Community: Message List - What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:17:43 GMT

varmint wrote:

Studio/direct is the recommended output mode for FR/FR monitors and amps, as well as for recording purposes. It's what I use, but it really comes down to what sounds best to your ears.

I"m so glad you said that because that's the only thing that does sound good to my ears.

Running it that way the Alto 112A is turning out to be really quite good for this purpose. I just spent the last hour or so going back and forth between my Sennheiser 698's and the Alto, and with the exception of some deeper bass in the Alto the sound is really just about the same. I had a set of Beyerdynamic 880's until a couple weeks ago, which are about dead flat and brutally accurate, and from memory I bet they'd be even closer to the Alto. WIthout the high end extension to 40,000Hz that is. lol

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:48:03 GMT

Studio/direct is the recommended output mode for FR/FR monitors and amps, as well as for recording purposes. It's what I use, but it really comes down to what sounds best to your ears.

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:00:48 GMT

Oh I almost forgot, as for my home audio receiver, here's the tech analysis from an online review/amplifier test:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/yamaha-rx-v659/rx-v659-measurements-analysis

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:12:38 GMT

I'm getting some gorgeous Fender cleans out of the Alto today. Very realistic tone plus some extra big bass that the PA speaker adds on it's own. I dialed most of it down but deliberately left a little extra in there compared to an actual Fender amp. The Deluxe sounds like a Twin and the Twin sounds HUGE.

Let me ask you guys something, what output mode do you all use with a powered PA speaker? I tried the amp ones but as with my guitar amps it sounds like crap. Only studio/direct out seems to sound good. But that's supposed to be for recording. So what is supposed to work best with a PA, and what works best for you?

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:13:13 GMT

I'm trying a Mackie Thump TH-12A. I may try the Alto 112A as well, just to compare. So far, so good with the Mackie. I am adjusting all my patches while playing through it and starting to get the HD500 dialed in (finally). My Fender cleans and DrZ tones are getting there

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Sun, 06 May 2012 09:03:45 GMT

Hey I'm on a budget too. Partly just because I only thought I was buying the POD HD and that was it. I didn't think ahead. Now on top of that $400 I'm into $270 for headphones and now another possibly $300 or more for amplification.

I went down to GC to get the Alto 112A and they were all out. So I got one off the floor for $50 bucks off the $299 price. So far it sounds pretty damn good. Slight tweaking needed for the best tone on existing patches but it's mostly a little knob twiddling, nothing major. I just have to get used to having a tweeter horn in my "amp".

The Alto is pretty darn accurate, and BIG sounding. A little too bassy but it's tight and easily dialed down. It's a lot warmer than I thought a POD>PA would be. I'm really having a lot of fun with this rig.

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:29:41 GMT

BigBob, you are correct, mine is the regular one with the silver face, and a spiffy blue light over the knobs. And yes, I rigged a way to mount the pod on top!

Sorry I didn't clarify the difference between the amp/mixers I own and studio monitors (which I've never had), but you get the idea. A monitor is a monitor as far as I'm concerned.

If you search around in these forums, you'll find lots of good recommendations like the QSC K10 mentioned above.

Like I said, that TA50 was a steal, I got it from MF for only $100, as one of their Stupid Deals. When it gets warm it smells like burnt wiring, which probably explains the refurbishing I think, but it works fine. I suppose if I was more obsessive about my tone I would get something "better", but better costs more, and I'm always on a budget.

Good luck!

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:22:15 GMT

^^ That's a very nice(and very expensive) speakers!! Good for you!

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:44:33 GMT

I just started using the QSC K10 speaker. Something I would have not even considered before getting the HD500. It faithfully presents all the nuances of the HD500 I hear on headphones. Cabs, amps and effects.

Re: What are the differences between using a single powered PA or single powered studio monitor for POD at home?

support@line6.com — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:49:05 GMT

This is very helpful also. Hearing someone else's learning curve/gear history always is.Thanks Varmint!

I can get the Alto 112A's for $299 and the Yamaha HS80's for $250 (both said to be very flat and natural in their respective fields). I may just go ahead and try both, sending back one. If I can. LOL

EDIT: Oh wait, I see now that the Alesis is a small amp/mixer like a Roland KC300 keyboard amp, which another poster recommended to me. I thought you meant studio monitor speakers. They make those as well. Damn the Alesis is going for $199! Hmmm....

Did you post a pic of it with the POD mounted to the top? That was cool.

EDIT Again: There are at least two or three Alesis Transactive 50's out there. Is this the Alesis Transactive 50 DRUM amp or the regular one with the silver face?

This is the drum one: