POD X3 Review

The POD X3 will inspire and amaze you with the most complete collection of POD-quality guitar amp, cab, stompbox and studio effect models ever. This arsenal of rare vintage treasures, modern boutiques, and perennial classics offers nearly unlimited creative possibilities. Create your own tones or instantly play through any of the 250+ professionally dialed-in presets.

Ease of Use:	9
Sound:	10
Reliability:	8
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	9.3
Users rating:	5.3
Comments:	19

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: thickhead, on february 04, 2008

Purchased from: Guitar Center Tampa

Ease of Use: Talk about easy-to-use. Plug in, turn on and dial in you sound. Even with 12 knobs, 7 buttons, a knob/button and a directional button (think NES or Playstation), it's very easy to figure out without having to consult the manual for every little thing. Very user friendly. Along with the FBV Shortboard or FBV Express, you can Switch sounds easily with your foot while playing. // 9

Sound: Either thru headphones, studio monitors or a big freakin amp, this unit sounds great. The POD X3 has a large library of guitar sounds. From blues rock, metal, acoustic, you name it, it has it. The best of the best was used as reference when they can up with these sounds. The presets that come with the unit really showcase it's abilities but there's probably a billion combinations you could come up with. It has soooo many amp models, speaker cabinet models, microphone types, mic placement, even bass amp and cab sounds plus some vocals FX. Technically this is a "dual processor" since you can run 2 inputs in, effect them with 2 completely different FX patches and them run them out to 2 amps, or 1 guitar in and 1 vocals in, or a guitar and bass. I use it as a second guitar sound in my Live 2 amp set-up. It gives me that extra something that my first amp sound lacks. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Just bought it so it's lasted for a couple months. I'm going to guard it like Chuck Norris. Anyone comes near it, roundhouse to the face. So far I've used it at 1 party and a bunch of practices. It works great. If I could afford to, I'd buy 2 but then I'd probably use it in a 3 amp set-up so I'd never have an extra for backup. // 8

Impression: I do a lot of recording on my Boss BR-600. The Line 6 POD X3 is a great addition to all the Roland/Boss sounds I already have. It's like I now have all the best equipment. Marshall, Bogner, Fender, Mesa/Boogie, Soldano, Gallen-Krueger, Matchless, Orange, Roland, Ampeg, Shure, Neumann, AKG, Sennheiser, Hiwatt, Hartke, SWR, Big Muff Pi, Tube Screamer, Metal Zone, too many for me to sit here and keep typing. I mainly use Boss and MXR guitar FX but have recently grown to really like the Line 6 sounds. I did not know it was a true dual processor so I was happy to find that out. No matter what the style of music, you can find the guitar sound on the Line 6 POD X3. // 10

Comments

[BFun]

I want one NOW (getting one by the end of the month actually)

Is it work buying a keyboard amp to improve the sounds?

[Genghis_khan]

Great sounds indeed... not so fond in all the vocals s**t, and the dual tone is an atractive option. The X3 is a great piece of gear. Also a nice touch they included all the model packs.

Sadly her sister, the X3 Live is not so reliable in a live enviroment... Since I like the concept of just one device I'll wait until Line6 fix the design flaws that the X3 Live has before replacing my trusty XT Live.

BFun: a keyboard amp will do the job. Other good options are Atomic Amps, Tech 21's Power Engine or a small (or a big one if you prefer or need)PA. Any of these alternatives will bring the best performance out of the POD since they have a very neutral responce not adding (almost) color to your tone.

[BFun]

ah okay, thanks. Whats wrong with the X3L, i was going to buy that in a month?

[Orethor]

I have a X3 Live and theres nothing wrong with it that i can see. sometimes stoppes working when rcording via the usb but u just have to turn it on and off. Next firmware update will fix that i bet.

[hooker72005]

I have a X3 live. It seems to do everything I want it to, and have had no problems. It is just kind of complicated to set up, because it gives you soo many options of things to do. I feel like I have been given a missile launcher to kill a fly.

[Genghis_khan]

BFun wrote:

ah okay, thanks. Whats wrong with the X3L, i was going to buy that in a month?

You can go and see it yourself in the Line6 forums, of course, it is a support forum wich means that there will go the people who had trouble with their units. BUT, an issue that had become pretty common is that the buttons stop working or got broken... like the bank up stop working, or the same happening to any button (A, B, C, Stomp, etc., etc.) Some user had open the X3L and they found that the buttons are fixed just with hot glue, no screws no nothing else, just hot glue. For me it looks like of a lottery, and I can not afford the risk. Besides, for $500 the device, should at least be road worthy.

I'm a Line6 user and I love Line6 products, but the X3L was a big let down for me, whe I went to the shop to try it the demo unit in the store was having some kind of trouble with the display so you cannot really see what you're doing, then I asked for a new one, and the second being pulled out of the box in the moment got already the Bank Up button broken. So I gave up on it.

I'll give at least 1 year so all the software issues and design flaws can be fixed properly and then I'll try it again, because the sound is AMAIZING, it is a shame that such a great product cannot be trusted just because a cheap construction.

Of course going for the X3 + FBV Shortboard it's always an exelent option, but, more expensive.

[metallicafan616]

whats better about this than pod 2.0? looks like its just a bigger screen and the same effects

[olij92]

prices?

[11millerz]

i got the x3 live and i love it

[callum2903]

im getting one soon i hope, eiotehr taht or i will buy a used POD 2.0 off a m8 if ic an afford it lol

[riffmei$ter]

would love one'o'those...

[Godinplayr]

So what's the X3 live got superior to the XT Live?
Cuz I got the XTLive and it's pretty sweet.

[evening_crow]

Godinplayr wrote:

So what's the X3 live got superior to the XT Live?
Cuz I got the XTLive and it's pretty sweet.

1. It's a dual processor
2. Can also process bass and vocals
3. More foot switches which make it easier to change between presets
4. Includes all the bundle padks being sold on their website that aren't available on XTLive
5. More effects
6. Plus it just looks better :P

I have the X3Live and i've never had a problem with it (other than setting up the mic but i think that's just me not knowing how to do it).

[gconry18]

Was thinking of getting the x3 live but now im thinking that just the x3 is fine for me... Will this work nicely through a 30 watt roland cube? or not?

[n00bje]

ah okay, thanks. Whats wrong with the X3L, i was going to buy that in a month?

The X3 Live is painted with conductive paint (or foil or something) on the inside. On the Line6 forums there have been a lot of complaints of X3 Live's starting to smoke. Apparently the conductive paint started to come off and fell on the processor. The X3 bean doesn't have this problem.

[punkMETALskater]

these can be plugged traight into a guitar cab cant they to work,like they can P.A. systems?...
b/c id love to get one soon and use it with a cab.

[aceforce]

imo this thing is fun for a week and thats it. i won't be making any tracks with this thing.

[AlexAvarice]

I agree. Line 6 is fun at first, but they recycle too many of the same effects. After a short while, you regret wasting your money.

[StevoIRL]

This is a great tool for anyone wanting to record or just find their perfect sound. Iv recorded a few songs now with my mate and it just sounds perfect, you can get whatever tone you want and more! Well worth the money IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE IT!