What differences are there between the Torpedo VB-101 and Torpedo Live?
The comparison chart here will give you the technical differences:
Two Notes Product Comparison Chart
Sound-wise, the differences will have to do with:
- the type of loadbox (resistive + Load Compensation, or reactive);
- the presence of Overload and Variphi on the VB-101;
- Non-linear convolution on VB-101 and VM-202, not on the Torpedo Live and C.A.B.;
- Highest-grade analogue and digital electronics on the VB-101 (the technology involved in the Live and C.A.B. is slightly lesser, although it does remain very high-end).
To sum it up, the devices will sound differently, but they are all state of art. What you will need to consider is your own preferences and priorities — price, esthetics, functions, etc.
Difference between resistive load and inductive load/loadbox:
A resistive load implies an 8-Ohm resistance in our products' cases.
Any speaker, on the other hand, constitutes a reactive load with a nominal impedance of, for example, 8 Ohms.
To learn more about the difference between impedance and resistance, please refer to this Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_impedance
In the TORPEDO VB-101:
Using a resistive load with a tube amplifier will modify the way in which it transfers power. In other words, depending on the frequency of the Input signal, the sound will be changed relatively to your usual speaker cabinet.
This is the reason why we have developed a system for Load Compensation, which for the most part corrects that defect. (A defect that may mostly be heard with the resonating frequency in medium and higher tones.)
In the TORPEDO Live:
The load is reactive so that it is the most similar to an ACTUAL loudspeaker. We based our design on a V30 impedance modelisation.
Consequently, Load Compensation is unnecessary there.
Both methods are equivalent, and the rest is up to a choice in electronic design. Amplifiers when they are properly designed show no problem working with either type of loadbox. Poorly designed amps tend to not function well with resistive loadboxes when they are pushed too hard — but we generally never meet with any such issues.