I've done some recording with the V Amp Pro and a Behringer 1952 and an Art tube pre,it DOES help quite a bit..Right the V-amp by itself IS harsh/some people like that though..I was much happier with the sound using a Tube Pre after the v-amp..Nothing takes the place of tube warmth but a Real Tube,while I think the V-Amp tries real hard it just doesn't cut it..Nothing I have ever tried does,unless of course it has a tube in it..