Behringer V-Amp Pro vs. Pod XT Pro?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Nov 2004 7:52 pm

I just got the new AMS catalog and the price on the Behringer V-Amp Pro has dropped to $170. Compare that to the Pod XT Pro (similar functionality) at $700!

Is the Behringer any good? It's hard to believe that they would price themselves that far below the competition, unless there's a real problem with the unit.

I've been fooling around at home with a Pod 2 and a Genesis 3 and I'm starting to get into the sim concept, but I think a rackable would be easier to deal with on stage. $700 for the Pod is pretty steep, though!

Does anyone here have any experience with the Behringer V-Amp Pro?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 3 Nov 2004 8:08 pm

I have been using the POD Xt for steel since it came out. There are quite a few advantages for steelers. First off the tones are good to great and are very transparent. Lots of variety, and phenomenal clean tones are available. Now the best part. I have mine mounted on a mike stand next to my left hand, making easy real time adjustments are possible. These can be done without missing a beat; with your picks on!!! These just went down from $300 to $299 and are probably less some places. Sorry that I can't help you with a comparison.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 3 Nov 2004 9:24 pm

POD wins over the Behringer by a long shot regarding performance and sound quality. That price on the Behringer is tempting though. Line 6 has taken the modelling thing to a really advanced level. Behringer is just dabbling and doing their typical minimal quality production methods with more basic versions of the technology. The Behringer doesn't suck for the money, but it sucks in comparison. IMHO

Also, why would you need the Pro model? Get the PODxt. It's now $300. Even with the modelling completely off, it's a great sounding and loaded FX unit for steel. Tuner too. You can use it as a complete preamp/fx rig too.

Brad Sarno

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Nov 2004 10:54 pm

I like rackable gear because it sets up so fast. With the power amp in the rack, I can just plug in one power cord, run wires to the the speakers, hook up my volume pedal and I'm done. No messing with wall warts, power strips, extra wires, etc.

The Behringer gets good reviews for sound quality over at Harmony central, but who knows what those headbangers think is "good sound". That's why I ask here. Steel players are probably the most finicky tone guys in the world!

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 4 Nov 2004 8:03 am

OK . . here's MY experience with these boxes.

I played an Alesis QVerb GT for years. had it in a rack with a Korg DTR1 tuner. THen got a Digitech Genesis 3 which I really l9ovedk but, no rack moiunt, and I was too cheap or lazy to carry the rack just for a tuner.

So, thought I, I'll go with the Behringer V Amp Pro, get the rack and tuner back, and have all that I'de have with the POD.

Not so. The V amp is nice, has good sound, but the biggest drawback, to me, is the inability to {"name" the settings. You've got to remember what NUMBER/LETTER combination yuou used.

So, I bit the bullet and bought the POD Pro XT, and upgraeded to version 2 software. What a machine. It's all there. Everything you could ever want.

Just like most of these things made for guitar players, a lot of the capability in the box has no use on a steel. But, everything you'd ever need for a steel is there, except the "non=suck" bvutton.

Ho-pe this helps, B0b. Take care, Chick Donner

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 5 Nov 2004 6:36 am

b0b,

The big improvement from the Pod 2.0 to the Pod XT was the improved clean sounds, lower noise, and headroom (usually important to steel players). The Behringer unit is their version of the Pod Pro, not the Pod XT Pro, so the XT is a newer generation of unit.

If you have a power amp, etc, I understand wanting the rack mountable gear. For me, going direct most of the time, I use the desktop version, in a $150 flight briefcase, with foam. It has protected it, made it quick to setup, and if need be I can carry it on the plane with me (although I usually check it).

I have used a lot of Behringer gear before, and I find that about 1/2 the time I get a great unit that works and sounds good. The other 1/2 of time, I get a unit that either acts funny, or just doesn't live up to it's billing. Now, since the prices are so cheap, you may still want to try the Behringer first...

Good luck,

David Spires

William Peters · Post by **William Peters** » 5 Nov 2004 7:29 am

B0b,

Don't waste your money on the Behringer. I have one, and it might be ok for guitar, but its not so great for steel.

First, its not physically rugged. The controls have cheap plastic shafts that easily break off.

Second, it does not have very much clean headroom. If the gains are turned down low enough to be clean, it will not drive a power amp to anywhere near full volume.

Third, the digital circuits are too noisy, it sounds like distant thunder just sitting idle... some emulations are worse than others.

It actually sounds best if the digital preamp is bypassed, but then you have no EQ controls.

I give it 4 thumbs down.

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Bill
http://www.wgpeters.com
Mullen RP SD12U, ART-SLA, Tubefex, Vamp-Pro[This message was edited by William Peters on 05 November 2004 at 07:30 AM.]

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Nov 2004 9:59 am

The worst thing about the Behringers is that they generate lots of IM distortion. This shows up as very low frequency rumblings that are quite disconnected from the musical part of what's coming out of the box. To me it was unnaceptable. Maybe for dirty guitar sounds you wouldn't notice it much, but for steel, it was generally unbearable once you notice it.

Brad Sarno

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 5 Nov 2004 10:06 am

I have been "unsold" on the Behringer V-Amp Pro. Thanks, everyone, for your input.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Rainer Hackstaette · Post by **Rainer Hackstaette** » 5 Nov 2004 3:53 pm

b0b, if you are still using your Variax you might want to consider the new PODxt LIVE. It's a floorboard XT that lets you control the Variax's guitar models. You connect the Variax to the PODxt LIVE via a heavy duty CAT5 cable and store the guitar model together with your amp/cab/effects. The PODxt LIVE retails for about 399.00 $. See the specs on the Line 6 website.

Whatever you do, the XT is the way to go!

Rainer

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Remington D-10 8+7, Sierra Crown D-10 gearless 8+8, Sierra Session S-14 gearless 8+5, '77 Emmons D-10 8+4, '70 Emmons D-10 8+4, '69 Emmons S-10 6+5, Fender Artist D-10 8+4, Peavey Session 400 LTD, Peavey Vegas 400, Line 6 Variax 700

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 5 Nov 2004 4:06 pm

I don't perform on guitar, Rainer. The Variax hangs on a hook in my music room. I pick it up about once a month to dink around or record a rhythm part. I'm a lousy guitarist.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 7 Nov 2004 12:14 am

Bobby,
Don't give up on it yet. I just recorded a whole album using it with the steel and the guitar. Everything sounds great. Experiment with the gain structure to drop the noise threshold. It is even better for gigs where I fly in without an amp and plug direct into the PA and use a monitor send in place of an amp (as long as your playing through a REAL system). I have both, the V-Amp and the POD, I like them both but prefer the V. Don't be fooled by the price. Buy it at guitar center, if you dont like it you have 30 days to return it.
JR[This message was edited by John Rickard on 07 November 2004 at 12:16 AM.][This message was edited by John Rickard on 07 November 2004 at 12:18 AM.]

Paul Osbty · Post by **Paul Osbty** » 7 Nov 2004 2:51 am

Behringer is a company that literally copies and steals designs from reputable companies, hires cheap labor, uses cheap parts, and then undercuts the pricing.

Both electrically and ethically, you get what you pay for.

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 7 Nov 2004 9:12 am

There is nothing remotely similar in the V-amp, I have both. The Mackie Mixing Board lawsuit was not based on copying only the look, but on the construction and circuitry, which were not the same, hence the lawsuit
got thrown out.

JR

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 7 Nov 2004 9:12 am

There's no Guitar Center anywhere near Cloverdale, John. I think I'd have to drive to San Francisco - 2 hours each way. I do almost all of my purchasing by mail up here.

Paul, I see your point. Some people "luck out" with an occasional good unit, but for the most part companies like Behringer produce a lot of shoddy merchandise.

On the other hand, my Variax came with a defective neck that had to be replaced. The company made it good, though, and the repair was quick and hassle free. I'm sure it would be major grief if I had to return a Behringer product to Germany for repair.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 7 Nov 2004 3:03 pm

We have had a lot of problems with the V Amps. The controls are very breakable, but worse, the power supply is full of very easily bendable connecting pins. One slip plugging it in and you have wrecked the unit.
It's not a piece of kit I would ever trust on a gig.

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Cheers!
Dave

[This message was edited by Dave Boothroyd on 07 November 2004 at 03:04 PM.]

Billy McCoy · Post by **Billy McCoy** » 8 Nov 2004 5:29 pm

Hey b0b,

If you want the superior sound, POD XT PRO is the way to go...rackable unit...it is worth the money!!!

Contrary to one of the later posts...
the V amp is a direct copy of the POD 2.0
So, yes IT IS a knock off ....that company did get sued...and they are paying LINE 6 for licensing to make the V units.

The POD 2.0's used a motorolla e-prom and the NEW POD XT series used the most advanced digital audio chip in the world at the moment...the SHARC chip.

If you want to know more b0b...please e-mail me. I'll be glad to help you and any other persons interested or who have questions regarding LINE 6 gear.

Thanks,

Billy McCoy
Regional Sales Manager,
Central Southern States,
LINE 6, Inc.
bmccoy@line6.com

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MSA Millennium D10, Walker Stereo Steel, Stone Tree Custom Tele, LINE 6 Vetta II and POD XT PRO

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 8 Nov 2004 6:55 pm

How about "Where can I get one for under $500?"