My opinion about the Line6 POD HD500X

Hi guys!

As some of you may remember, I posted some time ago a post in which I talked about my first impressions on the discover of the Line6 POD HD500X. After that, I managed to buy one of those and now I want to tell you what I think about it after having used it for some time.

First of all, let's say that is a very resistant piece of gear built very well. Now, for what concerns the quality of the software, the most of you won't be using the presets, they're not such a great thing, so, the first thing you'll be doing will be creating your own sound. To do that, Line6 created a software with which you can set everything using your Mac/PC, which is a very nice thing, the program is simple to use and works well.
Of course, you can set your sound even using the POD itself, you'll be finding seven physical knobs, one for every EQ aspect (Drive, Bass, Mid, Treble, Precence, Volume, Master). On the high left side you'll find the controls for the internal software (EQ, effects, amps etc.), which in my opinion, are quite uncomfortable, but just because I've got used to the pc software.
As you can see, there are two rows of buttons on the lower half of the POD, they allow you to control your tones while playing, the two buttons on the left, let you choose the sets of sounds, while the other two on the right are the LOOPER (higher), which let you record a riff in order to let it sound later as a loop, and the TAP tempo, which if you press it for nearly two seconds, takes to the Tuner.
The central lower buttons are used to choose the single sounds/distortions of every set, while the higher ones are the controls for the effects, so having a distortion selected, you can turn on or off any effect associated to it (ex. Delay, Flanger, Booster etc.).
On the right side there's the expression pedal, to control the intensity of every effect, wah included.

 Now, let's talk about the back of the POD, in order to see the connections that it offers.

Starting from the left, we have the PEDAL 2, which allows you to connect other pedals, like analogic ones, or another expression pedal, and so on. Proceeding, there's the GUITAR IN, the input for your guitar of course; the CD/MP3 input; two Unblanced Outputs (Jack connections); two Balanced Outputs (Cannon connections); a Phones input; an AUX IN; the MIC input, with a level control, the FX RETURN and the FX SEND, the VARIAX, which is a special connection made to work with oter Line6 Variax instruments; the S/PDIF out; the MIDI connections; the USB, to make the POD communicate with the Mac/PC; a LINE6 Link, to use only with Line6 stuff; and the Power input, I have to say that the POD can be turned on/off, only using the power cable, so, no switches.

I've introduced you to the POD HD500X as it actually is, now, let's talk about my experience with it.
I actually love it, as I've written before, excluding the presets, once I've set my own sounds, I've had my best experience with a digital pedal I could have at this price, so please don't tell me that other expensive effects are better, because actually I can't buy those. I own this and I'm very satisfied, I usually connect it to the amp, which in my case at home, is a VOX VT100, through the SEND/RETURN in/out, I use the same method when I use other bigger amplifiers to and it sounds just great to me.
I bought the 500X after having used for some years the POD 2.0, so it can be said that I'm quite affictionated to Line6, and I'm glad to be, but, don't just listen to me, I'm not saying that you have to buy it, but try it if you can, if a friend of yours owns one, ask him to let you edit a sound, play a bit with it and in my opinion, you won't be disappointed.

Stay tuned and follow the blog if you have liked this article! As soon as I can, I'll be posting some recordings with it, so that you can hear it!

Bye!