Fractal Audio FM3 vs AX8 | Raw Amp Comparison

In this video I compared the Raw Factory Amp Tones of the Fractal Audio FM3 vs AX8!
I just loaded the default factory amp models and used the same Factory IRs.
Sound was NOT tweaked before or afterwards!
▼▼▼ CLICK FOR MORE INFO & PLAYLIST ▼▼▼

Signal path:
Guitar ▶ Fractal FM3/AX8 ▶ Apollo x8 Audio Interface ▶ DAW (ProTools)
Playlist:
- 1987x Treble - FM3: 00:16
- 1987x Treble - AX8: 00:34

- 5153 100W Red - FM3: 00:49
- 5153 100W Red - AX8: 01:06

- 5F8 Tweed - FM3: 01:22
- 5F8 Tweed - AX8: 01:44

- AC-20 12AX7 B - FM3: 02:09
- AC-20 12AX7 B - AX8: 02:19

- Brit 800 - FM3: 02:30
- Brit 800 - AX8: 02:54

- Brit AFS100 2 - FM3: 03:17
- Brit AFS100 2 - AX8: 03:42

- Das Metall - FM3: 04:14
- Das Metall - AX8: 04:34

- Friedman HBE 2018 C45 - FM3: 04:55
- Friedman HBE 2018 C45 - AX8: 05:20

- ODS-100 Clean - FM3: 05:44
- ODS-100 Clean - AX8: 06:05

- PVH 6160 Lead - FM3: 06:25
- PVH 6160 Lead - AX8: 06:44

- Plexi 50W Jump - FM3: 07:02
- Plexi 50W Jump - AX8: 07:23

If you have any questions so far, please feel free to ask in the comments.

Order your FM3 now!

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GEAR I USE:

All the best and see you around :-)

Cheers, Frank

[Nebularis]

Quick Comparison:

- 1987x Treble - FM3: 00:16
- 1987x Treble - AX8: 00:34

- 5153 100W Red - FM3: 00:49
- 5153 100W Red - AX8: 01:06

- 5F8 Tweed - FM3: 01:22
- 5F8 Tweed - AX8: 01:44

- AC-20 12AX7 B - FM3: 02:09
- AC-20 12AX7 B - AX8: 02:19

- Brit 800 - FM3: 02:30
- Brit 800 - AX8: 02:54

- Brit AFS100 2 - FM3: 03:17
- Brit AFS100 2 - AX8: 03:42

- Das Metall - FM3: 04:14
- Das Metall - AX8: 04:34

- Friedman HBE 2018 C45 - FM3: 04:55
- Friedman HBE 2018 C45 - AX8: 05:20

- ODS-100 Clean - FM3: 05:44
- ODS-100 Clean - AX8: 06:05

- PVH 6160 Lead - FM3: 06:25
- PVH 6160 Lead - AX8: 06:44

- Plexi 50W Jump - FM3: 07:02
- Plexi 50W Jump - AX8: 07:23

[GlennDeLauneOfficial]

Why do the Volume and tone controls on the guitar look different on the FM3 samples compared to the AX8 samples??

[martymeatball]

I didn't expect such a big difference. The FM3 is so much warmer and meatier.

[jessewormington]

What is that jazz song called at 1:50 with the tweed setting!?!?

[GlennDeLauneOfficial]

right off the bat I can hear much more definition on the lower end and a much more rounded, full sound. Is that what you guys are hearing too??

[mrparkinson]

I dont think my ax8 has ever sounded that thin? Not meaning to cast dispersions upon the video maker here, but something has to be set weird in his AX8? Maybe he was recording direct using the FM3, then reamping to the ax8, and something in the chain is cutting off a lot of the low end?

[andivax]

Is it possible to use it for stereo double track reamping? Kemper can't do it.

[jamesincharlotte]

Poor guy takes his time to make a video to compare and he get jumped on for “ volume and tone knob” conspiracy? Go by the 2 units and decide yourselves ? Give the guy a break.

[robertbuffalo]

Here is the difference. The new stuff is dialed-in and eqed much better than the previous generations. However, you can tweak the older units to sound very very close to the newest ones.

[tones]

I'm going to say that there is no way the FM3 sounds this much better than the AX8. The AX8 has almost no lower end and the volume is slightly lower. Something else is going on here - maybe there's a global EQ difference or something.

[PK-bv]

Why does the FM3 sound so full and and bass rich and the AX8 sounds so thin and anemic ??

[joelchristner]

Thanks for publishing this. Excellent video. And your playing is impeccable

[TheJoecoool]

something wrong here with this AX8, sound thin and clipping !!!
I own an AX-8 and the sound is different fat and warm

[Jakevoss]

Had an AX8 since 2018, any thought on an fm9 mk2 turbo upgrade?

Will my money be better spent on new monitors?

[BadCat]

This seems strange to me because the difference is massive here but Leon Todd did a similar comparison between the AX8 and the Axe III and I could hardly hear any difference at all. The AX8 sounds really thin here. Not sure about this.

[titinc]

The amps on the AX8 sounds too much brighter and harsher in this test... IMHO

[AndrewBanker]

That's a much difference that I hear on my units' Are you sure you haven't got global eq on the Ax8 that is reducing the bass?

[slick]

I own an AX-8. I bought an FM3, and sold it after a few weeks. The FM3 arguably sounded a little better, but the AX-8 can be adjusted for that. What the FM3 lacked couldn't be made up for...the ability to make quick changes on the fly on stage in gain, tone, volume, etc. I'd buy a more capable AX-8 in a minute. I don't need an FM3 and another 5-700 dollars worth of switches to make the unit do what I already have in the AX-8. Also, no one is leaving your gigs over your guitar rig sound...maybe your talent, but not the patches. I'd argue most couldn't tell (or care less). Just my two cents. YMMV.

[GertvanderDoes]

Are you sure those IRs are the same, i.e. Fractal may have changed the IR between units? Or did they change the IR engine so the same IR sounds different? Which IR did you use?

Could you try a third party IR, same file and settings into both units?

If anything I have the problem my AX8 is too warm sounding and I need to add some 4 and 8K. Don't recognize this at all.

[kma]

To my ears, the FM3 is a win for sure!

But the effects aside, your playing just makes me want to immediately pick up my guitar!