Sounds really great. One of the hardest things to figure our about this thing ia the input/ouput scheme, but once you balance it out it sounds amazing. I'm upgrading from a Korg Toneworks AX1000G, which has really awesome sounds, but the X3 Live sounds better and does so much more. I use it hooked into my home recording set-up (mixer, compressor, BBE, power amp, studio monitors) and it sounds phenomenal. Not fizzy at all, and the models have such realism that it makes me keep playing for hours on end. The bass models are pretty good, as well, and the vocal signal chain modeling is really good. It took me a good two weeks to really be able to suss it out and start dialing in awesome tones; it is a pretty steep learning curve, but it's worth it. Once you nail it, it's quicker and easier to use and you'll have your user presets filled up with all sorts of wicked tones.

Every sort of in and out you could imagine, and easily one of the most feature-laden things on the market today. Unfortunately, I wish one "feature" it had was durability. Without it being reliable and road-worthy, which I don't think it is, it would be untenable for me to think about actually using it live. This thing seems fragile to me.

Steep learning curve. Not to be purchased in hopes of using it that night for a show, to be sure. Or even that week. However, once everything clicks and you get it, the tone is simply amazing and you start moving much faster on it.

I'm going to keep mine here at my home studio, and try not to step on it too hard. I know a lot of folks have suffered from glitches, broken switches, etc. but I think I got lucky.

It is an awesome product. Very powerful, with very tough and muscular amp sounds. I wish it was in a sturdier casing, like the XT Live (or my old Korg, for that matter). As aforementioned, I wouldn't use this live.

Haven't had to deal with yet (fingers crossed)...

The amp modeling is the best around today. Amazingly real.

Active Musician

rock

What a great improvement over the XT Live! You may not even need to use a 'fizz' remover.

Dual guitar inputs - totally rocks! Each with separate effect lines. Awesome!

Display is a little larger that XT Live - Deep editing takes a little getting used to.

Made excellently well! You could throw it from a moving train and it will sing all the way!

Couldn't believe I got it cheaper than XT Live. $60 savings!

USB, Online, E-mail, Call Centre, Software Updates - Excellent!

It's hot rock sexy, I would take it on a date anywhere. My girlfriend has to wait in line 6! hahaha

Guitar player, local band.

Knoppfler to Satriani... and trust me, that's W I D E!

Do you have POD XT 2.0 or XT Live it's the same sound. I was really disappointed. Expected more from Line 6 ads. Surprised to receive mine and have it die on me after an hour. It's still fizzy on high gain. They did not fix that beee box sound.

No it comes with nothing. No editor to adjust presets from the computer. using the display menu is a drag. Bad on you line 6. Lets get rid of re-amp? What were they thinking?

Not easy. Some say its the next thing to sliced bread but its burnt toast. Some added features would be good like the XLR outputs finally.

Ordered my first one. It was dead. Ordered a replacement. It crapped out. Play and move switches for preset changes, it cut out. The top of this thing is not TANK Like my original XT live. That one was built very good. This new one is cheap. Plastic and feels like a toy. My other XT Live is heavier. It STILL works so I am keeping it instead. The X3 live did not work after 2 tries on 2 units. I could not trust it on any stage.

Working one may get some fun. All they did was make a Boss GT8 version of the XT original. They failed.

Line 6 has no response besides saying they will fix these if they come in. They will not change the plastic bottom or fix the flimsy switches.

Look at them and ask yourself. Is the original put together better than the replacement? No way. Original is metal and durable. New X3 is not near the quality of the Xt live original.

active player

Rock

Sounds awesome once you figure out its like running a pedal board

The wah/ vol pedal is great and the knobs are durable

I figured it out on Youtube

Its tour frendly

Its def worth the price

never used it

Its HOT but my tone light goes out

The sounds in the X3 Live are much more open and natural than any previous POD (I've had a POD 2.0, Flextone 2 and an XT Live). While the XT Live excelled at full gain distortion tones, the X3 Live does that even better but also does the mid and low gain sounds really nicely. Much less compression than in previous models and very good dynamics. The "digital fizz" issue, which was a point of criticism on all modelers is no longer an issue. It does the stomp box effects very well too, but falls short in the guitar synth type patches. Line 6 should either devote more time to these or remove them as they are unimpressive. Also, a good intelligent harmonizer would be really welcome as I'm sure the hardware is capable of it.

Phenomenal number of modelled amps and stomp boxes. Again, the synths of of little use except as noise makers and the lack of an intelligent (diatonic) harmonizer is bothersome. What is really cool is the number of wah pedals modelled, as they all really sound and respond differently.

Line 6 really outdid themselves on this one. Couldn't be any easier to get to even the deepest levels of editing. The larger LCD display and the 4 way cursor control is the key here. However, I don't like having to double click to edit. I couldn't stand double clicking on a pc and don't like it here. however giving multiple functions to the buttons does keep the interface pretty neat and clean.

I have now owned 4 Line 6 products and have only had trouble with the Flextone 2 in 2001 (had to return 2 of them due to total failure) and the standard floorboard was poorly made and caused problems (It seemed to use clear easily bendable plastic strips through photo sensors to gauge pedal position- not good). I have had no problems with my X3 Live so far. Based on my recent experience with Line 6 I don't expect any problems. I have heard from the sales guys at Guitar Center that there are still some quality issues with the extension floorboards.

Considering what you get for the price (an amazing number of really usable sounds) its a very good deal.

No tech issues thus far, so no need to contact line 6. The firmware update to version 1.02 via the USB 2.0 connection went through with no problem.

Hobbyist for now.

Music.

It sounds like POD, pocket pod, pod 2.0. Nothing new. Jokers think 2 pods in 2 ears hides the pizzzyy sound. wake up. I have other pods and thought this was better. IT IS NOT.

Can't use it. Mine froze in tuner mode. Then it dies and locks when I turn amp knobs. Dloaded firmware upgrade. No fix :(

See above

See above. I have to add. I am not the only one. Go to line 6 website and look how many neg reports on this thing. Bug here, this is buggy, this don't work, mine goes dead. Pick a topic. It's there. I know they want to fix this with a firmare. These things are jacked chinese crap!!!

500 bucks for 2 pocket pods is stupid

Their trying to fix things. I couldn't wait longer. Supporting means you DO NOT sell a product incomplete. The editor is not coming until FEB 08???? What is up with that? You can't edit it easy without one!

Thought it was like the POD Xt Live. Switches are NOT heavy duty. Knobs and display cover are realy cheap. Now add the BIG PLASTIC bottom. I don't know what I paid $500 for???? Plastic? No editor? Freezes up?

Musician, Instructor

Blues, Classic Rock, Prog,

I have the Pod X3 Live running into my JSX Head and Mixer board. I can shape the tone on both outputs to sound the same over the PA and the AMP. The effects are really spot on and the AMP models are really accurate.

The X3 Live comes with all of the model packs that you use to have to purchase with the POD XT. Thanks Line6 for including the packs "Free of Charge"

Really well laid out board. Lit LCD screen that you can read standing and in the dark.

I would have preferred a more rugged case but so far has not given me any issues.

Once the new "Gear Box" is ready for download the value will be a 10.

Line6 has really good support. he answered my emails in a timely fashion and there user forum is moderated by customer support and technicians.

I

Hobbyist & Active Musician

Blues Rock & Prog Rock

The sound out of the unit using any kind of gain/distortion is very much on the fuzzy side. Don't expect to set this thing to a Mesa Boogie and get a Mesa Boogie accurate model. That's ridiculous. The clean sounds are nice and the effects like echo, reverb, noise gate are all pretty good. Don't throw your Boss effects out though. The POD X3 is not that good.

With no accessories included with the standard unit, you can add a pedal so that your volume and wah pedal are seperate (Purchase seperately). The best features as far as I'm concerned is that you can use the Gearbox software included, to program the unit. Don't be surprised if you feel like a complete idiot with the knobs on the unit itself. I can't imagine trying to program this thing live. The push switches on the unit are the cheeziest I've ever seen and within three months of using the device, my tuner switch is dead as verified by the onboard diagnostics. A hunk of junk with regard to the hardware quality of build.

I won't even bother commenting on the ease of use. It's not easy. It doesn't flow. You have to hit buttons which are poorly labeled to navigate. If it wasn't for the software included, I would have thrown the unit out the window a long time ago. Switching between banks is confusing and you will have to spend hours programming the unit to flow between your models and sounds.

I've never had a BOSS pedal break on me in the first year of life ever. While the unit looks mean and pretty at the same time, it's all fluff. Don't take this unit on the road without a backup unit. This is not professional grade stuff with respect to durability.

Take the $500 and put it towards a killer amp and some great effects and you won't need this unit. If $500 is all you have, you might want to risk it. Just remember, when you have to return this unit to the factory, you are out of luck and it's sizeable so your shipping is not exactly a slam-dunk

This unit has great facade. That is, it looks absolutely wonderful. That's it.

Active Musician 35 years.

Blues, Hard Rock, Metal, Shred

First of all, I am a performer, not an engineer. So if you know what I'm talking about, then read before you buy. But if you are digital savvy, then this may be what you want. But here is my review- The presets seemed heavy and overdone and I got extremely frustrated and then angry by the difficulty of editing and creating my own. The Amp modeling is clever as the users guide shows sexy pictures of vintage amps (who wouldn't want to dive in, right) but this is marketing. I didn't get the feeling I was using those amps. I find the descriptions (fat, presence, hollow, etc.) featured in other models more realistic. I use a Fender Pro-Sonic and a telecaster that already sound very distinct and I felt like the Line 6 presets buried them. So I set out to invent my own user presets but felt like I just couldn't develop the dexterity and knowledge to perform the tedious programming required.

I don't know how to evaluate the features fairly but I will say that the LCD Screen failed repeatedly.

I bought it on a Monday with hopes of having it set up for a show Saturday. After 4 days of increasing frustation and anxiety, I returned it feeling defeated. This unit is for younger engineer math types- not left brain musicians. After 4 days of anxiety, I was begging for Mercy. I returned it for a cheaper competitor model that I fell in love with instantly and lived happily ever after. The line 6 digital LCD step processes that are required to operate it make the effects processor the experience instead of the music. It's too complicated to operate. It's definitely not stage friendly either because first, it's too big to get inside a gig bag- so separate trip from the car, and it embarrassingly requires more floor space - so if you are playing a small stage, it doesn't snuggle up discreetly next to the drums or monitor easily. Furthermore, no one over 40 will be able to read the LCD in dark stage lighting without getting down on hands and knees with reading glasses and a flashlight.

The LCD Screen starting splitting into two halves of unrelated screens from the start and some parts seem cheap. I then started reading blogs about having to download patches and my anxiety level went through the roof.

In retrospect, the salesmen tried to warn me that it "takes a little time" but I didn't listen. I ended up returning it and buying the "leading" brand for about $300.00 and in 15 minutes was smiling. If the Line 6 does more, then so be it but it doesn't help me because any advantage was completely outweighed by it's poor ease of use.

I cut my losses before exposing myself to further rejection.

How would I rate the sex appeal? Like making love to a Vulcan.

ACtive Musician-Performer

Jazz, Blues, R&B, Classic Rock

sounds the same as the Xt Live. Quality of the sound is okay But not exciting.

Features are Cheap. Not well laid out. the most usefull is the on off switch. I say that because I only turned it on twice. then it died.

I dont know I only got to use it twice the display is bigger than the XtLive Pedal,I was happy they made it bigger.

Line6 is just like all other companies, Cut as many corners as they can to make a Profit. See it is all about Money. Line6 Got Cheap and greed has taken over. I say the Pod X3 Live is worth $100.00 Usd. It cost Line6 about $20.00 USD to make and sells for $499.95. thats a $479.95 Profit.Now it is not just Line6,it is all manufactures around the Globe. everything in Life is Over priced. But come on Line6...Plastic. you cheap bastards. oh and you have to pay to add the sounds you want like Distortion etc.. at $50.00 USD a pop from lin6.com. It comes with only a few distrotions and effects that you want.but not the ones you really want.they'll cost you money.

it is not worth the money. it is made of Plastic. the Unit Will Die in two uses or less. and every thing you want in an effects processor does not come loaded you have to Pay $50.00 to download them on it useing your computer. GREED!

They say that if a unit comes back to them they will fix it but shipping is your expence.to and from.

I have it but it does not work...I'll use it for parts (electronics)

yes I am experienced...jimmy Handrix

Jazz.Blues,Rock,Metal,Classical.

Don't rely on stock patches -- they are a bit thin, even with the dual chain. Go to the Line 6 forums and search for "bundles" -- download some and you'll see the true potential of this unit. Better than anything, and I mean anything else out there, especially for the cash.

Needs intel pitch shifting and a much better whammy model.

Really pretty easy. I don't know why I'm seeing so many people say this thing is difficult to program. I know some musicians are "technically challenged" but really, this things as easy to use as anything else.

I've not had any issues at all.

Again, once you unlock the potential its amazing. Much superior to the POD XT.

Online support is pretty good. I've never had to deal directly with tech support.

Looks good -- display is easy to read. Hard plastic casing doesn't bother me a bit.

Soon to be "Active Musician"

Anything I feel like playing that day.

nothing spectacular. it's a POD XT sound. I thought it was something new and new models. Meh! It just gets worse! Playing it and trying to change some presets. Factory presets are all about pitch shifters and really stupid effects. Start to change some knobs and it just dies on me. Screen was lit up but no sound and no display characters. I waited for the firmware fix. Loaded that up and it did the same thing after an hour.

Couldn't say. It didn't work

Starts to dial in. Move switches and it cuts out.

Plastic, top is cheap looking. Bottom is all plastic. What did they charge the extra $100 for? Plastic!

There is no value in non working plastic paperweights

They had a firmware fix for it already. That's a bad indicator for me. Not checking these before they ship them.

Old POD looked cool. This looks cheap and is.

Hobbyist

Rock, Country

All of the sounds you ever wanted are here, and if they're not they will be. Compatible with a lot of Pod XT custom tones that are downloadable from their website for FREE (tens of thousands of them). Create virtually any sound by tweaking all of the settings to get it just right. Dual tone sounds really add that extra kick!

I bought the X3 because my wife has a bass guitar, this unit can run my guitar and my wifes bass at the same time with separate effects and since there is a folder full of bass tones it saved us from buying an extra unit. USB connectivity is very quick and recording is fairly simple to do. All the inputs and outputs you'll need. Since I went to windows vista and my ASIO soundcard is not yet compatible, this thing is filling in as an ASIO soundcard perfectly! The only feature I wish it had was the ability to patch the MIDI IN signal thru USB. So since my Delta soundcard isn't vista compatible yet I've lost my MIDI IN & OUT on my PC.

Very complex for a new POD user. I've owned Zoom and Digitech effect processors and this is way more advanced. Took about 30 mins or more just to finally get a sound out of it after I set it up (lots of settings and inputs/outputs). Manual doesn't seem to be the best of help, but online forums played a big factor in getting things right. I haven't quite figured out how to use the stomp controls to access and switch between all preset folders (it seems to only cycle thru the user tones) so for now I'm just using the knob, there's probably a way I just haven't got it yet.

Seems durable, people complain in reviews that it's plastic, but it's a mix of steel and plastic, not ALL plastic. And the plastic seems to be the ABS durable type that you see being put on newer cars these days as bumpers. It's looks great! All the chrome knobs, the heavy duty chromed-steel footpedal with grip, the fancy cross-bars, and the fact that it lights up like a christmas tree!

At $500 it emulates equipment that would cost you in the thousands. I've bought other line 6 equipment to find that the quality and value are definitely worth it so didn't think twice when buying the POD X3.

I haven't had to contact them for anything but their website is laid out very well. It gave me FAQs, and forums to browse, so it didn't leave me stranded. Lots of downloads for POD products, and the updates installed flawlessly on first run.

I started out wanting just the pocket pod for about 100 bucks. After seeing online demos of the X3 Live on youtube and line6's website I had to have it! Once I realized that I had to have the full-blown POD I comparison shopped between boss, roland, and this, just to be sure that I was getting the best thing for my money. This was it.

Hobbyist

Rock, Country, Blues,

Had to buy extra bundle package to get full range of sounds.

Due to lack of support for the Mac, it's a paperweight.

Hobbiest

Rock & Blues

As many others have stated you have to turn it all the way up to even hear it.

Decent Features

User friendly

This product is unreliabel... it consistenly shuts off in the middle of performances and has to be reset...I sent it back to get a new one, and the new did the same things... stay far away from this one.

would have been great if it worked

They were willing to help but never sloved the problem

The sound is amazing through the right equipment. It will sound Ok through an amp. It will sound awesome through a proper sound system.

It has all I need and much more. Tons ans tons of Amps, stomp boxes, effects, patches, plus I can go to line6.com and get even more. Although it's got a lot of plastic parts (like the stomp boxes switches)it is a pretty sturdy unit. One would have to be very hard on it to be able to break it. For any intermediate to advanced guitar player is a nice solution to not carry around your whole collection of pedals cables...etc.

If you are familiar with effects stomp boxes and pedals it is a piece of cake to figure out this unit. If you are a beginner it may frustrate you a little bit and you will actually have to read the manual and watch instructional videos. Once you're over that hump then you just have to enjoy it! I play my arc-hollow (Gibson ES-330), electro-acoustic (Taylor 814CE), and my nylon string classic (Takamine) with the POD X3 live and all of them sound great!

As good as you can get. Sturdy and well built. Some people complain about the small screen. i particularly almost don't use it because most of the time I use my laptop to tweak it. That's right! you plug it into your PC and there you have all your options on the screen. All you have to do is set it up and download the Gearbox software and that's it. Only one thing...It does get dusty and it shows on the smooth black shiny finishing.

I believe it's definitely worth its price.

Haven't use it so far, but when you post questions on the Line6 community site, most people there are very nice and willing to help you.

Sleek! Shiny, and fancy looking!

It sounds killer, that said, you can't use the mesa recto models and make them sound exactly like a real recto, but they're very close. this does everything I need it to and I play a wide variety of music, from jazz to death metal hitting most everything in between. I think it sounds great for recording situations or live use. I think is sucks terribly with my practice amp( a peavey blazer 158) but what did I expect? it's a solid state 15 watt practice amp with an 8" speaker, it still sounds better than the amp on it's own though so I still plug it in. there SHOULD be a low pass filter built in.... because when recording I have to use the low pass in my DAW set around 12KHz to cut down the fizz to minimal levels. I recorded my first clip with it within 5 minutes of finishing making my patches for it, and it is the tone that I use for my original music. and it took me 15 minutes to create my user 18 A-D settings. so like I will get to later, it's very easy to use.(well, i'll get to that part)

it's got everything i'll ever need, it's rugged enough for my live shows as I haul stuff carefully and don't monkey things around and drop them. I like the dual rig feature. and it is easy to tweak.

If you're technologically minded, like me, it is very easy, and the manual will tell you what you need to know if you don't know how to work it. it's not rocket science. I am an audio/recording engineer and this is very easy for me to use and get great sounds out of. Line6 is great when it comes to ease of use. I had more trouble with the BOSS GT-10 unit I used for a few recording sessions(not to mention the tones on the pod blow the gt-10 out of the water)

It's well made, unlike some reviews i've read have said, it has not yet crapped out on me. and i've been using it almost constantly. I would keep a back-up just in case, but i'm a paranoid person like that. I do use this at gigs, and it works great. it holds up. I don't grind the f**k out of my pedals when I turn them on, I take as rough of a touch as necessary, and on this, that's not a lot. and the wah pedal holds up amazingly. I expect this thing to last quite a few years. I would have made it entirely metal. but hey, it's great, it works, it's road-worthy for me so I can't complain.

for it's price it could be a bit more rugged, the XT live was more ruggedly built I think. but like i said, i'm not a monster on my gear, I use it properly and don't abuse it. I think it was definitely worth the price though.

i've upgraded the firmware, did that when I first got it. but I haven't needed any other service. but on other products i've experienced great support they get a 10 in my opinion.

honestly, I do like how it looks, but I got it because it was supposed to do wonders for my recorded tone(as i'm by no means wealthy enough to get all these amps and effects for real. lol) and it did exactly what i was meant to do.

recording engineer gigging musician

jazz to death metal and almost all in between.

Sounds are really good - when it works

Great features - when it works

Easy for me to use - when it works

Piece of crap. I wish I never waisted my time, and yes mucho cash on this piece of crap. I am so frustrated by this unit. Turns on blank screen sometimes, sometimes stays on for a few minutes, sometimes an hour, then whiz bang craps out and the display either freezes or goes blank. I have a fairly good home studio and this was a nice little addition to my guitar rig and great for direct to protools or my vs station - though sad to say the reliability sucks. Worst thing ever to cramp your session. Going in the trash.

has to work to be worth something.

support??????????? ROFL.... Yeah use the posts, then most official reposts are no help. The only good advice i got was take it to a service center- oh wait - none in my state (wish i knew that before i bought). There is one worth the day trip = though they never return my messages. Guess their sick of this crap too. So in my specific case THERE IS NO SUPPORT AT ALL!!!!!

Active Musician

Stock sounds are not very good. You gotta spend time tweaking

Good set of features

This unit is quite complicated

It does seem a bit cheaply built and not sure how it would hold up over the abuse of travel and gigs would give it. I had read that there were some volume issues with patch changing. When tweaking sounds I experienced a no volume issue and it wasn't resolved until I turned the unit on and off. I can't afford for this to happen LIVE.

So far it hasn't been worth the money spent on it because of the volume dropout issue I've experienced. I'm going to return it.

Well, I can't rate support yet. They haven't yet returned my call, so it is not going to be very high.

It's a good unit when it's working correctly and you have tweaked the sounds yourself. The stock sounds are not very usable. You have to spend time with it.

Active Musician

Rock, Pop, Contemporary Christian

Over all the sound is good. It got better than the XT. The factory prsets aren't the best but when you take time and dial it it, you get some sweet sounds. This is great sound for on stage! I run mine through my Fender Hotrod.

The dual amp at one time feature is amazing! that alone is worth the extra $100. It is so useful when you want the same sound but maybe a little louder or with different settings. Also the knobs on the display are a lot nicer then having to change them through setings like the XT

If you are a preveious pod owner then it will not be that much of a change. The editing and stuff is really in depth so if you are the kinda guy that sits down for awhile to get a nice sound then this is good for you. If you dont own another pod then playing with this will be dificult to get use to. Once you get the hang of it, its fine.

The top is overall sold but the bottm is plastic which wasn't very good on pod's part.

This was totally worth the exta money!

Haven't needed much but so far its perfect.

If i could go back in time and get it again, i would.