The Line 6 POD HD500 is a floorboard multi-effects processor from Line 6, released in 2010 as the flagship of a three-product POD HD family1. It combines HD amp modeling with a large effects library in a rugged metal chassis, and it is controlled entirely from the floor: 12 footswitches in two tiers of six plus a treadle pedal2.
Line 6 now lists the POD HD500 among its legacy products and states that it is no longer made3. It was succeeded by the POD HD500X in 2013, so today the HD500 is a secondhand buy rather than a new one.
The controls: 12 footswitches and a dual-role treadle
For foot control, the HD500 gives you a treadle and 12 footswitches arranged in two tiers of six2. Each switch has a distinct job, and MusicRadar's review by Trevor Curwen maps them out:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Two far-left footswitches | Scroll up and down through the memory banks2 |
| Middle four, lower tier | Select each of the four presets in the bank2 |
| Final lower tier footswitch | Tap tempo, or calls up the onboard chromatic tuner2 |
| Middle four, upper tier | Turn effects in the signal chain on and off2 |
| Final upper tier footswitch | Turns the HD500 into a looper2 |
The looper deserves its own mention: once the final upper tier footswitch engages it, seven of the other footswitches take looper functions, covering undo, play once, pre/post, rec/overdub, play/stop, half speed and reverse2.
The treadle is more capable than it looks. It can be assigned to control any parameter, and it is effectively two expression pedals in one, EXP1 and EXP2, with pressing down on the toe switching between the two2. If you would rather keep the treadle on one job, a standard expression pedal can be added via a rear panel socket to take on the EXP2 role2.
The unit can also be reconfigured for players who prefer stompbox-style control: you can set the HD500 so the four lower tier switches that would have been used to call up presets are used to switch effects individually instead2.
Editing is possible on the unit itself, but Curwen found it easier from a computer2:
"The built-in display allows preset editing, but it's far easier to plug into a computer."
Power and connections
The HD500's back panel is well stocked for a floorboard of its era. Line 6's launch press release listed an XLR mic input, stereo FX send and return, MIDI in and out/thru, S/PDIF and more, along with quarter-inch balanced and XLR unbalanced outputs1. That connectivity is part of what made it a live tool rather than just a practice unit: the mic input and stereo FX loop let you build a full rig around it, and MIDI lets it integrate with other gear.
The 512 memory locations are organized into banks of four, with 256 preloaded factory presets that can be overwritten2.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review was positive on the sounds and the build. On the amp models, Curwen wrote that in terms of realism of sound the amps are extremely detailed, with dynamic response and feel a definite improvement over previous versions2. On construction, he found the HD500 well built, with a rugged metal chassis, treadle pedal and footswitches2. His reasons to buy summed it up: detailed and playable HD amp models, a huge range of effects, flexible connectivity and stage-ready build quality2. His overall verdict:
"A POD with the best sounds yet, plus the practicality to use them in any situation."
The criticism he noted was narrower: less USB audio routing flexibility than the POD X3 and X3 Live2.
The HD500 and the HD500X
In 2013 Line 6 updated the POD HD500 with the POD HD500X, a guitar multi-effects processor announced by Guitar Interactive Magazine in July of that year5. Premier Guitar also covered the announcement of the updated model1. Line 6 has since listed the HD500X among its legacy products6, so both versions are now out of production. Players comparing the two today are choosing between the original, which carried a $699.99 MSRP1, and its updated sibling on the secondhand market.
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Questions
Is the Line 6 POD HD500 still made?
No. Line 6 lists the POD HD500 as a legacy product and states plainly that it is no longer made. It was released in 2010 as the flagship of a three-product POD HD family and was later replaced by the POD HD500X, which Line 6 also now lists among its legacy products.
What is the difference between the POD HD500 and HD500X?
The HD500X is the updated version, announced in 2013. Line 6's press release highlighted a higher contrast display, and Guitar Interactive described it as an update to the best-selling HD500. The core format is the same: a floorboard multi-effects processor with HD amp modeling, 12 footswitches and a treadle pedal.
Does the POD HD500 have a looper?
Yes. The final footswitch on the upper tier turns the HD500 into a looper, and seven of the other footswitches then take looper functions: undo, play once, pre/post, rec/overdub, play/stop, half speed and reverse. MusicRadar's review describes this as one of the unit's hands-on features.
Can you add a second expression pedal to the POD HD500?
Yes. The built-in treadle is two expression pedals in one, EXP1 and EXP2, and pressing down with the toe switches between the two. A standard expression pedal can also be added via a rear panel socket to take on the EXP2 role, freeing the treadle for other duties.
How many presets does the POD HD500 store?
The HD500 offers 512 memory locations, 256 of which come preloaded with factory presets that can be overwritten. Presets are organized into banks of four, and the unit can alternatively be set so the four lower tier switches switch effects individually instead of calling up presets.
Sources (6)
- Line 6 Launches POD HD Pedals with HD Amp Modeling, Premier Guitar, 2010-09-30
- Line 6 POD HD500 review, MusicRadar, 2010-12-21
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
- Line 6 POD HD500X review, MusicRadar, 2013-10-16
- Line 6 Updates Best-Selling POD HD500 Multi-Effects Processor with New POD HD500X, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-07-12
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
