cbrillow

z Does the 500HDx required a 9VDC power source? If so, I find it somewhat surprising, as most of the Line 6 floor effects units I've been around have run on AC. The Amplifi 30 & FX100 were the first I'd seen that run on 9VDC. If I finalize something, I'll make a sketch or upload a picture. It's pretty simple, really...

For some reason, I missed seeing this post. Looks like a great, versatile solution, but I couldn't justify spending that much unless I planned to use it regularly. As a bit of followup, I've purchased an adjustable regulator capable of supplying (supposedly...) up to 5A at 9V to my Amplifi 30. Powered it up yesterday via 12V SLA battery, adjusted the output to exactly 9V, and let it sit for a while to observe stability. It was rock-solid. Next step is to come up with the appropriate cabling and plug for the Amplifi, and then give it the old smoke test! I'll go slowly and cautiously, double-checking polarity and will measure current consumption while monitoring the voltage and even look at the 9Vdc with the 'scope to see how clean it is. Have you made any progress with your project?

Thanks for the suggestion, which works as-expected. Was kinda surprised to see the admonition about WD40, which seems to frequently be recommended for this use. I've used it in the past with seemingly-good results, but it would appear that they might be short-term, if it contributes to gunk buildup... Fortunately, I bought a can of DeoxIT some time ago, and have used that exclusively since that time...

Had to run some morning errands, so couldn't get back to you until now. I played around with my Amplifi 30 a bit, and have to agree with your assessment that there's little-to-no apparent movement in the stereo field with the ping-pong delay selected when listening through the speakers. I played with the feedback and speeds to exaggerate the effect, and it didn't make much difference with respect to the apparent positioning of the sound - still sounds like it's in the middle. And, of course, through the headphones, it's obviously in stereo and a very noticeable, changing L - R movement. The speakers are quite close together on the Amplifi 30, but even if they're only 6 to 8 inches from one another, I would still expect to experience a stereo soundfield with my ears close to the face of the amplifier. And, in the case of the tone I use most often -- a very clean amp model with rich reverb -- the bulk of the guitar tone comes from the main guitar speaker, with the reverb being most noticeable in the periphery from the stereo side speakers. So the contention that the effects are stereo seems to hold up, aside from not being quite what you'd hope to hear with the ping-pond delay... I'll try the Amplifi 150 a little later and report back. Must say I'm not expecting a much different result, but we'll see...

Hello, Jack... Just a comment, and just my opinion... My observation is that adjusting any of these knobs may give you the impression that they're very sensitive, but I think the range of adjustment is actually fairly broad and smooth. Tweaking one of them may make a sudden, somewhat radical change to the sound, but I think that happens when the current setting of a control is significantly different from what's saved in the current patch. In other words, consider the case where the Treble control in the preset is at maxed out to really make the highs stand out, but the knob on the Amplifi is set a 9 o'clock. As soon as you move the knob just a little, the tone control becomes active and the highs will be cut drastically from full-bore to where the Treble knob currently positioned. That may seem to indicate sensitivity, but it really isn't. From that point on, adjusting the Treble knob is much smoother and controlled, just as it would be on an analog amp.

Hi David, Just out of curiosity, have you tried listening via headphones? I'd guess that it would immediately identify whether or not the effects have any stereo field, more so than listening through the speakers. I have 3 amplifi devices -- 30, 150 and FX100. Would you share which specific effect you're using when you're wanting to hear the ping-pong? (I don't fool with stuff like that often...) I'd be happy to check it out on my devices and see what happens. It'd be an interesting experiment...

This link just takes me to the Latest Articles page. I don't see one relative to cleaning pots & faders...

Hope it works out for you! Please let us know how you make out -- it could help someone else, someday...

I'm a disinterested bystander in this debate, but I am of the opinion that this will never be done. The Amplifi series is a 'mature' product line, and my guess is that we'll not likely see any firmware changes unless the new version provides significant reliability improvements or other features that placate owners' unease with some of the quirks associated with the update process. It's easy to sit back and speculate that adding a looping facility to an existing device is simple and inexpensive, but -- in my opinion -- it's not as easy as rearranging a menu in the remote app. It would almost certainly require a hardware design change and additional components. This is kind of thing you might see in a new generation of Amplifi, but not likely to appear as a firmware update. I don't know if Amplifi is considered a strong-enough performer for Line 6 to contemplate a series upgrade, but I have my doubts. If you have a generic computer with a lot of memory and decent audio hardware attached, it would seem to open up a lot of programming possibilities, where cool features are developed primarily within the soft/firmware to drive the hardware in a specific manner. But the Amplifi has already been 'optimized' from a hardware standpoint. There surely isn't untold amounts of memory not being used that would afford the additional functionality. Products are designed with cost savings having significant influence, not infinite flexibility to accommodate end-users' pipedreams. On the other hand, I can offer that it shouldn't be that 'costly/complicated' for users wanting a looper in Amplifi, to go out and buy a pedal to accomplish this.

One frequent complaint about the Amplifi series is the lack of a line out. Of course, if you have an Amplifi FX100 or TT, these do have an appropriate line-level output. And it's in stereo! If you're talking about the Amplifi 30, 75 or 150, you can use the headphone output, which will route the signal to your AC15 and kill the Amplifi's internal speakers. It's not ideal, but it would work.

They didn't screw this up. To put it simply: RTFM There are several possible connections, and they behave differently. It takes a little while to exhaust all the possibilities, and it can seem confusing, at first. Here are the relevant sections: Rear Panel Connections 1 Amp Out -The Amp Out provides a 1/4 inch mono output of guitar processed with amp modeling and effects and optimized for connecting to the input of a guitar amp. Bluetooth audio is not sent to the Amp Out. Using Main Outs & Amp Out Together - Only Bluetooth audio will be present at the Main Outs when the Amp Out jack is connected. RCA Main Outs -The RCA Main Outs provide full range audio, sending out a mix of processed guitar and any Bluetooth audio that may be streaming to the unit. Plug RCA cables to the RCA Main Outs to connect to any number of destinations, such as a home stereo or portable speaker system. 1/4 inch Main Outs - The 1/4 inch Main Outs also provide full range audio, sending out a mix of processed guitar and any Bluetooth audio that may be streaming to the unit. Plug 1/4 inch cables into these outputs to connect to a destination with 1/4 inch inputs, such as a mixing console, PA or powered monitors. In other words, if you are connecting to a guitar amp using the Amp Out jack, you will not get streamed BT audio. Streamed BT audio will be available from either the RCA or 1/4" Main Output jacks. The processed guitar signal will also be present here UNLESS you also have a connection to the Amp Out. In this case, the signal will be split, with the guitar coming out of the Amp Out, and BT audio from the Main Outs. Yes, another option is to use the headphone output, but I'm not going to break that down.

For the record, my 3rd generation iPad is running version 2.60.1, Build 072 of the Amplifi Remote app, on iOS 9.3.5 (13G36) I see that there was an update in May to 2.60.2 -- which requires iOS 10. Wow -- that kinda sucks! Glad I have an android phone, too!

Hmmmmm... I have a 3rd generation iPad that is maxed out at iOS 9.3.5, and the remote app runs just fine. Frankly, I'm surprised that an iPad 2 is able to run that version of iOS. Thought it tapped out with iOS 8.x. As for the stated iOS 10 requirement, it could be that this was added sometime after I downloaded and installed the app on my device early this year. Can't be much help beyond that. Obtaining an older version of the app might be difficult, because Apple seems to keep a tight rein on App Store offerings. Good luck! (Meant in a nice way, not sarcastic...)

Seems to me that I also updated my 30 via Bluetooth when I first got it. But when it came to doing it with the 150, I tried USB, which failed quite spectacularly and repeatedly. If they ever come out with another update, gonna give it a lot of thought before attempting anything. I can handle 45 minutes or an hour. Beats spending over $100 for shipping and being without the amp for 3 weeks...

Device support can be tricky, especially when it comes to 'mature' devices. In your case, it was an older phone that presented a problem. But the amplifi series is also a mature technology, and there's a danger that upcoming versions of iOS and android may not be compatible, at a time when Line 6 has stopped supporting amplifi with app updates that work with the new operating systems. Ouch!!!! :o Hope all goes well with your Kindle Fire!

The files you create with tools other than the amplifi app can't be loaded into the amp. But you could try to build equivalent tones in the app, using the same amp model - if available - and tone/effect settings that you used in GearBox. I'd think this would get you in the ballpark.

As I recall, my JTV59 has '1 up' and '1 down' tunings already built in. But you can certainly use Workbench or the guitar, itself, to create others that you need.

Don't mean to sound insulting, but are you able to connect to the amplifi via bluetooth? You didn't mention that. Given that the app seems to be working, that could be a reason why your changes are not reflected in the sound output. If that's not the case, you should probably just accept that your phone's O/S version isn't up to the task. Not much you can do about it aside from replacing the phone, if you're not able to update it to a supported version.

Are these new units, or did you both buy them used? If they're new, you might expect that the firmware would already be at 2.6. Are you able to confirm that it is not? This is a touchy area. I bought a used 150 that came with version 2.5, and I wanted to update it, as well as reverting to the factory default presets. It failed spectacularly, even when trying to do it while a Line 6 tech talked me through repeated attempts on the phone. I'm very knowledgeable computer & hardware guy, and tried it with 3 separate desktops. It left me without a functioning amp, which had to be sent back to the factory to take care of it. Line 6 was gracious enough to make the upgrade at no charge, but it cost me over $110 to ship it to them. That sucked the heck out of the good buy that I got in selecting a used device... Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be an anomaly -- there are quite a few reports about this scenario on the net, and here in the forum. If your amp is brand new from the store, you may have some options, up to and including returning it for a refund. Or you may be able to have it repaired under warranty. Just be aware that it's not unheard of for these things to get bricked when attempting an update, EVEN IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND FOLLOW THE PRESCRIBED STEPS TO THE LETTER. It's troubling that firmware upgrades appear problematic with these things, but that's the way it seems. Be aware of your options before jumping in, just in case something goes wrong. I kinda doubt that there will be future firmware changes, and I'll be very wary about attempting an update, should one come along.

I'm sure the 'official' response would be to use nothing other than the supplied Line 6 adapter, lest you risk damage to the unit and voiding any warranty you may have on the amp. However, as an electronic tech of many years, I would not hesitate to substitute an alternate source of my own choosing, being mindful of the nominal current and voltage specifications of the wall wart, and assuring the correct size and polarity of the Amplifi supply input jack. My approach would be to use a 12VDC source rated AT LEAST 3A, and run it into a 9V 3A voltage regulator. This would allow the option of using a 12V SLA battery as an alternative to the line-powered 12V wall wart being discussed. This could be handy for outdoor applications, like busking. The voltage regulator could be purchased rather inexpensively or tinkered together from a suitable circuit using inexpensive electronic components purchased online, if you have any rudimentary electronics assembly experience. In my opinion, the 'step-down/regulate' approach is superior to the step-up 5V to 9V strategy discussed in one of the earlier posts. I use the latter to replace the 6AA batteries in my Variax with great results, enabling me to power it from a 5V 2200ma power bank, but the current requirements of a power amplifier make it an unsuitable solution for this application. Just as a point of discussion, I'd go as far as to postulate that the Amplifi could easily tolerate the modest overvoltage of 12V on its 9V power input. Generally, the first important circuit component incoming voltage 'sees' is a voltage regulator, and these are normally specified with adequate 'headroom' so that fluctuations in the supply voltage don't cause problems. Please note, however, I don't have a schematic diagram, and therefore do not have specific knowledge whether or not this is an accurate guess. Safety sez: stick with a clean 9V supply with the proper polarity and adequate current, and you'll do just fine...

It's very likely that you're seeing this delay because you're going through the app and then into your Amplifi device via bluetooth. There's a similar lag in changing from one selected tone to another via the app. It's an issue that's mentioned (and complained about) in forum posts from unsuspecting users who expect the changes to be near real-time. This just doesn't happen when it's done from the app, and not a hardware device, like a foot controller. I think Line 6 should be more upfront about this, because it does raise questions in users' minds. It's not a defect or a bad design, it's just the way things work when you're pairing up hardware with software via bluetooth. I use an FBV Shortboard MKII with my Amplifi 30. Changing from one preset/patch to the next happens with minimal delay/latency, and volume & wah functionality is as-expected. If you buy a floorboard, make sure you get it from a source that will accept returns, if you find it unsatisfactory. I'm guessing that it'll be just fine.

Well, you're not getting any enthusiastic responses to your questions, which, in my estimation, suggests that there's some validity to your fear that the Amplifi devices are kind-of 'dying on the vine'. They're still available as new units, but requested updates are not finding their way to current users. I don't own a TT, so I can't specifically address your questions as an owner. I do own an FX-100 and an Amplifi 30, so I am knowledgeable about the series, which sport the same effects, models & presets that are in the TT. I've responded to your posting, in part, because of your comment that you are looking at several other devices that are in the 'pedal board' form factor, and the TT is not. You've not said anything about your intended use, whether it's for at-home, studio work, maybe recording into a computer/DAW, or if you intend to use it as a performance tool. If you'll be playing in any kind of a 'live' scenario, by yourself or with other musicians, you'll be severely limited in the ability to make real-time patch/preset setting changes with the TT, because this must be accomplished by pressing buttons on the unit or on your bluetooth-connected device. In either case, this requires taking your attention away from your instrument to make a selection. In addition, changing to a different preset via bluetooth results in a delay before the change is made. Not good if you're playing a song... The Amplifi FX-100 is much like the TT, but in pedal board form, and is more easily compared with the other units you've mentioned. Same sounds and presets, but also somewhat limiting for live performances. This unit has only 4 switches and a simple 2-digit LED display to accept input for selecting one of the 25 banks of 4 presets each, and giving a visual representation of which bank and preset is active. To choose a bank, you have to stomp on two switches simultaneously, which increments or decrements the bank number that's displayed on the LEDs. If you wanted to select tones from bank 5 and you're on bank 1, you'd have to step on the C & D switches simultaneously 4 times, then choose the preset you wanted from the A, B, C & D switches. Works ok and there's minimal switching delay, but you have to keep track of which tones you want somehow, as the there's no name displayed. All you'll see is the bank number and which switch is activated, such as 01 and a light by the B switch. Realistically, this is pretty cumbersome if you use more than a handful of presets. In my opinion, this is a serious shortcoming of the FX-100. In addition, there is no control of the individual effects via the footswitches. If, for example, you want to kick in a solo boost, you'd have to store that in a separate preset. You can't just step on a switch to boost the output, because there isn't one! Of all the Amplifi series, I think the best combination is one of the two larger amps with one of their accessory floor controllers. I have an FBV Shortboard MKII, which provides excellent control over the presets and the individual effects within them, as well as a display that shows the name of the preset in use.

While he's not well-known to the general music-listening public, longtime sideman/studio player Billy Sullivan has appeared with many recognizable 'oldies' artists, such as Gary Lewis, Eric Carmen, Mark Lindsey, Mitch Ryder, Dickey Betts, Peter Frampton, Mark Farner, Ian Hunter, Eric Carmen, Sam Moore, Lou Christie, Lesley Gore, Billy J Kramer,Peter Noone, Tommy Roe, Bryan Hyland and others. I've seen him play a couple of times on the old Jerry Lewis MD Telethons, sporting an original red Variax -- the one that became known as the '500' after the line expanded to the 300 & 600. It's been many years since he last checked in on ION website to talk about his Variax, and I don't know how long he may have employed one in his work. YouTube undoubtedly has clips of him performing with these various bands, and I'd bet that you can find him with a Variax strapped-on in at least a few of them.