MagicJukebox and Sacguy71 you’ve introduced a topic argued on other discussion boards endlessly (modeler vs. tube amp).
I started playing electric guitar again last November after decades of not owning an electric (or a tube amp, for that matter). Initially, I used my beloved Virus TI2 for distortion, delay and other effects.
I am not buying a tube amp, and literally don’t have space for one. Using the Virus for guitar effects was a temporary stopgap until I could get a modeling pedal.
Now that I own a Headrush MX5 and have spent some time loading IR’s (York’s Vox AC30 edition) and tweaking impedance curve based EQ’s, I love the tone. It’s probably not quite what I would get with an actual AC30, but I’m quite satisfied with what I hear while playing, and in my recordings.
Last night I listened to a track my Sweetwater rep sent me. He uses a Kemper. It sounded fantastic!
Guitar tone is a subjective quality. Please keep that in mind as you post here on our Virus forum.