My DI Quest, Through Line 6

I have always loved Line6. Since owning a Flextone II XL there has not been a single time when I do not have a Line6 piece somewhere - currently my UX8 recording interface.

The UX8 has all of the cab sims you mention, and they are good. Sure, not as flexible as the OCSDlx given that there are presets that have only a bit of adjustment. That said, they are still very good, and adding EQ after them makes them VERY tweakable. You spend time on the PC programming them, but the sounds you can get are great. I guess you could trade programming time for pedalboard arranging etc.

Ignore the extra effects if the box does everything else you want and go for it. They make good stuff.

Edit: I should add, I'm running g a stereo DI rig with pedals. I have the OCSDlx and love it. The algos on the Line6 can match its performance, you just need to spend a little more time with the EQ section you add after it. Or hey, maybe you won't find you even need to do that. The flexibility is amazing.

 

I've tried the B3, the PODxt Live and have been using the HD500x for a year and a half now, very happy with the HD500x.

The B3 seemed ideal, but in reality, it was limited when you used it as a modeler rather than an effects unit. You can only have 3 effects on at once, if one is the amp sim, that leaves 2, add a compressor, only 1 slot left to play with. Bought a PODxt Live to give me some flexibility with effects. It needed the Bass Expansion Pack adding to it, but that was well worth doing. Comparing the B3 & the XT, they sounded very similar to my ears, the XT had the edge over the effects slots, and being able to change patches on the fly. B3 was sold. A few months into PODxt Live ownership showed up a few issues with it. The search started to find some sort of replacement... Kept coming back to the HD500/HD500x. Bought one, compared it to the XT Live, sold the XT Live, bought the HD Bass pack.

Yes, the HD Bass pack is well worth the extra money ($29.99 IIRC). The standard unit has 2 bass amps on it, the B15N & the Bassman. I've also found that the HiWatt model sounds quite good with bass as well. The HD Bass pack only adds 2 extra amp sims (GK & SVT), but one of these has 2 variations (SVT Bright/SVT Normal), it also adds 2 cab models (8x10 & 4x10). It may not sound too impressive, but they really do sound good!

I'd love to try a Helix / Helix LT, but they cost a lot of money, and I can't justify the expense. The upside of the Helix / Helix LT being available, is that there are quite a few HD500x's available second hand that have been seriously well looked after, and come with extras (original box plus carry bag/case etc.).

 

You can find the X3 Live cheaper than the HD500 and it has stereo XLR outs and all the bass amps and cabs built into it.
I picked one up for use with a Variax Bass and I think it's pretty cool. The Zoom B9 1.ut can be found inexpensively and has stereo XLR line outs as well. It has amp and cab sims in it as well.
0x

 

Thing is, the X3 uses the PODxt models, so you don't get the increased definition of the HD models. The HD500x also has the stereo XLR's, an effects loop, a Variax connector and a connector for a Line6 amp.

 

Have you tried it out yet, or just ordered it? I found the cab sim too dark for my tastes, as have many others.

The new Darkglass Ultra series have cab sims on board these days too.

The TC Spectradrive is a good contender, headphone amp has aux in unlike the Two Notes and Darkglass competition, plus you get 4 band EQ and cab sim, overdrive, and the best sounding bass compressor I’ve ever used.