Atomic Amps Reactor 112 Combo

This category is somewhat deceiving because the amp works in combination with YOUR modeler.
The amp itself is a study in simplicity. There is an 18W TUBE amp (I have always owned a tube amp) which serves to power YOUR modeler (in my case a Pod XT) There is a housing which enables you to use a number of popular modelers (or use the amp as a stereo slave which I am doing - more on this later) and an On-Off switch. The back panel has a Send Left, Send Right and Return. That's it.
Installing your modeler is intuitive - connect the supplied cables to your modeler, mount in the housing using the supplied screw in supports and plug into the amp. Turn it on and your modeler's controls determine the sound, effects, volume, etc. So the features of the amp are actually dtermined by the features of the modeler. The POD has loads of features, hence, so does the Atomic.
This is truly a "why didn't I think of this" kind of product!
The amp has a vintage-retro appeal and uses high quality materials which make it look much more expensive than it actually is. Even the logo is well executed.

I play a number of guitars - piezo equipped acoustic-electric, P-90 electrics, single coil strats and teles, numerous humbucker equipped Gibsons. This amp FINALLY unleashes the POD sounds formerly available only through headphones or direct to a board but NOT through an amp. Other amps tend to color the POD, this one exploits the POD strengths and enables you to have dozens of amp/cabinet combos available effortlessly.
I play various musical styles. I have played for more than 34 years and I mainly play at home. My first priority is getting numerous SOUNDS at liveable VOLUMES. The Atomic was the answer. I have owned Carr amps, Fenders, I still own a Mesa/Boogie and a Soldano Speedster and more than 35 guitars. This amp is fantastic. I set up a second Atomic combo connecting the Send Right of the main to the Return of the slave and I have the POD in STEREO. That means the chorus, flange, phase all sound lush and full. I did not even know this was an option but I discovered it after talking with the President of Atomic Amps who suggested I try it. IT WORKS! Note that the stereo sound is determined by the effect used, not the guitar iteself. So if a rotary, phase, flange or chorus is selected, you will get a stereo effect with the dual amp set up.

The amp appears to be very well built. It is sturdy without being overly heavy. (just heavy enough I guess) I would have no problem relying on this as my only amp.
I am giving this category a 9 because of a minor problem I encountered early on - but which was easily remedies and I am certain and confident it will not reappear.

HERE IS WHERE ATOMIC SHINES. I purchased my amp from a store over the internet. I had a small connection problem and sent an email to Atomic. THE PRESIDENT, TOM KING, CALLED ME PERSONALLY ON A SUNDAY! He listened to my description of the problem and determined it was probably a 1 in 100 problem in the first batch of amps dealing with the multi-pin connector. At Atomic's expense they shipped me a replacement amp via 2 day and he suggested I KEEP the first amp to try out the stereo feature (as the connector which was causing me problems is overridden when the RETURN jack is used.
I think so highly of a company - especially a young company, where the head of that company gives its customers personal attention. Tom King has since followed up with other emails and another phone call to make sure everything was okay. Not only did he isolate the small problem I was having - he sold me a SECOND amp which I am now using as a STEREO RIG (my first) and it is fantastic!! He turned a potential problem into a second sale, and earned a new fan (as you can tell by my stellar review).

At $499, this amp is a downright BARGAIN. I have gladly (okay, not gladly) spent over $2000 for "boutique" amps which I am certain were worth it in terms of workmanship and quality. But THIS amp is the most versatile, best sounding amp I have heard. What more can you ask for - all the POD (or other modeler sounds) in a REAL TUBE amp that is loud enough for gigging and low enough for home use and SOOO versatile. I would say that at this price point they will sell out, no matter how many they make.
As I indicated above I have played guitar for 34+ years. I currently have 35 guitars (10 acoustics and 25 electrics - mostly high end custom shop and one off guitars) I love to play - even though I play only at home. I am a stickler for sound quality and ease of use and dependability and customer support.
I highly recommend this amp. You can always add a second for stereo and if you can afford that - get it. You have never heard chorus sound so great - it would be especially great on a stage set up. I would definitely replace this amp and if I were a gigging musician, it is at a price where it is not just affordable - it is a true value. If you already own a modeler, BUY THIS AMP.
I sold a CARR Mercury (paid almost $2000 new and sold it for just under $1700 on eBay) and I bought TWO Atomic amps and a new POD XT and still pocketed several hundred dollars. The Carr is a great amp - it truly is, but this set up is much more versatile in terms of sound and it is stereo to boot! I still use my trusty Mesa/Boogie (wood and cane cab combo - a beauty) and my screaming yellow Soldano Speedster head and cab. But the Atomic is my new "main" rig. That is the highest praise I can give it. I rely on these reviews when I research new products and I take them seriously, I know that this is high praise, but I really love this amp. I would not be surprised if it is the last amp I buy.

Very simple, but powerful amp. I am currently using with a Pod XT, and it makes it sound better than anything I have ever heard...awesome.Dont understand why they didn't include a standbye switch.You can really get the volume up there! Loder than it looks. Mic with an SM-57 for gigs.

Fanatstic sounds, though you better know how to actually use your POD XT to really get it to sing.Very versatile. But I really think it depends on what amp modeler you use

I have had it for three months, so time will tell. I have used it in an outdoor and indoor setting. Gear Geeks come and are blown away by the tones. My other guitarist is using a Marshall DSL100, so it is really a brute!!again, time will tell on it's dependability

Havent dealt with

Really worth checking out if you are looking for something different.I know Tech 21 made something like this..the Power Engine. This BLOWS it away. VERY Warm response. Clean sound that compliments my Pod XT.

This is an update to my submission. The output of the modeler pedal needs to be set at direct out (no amp sims) for the Atomic Amp to really open up. It makes a big difference.

2004 Atomic Amplifiers Reactor 112. Bought it 3 weeks ago and wanted to "wring" it out before reviewing it. Has a on/off switch, 1/4" input connector for the guitar cable on top and a send-L and send-R (these are direct sends from the outputs of your modeler pedal), and return 1/4" inputs on the rear. Came with 1 DS-1 docking station and mounting kits for the POD, PODxt and a Blank kit. Has optional kits for Behringer V-Amp & Vox Tone Lab. Everything is designed to mount into the docking station and be removeable from the amp as such. You can use the amp with any modeling pedal however without mounting it using the return input. I wish it had a master volume (uses the modelers volume only) and a stand-by as the area around the tubes gets very hot. Has two EL-84's and one 12ax7 tubes. One 12" speaker (rated 150 watt @ 8 ohm), which is mounted on the RH side of the enclosure and what appears to be a passive radiator in the LH side. It is a closed back enclosure rated at 18 watts. (It's as loud as my Carvin Bel-Air rated at 30 watts). Don't know how to rate it for features as it's one-of-a kind.

This is what I want to talk about..sound. Myself and a friend have used it with both a V-Amp and a Boss GT-3 modeler pedal. This amp is advertised as bringing analog tube warmth and feel to the digital modeling world. We all bought the modeling pedals looking for those amps we just couldn't afford, or didn't want to haul around. Like most people I didn't like the digital sound that always seemed to ride in the pedals sound. WOW! I was completely blown back by this amp. It takes the sounds from the modeler and makes it into a true tube sound and feel. Yea some of the sounds have to be eq'ed in the modeler to bring out the proper tone, but for once it's possible to not have that digital sound. What you end up with it a true tube amp. The amp is tight and focused. Becouse of the speaker setup you need to be away from the amp about 5 feet to get the amps best sound. No doubt the best thing going now for the modeler pedals. You probably would not want to mike the amp up close using the Send-L and Send-R outputs to the board. The amp is very quiet as it only uses the modeler for the volume. Really have to work to get it to breakup. Down side is its only as good as the patch you have in the modeler. Got to give a 10 here cause it really brings that tube tone out.

Like I said before, used it the last three weeks and don't see any problems. Well constructed and tightly built. Using it without any backups but always have a backup plan. Looks as good as anything out there.

E-mailed the company about the optional mounting kits a week ago without an answer. Has a phone number in the owners manual, but I haven't called it. so I'll leave this for later.

Been playing way, way too long to sound this bad (1972). Got a lot of gear, acoustic and electric. Without a doubt I'd get this again. I love the tone. Wish it had a master volume. Bought it from American Musical Supply with the thought of returning it within the 45 day limit if I didn't like it. IT'S NOT GOING BACK!!!

The only real feature of this amp is the fact that it interacts with the digital modeler in a very good way. Even though I use a POD XT Pro currently, I might buy the XT just to put in the docking station and make my setup easier. The DS-1 docking station seems well designed and it is a plus that you can install modelers from Line 6, Behringer, and Vox based on personal preference.

I have a Jaros and Hamer for my main electric guitars. Both are the double cutaway LP style w/ SD Humbuckers. The range I can get out of it is only limited by the POD XT. It doesn't seem to be noisy on high gain settings and if you drive the amp full out on the clean channel it just starts to saturate. I just back off the volume on the guitar and all is good.

The speaker seems to be a decent one. Don't know who made it, but it seems tight and had good bass response.

Hard to rate this right out of the gate. Seems built well and fairly solid. Being a tube amp I thought they would've had a standby switch.
It's a good thing it is well ventilated, the tubes area gets quite hot.

Hopefully the delays that happened getting the product to market resulted in some improvements. I did get an email response on my inquiry about availability a few months back. Maybe that is a good sign.

The amp is brand new. It is a tube powered combo with a tuned 1-12 cab to use with modelers such as the Line 6 POD. The only feature it has is a pair of effect sends on the back that are the same as the outputs on the modeler, POD XT in my case. This is nice so you can send a line out the the board and use the Atomic as a monitor to hear yourself on stage. I do wish it had a volume level other than using the output on the POD, this would allow you to turn up and down the amp without effecting the level going to the board. The amp is 18 watts and is quite loud enough for my purpose. If you need more volume, send a signal to the sound board or mic it. You can also use the outs to send half to another amp for stereo.

With a strat and the XT, I'm getting the best tones I've gotten from the POD since I got it. I use this at church, we play contemporary music and I need several different amp tones. The POD makes the tones and the Atomic just makes them sound more like you wished they did in the first place. You can overdrive the power amp and this may not be what you want, I run mine at moderate levals.

I understand they have a 5 year warranty. Brand new, only time will tell.

Mine had a damaged place in the chassis, I mentioned this on another sight and they contacted me offering another amp. As I live in the middle of the US and they are on the west coast, the freight didn't apeal to me and they really didn't offer to pick up both in and out. I ask for a new screw to replace the one that is missing and haven't heard from them since. Was a nice first impression though, for whatever that means.

Been playing for 30+ years. I've got a lot of nice gear but don't like lugging it around. I got this as a compromise, it sounds good and if it someone steals it, it's replacable. Like I said, it needs a separate volume after the output on the POD. It does make the best monitor for a POD I've heard.