bluebluetones Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Hi everyone, I am a happy HD400 user, but every once in a while I consider upgrading to the HD500X. It would be nice to place my effects wherever the heck I feel like it! And I am missing the dual-amp path setup... My initial experience with the HD bean (when I rented one) was not very good. All the amplifiers felt kind of lifeless, and so I began to read on this forum about changing one of the inputs to "Variax" or to "Same" or stuff like that... That did make a difference, but that particular issue (combined with the input impedance selector) seemed to make all of my sounds very different depending on what I was selecting. I could never figure out which setting to use - increase the gain on the input and lower the gain on the pre-amp? Or vice-versa!? It led me to the conclusion the HD bean was either overly option-heavy, or just plain mixed up. Is the HD500X going to give me the same options? Parameter upon parameter of different settings that might make all of my settings or guitars sound completely different? Or did they streamline and correct the input combinations? Is it easier to use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceatl Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 An HD500 or HD500x is nearly EXACTLY the same as the HD Desktop in terms of available settings. The only real difference is the lack of the Line 6 link and midi. The HD400 is like the the Spider IV and Spider Valve modeling preamps in terms of setting and options....Different animal then the HD500, HD Pro and HD Desktop....Only models themselves are the same. The HD500X is a minor hardware revision from the HD500 and has slightly more DSP. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebluetones Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Thanks spaceatl, Are you aware of any updates to those input issues I mentioned in my original post, or was it that only certain users found them to be an issue? I think the only thing I am missing comparing my HD400 to the 500 is: Dual Amps, A few Additional effects, The ability to re-order effects, Deep editing for the cabinet models Still the HD amp models though, not the XT/X3 models included in the Spider IV (Which, by the way, is a very nice amplifier!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceatl Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Well, those are not really issues...InputZ changes the impedance of the input....If you set it to AUTO, then the first block in the chain will set the input impedance to match what the model would do in real life. The prime example would be putting the weeper wah in the first block (CryBaby). A stock CryBaby has a very low tone sucking impedance that will make your tone darker. This is useful for some guitars like a really bright strat...But this can make things a little unpredictable...Most guitar amps have an input impedance of 1M....So if you just set it to 1M, then you should be fine....If you use an active guitar, then just set it to 1M...or 3M if you like it better...The higher the input impedance as it compares to you guitar output impedance, the more HiFi it will be...That is the simplest way I can think to state this InputZ thing for you. In terms of Input selection, generally setting input 2 to Same would only apply to Dual Tone patches....Setting Input 2 to Variax (or Aux on the 500) when you don't have one turns it off and generally seems to be a better approach for single tone patches....But there caveats...You can use this to drive an amp model harder....But there are cases where you can overdrive some FX models....The tape echo is a great example...The models render analog clipping and if you overload the chain....So you have to pay attention to the chain level the same way you would with the real stuff...Only it's somewhat more abstract since there is nothing to see and you might have to use your ears.... I would suggest that you read the Advanced Manual cover to cover....The HD can be a bit intimidating to get under. Simply put, It's not the right tool for all players...You have to give it what you think is a reasonable amount of time to learn....When time expires you have to decide if it's right for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebluetones Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 A very thorough reply, spaceatl! I think you hit the nail on the head - "a reasonable time to figure something out". I do have the Advanced manual, but I will likely stay with my 400 if they haven't changed the set-up parameters on the 500X. I guess I felt it was a bit too detailed (to a fault) having those parameters...or at least having them so that the unit might not sound good. It's not like one way was correct or not - If I changed one parameter (say, going from Auto-impedance detect to a given value impedance) everything would change in how my patches would sound. Similar to the different input selects. I have great fun with my POD XT and my HD400, so I think eliminating those parameters might be better for me. You summed it up perfectly. I will, however, pay attention to when Helix arrives...that might be something to look at! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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