The Victory The Kraken V4 180w Amp Pedal is an expanded version of the company’s Kraken tube preamp followed by a 180w power amp section able to power pretty much any cabinet (although you may want to be careful with 16 Ohms ones!). It also has extra cab sim circuitry courtesy of Two notes.
An all-valve preamp with a solid-state, 180-watt Class D power amp, the Kraken offers a channel with a vintage British-inspired channel and the other one more midrangey and driven. Each channel has saparate Gain and Master stages, while 3-way EQ section, reverb and cab simulation are shared.
The cab simulation, bypassed when the amp is in use, is built on Two notes DynIR technology, with 6 presets and access to 10 official Victory DynIR cabinets.
At $999, it is legitimate to expext a device that goes above and beyond, and there are indeed some some intriguing extras: a 9V DC centre-negative output can power extra pedals for a maximum of 500mA. This is more than enough for the vast majority of drives, fuzzes and analog delays.
Also, the trademarked VRC circuit mimics the “resonance” or “thump” control does in the power amp of a valve amp, for extra authenticity.
The Victory V4 amp includes headphones out and generous routing with FX Loop, balanced 1/4″ and XLR out and extra out for a channel footswitch pedal.
We added this pedal to our article about the Best Power Amp Pedals.
Victory The Kraken V4 180w Amp Pedal, Builder’s Notes
Four valves in the front end, 180-watt power section, two channels, reverb and Two notes technology. Only 1.7kg / 3.75lbs – all the Kraken tone in a small box!
The V4 The Kraken guitar amp partners a V4 Series all-valve preamp with a solid-state, 180-watt Class D power amp. Building on the success of the V4 The Duchess, the V4 Kraken guitar amp continues the ultra-compact size and huge tones by adding even more features. The V4 Kraken guitar amp features Two notes audio engineering Torpedo-embedded DynIR Virtual Cabinet technology making it easy to take your cabinets anywhere!
Gain 1 & 2
The V4 Kraken Guitar amp has two channels. Gain 1 is a slightly looser more ‘vintage’ British-inspired gain sound. Gain 2 is tighter in the bass with a more cutting midrange character and, of course more drive.Three-Band EQ
Powerful bass, middle and treble controls to shape your tone. These also have an effect on the gain character and drive levels – just like in any valve guitar amp.Reverb
Lush sounding digital reverb gives you ambience aplenty. Run it low for a subtle feeling of space, or max it out for washy, splashy hugeness! The reverb is foot-switchable using a TRS cable (sold separately).?Two notes Technology
Two notes Audio engineering Torpedo-embedded DynIR Virtual Cabinet technology is onboard the Kraken. The Cab Sim XLR makes is super easy to take you Victory virtual cabinets anywhere.Series Effects Loop
Sits between the preamp and power amp. Run your time-based effects here for maximum clarity.Balanced Line Out and Headphone Output
Send a direct feed to a separate speaker simulator, front of house or wherever you like. Can be used with or without a speaker connected. The inbuilt headphone output makes silent practice quick and easy.9V DC Power Output
Want to power some extra pedals and stick this on your board? We’ve included a 9V DC centre-negative output that will put out a maximum of 500mA. This is more than enough for the vast majority of drives, fuzzes and analogue delays and so on.VRC – Valve Response Circuit
The idea behind this little piece of the circuit is to mimic what a “resonance” or “thump” (other adjectives are available!) control does in the power amp of a valve amp. So with the V.R.C (™) circuit you get closer to how a valve power section should feel but in a tiny amp you can throw in your backpack and still get up to 180 watts of power!
