New Fractal FM9 floor unit - looks good!

octatonic · August 2021

WiresDreamDisasters said:

octatonic said:

CFH said:

Wazmeister said:

octatonic said:

Going to be interesting to see the FM3 prices crater over the next few weeks.
I'd be extremely wary fo paying more than £600-700 for one, because I reckon that is what they are going to be worth really soon.

Here is the FM3+FC6 vs FM9 in terms of size.

Hmmm, i think you are miles out on your pricing there… £600 - £700 ?!?!

I personally cant see that much of a drop happening for some years.

I agree. The FM3 and FM9 are in different price brackets and the second hand prices will stay roughly the same. The FM3 isn't replaced by the FM9 - they are aimed at different user needs.

I have an FM3 and whilst the extra processing power of the FM9 is attractive I think I'll stick with the FM3 because I use it on a desk as a studio device really. The FM9 wouldn't work for me as well for that. I like the compact form factor of the FM3 and haven't encountered any limitations with the hardware or processing power.

I am afraid I disagree.
Yeah but do you agree to disagree??

I do.

octatonic · August 2021

Some useful info:

Image: https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/240966444_2001748453334068_7861348798751766213_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=y11TgxIpNv0AX8o_GER&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-1.xx&oh=64f4da2b13cd42d83e26297667888ad5&oe=612FA43C

TTBZ · August 2021

Hoping this causes FM3 prices to plummet. 3 switches would be enough for me (can it take a standard external 2 button like a HX Stomp just in case?) and I like the form factor. Probably worth holding out on a HX Stomp purchase for a while!

WiresDreamDisasters · August 2021

I doubt the prices will plummet to be honest. Fractal gear holds it's value quite well.

TeleMaster · August 2021

They won’t drop hugely. They’re all still in warranty which transfers with the unit too.

fretmeister · August 2021

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

octatonic · August 2021

The FM3 is about a grand used but you need to spend an extra £600 to get the same number of buttons as the FM9.

When a large proportion of people complain about the FM3 having too few buttons (and taking up more room with the FC6, than the FM9 will) why would they pay *roughly the same* as the cost of the FM9?

I reckon the FM3 + FC6 combo has to be £500 cheaper at least to make anyone go for it.
It will still have half the power of the FM9 too, remember.

I still reckon £650-700 is about right, but perhaps yes not immediately.
How long it takes to get there is what I think can be argued.

CFH · August 2021

octatonic said:

The FM3 is about a grand used but you need to spend an extra £600 to get the same number of buttons as the FM9.

When a large proportion of people complain about the FM3 having too few buttons (and taking up more room with the FC6, than the FM9 will) why would they pay *roughly the same* as the cost of the FM9?

I reckon the FM3 + FC6 combo has to be £500 cheaper at least to make anyone go for it.
It will still have half the power of the FM9 too, remember.

I still reckon £650-700 is about right, but perhaps yes not immediately.
How long it takes to get there is what I think can be argued.

I don't think that's a fair comparison.

People who used FM3 but found the footswitches limiting and therefore bought the FM6 to accompany it will inevitably buy FM9 in the future.

However I think there are plenty, like me, who want access to Fractal sounds but who don't need all the footswitches. Probably bedroom players who let's face it account for a lot of us. For those players I think the FM3 will be a really attractive option as a standalone unit at a much lower price point than the FM9.

If anything the FM6 will be less popular - I imagine only for AFXiii users.

TeleMaster · August 2021

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yea.

octatonic · August 2021

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yep.

octatonic · August 2021

CFH said:

octatonic said:

The FM3 is about a grand used but you need to spend an extra £600 to get the same number of buttons as the FM9.

When a large proportion of people complain about the FM3 having too few buttons (and taking up more room with the FC6, than the FM9 will) why would they pay *roughly the same* as the cost of the FM9?

I reckon the FM3 + FC6 combo has to be £500 cheaper at least to make anyone go for it.
It will still have half the power of the FM9 too, remember.

I still reckon £650-700 is about right, but perhaps yes not immediately.
How long it takes to get there is what I think can be argued.

I don't think that's a fair comparison.

People who used FM3 but found the footswitches limiting and therefore bought the FM6 to accompany it will inevitably buy FM9 in the future.

Do you mean FC6?

Do you own the FM3 then?

I am sure there are going to be loads of FM3 owners who will not want their investment to suddenly drop in value.
I wouldn't if I owned one.

CFH said:

However I think there are plenty, like me, who want access to Fractal sounds but who don't need all the footswitches. Probably bedroom players who let's face it account for a lot of us. For those players I think the FM3 will be a really attractive option as a standalone unit at a much lower price point than the FM9.

Yes, and it will be even more attractive when loads of them end up on the used market because those people who bought the FM3 dump it for the FM9, causing the price to drop.
That is my point.

It may also kill the sales of new FM3's when a bunch of FM3's with warranties turn up on the used market.
Two were posted here in the last 24 hours, I think.

CFH · August 2021

octatonic said:

CFH said:

octatonic said:

The FM3 is about a grand used but you need to spend an extra £600 to get the same number of buttons as the FM9.

When a large proportion of people complain about the FM3 having too few buttons (and taking up more room with the FC6, than the FM9 will) why would they pay *roughly the same* as the cost of the FM9?

I reckon the FM3 + FC6 combo has to be £500 cheaper at least to make anyone go for it.
It will still have half the power of the FM9 too, remember.

I still reckon £650-700 is about right, but perhaps yes not immediately.
How long it takes to get there is what I think can be argued.

I don't think that's a fair comparison.

People who used FM3 but found the footswitches limiting and therefore bought the FM6 to accompany it will inevitably buy FM9 in the future.

However I think there are plenty, like me, who want access to Fractal sounds but who don't need all the footswitches. Probably bedroom players who let's face it account for a lot of us. For those players I think the FM3 will be a really attractive option as a standalone unit at a much lower price point than the FM9.

If anything the FM6 will be less popular - I imagine only for AFXiii users.

Do you mean FC6?

Do you own the FM3 then?

Ah sorry, yes I do mean the FC6.

I do indeed.

fretmeister · August 2021

octatonic said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yep.

That makes my wish list easier then.

cross it off.

mrkb · August 2021

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yep.

That makes my wish list easier then.

cross it off.

The FM3 andFM9 are also fan cooled. I suspect all the high powered modellers will be.

TeleMaster · August 2021

mrkb said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yep.

That makes my wish list easier then.

cross it off.

The FM3 andFM9 are also fan cooled. I suspect all the high powered modellers will be.

Not the QC. Or the Kemper. Or the Stage. Oh and neither is the Helix.

mrkb · August 2021

TeleMaster said:

mrkb said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yep.

That makes my wish list easier then.

cross it off.

The FM3 andFM9 are also fan cooled. I suspect all the high powered modellers will be.

Not the QC. Or the Kemper. Or the Stage. Oh and neither is the Helix.

I said high powered

TeleMaster · August 2021

mrkb said:

TeleMaster said:

mrkb said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yep.

That makes my wish list easier then.

cross it off.

The FM3 andFM9 are also fan cooled. I suspect all the high powered modellers will be.

Not the QC. Or the Kemper. Or the Stage. Oh and neither is the Helix.

I said high powered

Lol. QC not got enough for you?

paulmapp8306 · August 2021

John_A said:

Think I need to pay @roland a visit and have a play with the axe iii

or me. same location pretty much (as Im the keys player in his band lol). Just come see us lol.

paulmapp8306 · August 2021

octatonic said:

CFH said:

Wazmeister said:

octatonic said:

Going to be interesting to see the FM3 prices crater over the next few weeks.
I'd be extremely wary fo paying more than £600-700 for one, because I reckon that is what they are going to be worth really soon.

Here is the FM3+FC6 vs FM9 in terms of size.

Hmmm, i think you are miles out on your pricing there… £600 - £700 ?!?!

I personally cant see that much of a drop happening for some years.

I agree. The FM3 and FM9 are in different price brackets and the second hand prices will stay roughly the same. The FM3 isn't replaced by the FM9 - they are aimed at different user needs.

I have an FM3 and whilst the extra processing power of the FM9 is attractive I think I'll stick with the FM3 because I use it on a desk as a studio device really. The FM9 wouldn't work for me as well for that. I like the compact form factor of the FM3 and haven't encountered any limitations with the hardware or processing power.

I am afraid I disagree.
I think 50-75% of the people who bought the FM3 wanted something like the FM9.
This is because they have said so on various forums and Facebook groups since it came out.

I predict a large number of people will unload the FM3 onto the used market over the coming months- it depends on supply of the FM9 of course.
There will be some people who stick with the FM3 of course, because they can't afford to move up or for other reasons.
I'll adjust what I said earlier- it might not be that the prices immediately crater but I think they will in the medium term for the reasons I've just stated.
If EU supply of FM9's is really slow then it might take a bit longer.

100% with you.

I went with the AFX3/FC12 over the FM3 primarily for the button count. Had the FM9 been available/announced at the time I may have waited and just for the FM9.

There will be some who keep the FM3 for the footprint, but the FM9 is a more cost effective floor based AFX3/FC12 rig, which is where the vast majority of user needs will fall.

paulmapp8306 · August 2021

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

All the rack based units (standard, ultra, 2 and now 3) are fan cooled,

paulmapp8306 · August 2021

TeleMaster said:

mrkb said:

TeleMaster said:

mrkb said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

fretmeister said:

octatonic said:

Some useful info:

Is the Axe3 fan cooled?

Yep.

That makes my wish list easier then.

cross it off.

The FM3 andFM9 are also fan cooled. I suspect all the high powered modellers will be.

Not the QC. Or the Kemper. Or the Stage. Oh and neither is the Helix.

I said high powered

Lol. QC not got enough for you?

nope lol.

the fans make no real difference. There pretty quiet (unlike the original ones - that I put silent fans in). shouldnt be a deal breaker at all.

Kebabkid · August 2021

I wish we could have a Fractal Gearfest

Nerine · August 2021

I was holding out for a Quad Cortex, but this may have put a hold on that.

Roland · August 2021

paulmapp8306 said:

I went with the AFX3/FC12 over the FM3 primarily for the button count. Had the FM9 been available/announced at the time I may have waited and just for the FM9.

There will be some who keep the FM3 for the footprint, but the FM9 is a more cost effective floor based AFX3/FC12 rig, which is where the vast majority of user needs will fall.

I had the decision between FM3 plus FC6/12 or the AxeFX III plus FC12. There were a couple of things which swayed me towards the more expensive option.

Anything which sits in front of me is vulnerable at a pub gig. Over the years there have been beer, drunken bodies, and thieving fingers. So I prefer to keep any electronics off the floor, and minimise the number of cables too and from. My Boss GT8 set up was probably the worst for this, with vulnerable DC power supply and its thin cable, and 4CM with the amp.

The AxeFX III allows me to connect more devices. I manage the band’s lights through the AxeFX from my pedalboard. In bands without a keyboard player I’ve used a guitar synth for pads.

Kebabkid · August 2021

Here's a comparison video between the FM3 and FM9

Kebabkid · October 2021

Anyone selling an FM3, I've a WTB for one in the Classifieds so please get in touch - Thanks Ignore now

mrkb · October 2021

I noticed @JohnCordy has one on youtube. Whats your thoughts? How did you come to get one?

JohnCordy · October 2021

@mrkb I asked if I could borrow a loaner for some videos.

I'm quite impressed as twice the power of the fm3 seems to me to be enough to handle pretty much anyone would chuck at it?

mrkb · October 2021

JohnCordy said:

@mrkb I asked if I could borrow a loaner for some videos.

I'm quite impressed as twice the power of the fm3 seems to me to be enough to handle pretty much anyone would chuck at it?

Yes - certainly seems to be the sweetspot of portability, flexable footswitches and CPU power. I put my name down on the waitlist within an hour on announcement, hence why Im interested in when G66 gets them in stock.

TeleMaster · October 2021

mrkb said:

JohnCordy said:

@mrkb I asked if I could borrow a loaner for some videos.

I'm quite impressed as twice the power of the fm3 seems to me to be enough to handle pretty much anyone would chuck at it?

Yes - certainly seems to be the sweetspot of portability, flexable footswitches and CPU power. I put my name down on the waitlist within an hour on announcement, hence why Im interested in when G66 gets them in stock.

Yea mine was within a few hours so I’m hoping I’ll get mine in the first batch but who knows.

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