markalpine

In my previous post about the comparison of the HD500 and the HD500x I did use the exact same settings and models from each. I did so in a studio environment. The test included spectral analysis along with just listening to the differences at multiple volume levels. The HD500X isn’t even close in the JCM model that I used to compare the two. What I found to be the problem here is the final "cabinet" modeling. IE: what makes it sound cool when coming out of full range speakers and not a guitar cabinet? These setting were also duplicated on both devices. And in this case using this model the two do NOT compare at al. The HD500 is a usable sound and the HD500x is useless except as a torture device for terrorist. Remove the cabinet simulator from the HD500X chain and use a 3rd party device and the unit is very nice and usable. In hind sight I would NOT upgrade to a HD500X if I had a HD500. The HD500 I have is studio only use, I bought the HD500X for live use. I even bought the upgrade model packs in hope of making the unit useful by itself. $600.00 total mistake. I should have bought a used HD500 - however they tell me the hardware is better on the HD500X, time will tell I guess.

It’s not my first rodeo, and usually I get compliments on my tone and questions about how I get it. But yes I have considered your suggestion thoroughly. As my post says I also own the POD HD 500 and I can PROVE that the two units are ridiculously different. If anyone has the same two units just compare a simple patch like Duffy’s Cult, pretty much a straight up JCM 800. On the original POD HD, if you turn ALL the cabinet tuning to zero it’s sounds fantastic, even at high volumes. The 500HDx doesn’t even sound like the same product let alone the same modeling. So yes I have had both units on at the same time in the same environment using the exact same settings and models and they are not in any way the same. Furthermore because the cabinet modeling is useless in the HD500X the upgrade to the extra models is just as useless, (they got me for that 100.00 bucks as well). And finally if you do your research (here on line 6 forums, WTF? line 6) you can see it is a common problem and using a 3rd party cabinet simulator is the solution.

I bought this unit originally because it was a robust midi controller and I felt the sounds would make a good back up. I also own the POD HD rack and find the sounds on the 500X substantially thinner and completely unusable. Until today…I disabled ALL cab mods in my best sounding patch and put Hughes & Kettner Red Box in the efx loop. Game changer is an understatement. It finally sounds like a guitar amp not a thin machine made to hurt your ears. Keep in mind I'm going DI - NO Guitar cab or amp. Whenever I tried to address the thinness of the tones via EQ I seemed to lose the “feel†so many folks are also mentioning. By placing the red box as the ONLY cabinet simulator in the chain of things my sounds are now quite usable and will be replacing my main rig. IMHO the Cabinet modeling is just wrong in this unit. Perhaps it could be addressed with an update.