LINE 6 HELIX VS. POD HD: Does the Helix really sound better? (Amps, Cabs, and FX Compared)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- Put to the test, once and for all. Let me know your thoughts down below!
TIMESTAMPS
COMMON CAB IMPULSE
2:30 Fender Twin Reverb
3:02 Fender Deluxe Reverb
3:24 Vox AC30
3:54 Marshall Plexi
4:21 Hiwatt DR-103
4:46 Soldano SLO-100
5:20 Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
5:45 ENGL Fireball
STOCK CABS
6:48 Twin w/ Twin 2x12 R121
7:19 Deluxe w/ Deluxe 1x12 R121
7:41 AC30 w/ AC30 Silver Bell 2x12 U87
8:11 Plexi w/ 25W Greenback 4x12 MD409
8:40 DR-103 w/ Hiwatt Fane 4x12 U87
9:04 SLO w/ Marshall 1960 T75 4x12 SM57
9:39 Dual Rec w/ Mesa V30 4x12 SM57
10:03 Fireball w/ ENGL V30 4x12 SM57
EFFECTS
10:48 Hot Rod Deluxe clean tone
11:04 Ibanez Tube Screamer
11:32 ProCo Rat
11:56 Arbiter Fuzz Face
12:18 EHX Big Muff Pi
12:53 BK Butler Tube Driver
13:23 MXR Phase 90
13:53 Uni-Vibe
14:16 Boss CE-1
15:11 Hot Rod Deluxe clean tone (again)
15:27 Hall
16:14 Room
16:59 Chamber
17:46 Spring
18:36 Plate
19:31 Echoplex
20:18 2290
The background song is a cover I made of Hail the Sun's "Entertainment Lies"
At the time of recording, the Helix was loaded with firmware 2.1. The POD HD500 I was using did not have any expansion packs loaded onto it, which is why I did not compare the JCM800 or 5150 models, as much as I wanted to :(
Gear list:
-Fender Stratocaster, MIM, refinished to matte surf green
-Epiphone Vintage G-400 with Seymour Duncan Jazz/JB Pickups
-Ernie Ball Music Man non-piezo JP6 in mystic dream with burnt chrome Bare Knuckle VHII/Ceramic Nailbomb pickups
-Line 6 Helix (1/4" out)
-Line 6 POD HD500 (1/4" out)
-Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (old mirrorface model)
-Shure SM57 (on the Hot Rod Deluxe)
-Audio-Technica AT3035 (for voice)
-Radial JCR Studio Reamp box
-Focusrite Scarlett 18i20
-Cockos Reaper (as my DAW)
-keFIR (VST plugin used to load cabinet impulses)
-Canon T3i
-Sigma 20mm f/1.8 lens
-Sony Movie Studio Platinum (for video editing) - เพลง
Helix sounds better because it has a color screen...!
haha
I can hear the difference
Incredible review! Still helpful 6 years later
Excellent job man, thank you for taking the time to do it and for approaching it the way you did.
it' so nice when a video comparison gets right into it, no throat-clearing and wasted time. This is one of those.
Thank you. This video has been so informative. It definitely makes me feel more content with my HD 500 X
This is a great video- I wish more youtube product demo/comparisons were this articulate and well thought out. Thanks dude.
I love your videos and how you go about it. You attempt to be as fair and objective and rational as possible. Great job
Amazing video, one of the best on TH-cam about guitar rig & styff. Congratz, VERY helpful!
Great series of videos, very well produced and informative! I owned the Fractal Axe fx2, HD500, and BOSS GT100 all at the same time. I ended up selling the Fractal and HD500 and kept the GT100 because it was all that I needed. I now use the GT100 through my Marshall's effects return (the marshall is now a power amp) and the BOSS sounds awesome. Underated amp models IMO. (*note I do turn off the cab sims)
I use about the same, own MOOER ge300 - sound amazing but very bad with midi controlling. Interested by "downgrading" to hd500x cause of midi flexibility and ability to use only effects and preamp with send / return. Good to have one device instead of multiple)
Hd500x now almost double cheaper than MOOER and give all I need from midi.
Can I ask is there effects in gt100 better quality than hd500x?
I owned a POD HD Pro X a few years ago and ran it into my DAW with an ir loader. I returned it after recording one album..I took a chance on the Helix this year and its night and day to me. I love it.
Mitch, I know this is an old video, but I'd like to thank you for an honest comparison and honest comments about the 2 units. I had a Firehawk and a POD, but the Helix was a game changer for me, not only in sound, but especially in ease of use.
Wow, you just saved me 1000 $ on upgrades from Pod to Helix. Thanks!
Thanks for providing a professional-level review. I really get tired of having to dig through dozens of trash videos before finding a good one like this. Well done.
And that goes to my point. Pod HD with decent cabs is awesome. Thanks Mitch.
Thx for review!
Seems, that I'll stay with my POD HD PRO Rack for some more years :)
Nice comparison. I like the way you let the delay and reverb decays ring out rather than just playing over top of them.
Best video multy effects comparison I've ever seen on youtube
I'm a little surprised that the hd500x actually held its own against the Helix.... even sounded better in some ways
That was a great review for exactly what you said it would be. Stock tones and effects. You presented it very well. Nice job.
It seems crazy but I really like the HD500 better. Now I’m thinking of getting one.
its not crazy, its a badass unit, seems crazy to me, that one of a big reasons for me to switch to helix is the power cable.. touring a lot and the HD500 thin plug gets damaged rather easily even by soundguys not giving one fuck of stomping on cables and shit...
But it has snapshots. And command center. Sounds are close. But convenience that the helix has is ridiculous n
I own 2 HD PodPro X, and I’ve also owned and extensively gigged with the Helix. I actually never bonded with the helix. HD pod Pro delays mounted so beautifully into the tone, and I always felt like the helix delays sounded pasted on.
HD500 is still a great piece of gear and I'm glad to hear it holding its own next to the Helix, but I don't regret upgrading. They both sound good but the feature set on the Helix is what makes it stand out and a must-have in my opinion. Great video!
What is the upgraded feature set? I’m in the market and looking between these two
Awesome! Very thorough comparison.
I bet this was fun :). Thanks for the info, very useful.
great video. Thanks for the effects only test.
I found the MESA and ENGL in round 1 the biggest difference. The bottom end was very apparent for my ears. Good work!
Thanks, you saved me from pining for Pod HD300/500! I am sticking with Bias Amp 2 and Bias Fx 2.
I own a POD 2.0, a POD Xt, a GuitarPort, a POD HD500X, have had extensive experience with a Helix and am awaiting delivery of a POD Go. I do not, nor ever have worked for Line6! I also own other units (GT-8 & 10 and Johnson J-Station). I also own a number of amps these units are modeling, so I feel I can give a (somewhat) informed opinion here.
The POD HD 500 and Helix are two different technologies, so they should sound a little different. It's really up to the user what works for them in what they want to do with it.The Helix has better processing power, so it can do more. Since we're talking tone here, judge for yourself what works in your particular style. Some may point out fizziness in one unit or another, but that's what EQ's are for! I'm getting the POD Go for ease of use, sounds great and has the Helix technology. I understand the limitations of the unit, but I'm OK with just having one amp available. I have loads of IR's, so that won't be an issue. What I want is a great jumping off point, because I also have external effects, if needed (I tend not to dump stuff for the new, shiny thing if possible).
What I heard in this video is a good A/B comparison of the two units. Honestly, I could go with both and be happy. In fact, almost every recording I've made in the last 4 years has had both the POD Xt and POD HD500X on them. Can you tell the difference? Maybe, but even though they're digital, they still feel different to me.
Comparing to the originals, you really can't and shouldn't. But comparing the POD HD 500 to the Helix, you get more amps in the Helix without buying Model Packs, more processing power means more effects can be run, more everything, basically! But when it comes down to tone vs. tone, I think they can both do the job! Thanks for indulging my observation!
Well done video!
Very helpful, thank you for making this video
I think this is a very good video, prepared with a lot of thought and a logical approach that gives genuinely helpful info. No question that the Helix is the superior unit with greater clarity, particularly on crunch & higher gain settings - the Pod HD sounded as if it had a blanket over it by comparison, although its clean Fender tones still sounded pretty good. However, I think part of the amp/distortion difference relates to inherent EQ settings and I'm wondering if the Pod HD might sound closer to the Helix with tweaked EQ.
I say this because one of the 'techniques' used by manufacturers (and Line 6 are not alone here) is to alter the underlying base EQ settings to make the newer more expensive units sound better with equivalent settings, to over-emphasise the tonal difference. So that what you're hearing is a mixture of true amp/effect modelling improvement but also combined with a better EQ mix. It would be interesting to see how near the Pod HD could get to the Helix amp tones with some tweaking of its EQ, so that any differences you then heard could be more readily accredited to the improved modelling. I would expect the Helix to still sound superior, but the differences might not be quite as pronounced.
Well said!
I love that you threw some sithu aye in there, i like the pod 500 tones more for most overdriven tones
Thanks for this awesome video! Now i can stop gasing for new gear and start working on my finger.
Interesting overall - and pretty much supports what most conclude about the devices overall.
Certainly hear substantial differences - even with YT audio. The "wet blanket" effect over the SLO and AC30 is one good example of that. Another is the thinner / digital sound of the RAT model. Of course the fuzzes are wildly different. The reverbs are incredibly similar - which makes sense. HELIX does "borrow" from the HD models.
In some ways, this premise is like saying "Well, most streets have a 25 limit, so let's compare this Audi A8 and VW Passat at 25mph on a residential road and see what separates these cars"
In my opinion: Pod HD 500!
good video. sharing very valuable info. Thanks! Not bad playing either!
Cool BTBAM Christmas sweater, I have the same one 😁
Oh and both units sound awesome
i have myself a pod500hdx
and yeah the helix sounds a little bit more detailed but...it doesnt sound...that much better accordingly to the price gap between them
good job man :D nice vid
But as I said, the 3x price difference can be justified by numerous other factors, including the I/O complement and the easy-to-use interface. Just depends on what you're looking for.
I have to agree. I also own a 500X and I haven't found that the differences in the Helix amp models that I like are worth the extra expense. In some amp models I do hear nice subtle differences in the Helix that do sound better than the 500X, but I don't use these amp models. If you already own a 500X and are thinking of buying a Helix, you should take your 500X into a shop and do a side by side with your favorite amp models and settings to do an accurate comparison. Only then will you be able to decide if the extra expense is worth it.
Not to mention that you couldn't reproduce the HD500X with the exact same parts today and still charge $499. A major differentiator between amps and digital modeling is this: With an amplifier, especially vintage tube amps, you could pickup two of the same exact model and each would sound different (character). With digital modeling, I could pickup two of the exact same modelers and know that the sound will be identical between the two (i.e. two Helicies, not across types of course). Cool review, Mitch! 🤘🏻
very helpfull video and you explain things very well.
Great test, very helpful! I think the difference is night and day, with the Helix being the clear winner. More detail, more "meat", and more "feel". However the modeling is not the only reason. The Helix has better quality AD conversion hardware, more processing power, better quality preamps, etc. It's also got capacitive footswitches and some other cool things. That is why it's so much more expensive. Plus, it's built like a tank (no plastic knobs, etc), and was really designed with pro touring players in mind. Excellent A/B test!
Pretty clear difference to me. More detail and clarity in the Helix, while the POD feels a little muffled and grainy in direct comparison, regardless of IRs. Although, once again, this video also manages to highlight the need to import some better cabs, as there are some pretty bad sounds coming from the stock portion of the video. Effects are kind of a wash for me, I think Line 6 always does a decent job with those. The differences I can hear there are still mostly rooted in the differences in the amp tones they're applied to.
nothing you can't solve with eq
Nice video man!
Great video, great help!
Considering the difference in sound is very small and the difference in price is very big....I'd go with the hd500. I like both though, great stuff.
Glad you did this! Thanks! Yeah, if you have $$ you'll always get the newest 'bestest' just because of being bored. One thing for each I kept noticing -- HD PRO a lower emphasis (unless you played individual notes) and with the HELIX a 'grunge' that hopefully can be removed because I think of very few songs I'd use it in (in the lower mid-tone region).
This is the greatest way to differentiate bro
Nice vid bro!
POD HD500 is such a great value, picked up two for $400 Canadian, jamspace is completely digital now and can record I realtime, its amazing for less then a grand
My pod XT is the best ever..I like my veggies(beans) organic.
Very similar in sound, but this does not justify the three times more higher price of the Helix IMO.
Great review and demo of these pedal boards.👍
I like the line of thinking here! It gives a clear picture of the differences. Great work!
Thank you ! Helped me
You can achieve more clarity using an equalizer before amp and your POD HD gets the same well detailed tone. But of course you'll be missing the IR-Loader and that is the most lack by the HD units.
Nice job mate. I have an HD500 and have been considering the Helix so I found this video pretty useful. Cheers from across the pond in Scotland.
7thwave42 without any personal experience from the hd500 I cam honestly say that whilst not quite as comprehensive as the fractal, the helix is definitely a satisfying modeller if you're willing to fork out for it
excellent video to showing differences
Thanks for making this comparison!
Many of the clean tones were identical between the two.
When you got the high amps, I thought some of the HD500 amps sounded better (the Helix had more of that fizzy sound) with the exception of the ENGL, which I thought the Helix version was better.
Again, great and fair comparison!
IMO, the features and functionality do not justify a substantial price difference if the sounds aren’t substantially better…that’s what counts over everything else.
Once you play on stage, you cant really tell the difference. Specially people are drunk, they dont care much
Agree - BUT I will say that you play better when you get what you want out of your sound; if your tone isn't doing what you want, it hampers what you're doing. So yeah - audience couldn't care less if you're rocking a Spider or a Marshall JTM, but there's definitely an impact in your performance. And that doesn't mean "get the most bestest you can get money's no object" I mean consider the sound, sustain, clarity, feedback, stuff like that if you play off of that stuff live. Which I do.
Very true
Instrumentalists Jade sounds like you’re in a cover band. If you play in a band where you write original music and people know how you sound on the record you wanna emulate that as close as possible
I'd like to see how drunk people vs crackheads vs methheads vs potheads vs crazy as loons people vs lsd trippers rate the two!😆
sick video, as always.
would like to see a bias fx vs helix vs ax8 comparison in the future, if u could :)
ty man ! grt vids !!!
Hi, great comparison! Cool! I was wondering can you please do a sound comparison between the Headrush Pedalboard and the Line 6 Helix Floor models? Which has better sound effects and better amp models overall? Thanks...
great comparison video brother I checked out both those units I ended up with a Boss GT 100 and with the proper settings I found it blew the Helix out of the water
Paul Oesterle Oesterle no never, sorry, but i have tested a gt100 5 years ago and I bought a HD500. Sounds much more better especially crunch tones. GT 100 was very bad, only the effects are good!
I bought a PodHD500 in 2010. I worked with it a LOT at home trying to get usable sounds out of it. I'm still gigging with my 15 year old BOSS GT-8. I'm thinking of moving on to the GT-100 maybe even the GT-1000, but Line6? I think I've been disappointed with their offerings too many times. I'm wary of believing that the HELIX is going to deliver on the sketchy promises made too many times in the past. The only usable clean sounds I could create on the PODHD were ones that bypassed the amp model altogether, and used compressors, EQ to shape the sound. I've had MUCH better luck getting usable sounds from Digitech Rocktron and Roland products. Maybe it's a case of the Pod having TOO many variables? Finding just the right combination of model, cabinet and microphone settings may be like winning the lottery.
Thank you. Very helpful. All I wanted was to know if my POD HD500 was still competitive vs the mighty helix.
Ha! It is!
Great work! thanx
hi Mitch - how did you do the IR impulses? turn-off cab sim - record funny sound and then cab it with IR? great comparo.
I see you with that Double Helix intro riff. :v
Great demo though!
Sounds great! Can you share the ir impulses? I ve the hd500 and using the impulses the sound improvement is massive .
Would LOVE a BiasFX/Ax8 battle....!!! :)
You make such smart reviews...!
No contest at all. Pretty much everything beats BIAS. Check out my video where I compare bias and lepou's free lecto plugin.
ProGuitarNoob i will
Thanks for the video excellent comparison very well thought out, in reality for guys that really drive and seek after tone, if you just apply some EQ settings on the POD HD you will get the exact same sound as the helix, as far as I'm concerned you will be wasting your money spending it on the helix compared to the HD they're so close and comparable. Not to mention if you run these units into a DAW and use the effects and EQ settings in there you would never ever be able to tell the difference. Just my opinion.
How does picking dynamics feel between the two? That's my biggest concern
Now in 2023, I was thinking of upgrading my POD HD500 to a Helix LT which (at least in my country) costs triple and thanks to this video I realized that I was about to make an unnecessary investment. The PODHD500 is still a great value piece, with much better sonic response in some ways than the Helix.
Thanks for this video. The work you have taken is really useful and admirable.
Greetings from Argentina.
(Sorry for the Google translate)
Both units sound good. I can definitely hear more detail in the Helix, especially in the highs and lows but an untrained ear would probably think that both give equally great results.
Greetings Steve, How about elaborating.
despite the TH-cam compression and everything!
I also think that an eq would fix anything that needs fine tuning. I've done sessions with my Pod HD500 & nobody knew the difference
Aural snobs are worse than wine knobs. Untrained ear! Howwww vverryyy dare youuuu
As a POD HD owner, I was hoping to hear NO or very minor difference. But unfortunately for me, VOX, MESA and ENGL models sounded much better on HELIX. Especially MESA. How I will live now with this knowledge? I want to be happy with my HD! :)
Same here
I don't care! This little different you can correct with adjusting frequencies! Because the modelling is just a good work of operators!
Mad the Axe Fx is better than both. There is always something better, enjoy what you have.
Anything can be detailed if EQ's properly. I'm willing to be that all Line 6 did on the Helix was mess with the post stage EQ and saved it as the global preset which you could do with the HD500 as well.
@@elzippo I used to think the same way and spent years trying to get proper tone from POD by EQ. But it always was "close", but never on spot. With my real amp (Laney IRT Studio) and new generation of modelers I get the tone I need instantly. There was something in the structure of overdrive itself. And I hear it also on others people records made on PODs. Sounds ok, but... No, thanks, tehere are better solutions on the market. Even cheap Mooer Micro Preamp series sound really great! Significantly better than everything I ever heard from Pods.
Solid comparison - not sure how any updates to the software change the game, but for a 500X owner this is definitely enough to remind me that there’s other gear I could drop some serious cash on first.
While I definitely prefer the darker and slightly richer tone from the Helix, the L6 Link into my DT50 gives me a level of live warm/fuzzies and integration I couldn’t justify replacing with a Helix. If I ever get back into more session work via email at least I know where to invest :-)
Great tones! Do you have a shared link for the same?
Great video. I definitely hear more clarity and presence with the Helix. In that context, it is more like a tube amp. That said, some of that difference could be compensated for through eq settings. Whether or not the difference would be audible in a band mix is very questionable.
thanks for this video, been wondering this for a while. I had an HD500 but sold it because I spent too uch time tweaking settings. the whole HD line is so cheap used I though about getting another but then thought I'd up to the the Helix. no need for me. thanks
Sweet Mothership vinyl in the back.
Great comparison .. thanks a lot. What I recon is that for the amp modelling part the biggest difference are in the high gain amps and even more importantly in the cab models. Up to the Plexi both seem on par with external IR. For high gain the Helix wins for me. Though the SLO100 model on PodHD remains ok with a good IR.
Effect wise it is more complicated. I find that the drive pedals are anyway not totally convincing in both units so I pass...
Thank you Mitch
Great job! Can you do something similar with POD 2, POD Xt or X3?
For me it isn't the sound that was the deal maker but that Line 6 has incorporated back into the Helix series the assignment of parameters to footswitches and MIDI CC that has been with Line 6 MIDI capable devices up through the X3 series
that for some crazy reason they omitted from the HD series.
Great video Mitch. IMHO not sure the Helix is 2-3 the price better. I run my HD500 into a BBE Sonic Maximizer Stomp, then into my PA or powered monitor. Very happy with my tone, especially with The DR Z model. Some have said the BBE is like taking a blanket off the sound and opens it up. That has been my experience also. That may make up some of the difference in the two units. The cost of the two is still way cheaper than the Helix.
I have the PODHD500X and put through an amp or on computer this does a great job I think a lot comes down to the interface differences though I would say the HDpro is still user friendly even if a little limited in area's compared to Helix. I think like anything else you stick a huge price tag on something & people automatically presume it must be radically better.
I think I'm going to try using the pod's amp sims and then cab IRs in my daw. OwnHammer cab sims are amazing
The biggest difference between the two that I’ve noticed is the dynamics. The amps and pedals responding to how loud I hit the strings, or what the volume knob on my guitar is. The Helix responds to those changes in a much more real or analog way. Probably not worth the money though. Maybe the stomp box is a good option. What Line 6 did for the Pod and Helix is pretty amazing. Even at the higher Helix price, if you consider you buy a bunch of amps, pedals, cabinets, mics you’re going way over $1600.
I heard there were impressive results out of The Two notes CAB with Helix or AX8 . If You have the oportunity to try 'em out . Many thanx for your vids. Keep it up
Is it just me or did the pod HD sound better? Thanks brother. This was a really professional video. You only said what you had to say and it was great information and demonstration.
They sound very similar I might just pick up a 500x for now and hopefully the price will come down even more
What I could make out is that Helix sounds more like real amps...like the real deal...
POD HD on the other hand, I felt is more based out of the studio albums and stuff...
This was more clearly evident on the ENGL comparison...
Helix is much better at the amp simulation part.
agreed. can't believe the comments on here saying that you could make them sound the same with an eq, the whole response is completely different.
Will the PODHd500 works well with DigitechCabDryVR?
The main difference I've heard - is ATTAC, and it's much sharper in Helix.
I don't really care about plenty of effects in it - my main purpose is to have couple of tones to play on, but they should be as close to natural as possible, with saving on guitars ADSR. And looks like Helix climbed much higher in that. HD500 sound like a soapbox on a highgain presets and steals couple hundreds of dollars guitar tones on cleans.
Thanks for review, really helpful!
Nice!
i liked pod hd more with common cabinet impulse,it was more mid focused n natural sounding to my ears but with its own stock cabinets it wasnt good as helix.
TIMESTAMPS
COMMON CAB IMPULSE
2:30 Fender Twin Reverb
3:02 Fender Deluxe Reverb
3:24 Vox AC30
3:54 Marshall Plexi
4:21 Hiwatt DR-103
4:46 Soldano SLO-100
5:20 Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
5:45 ENGL Fireball
STOCK CABS
6:48 Twin w/ Twin 2x12 R121
7:19 Deluxe w/ Deluxe 1x12 R121
7:41 AC30 w/ AC30 Silver Bell 2x12 U87
8:11 Plexi w/ 25W Greenback 4x12 MD409
8:40 DR-103 w/ Hiwatt Fane 4x12 U87
9:04 SLO w/ Marshall 1960 T75 4x12 SM57
9:39 Dual Rec w/ Mesa V30 4x12 SM57
10:03 Fireball w/ ENGL V30 4x12 SM57
EFFECTS
10:48 Hot Rod Deluxe clean tone
11:04 Ibanez Tube Screamer
11:32 ProCo Rat
11:56 Arbiter Fuzz Face
12:18 EHX Big Muff Pi
12:53 BK Butler Tube Driver
13:23 MXR Phase 90
13:53 Uni-Vibe
14:16 Boss CE-1
15:11 Hot Rod Deluxe clean tone (again)
15:27 Hall
16:14 Room
16:59 Chamber
17:46 Spring
18:36 Plate
19:31 Echoplex
20:18 2290
Mitch Baker would you mind sharing the presets you used on the pod?
Mitch Baker your 1st demo sounded like cemetery gates
Sounds about the same
r2
I like the Pod better... It has a warmer sound. The Helix sounds very distorted, grainy, dirty...
The Pod will need a boost, Helix sounds a little louder.
They certainly sound similar. And yes the HD is a lot less. But with the Helix I've never had so much fun programming my own presets and setting snapshots that just move swiftly from preset to preset without a miss.
LINE 6 HELIX or Line 6 Helix LT? Why the first mentioned is with around 300 euros more?
To be fair, the pod sounds great, the Helix just sounded a bit brighter.
good demo and nice playing.
Mesa Rectifier sounds over the top superior via Helix vs HD500...what I'm seeing here is that some tones can be sonically similar through both, others require higher processing power to achieve a more accurate sonic match to the real deal. I guess it all depends on what tones are required for the material you are playing. Thanks for the info.
If you can't hear the astronomical difference, please use audio monitors.
I'm running this video throw my LSR308's and there's a HUGE difference in how they sound.
Great idea for the video. So many sound like the speaker is being over driven or the line level is so high its clipping badly though. Strange.
Do you turn off the cab in the pod and use IRs in your DAW?