The Line 6 POD HD Pro X is a rack-mountable amp and effects modeling unit from Line 6, announced in September 2013 as a replacement for the POD HD Pro. Line 6's press material called it "the ultimate creative studio tool for guitar players," and its headline change over the original was more DSP processing power, giving players greater flexibility for building complex signal paths1. Both the Pro and the Pro X are now legacy products: Line 6 states that the POD HD Pro X is no longer made2, and the same is true of the POD HD Pro3.
What it is and what it does
The POD HD Pro X belongs to Line 6's POD family of modelers, described when the range launched as "the latest addition to the award-winning family of POD products"5. The HD modeling approach covers the whole recording chain: the POD HD range features fully adjustable guitar preamp, power amp, speaker cab and mic preamp models5, so a player can dial in an amp, a cabinet and a microphone position rather than a single combined preset.
The Pro X was announced specifically to put "the latest POD available in a rack-mountable form factor"1, aimed at players who want modeler-based tones in a studio rack or a touring rig rather than on a pedalboard.
Connections and rack format
The POD HD Pro, which the Pro X replaced, was announced with a studio-oriented set of connections6:
The wider POD HD range shares a studio-ready I/O layout: a 1/4-inch guitar input, an XLR mic input, stereo 1/4-inch balanced outputs, USB 2.0, S/PDIF out, a 1/4-inch headphone jack and an FBV jack for Line 6 foot controllers5. Players pairing a rack unit with a floor controller can look at the Line 6 FBV 3.
Both the POD HD Pro and the POD HD Pro X are discontinued. Line 6's current modeling line runs through the Helix family, including the Helix Rack for players who want a modern rack modeler.
POD HD Pro: amp and preamp models
The POD HD Pro shipped loaded with 22 HD guitar amp models and 22 HD guitar preamp-only models6. The preamp-only models matter for players who run the unit into a real guitar amp or an external power amp and cabinet, since they provide the modeled preamp section without the modeled power amp on top.
Versions: POD HD Pro, Pro X and Desktop
The POD HD family appeared in several formats, each aimed at a different place in a rig:
| Version | Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| POD HD Pro | Rack-mountable4 | 22 HD amp models and 22 preamp-only models6; S/PDIF I/O and MIDI In and Out/Thru6; 2RU6 |
| POD HD Pro X | Rack-mountable1 | Replaced the POD HD Pro1; more DSP processing power for complex signal paths1 |
| POD HD Desktop | Desktop unit7 | Multi-effects with amp modeling in the POD HD line7 |
The Pro X is a direct variant of the POD HD Pro rather than a new design1, so the practical difference between the two comes down to the added DSP headroom Line 6 announced in 20131. Players who prefer a floor format in the same family can look at the Line 6 POD HD500X or the original Line 6 POD HD.
Line 6's product pages for the legacy units carry documentation for owners: the POD HD Pro X Advanced Guide2 and the POD HD Pro Quick Start Guide3 are both available as PDFs.
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Questions
How much rack space does the POD HD Pro take?
The POD HD Pro occupies a 2RU space in a standard equipment rack, according to Guitar World's coverage of its 2011 release. The POD HD Pro X keeps the same rack-mountable form factor, so it fits the same two-unit rack slot as the model it replaced.
Does the POD HD Pro X have MIDI?
The POD HD Pro was announced with MIDI In and Out/Thru connections, and the Pro X is a direct replacement for that unit, carrying the same rack format forward. The broader POD HD range also connects to a computer over USB 2.0, which covers editing and patch management alongside the hardware MIDI ports.
What is the difference between the POD HD Pro and POD HD Pro X?
The POD HD Pro X, announced in September 2013, replaced the POD HD Pro in Line 6's range. Its headline change is more DSP processing power than before, which Line 6 said gave musicians greater flexibility for creating complex signal paths. Both are rack-mountable units built on Line 6's HD modeling technology.
Does the POD HD Pro have digital S/PDIF connections?
Yes. Guitar World's 2011 announcement lists S/PDIF I/O among the POD HD Pro's connections, and the POD HD range generally includes S/PDIF out alongside its balanced quarter-inch outputs, making it straightforward to record digitally into an audio interface.
Sources (7)
- Line 6 Announces POD HD Pro X, Premier Guitar, 2013-09-24
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
- Line 6 Launches POD HD Pro Rack Multi-Effect Unit, Premier Guitar, 2011-09-13
- Musikmesse 2011: Line 6 launches POD HD, MusicRadar, 2011-04-06
- Line 6 Launches New POD HD Pro, Guitar World, 2011-09-13
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
