Updated 13th Feb 2024
If you’re trying to choose between the Laney LFR-112 vs LFR-212 vs LFR-412 I’ve got you covered with this complete comparison of the three best FRFR cabinets the music world has ever seen – bold claim, but our Laney artists back it up!
I’ll cut to the chase first…If you’re reading this, you’re likely trying to choose between the best FRFR cabinets on the market today… the Laney LFR-112, Laney LFR-212 and laney LFR-412. So I’m here to help!
If you’re performing in small to medium-sized venues and need a compact, powerful FRFR cabinet, the LFR-112 would be an excellent choice as it has a single 12″ speaker. However, if you’re performing at larger venues and require greater power and versatility, the LFR-212 would be the “better” option as you have dual 12″ speakers pushing more air around. If you’re playing large stages or festivals, then the Laney LFR-412 is the best FRFR cabinet for that setup.
I suggest reading on though to get a better feel for which one might be better for you.
Modeler rigs, pedalboard rigs and flyrigs/ampless guitar rigs are on the rise. You see it more and more where musicians are travelling with lighter setups. International touring musicians are choosing digital guitar rigs more and more as they can provide the exact same sound at every gig without having to worry about what backline the venue has.
I’ve discussed the benefits of digital guitar rigs in detail, if you’re thinking of making the switch. But what about us out there who want the convenience and reliability of digital rig, but with a cabinet behind us providing real time sound and feedback? The FRFR setup is now the best option for those who want the best of both worlds.
But which Laney LFR cabinet is right for you? A 1×12 cab, 2×12 FRFR or 4×12 cab? To help you, I’ve put together a comprehensive comparison between the Laney LFR-112, LFR-212and LFR-412 so you can understand the main differences between the three FRFR cabs while helping you in choosing the right FRFR cabinet for different venue sizes you’re likely going to be playing.
We’ve already discussed how important your guitar speakers and cabinets are, which is worth reading if you’re curious as to whether a 4×12, 2×12 or 1×12 cabinet is best for you.
In a nutshell, choose a 4×12 for large venues and festivals, 2×12 for medium to larger venues and a 1×12 for smaller venues. As it comes down to being able to hear your cabinet onstage.
Watch Lee Wrathe and James Laney discuss the Laney LFR Cabinets and explain Full-range Frequency Response and why you need one for your digital rig!
The Laney LFR-112, LFR-212 FRFR cabs and Laney 4×12 FRFR cabinets are meticulously designed by our in-house team and some of the best FRFR cabinets that not only reproduce your digital guitar rig’s sound faithfully, but provide the real “feel” of an amp by pushing the air around you and providing real feedback thanks to the speakers within – stand close and it’ll feedback just like a tube amp.
We’ve made sure that these FRFR cabinets offer a tonne of features tailored to meet the demands of modern guitarists like switchable speaker emulations, voltage select for worldwide touring guitarists and DI outs for running direct to a PA system. However, some key differences between the LFR-112, LFR-212 FRFR amd LFR-412 will probably dictate your decision when choosing one of our Laney LFR FRFR cabinets.
The Laney LFR-112 is a compact and powerful FRFR cabinet loaded with a custom-voiced 12″ driver and a cutting-edge 1″ LaVoce Compression driver. It flawlessly reproduces every detail of your digital guitar setup, making your sound stand out in the mix. This cabinet is packed with features such as MP3/Aux in, XLR DI out, ergonomic side mount grab handles, and 400 Watts of sheer power, making it an ideal choice for small to medium-sized venues where you’re not battling with your drummer!
Key Features of Laney LFR-112 FRFR Guitar Cab
The Laney LFR-212 FRFR Active Guitar cabinet, on the other hand, is a larger, more powerful version of the LFR-112. Equipped with two custom-voiced 12″ drivers and a 1″ LaVoce Compression driver, this cabinet is capable of delivering thunderous sound suitable for larger venues. With 800 Watts of power and the same impressive feature set as the LFR-112, the LFR-212 offers unmatched versatility and power except you get a louder, more pronounced sound that is ideal for larger venues (and louder drummers). We all know how important guitar amp speakers are, so we’ve REALLY taken the extra care in choosing the right drivers/speakers for our LFR cabinets!
Key Features of Laney LFR-212 FRFR Guitar Cab
Designed in collaboration with Devin Townsend, the Laney LFR-412 stands as the world’s first FRFR 4×12 cabinet, setting a new standard in guitar sound reproduction. This powerhouse cabinet is equipped with four custom-voiced 12″ drivers and a precision-engineered horn, delivering a colossal 2600 Watts of power. It’s engineered to provide a full frequency flat response, ensuring that every nuance of your digital guitar setup is faithfully reproduced, making your sound distinctively prominent in any mix. The LFR-412 is the perfect choice for larger venues, offering unmatched clarity and power without the need for battling with the rest of the band.
Key Features of Laney LFR-412 FRFR Guitar Cab
If you’re performing in small to medium-sized venues and need a compact, powerful FRFR cabinet, the LFR-112 would be an excellent choice. However, if you’re performing at larger venues and require greater power and versatility, the LFR-212 would be the “better” option. When you’re playing festivals or larger venues, then we recommend the Laney LFR 4×12.
When comparing the Laney LFR-112, LFR-212 and LFR-412, it’s important to consider your specific needs as a guitarist. All cabinets offer a full-frequency flat response, so your carefully crafted digital tones are reproduced faithfully. However, the key difference lies in their power and size.
The LFR-112, with its compact design and 400 Watts of power, is ideal for small to medium-sized venues. Despite its smaller size, it delivers a powerful performance, ensuring that your sound cuts through the mix and you can be heard over your drummer/rest of band.
On the other hand, the LFR-212, with its dual custom-voiced 12″ drivers and 800 Watts of power, is designed for larger venues, pushes more air around and gives you a lot more volume onstage. It delivers a thunderous sound and offers greater versatility, making it an ideal choice for professional musicians performing at large gigs.
The LFR-412, the world’s first FRFR 4×12 cabinet, designed in collaboration with Devin Townsend is the biggest option. With four custom-voiced HH Black Series 12″ drivers and a colossal 2600 Watts of power, the LFR-412 is in a league of its own. It’s engineered for the largest venues and the most demanding performance situations, where power, clarity, and the ability to move air are paramount. This cabinet sets a new standard in guitar sound reproduction, offering unmatched fidelity and volume.
Again, choosing between the Laney LFR-112 , LFR-212 and lFR-412ultimately depends on your specific needs as a guitarist. Do you need to be louder, compete with a drummer or are you happy with 400 watts of sound onstage?
Remember, the goal is to find an FRFR cabinet that not only faithfully reproduces your digital tones but also meets your needs in terms of power, size, and versatility. Whether you choose the Laney LFR-112 or the LFR-212, or go for the ultimate eoption on the LFR-412, all are excellent choices that will allow you to achieve the exact sound of your amp modelers, cab sims and sounds within your multi-fx pedals that you’ve paid so much for. We’ve made sure that your FRFR cabinet in the LFR range does exactly that – no coloration, but with the ability to get real feedback, feel the air being pushed around and switch on cab sims if you want to save CPU on your amp modeler.
If you want the best FRFR cabinet available, we think the Laney LFR FRFR speaker cabs are the best choice.
The shift from traditional analog setups to digital guitar rigs has been driven by the need for consistency in sound, versatility in tones (you can have MULTIPLE amp sounds in one multi-FX pedal) and portability. Many musicians find that digital rigs offer a more streamlined setup without compromising their sound quality as you get the same sound at every venue as you can plug straight into the PA, removing the need for an amplifier.
However, to truly reap the benefits of digital guitar rigs, a specific type of amplification – Full Range Flat Response (FRFR) cabinets – is required.
More and more guitarists like Guthrie Govan are choosing the convenience of a travel-friendly digital FRFR set-up that provides consistent sound on EVERY stage. Guitarists are increasingly seeking out the best FRFR cabinets that can faithfully reproduce their meticulously crafted tones from amp modelers and multi-fx pedals. Including Devin Townsend who is also a Laney LFR cabinet user!
The fact is, Full Range Flat Response (FRFR) cabinets have become the go-to tool for modern guitarists who use digital rigs, and we’re proud to say that the Laney LFR series cabinets are widely known as some of the best FRFR cabinets (if not THE best) on the market today. I’ve actually discussed why I think the Laney LFR Cabinets are the best FRFR cabinets out there – worth reading for more background!
Watch how Laney’s first ever Japanese Female Artist… Li-sa-Xthrough discuss how she uses a digital rig and how she connects her Kemper to a pair of Laney LFR-212 Cabs to get herself Stereo sound on stage. In this video she explains how they work for her and how they can work for you.
FRFR stands for Full Range Flat Response. These guitar cabinets are designed to preserve the output of a digital rig, including the cabinet emulations, without adding any additional tonal characteristics or colouration. Unlike traditional guitar cabinets that add their own unique colouration to the sound (which is why we love them), FRFR cabinets are designed to deliver a clean, uncoloured output. This makes them an essential part of any digital guitar setup as you are not muddying or changing the sound of the effect or amp sim you’ve selected.
If you use a “normal” cabinet with a digital FX pedal or amp modeler, you’re going to colour the tone of that amp model with your cabinet. FRFR cabinets like the Laney LFR cabinets don’t do that. They just give you the exact sound of your modeler, with the ability to add the feel and colouration of a 1×12 or 4×12 cabinet should you want to save CPU on your modeler via a switch on the back.
Here are some common FAQs associated with FRFR cabinets you’ll find useful.
In music, FRFR stands for “Full Range Flat Response.” In music, especially in the world of guitar amps and cabinets etc. it refers to a type of speaker system that emits a wide spectrum of audio frequencies (full range) without “colouring” or altering the sound (flat response) of what’s being played. If you have something like a digital amp modeler or multi-effects pedal, your sound is reproduced accurately without any added tonality or distortion from the speaker system itself. Thi sis why guitarists who use digital rigs like FRFR cabinets as they add zero tonality, and the sound of your original cabsim, IR or (INTERLINK) or amp modeler is preserved.
An FRFR (Full Range Flat Response) cabinet is essential for modeling pedalboards and amp modellers because it is designed to accurately reproduce the digital signal without coloration. Unlike traditional guitar amps which are meant to add their own characteristic tone, an FRFR cabinet will provide a clear and neutral output, ensuring that the precise tones created by your modeler are what you hear. This allows musicians to utilize the full potential of their modeling gear, as the FRFR system faithfully delivers the wide range of tones and effects without the tonal qualities of a “regular” guitar amp speaker. This is why you need FRFR speaker cabinet for amp modelers, cab sims and multi-fx pedals!
It mainly comes down to onstage feel as a 2×12” guitar cab will give you extra volume over a 1×12 and will sound slightly more focused than a 4×12” due to its smaller, more compact size. A small 1×12 or 2×12” is much easier to transport than a 4×12”, but a 4×12 will give you more “feel” onstage as it’s pushing more air around. It comes down to the stages you play and the distance from your cab. As yourself if you want to “feel” the amp onstage.
Yes a 1×12 cab is loud enough for gigs as you’ll likely be mici’ng it up. However a 1×12 FRFR cabinet will usually NOT be mic’ed up, so you’ll just need to stand closer to it or angle it upwards to hear it over your drummer.
Shop the complete range of Laney LFR Cabinets HERE and buy direct when shopping from the USA.