearward output rolls off, which is over an octave lower than its forwards output. The tweeter thus takes over the rearward output throughout the whole treble bandwidth, which is only possible due to the very steep crossover slope protecting the diaphragm from over excursion.

One other clear acoustic benefit of the AVD-8 enclosure is in how it controls internal reflections and standing waves compared to a conventional cuboid-shaped guitar cab. The angled AVD panels and asymmetric baffle measurably reduce the amount of internally reflected sound that manages to escape through the cone interfering with the original tone, often causing conventional guitar cabs to literally sound "boxy".

How does the near-omnidirectional figure 8 response affect both acoustic and electric feedback?

One of the almost magical abilities of the AVD-8 enclosure is that to your ears it has very broad dispersion but to your guitar it has much more controlled dispersion. This is due to the psycho-acoustic phenomenon known as "precedence effect", whereby the brain combines near-identical sounds even if they're coming from different locations, as long as the delay between the two sounds is less than ~50ms. Consequently your brain hears the rear output as it reflects off room boundaries and miraculously combines it with the front output, hugely improving audibility, but that delayed sound has a less strong effect in acoustically generating guitar feedback. No conventional cab is as easy for lead guitarists to coax singing feedback from.

Obviously with acoustic instruments you don't "play" with feedback like with an electric guitar but feedback is certainly a big issue. If you crank your acoustic guitar, violin, cello, etc up super loud through the Reality 112FR just like a wailing lead guitarist then you will run into the usual feedback problems and have to flip phase, use notch filters etc. But if you're not going so crazy and just turning up normal acoustic gig loud then the narrower forwards dispersion and broader rearwards dispersion will result in greater feedback resistance at a given level of perceived loudness than any conventional cab.

What does the tweeter control do and what is it for?

The tweeter control independently adjusts the level of the rear-firing tweeter - note that this tweeter is crossed over very low, as much as two octaves below where a tweeter on a typical guitar FRFR cab might be, so it has a big sonic affect as it deals with the full treble bandwidth and what many guitarists will also consider their upper midrange tone. This gives a unique dimension of acoustic control, so in a very bright sounding room with lots of hard surfaces you may keep it turned down low whilst in a more acoustically dead room you'll turn it up more.

This is particularly valuable when playing smaller venues where your guitar cab is providing the house guitar sound or the bleed from the stage is loud out front, especially in terms of how the sound changes between soundcheck in an empty room and a packed gig - humans are very efficient acoustic absorbers. Simply turn up the tweeter control and bring that clarity and liveliness back.

With acoustic instruments of all kinds, turning up the rear-firing tweeter will not just add audibility but more importantly make the sound far more 'acoustic'. Instruments acoustically radiate sound in all directions and that is one of the main reasons why the vibe and character of an unplugged acoustic is so different to hearing it through a typical "acoustic" amp.

What is "CNC machined dual-density plywood" construction?

In 2008 Barefaced pioneered the use of unconventional plywood, bracing and assembly techniques within the guitar and bass amp industry. For more than a decade we've continued to develop our enclosure designs, for the best possible sound through management of internal reflections for clear detailed mids and highs, and rigid non-resonant enclosures for tight controlled lows. This method of extensive bracing and calculated reinforcement allows us to make the cabinets incredibly low in weight but tough enough to gig for a lifetime. Since 2012 they've been precisely machined using our own CNC mill and then hand assembled in our Brighton factory.

Customer feedback

03/06/24 - Reformer 112 + Reality 112FR - UK

Hi Alex,

For the last few years I have been learning to play an NS Design electric cello. I normally play sax/clarinet with different jazz, folk and experimental musicians, often with a PA, often with a mixture of acoustic and electric instruments, rarely at high volume or in large venues.

Now I want to try using the cello with these musicians too. The NS Design has a completely solid body and piezo pickups. My priority so far has been trying to create a core sound which is as close as possible to an acoustic cello. However, I also want to explore its great potential as an electric bowed instrument in the future. Until recently, I had long term loan of an AER amp which I used with the cello. The sound I got was quite mediocre. It improved massively with the addition of Cello IR software from a firm called 3 Sigma Audio, I run it in a TC Electronic IR loader pedal. However, the sound still remained rather dull and boxy.

I have now returned the AER to its owner and have bought a Katana 100W head. I decided on this because (1) my cello is an electric instrument, not acoustic (2) It is highly dependent on Impulse Response to create a decent acoustic sound (3) the Katana has powerful multi effects built in, modelled on classic Boss pedals, giving lots of potential to explore experimental playing.

So far, I’m very pleased with the Katana plus IR loader combination. The cello sounds a lot better using the ‘clean’ amp models (set to minimum gain) rather than the ‘acoustic’ settings - ie it’s more authentic, vibrant, dynamic. I now need to decide what to do about a speaker cab.

So far, I have tried:

1. The Katana head has a 35W 5 inch driver built in, intended for home practice. Considering its size, it sounds amazingly good, even at the lower end of the cello’s range. It has a vibrancy which the AER lacked and it produces a lot of volume, though not really the depth/richness to make it suitable for playing with other people. Bowing vigorously can produce unpleasant woomphing distortion.

2. I have a small HK Audio Polar PA. I have put the Line Out from the Katana through it and the signal is surprisingly weak, it needs a lot of boosting. Even then, the tone remains soft edged and very bass heavy. I’m sure I could improve it with some EQ work but it’s not inspiring.

3. I have tried a friend’s 1x12 cab for guitar which has a small port on the back. It’s old, unbranded, but apparently has a Celestion driver in it, I don’t know which model. The sound from this is the best I have had from anything, with lots of depth, detail and sparkle. Interestingly, I need to cut both bass and treble on the amp. The Katana has three options for modelling Cab Resonance (Vintage, Modern and Deep) and Vintage sounds the best. The sound to the rear of the cab is fairly good (due to the port, I guess) but at the sides is very weak.

All this makes me think that a 1x12 cab is what I should buy. Whilst researching different makes I came across your website and I am impressed by your approach to speaker design. In particular, I love your aim of filling a room with high quality (but not necessarily high volume) sound in the same way as happens with an acoustic instrument. I also very much want to be able to hear myself play as clearly as possible when I am with other musicians - being able to do this feels crucial on an unfretted instrument. I would greatly appreciate advice as to which of your speaker designs would best suit my needs: I read initially about the Reformer 112 and thought it sounded ideal. However, I then learnt about the Reality 112FR and suspect this might make more sense given my use of Cello IR software and the Katana?

Many thanks for your help!

Andrew

--------------------------------------

Hi Andrew,

If you don't think this is a crazy idea, as we have a one month trial period then you could order both a Reality and a Reformer, compare them head to head and then return whichever one isn't best for you.

Alex

---------------------------------------

Hi Alex,

It has been very interesting comparing the two side by side. They both sound very good, much better than anything else I have used and I would happily live with either of them. The differences I noticed were:

1. More powerful bass on the Reality, with enormous dynamic headroom at the bottom end. Fantastic, but actually the bass is overwhelming most of the time and I had to cut it to a minimum on the amp which seemed a shame.

2. It’s hard to put into words, but the Reality sounds a bit too refined, particularly in the low midrange where I sense a kind of stuffiness. I had a subtle feeling of there being something in between the instrument and the sound generated from it - as if the sound is artificial and coming out of a loudspeaker... a ridiculous thing to say because obviously it is exactly that, particularly as I am playing through both a cello IR and a modelling amp!! I get the same feeling (but to a greater degree) when playing through a PA - however, playing through the Reformer feels vibrant, gritty and directly connected to the instrument. 

3. As you would probably expect, the sound from the Reality was more consistent at the sides and the rear of the cab than the Reformer. That’s a great bonus and I really liked it. In fact, ironically, I think the best sound of all came from sitting directly behind the cab with the tweeter full on! Maybe you need to add a second tweeter on the front...

4. I have spent a while experimenting with the tone controls and can get the Reality feeling quite similar to the Reformer. That tempts me to choose the Reality and I imagine it’s possible that careful tweaking with a parametric EQ might completely solve the issues of excessive bass, stuffiness and feeling distanced. However, I don’t have the experience to do that quickly or to know if it’s really achievable. It would also feel a bit perverse to be needing to manipulate the EQ in sophisticated ways. So, I think I’m choosing the Reformer because it feels straightforward, honest, connected, vibrant.

Hope this all makes sense. I’m interested to know how my experience compares with that of anyone else using your cabs with modelling amps and instruments other than electric guitars…

Kind regards,

23/07/24 - Reality + Activier - Australia

I just received my 2 Reality cabs. One with the Activier fitted as well as the 2nd passive cab.

Do I assume input 1 on the Activier is already connected to the speaker inside the active cab?

I ask because I noticed there are speaker outs on the active cab labelled output 1 and 2 so I am confused what speaker output 1 is used for.

There is no diagram or document explaining the way to connect a stereo setup so I want to be sure I don't damage anything doing it incorrectly.

Also on the passive cab what is the 2nd speaker input used for? Do I assume the left input is the one connected to the speaker?

Lastly the passive cab has the tweeter adjustment but there is no similar knob on the active cab but there are the tweeter pad switches on the Activier.
Depending which pad setting I use (-3db, -6 or -9) how do I make sure the passive speaker tweeter knob is matching? Where do I set the knob for -3, -6 and -9 settings?

Oh and there was a document in the box saying something about a low cut switch which I can't find. I assume that switch isn't relevant for the Reality cabs?

Cheers,
Andrew

--------------------------------

Hi Andrew,

Apologies, I have yet to find the time to write a user guide for the Activier! 

Output 1 on the Activier Reality is already connected to the internal speaker. Speaker output 1 can be used to add an extension cab on that channel (each power amp channel will run down to 2 ohms) or if someone has chosen the optional passive input then we don't connect output 1 internally and instead the speaker output on the Activier module is connected to a passive input plate (like on your other Reality) via an external speakon lead (a short jumper cable about 6"/15cm long).

The two inputs on the passive Reality are both in parallel, so you can daisy-chain a second cab by using one as an output.

Regarding the rotary L-pad vs the switchable one, as both cabs will be in different places in the room they shouldn't be set the same but should be adjusted so they sound roughly the same (they'll rarely sound identical because of the differing room acoustics). I'd probably start with the pad at -3 or -6 and the rotary knob turned down about half to a quarter.

Yes, that thing about the low cut switch is for the non-FRFR - definitely need an FRFR + Activier user guide! Please email any questions you have, however silly they may seem. Off the top of my head, the only thing you shouldn't do is connect output 1 to output 2 or the outputs to any inputs. Normal stereo active + passive slave cab configuration is one side of signal chain to input 1, other side of signal chain to input 2, output 2 to passive Reality and that should be it - two 1/4" leads to the Activier module and one speakon lead from the Activier to the passive Reality.

Let us know how they sound!

Best regards,

Alex

09/07/24 - Reality 112FR - USA

I guess you know you're doing things right when someone orders another cab immediately after their first one haha! 

I have a unique question for you...  I was curious, I did not see that y'all could make the Reality as a 2x12 when I place my order. 

I was curious, if I were to send mine back (and pay for the shipping and whatever upgrade costs) you would accept the return and make me this thing as a 2x12? 

If not, no worries. I understand being oceans away from each other and I do love the cab still. I just think a 2x12 would have been "more perfect" 

Anyways, let me know. I do not intend to cancel my 2x12 order for the radical. That'll be specifically for my tube amp. 

Get back when you can

McClain

-----------

Hi McClain,

Glad you're so pleased with the Reality! Regarding sending it back for a 2x12" version, that would be v expensive because we can't arrange shipping from the USA to UK so you'd be paying retail rates which are a lot. However, we can make you an extension cab, so for louder gigs you can stack the Reality 112FR on another 1x12", so it'll be the same as a Reality 212FRV, just in two boxes (which is how I do my 2x12" FRFR bass rig, with two BB3 rather than one BT3). Hope that makes sense!

Best regards,

Alex

27/06/24 - Reality FR w/Activier - USA

Just got mine in the mail yesterday and I'm sold. The quality of the sound and how it fills the area around you is epic. 100% worth the $$

McClain

15/04/24 - Big Twin 3 - UK

To say I’m impressed with BT2’s replacement would be an understatement. BT3 and I have been out to a number of different stage settings since I took delivery, garnering lots of comments and interest! Of course when it boils down to it, it’s the sound quality and its performance that matters: it is so consistent across the range and I’m definitely enjoying balanced ‘feel’ across the fretboard as there are no dips and peaks in response etc.

Dan

14/02/24 - Reality 112FR - USA

Gentlemen,  I purchased your 12" Digital platform speaker cab. I'm using a Fractal FM9 turbo thru a Fryette PS-100. We are blown away with the efficiency and reproduction of the system. My 59 Bassman never sounded that good! I'm glad I decided on this instead of a powered speaker. I had a Friedman already. This is definitely superior. It's also incredibly light rig with a big punch!

Marvin

03/06/24 - Reformer 112 + Reality 112FR - UK

Hi Alex,

For the last few years I have been learning to play an NS Design electric cello. I normally play sax/clarinet with different jazz, folk and experimental musicians, often with a PA, often with a mixture of acoustic and electric instruments, rarely at high volume or in large venues.

Now I want to try using the cello with these musicians too. The NS Design has a completely solid body and piezo pickups. My priority so far has been trying to create a core sound which is as close as possible to an acoustic cello. However, I also want to explore its great potential as an electric bowed instrument in the future. Until recently, I had long term loan of an AER amp which I used with the cello. The sound I got was quite mediocre. It improved massively with the addition of Cello IR software from a firm called 3 Sigma Audio, I run it in a TC Electronic IR loader pedal. However, the sound still remained rather dull and boxy.

I have now returned the AER to its owner and have bought a Katana 100W head. I decided on this because (1) my cello is an electric instrument, not acoustic (2) It is highly dependent on Impulse Response to create a decent acoustic sound (3) the Katana has powerful multi effects built in, modelled on classic Boss pedals, giving lots of potential to explore experimental playing.

So far, I’m very pleased with the Katana plus IR loader combination. The cello sounds a lot better using the ‘clean’ amp models (set to minimum gain) rather than the ‘acoustic’ settings - ie it’s more authentic, vibrant, dynamic. I now need to decide what to do about a speaker cab.

So far, I have tried:

1. The Katana head has a 35W 5 inch driver built in, intended for home practice. Considering its size, it sounds amazingly good, even at the lower end of the cello’s range. It has a vibrancy which the AER lacked and it produces a lot of volume, though not really the depth/richness to make it suitable for playing with other people. Bowing vigorously can produce unpleasant woomphing distortion.

2. I have a small HK Audio Polar PA. I have put the Line Out from the Katana through it and the signal is surprisingly weak, it needs a lot of boosting. Even then, the tone remains soft edged and very bass heavy. I’m sure I could improve it with some EQ work but it’s not inspiring.

3. I have tried a friend’s 1x12 cab for guitar which has a small port on the back. It’s old, unbranded, but apparently has a Celestion driver in it, I don’t know which model. The sound from this is the best I have had from anything, with lots of depth, detail and sparkle. Interestingly, I need to cut both bass and treble on the amp. The Katana has three options for modelling Cab Resonance (Vintage, Modern and Deep) and Vintage sounds the best. The sound to the rear of the cab is fairly good (due to the port, I guess) but at the sides is very weak.

All this makes me think that a 1x12 cab is what I should buy. Whilst researching different makes I came across your website and I am impressed by your approach to speaker design. In particular, I love your aim of filling a room with high quality (but not necessarily high volume) sound in the same way as happens with an acoustic instrument. I also very much want to be able to hear myself play as clearly as possible when I am with other musicians - being able to do this feels crucial on an unfretted instrument. I would greatly appreciate advice as to which of your speaker designs would best suit my needs: I read initially about the Reformer 112 and thought it sounded ideal. However, I then learnt about the Reality 112FR and suspect this might make more sense given my use of Cello IR software and the Katana?

Many thanks for your help!

Andrew

--------------------------------------

Hi Andrew,

If you don't think this is a crazy idea, as we have a one month trial period then you could order both a Reality and a Reformer, compare them head to head and then return whichever one isn't best for you.

Alex

---------------------------------------

Hi Alex,

It has been very interesting comparing the two side by side. They both sound very good, much better than anything else I have used and I would happily live with either of them. The differences I noticed were:

1. More powerful bass on the Reality, with enormous dynamic headroom at the bottom end. Fantastic, but actually the bass is overwhelming most of the time and I had to cut it to a minimum on the amp which seemed a shame.

2. It’s hard to put into words, but the Reality sounds a bit too refined, particularly in the low midrange where I sense a kind of stuffiness. I had a subtle feeling of there being something in between the instrument and the sound generated from it - as if the sound is artificial and coming out of a loudspeaker... a ridiculous thing to say because obviously it is exactly that, particularly as I am playing through both a cello IR and a modelling amp!! I get the same feeling (but to a greater degree) when playing through a PA - however, playing through the Reformer feels vibrant, gritty and directly connected to the instrument. 

3. As you would probably expect, the sound from the Reality was more consistent at the sides and the rear of the cab than the Reformer. That’s a great bonus and I really liked it. In fact, ironically, I think the best sound of all came from sitting directly behind the cab with the tweeter full on! Maybe you need to add a second tweeter on the front...

4. I have spent a while experimenting with the tone controls and can get the Reality feeling quite similar to the Reformer. That tempts me to choose the Reality and I imagine it’s possible that careful tweaking with a parametric EQ might completely solve the issues of excessive bass, stuffiness and feeling distanced. However, I don’t have the experience to do that quickly or to know if it’s really achievable. It would also feel a bit perverse to be needing to manipulate the EQ in sophisticated ways. So, I think I’m choosing the Reformer because it feels straightforward, honest, connected, vibrant.

Hope this all makes sense. I’m interested to know how my experience compares with that of anyone else using your cabs with modelling amps and instruments other than electric guitars…

Kind regards,

23/07/24 - Reality + Activier - Australia

I just received my 2 Reality cabs. One with the Activier fitted as well as the 2nd passive cab.

Do I assume input 1 on the Activier is already connected to the speaker inside the active cab?

I ask because I noticed there are speaker outs on the active cab labelled output 1 and 2 so I am confused what speaker output 1 is used for.

There is no diagram or document explaining the way to connect a stereo setup so I want to be sure I don't damage anything doing it incorrectly.

Also on the passive cab what is the 2nd speaker input used for? Do I assume the left input is the one connected to the speaker?

Lastly the passive cab has the tweeter adjustment but there is no similar knob on the active cab but there are the tweeter pad switches on the Activier.
Depending which pad setting I use (-3db, -6 or -9) how do I make sure the passive speaker tweeter knob is matching? Where do I set the knob for -3, -6 and -9 settings?

Oh and there was a document in the box saying something about a low cut switch which I can't find. I assume that switch isn't relevant for the Reality cabs?

Cheers,
Andrew

--------------------------------

Hi Andrew,

Apologies, I have yet to find the time to write a user guide for the Activier! 

Output 1 on the Activier Reality is already connected to the internal speaker. Speaker output 1 can be used to add an extension cab on that channel (each power amp channel will run down to 2 ohms) or if someone has chosen the optional passive input then we don't connect output 1 internally and instead the speaker output on the Activier module is connected to a passive input plate (like on your other Reality) via an external speakon lead (a short jumper cable about 6"/15cm long).

The two inputs on the passive Reality are both in parallel, so you can daisy-chain a second cab by using one as an output.

Regarding the rotary L-pad vs the switchable one, as both cabs will be in different places in the room they shouldn't be set the same but should be adjusted so they sound roughly the same (they'll rarely sound identical because of the differing room acoustics). I'd probably start with the pad at -3 or -6 and the rotary knob turned down about half to a quarter.

Yes, that thing about the low cut switch is for the non-FRFR - definitely need an FRFR + Activier user guide! Please email any questions you have, however silly they may seem. Off the top of my head, the only thing you shouldn't do is connect output 1 to output 2 or the outputs to any inputs. Normal stereo active + passive slave cab configuration is one side of signal chain to input 1, other side of signal chain to input 2, output 2 to passive Reality and that should be it - two 1/4" leads to the Activier module and one speakon lead from the Activier to the passive Reality.

Let us know how they sound!

Best regards,

Alex

09/07/24 - Reality 112FR - USA

I guess you know you're doing things right when someone orders another cab immediately after their first one haha! 

I have a unique question for you...  I was curious, I did not see that y'all could make the Reality as a 2x12 when I place my order. 

I was curious, if I were to send mine back (and pay for the shipping and whatever upgrade costs) you would accept the return and make me this thing as a 2x12? 

If not, no worries. I understand being oceans away from each other and I do love the cab still. I just think a 2x12 would have been "more perfect" 

Anyways, let me know. I do not intend to cancel my 2x12 order for the radical. That'll be specifically for my tube amp. 

Get back when you can

McClain

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Hi McClain,

Glad you're so pleased with the Reality! Regarding sending it back for a 2x12" version, that would be v expensive because we can't arrange shipping from the USA to UK so you'd be paying retail rates which are a lot. However, we can make you an extension cab, so for louder gigs you can stack the Reality 112FR on another 1x12", so it'll be the same as a Reality 212FRV, just in two boxes (which is how I do my 2x12" FRFR bass rig, with two BB3 rather than one BT3). Hope that makes sense!

Best regards,

Alex

08/07/24 - Reality (active + passive) - N/A

I purchased two Reality cabs, one with Stereo Activier, and one without.

My rig: Quad Cortex with built-in speaker models, and York Audio IRs. This stereo rig is an absolute monster in terms of tone. My friend and I have A/B tested it in the room with a Two-Rock stereo rig in vertical 212 format, and the Barefaced went toe-to-toe in a magnificent way. I also have been running a Boss GM-800 synth into the rig over the past two weeks; this is where the FRFR nature really shines through. I am able to scene swap on QC from synth, to guitar, to synth plus guitar, and it takes all the tone and creates a beautiful product where all sounds feel as they should.

Alex and the team have created something in the Reality that all guitarists should be looking forward to trying. You won't be disappointed once you have a chance to really mess around with one of these (preferably two... it's a ton of fun).

@NSRider24

27/06/24 - Reality FR w/Activier - USA

Just got mine in the mail yesterday and I'm sold. The quality of the sound and how it fills the area around you is epic. 100% worth the $$

McClain

14/02/24 - Reality 112FR - USA

Gentlemen,  I purchased your 12" Digital platform speaker cab. I'm using a Fractal FM9 turbo thru a Fryette PS-100. We are blown away with the efficiency and reproduction of the system. My 59 Bassman never sounded that good! I'm glad I decided on this instead of a powered speaker. I had a Friedman already. This is definitely superior. It's also incredibly light rig with a big punch!

Marvin

24/11/21 - Reality 112FR - USA

Managed to get my Reality 112 home and hooked up just in time for a 4 hour rehearsal today. Game changer. Kudos all around from band mates. Thanks for a great product. Will save up for second cab soon.

Bill

01/01/21 - Reality 112FR

Just wanted to say thanks again. Its become my favorite FRFR, and it helped me sell my Mission Engineering Gemini which was too heavy. 

Andres