Upgraded to Mk2 - First impressions & issues

    The Profiler Model referred to in this thread is ...
    ☑️ Profiler Head/Rack

    I've just upgraded to the MK2 rack+remote so I can take advantage of the new fixed effects and be ready for the upcoming features when they’re released.

    I made a backup of my MK1 Rack and loaded it into the new MK2 Rack — the switch was completely seamless. All rigs, performances, and settings transferred flawlessly.

    After going back and forth between my MK1 and MK2 using the same rigs, I noticed slightly greater clarity and improved dynamics on the MK2, particularly on my crunch-style rigs. This was with a compressor before the amp and EQ/delay after the amp. I understand that the amp/cab should sound identlical but maybe the effects are being processed at a higher fidelity on the MK2?

    The fixed effects are very usable, and I was hoping to free up some effect slots on my main rigs by moving the compressor, transpose, and chorus into the new fixed-effect blocks. However, since the fixed effects can only be linked to Effect Switches I–IV I find I’m no further forward, as I don’t currently have any unused effect switches on my main rigs. I guess Kemper’s philosophy is that if we want more flexibility, we should create more rigs — but I prefer keeping things simple and get the most versatility from a single performance that I know inside out and can easily level balance.

    For my use case — and I’m sure I’m not the only one trying to maximise flexibility within a small set of core rigs — the following enhancements would make the new fixed effects significantly more useful:

    1. Allow fixed effects to be turned on/off using the Looper/Tuner/Tempo switches.
    2. Implement short-press / long-press behaviour on the Tuner switch — e.g., short press to toggle a linked effect, long (2-second) press to activate the tuner.
    3. Add an optional 3-state toggle mode for Effect Switches I–IV, so each switch could control two linked effects independently. This would effectively give us up to 8 switchable effects instead of 4, without adding any other hardware.
    4. In tuner mode, pressing the up/down performance switches will increase/decrease the rig transpose in semi-tone steps. This would be even more usful if it was a performance level global transpose. With the pitch change displayed on the remote/stage screen as the number of half steps selected. This would remove the need to use another switch to engage the transpose effect and would be more flexible in use as we can select any value for the pitch change.

    Edit : wish list No 4 added.

    I really like idea 1. I think it's something they might add quite easily, and perhaps are even planning on, but have bigger fish to fry with the delay in profiling 2.0. I think they could eventually allow the fixed effects to be assigned to switches like the regular effects. They just need to work out the logistics because the current system of assigning effects is holding down the effect button and tapping on the switch you want to toggle it. The fixed effects don't have their own button as they are inside the Rig menu. (However, I suppose they could be assigned however the delay hold or infinity thing can be assigned to a switch)

    I like idea 2 as well. have a global short and long press on each of those two foot switches would be great for things you might turn on at the beginning of a song and leave on until its over (such as transposing down). I believe you can lock the fixed effects. So say you tune down -2 a fair amount? you could lock the transpose at -2 and with your idea #2, you could assign its toggle status to the tuner button. Then toggle it on and off anytime you want with that one switch, and continue to use whatever Rigs and performances you use with standard tuning. (you wouldn't need to create a performance just to play down -2.)

    I don't think they'd ever do idea 3. I wouldn't be compatible with the current simply system of holding down the effect button while tapping the desired foot switch. Since now, you'd have to dive into a menu to determine whether that assignment would correspond to a short and long press.

    I think you hit the nail on the head: The KPA was designed to make ease of switching Rigs easy. It has no gap and with spillover between Rigs, the ability to lock effects, no preset/stomp modes to switch between, and front row permanent assignments of those five ergonomic switches. Add the ability morph with the same five switches, gives you ten combinations with no more than a double press and without lifting your foot high enough to reach the second row. Whether they add additional switching options in the future, the fixed layout of the remote and stage ensures that it will always be easier and more ergonomic to organize around using all the rigs in and their morphs in a performance bank, before you begin assigning less used toggles to the 2nd row effect switches, let alone reprograming the 3rd row switches.

    Edited 3 times, last by Grooguit (December 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM).

    Agree with Grooguit , 1 and 2 make a lot of sense and I would like to see them added 👍

    3 I think would over complicate things and is incompatible with the Kemper workflow.

    My perception (rightly or wrongly) is that today ALL of the major digital solutions are capable of sounding and feeling fantastic. Therefore, choice of platform comes down to workflow, use ability, form factor, etc. If Kemper’s workflow and logic works for a user it is a great solution. If it doesn’t, then another platform is a better option. For me the Kemper logic and workflow is exceptionally good so the Kemper platform suits me.

    I know djdyer feels very strongly about option 3 and has requested it several times. I also feel strongly that multiple morph groups would be a great addition and have requested this several times. Unfortunately, I think we are b0th edge cases and will have to accept that our specific wishes might not be compatible with Kemper’s philosophy.

    I could hear quite a significant difference going from my 2012 toaster to the Player. I don’t care what people are saying. It’s not the same sound, I get. Not even close. The Player sounds so much better. Any profile I use now sounds great. It was hard to find a great one on my toaster. So I don’t care about how it should be this or that. It’s absolutely not the same sound. I was very close to give up on the Kemper and switch to something else. Now I just get that wow-feeling with all rigs. Something is definitely different. So when the 2.0 comes out I’m sure it’s gonna be amazing.

    First of all a better UI for button assignment would be best. For example VOES Editor looks crazy and seems easy to assign. Kempers solution in Rig Manager is not appropriate compared to its abilities

    Second more versatility with button assignment would be appreciated. I would like to get the opportunity to assign any fx on any button. And even two fx on one button (e.g. Phaser and Tremolo) and one of those fx (e.g. Phaser) on another button. Also with MK 1.

    Last but not least: I have the player on Level lll and it really sounds different to me. The delays sound crystal clear. The amp feels more precise. Whatever it is, I love it.

    Quote from StefanErtle

    Last but not least: I have the player on Level lll and it really sounds different to me. The delays sound crystal clear. The amp feels more precise. Whatever it is, I love it.

    Exactly. I just wrote, that I don’t care, that people say it’s the same sound on MKi and MKii. They are no way near each other (my 2012 toaster and my new Player). Its awesome.

    I think it's the "new car smell" syndrome. I think it's great you can upgrade and be happy with it, but hearing a real difference of the same exact rig falls along the lines of being subjective. ;)

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Quote from BayouTexan

    I think it's the "new car smell" syndrome. I think it's great you can upgrade and be happy with it, but hearing a real difference of the same exact rig falls along the lines of being subjective. ;)

    Yes, and that’s exactly what I’m referring to. I’ve had this unit for 13 years and I could never find a high gain profile I could use. Not in 13 years. Tried many guitars. Tried many high end audio interfaces. The only two things staying the same were my toaster and my monitors.


    I decided to sell it and buy a Player because of 2.0 to see if that was gonna be the thing I needed; and if not I could sell it and try something else.

    The player arrived and I restored my profiles on it. I was really surprised. It sounded so thick and the annoying fizziness was gone. I have through 13 years battled something I used to describe as digital fizziness.

    Then I for a day tried a Helix. Same digital fizziness. The Player arrived and everything changed.

    As I said. I don’t care that people say, that it cannot be true. I’ve never ever been happy with my distorted profiles. Never. It’s not the same sound. It’s not “new car smell. But I understand that people don’t believe me. And that’s okay :) I don’t care. I’ve become really happy for the first time.

    EDIT: I’ve come the conclusion, that it’s possible that my toaster quite possibly could have suffered from some sort of failure or something. I could never reamp through USB. No matter how many times I tried. The s/pdif wasn’t working properly. It made clicking noises with all types of cable quality. I had some issues over the years. With the Player I reamped and it worked first time.

    Edited once, last by b_ryan (December 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM).

    Quote from djdyer

    After going back and forth between my MK1 and MK2 using the same rigs, I noticed slightly greater clarity and improved dynamics on the MK2, particularly on my crunch-style rigs.

    Others have said something similar, including Kim_Olesen in post 289 of this thread:

    Quote from Kim_Olesen

    I already did a comparison. The mk 1 and mk 2 racks sound ever so slightly different. Small enough of a difference for it not to matter, but on breakup-ish sounds the breakup was slightly less on the mk2. The higher the gain, the less of a difference.

    What you are both saying sounds like a difference in gain staging to me, as if the Mk II has slightly less input gain by default from the DI. Can you get the same sound if you raise the input gain slightly?

    I’ve read her eon the forum that there is a difference in sound, not drastic but noticeable, between the earlier profilers and the more recent ones. Yours toaster is one of the earlier ones, so the difference between it and a Player may be more audible than that between a newer Mk I and a Mk II.

    Quote from tedtan

    I’ve read her eon the forum that there is a difference in sound, not drastic but noticeable, between the earlier profilers and the more recent ones. Yours toaster is one of the earlier ones, so the difference between it and a Player may be more audible than that between a newer Mk I and a Mk II.

    Yeah….but that’s just it. Kemper says that there isn’t a difference (as far as I remember) between the OG toasters and the later models. I can just say, that the difference from my OG toaster to the Player is massive. I always hated the sound of palm muting on high gain, because there was some “digital fizziness” I couldn’t get rid off no matter what profile or IR, I used. Now it’s not there on any right now at all. I was literally blown away from the very beginning of plugging in the Player. It’s amazing. I’m looking forward to 2.0, but I already have something really great, so I can wait.

    Quote from b_ryan

    Yeah….but that’s just it. Kemper says that there isn’t a difference (as far as I remember) between the OG toasters and the later models. I can just say, that the difference from my OG toaster to the Player is massive. I always hated the sound of palm muting on high gain, because there was some “digital fizziness” I couldn’t get rid off no matter what profile or IR, I used. Now it’s not there on any right now at all. I was literally blown away from the very beginning of plugging in the Player. It’s amazing. I’m looking forward to 2.0, but I already have something really great, so I can wait.

    There isn't a tonal difference, but one thing is different: the input section of the Kemper Head in Browse Mode is usually locked, so you can keep it through all rigs. The player does not lock the input section, so the input settings are coming from the rigs itself.

    I'd assume that you need to adjust your input section or try turning "input section lock" off and check out the rigs again, if you have still issues with palm muting.

    Quote from timo

    There isn't a tonal difference, but one thing is different: the input section of the Kemper Head in Browse Mode is usually locked, so you can keep it through all rigs. The player does not lock the input section, so the input settings are coming from the rigs itself.

    I'd assume that you need to adjust your input section or try turning "input section lock" off and check out the rigs again, if you have still issues with palm muting.

    Yes, but there is a tonal difference. The tone on my distorted rigs are great now. I basically couldn’t use my Kemper OG toaster for high gain satisfactory.

    Rock drive/mild gain tones and clean tones were fine. But there was an issue with palm muting, where there was this annoying fizziness. The Helix had the same issue. I didn’t really enjoy it.

    And no. There is no problem now. I sold the OG toaster before buying the Player hoping the 2.0 was close by, so I would give Kemper a second chance before jumping ship. I could easily sell the Player. But once hooked up everything was different. The sound and the ability to reamp through USB, which I couldn’t before. How the difference came about, I don’t know. Perhaps it’s an input thing. I don’t know, but I have never been as happy as a Kemper owner, as I am right now.

    There is a difference in sonic quality. Clarity and response is noticeable between MK1 and MkII. Unless you have had them both side by side, and used the same rig/profile from one to another you wouldn't know. It is not new car syndrome. Its MK2 is improved syndrome.

    Quote from Drjoeljr

    There is a difference in sonic quality. Clarity and response is noticeable between MK1 and MkII. Unless you have had them both side by side, and used the same rig/profile from one to another you wouldn't know. It is not new car syndrome. Its MK2 is improved syndrome.

    I can honestly say, that I have the same experience. But whether it’s

    A) my OG 2012 toaster alone that had an issue;

    B) the OG Kempers in general that sounds different;

    C) or if it - as someone here stated - is a matter of input difference

    I cannot say.

    Quote from timo

    There isn't a tonal difference, but one thing is different: the input section of the Kemper Head in Browse Mode is usually locked, so you can keep it through all rigs. The player does not lock the input section, so the input settings are coming from the rigs itself.

    I'd assume that you need to adjust your input section or try turning "input section lock" off and check out the rigs again, if you have still issues with palm muting.

    Absolutely !

    A Profile with the input set to 0db will sound massively different at +6db.

    Quote from tedtan

    Others have said something similar, including Kim_Olesen in post 289 of this thread:

    What you are both saying sounds like a difference in gain staging to me, as if the Mk II has slightly less input gain by default from the DI. Can you get the same sound if you raise the input gain slightly?

    Actually that’s what i said already when i first mentioned it. Although to me it sounds like a combination of slightly less hot input, and better AD converters in the output, hence the improved clarity.

    And, as i’ve said before many times, it is a non issue to me. Not worth tinkering with.

    And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.