Stratman82

But.... todays new technology is tommorrows old news. This is a very rapidly developing field. With all the fanfare many were expecting a podHD/ DT upgrade. What I don't understand is the backward step. I assume that podHD technology is now cheaper to manufacture than it was a couple of years ago. Why not pass that saving onto the younger/ beginner market (if that is indeed the target group) and build it into the "reinvented" amp? Obviously the amp alone wouldnt have the same functionality as the amp + podHD floorboard...that would be the combination of choice for slightly more serious or well healed customers. Again, there is not a huge difference in price (even accounting for functionality) between the pod XT floorboard and podHD floorboards. I can't imagine that the target "pricepoint" would have been that different. And anyway, £400 for the gig-loud 150watt version isn't what I'd call entry level cheap. I don't think this product is exclusively aimed towards day 1 beginners and 10 year olds.

Most of your comments are absolutely fair and I agree with them. However the "say nothing unless its nice" arguement doesn't apply to consumers in relation to (often) expensive technology in a very competetive market. We, the consumers, would be a walk over if it did. Assuming Line 6 personnel occassionally look at these forums, they are probably an important way for them to find out what their loyal customer base want and feel about old and new products. Yes we could all be apathetic and ignore the things we don't like or want to see improve. I'd rather Line 6 were aware of what their "community" wants. If I hated Line 6 gear and owned none of it, I wouldn't ever have signed up to this forum. Its not about "negativity".

To me, this makes no sense at all. If I wanted to do this I'd buy a set of speakers! Why buy a modelling amp with built in software and designed with an editing app that is effectively useless? IMO this should have effectively functioned as a "solid-state" DT amp where attaching a podHD extends its functionality and where the iOS app could be used to edit and download HD patches. The bluetooth/ hifi capabilities would then have been the icing on the cake for home use. Why take a step back in technology with X3 software? We all know that this type of software gets cheaper with every passing year. The X3 floorboards will surely be phased out before the podHDs. I just don't understand the decision, even with price as the factor.

If so thats seems a retrograde step that will alienate users (like me) that have progressed through the generations of this technology and are now using podHD patches. The XT floorboard is roughly the same price as a podHD300 so there can't be that much difference in cost to manufacture. This would have been a good option for those (like me) that didn't want a DT amp and would have welcomed a home-friendly and versatile speaker system for the podHD floorboard with the added bonus of bluetooth and built in hifi.

Hang on..the marketing campaign, for starters, was "the guitar amp reivented" with much fanfare. Actually, what they mean is "a modelling guitar amp/ hifi hybrid with outdated modelling software...hope the bluetooth and app help disguise that last point". The price point arguement is weak...a pod X3 floor unit (as far as I can tell from google shoppping) is roughly the same price as a podHD300 with the newer/ improved modelling software. There really isnt a huge difference in the price of the DSP chips etc. This didnt have to be beginner gear- If they'd included HD patch compatability and mabye a podHD interface I'd probably have bought one for home use and jamming or even small gigs.

Exactly I am now convinced that some of the "Line 6 Experts" on this forum are either 1) on the payroll of Line 6 making a job out of scouring these forums and making excuses for anything that's called into question (while peppering their posts with genuinely helpful tips to maintain the facade) or 2) so flattered and blinded by their "expert" status that they make ridiculous suggestions as per the quote above.

Totally agree. Can't understand why they haven't gone for podHD technology for patches and hardware integration. This is a cool concept and as a podHD500x owner I'd have been interested if the patch software wasn't a step backwards.

This is a cool concept and one that I think could have practical uses in several applications. What I can't fathom is why Line 6 have opted for X3 rather than podHD technology. This unit should surely be up to date and natively compatible with podHD floor units (I'm sorry Zap, but for me suggesting use of the stereo aux in is simply making excuses for the company). I can't understand this move unless this is the lower end unit and an ampliFi HD is coming later, as proposed in another thread.

Having sold my DT, I only really use my podhd500x for headphone practice now. It excells at that. The OR15 is best used with analogue pedals. I personally wouldn't hurry to use the podHD with it.

It's funny, I don't see Fender twin, Deluxe reverb or Marshall JTM owners stressing themselves out on their respective forums about their amps next update or whether or not the manufacturer will continue to endorse their chosen product.

UK. If you fly over it's yours for free!

Play plenty, that's not really the point of this thread.

Poland isn't the 3rd world!! Clearly if buying new he should source domestically and I'm sure there are plenty of sources (web based if not in store) where he could make a purchase with warranty cover.

I think in your situation I'd prefer to buy new if I could afford it. IMO the problems you could encounter with an international 2nd hand purchase from eBay or similar just aren't worth it unless the used price is exceptionally good. Buying cheaper used gear could prove to be false economy. I bought a used Gibson Les Paul Studio (unseen) on eBay recently as the price was right. I got lucky and it is in good condition and a nice, light example of the model. It could have gone pear shaped though and I'm not sure I'd be keen to try my luck again.

I think that's safe to assume. I guess you never really know how used and abused 2nd hand stuff is unless you know the seller.

With respect, I think Megadeth went back to Marshall for good reasons. The tone differences may be "almost imperceptible" with very high gain stuff at high volume. However, I'm a podHD fan myself but theres no way cleaner tones are imperceptible. Real tube tones are generally more organic and touch sensitive. The podHD offers fantastic versatility and useability in a home/studio setting but its difficult to deny that there are compromises.

I've owned a podHD300 and recently upgraded to the HD500x. Yes amp models are the same. But theres a huge difference in functionality and useability, in particular being able to use multiple effects that are within the same category. For instance, on the HD300 you are not able to use a distortion pedal like a Screamer along with a boost pedal or fuzz face within the same patch. You could have all 3 together in an HD500 patch. Also, the interface both on the unit itself and via HD Edit software is more streamlined on the HD500, including the ability to manage setlists. There are far more patches available on customtone for the HD500 as well. I'd definately advise choosing the HD500 even if you aren't going to use all its connectivity options on the back panel.

Sounds like its mabye a bug then. The volumes save to my patches whether I adust and save on the pod or on a laptop via HD Edit. I would say though that the safest way to guarantee a patch save is on the computer with a file save and patch "send" to the pod over USB. You've at least then got a proper backup of your intended patch on file and can repopulate the pod when necessary. Mabye save your setlists and do a factory restore on the pod before repopulating?

Are you connected to HD Edit on a laptop as you're saving? You need to "send" the patch or setlist to the HD500 once saved or it will switch back to the patch version installed on the HD500 when you go back to that patch using footswitches. Also, one option is to standardise the DT amps master volume (i.e. to 2pm) and leave it at that for all your patches. Use the channel volume on the amp patch (adjusted on the DT amp, podHD or in HD Edit) to standardise and regulate volumes between patches before saving. You can otherwise experience massive volume dips or surges when switching between patches.

Actually, after further comparison at higher volumes I can honestly say that the DT25 just plain old isn't that great an amp overall. Sterile and lacking in fun factor compared to an amp from a classic amp manufacturer (like Fender and Orange). Not as touch responsive and dynamic, probably due to the modelled preamp. Just doesn't sound as good, bottom line. As a 4 channel re-configurable amp the DT25 really isn't that versatile either- the OR15H is single channel but the 4 gain stages cycle through a spectrum of guitar music covering all the base tones of a factory set DT25 except pure clean Fender spank. But the DT25 with its EL84s doesn't exactly nail that tone either. Some of the guff spouted on this forum about the DT25/50 is quite ridiculous. Yes the power section is to an extent reconfigurable but it doesn't magically switch its tubes into 6L6s or anything like that...at heart it's still a medium powered EL84 driven poweramp with a digitally modelled preamp. We only live once.... is 80-90% as good tone and mabye 70% as good feel as the amp it's trying to emulate "fun" enough?? I agree its very practical for a gigging covers musician who needs to approximate famous tones at a pinch with one amp. I'd definately recommend the amp for that. But if its a hobby....for fun... then why not have one or two classic amps that are more "plug and play" and dont need digital modelling trickery and modelled overdrive pedal patches to get close to great tones? Part of the fun of a hobbyist guitarist is collecting bits and pieces of equipment, not having one amp that "does it all" moderately well. My DT25 is up for sale.

I have the same sorts of issues from time to time with my podHD500 and DT25. It's one of the reasons I'm selling the DT25 (keeping the podHD for practice). The Line 6 fanboys on this site will tell you DT amps are somehow the best amps in the hisoty of guitar music but its just ridiculous and not the case. I know from personal experience and direct comparison that they dont play (or feel) as good as other amps, even in the same price bracket. Line 6 make classic modelling units, no doubt, they are not a manufacturer of classic amps.

Make no mistake, the podHD is a phenomenal unit. In contrast to some on this forum, I've actually found it quite easy to dial in great tones with my HD500x (and before that HD300). I tend to base a lot of my cleaner/ bluesy overdrive patches on the Fender Deluxe Nrm amp. For crunch with humbuckers I like the JTM45 or JCM800 model. I have to say that I've found the EQ quite responsive and useful. However I do find that with most of my patches I need a distortion pedal model at the front of the chain for the best possible tone (JCM800 Slash tone is the only exception). Usually a Screamer with the Fender Deluxe and a Tube Drive with the JTM45. It's worth asking these sorts of questions however you'll inevitably get heavily biased answers on this forum....people who own an item of equipment and spend time on the manufacturers community forums will generally be heavily biased in favour of the unit they've spent their cash and time on. For example, reading this forum you might think that the DT25 amp is the holy grail of guitar amplifiers, second to none in tone and all round usability. That is just ridiculous and most definately not the case. I'm selling mine for various reasons and would really only recommend the amp to a gigging musician in a covers band who needs to approximate other artists tones in patch form at a pinch. As a home based hobbyist I find the DT25 to be fairly sterile and lacking in "fun" factor. Touch responsiveness is poor compared to tube amps with all tube pre-amp sections and none of the tones will truely ever match the amps the DT25 is trying to emulate. We only live once- if its just a hobby/ for fun then why not own (for example) a real Fender Deluxe at some point in your life and build a stable of more enjoyable amps from classic manufacturers whose amps professional musicians actually use. Off topic a bit but my 3c.

I I'm not saying biasing generally isn't required, I'm sure it is. I'm just saying I didn't bias that time and it all works fine, still going strong 18months later. It was more the "worked perfectly" part that the tech suggested was a good sign rather than the matched tubes.

This is exactly what happened to me 18months ago. The crackling became permanent though....you could drown it out with playing loud but it was always there in the background. Solved by replacing the EL84 power tubes (did it myself without biasing) and haven't had any trouble since. I discussed over the phone with an amp tech who suggested that it should be ok not to bias as I used matched tubes and it all worked perfectly after I changed them. My problem was that I bought online so would have to post the heavy amp back for inspection and warranty wouldn't include the tubes anyway. There is unfortunately no Line 6 certified amp tech in my area.

Flip Top pre (not full) is what I meant.