PodGo VS the real REVV amps - Part 5/5 

The differences to me sounded like the _virtual mics_ and placement, rather than the amp/cabs.

I don't agree at all with your justification for using the stock mic and cab simulators included with the pod go. If you were comparing mics and cabinets then maybe. But you're comparing an amp vs a model of the amp. The fairest comparison would have been to send both pre amps to the same IR so we can actually hear what can be achieved with the pod go. Hell, if you're so interested in comparing stock sounds then go ahead and make a Amp+Ir vs Modeler+IR vs Modeler+stockCabSim.

The only weak point to the helix stuff are the stock cabs. With some good IRs it sounds way better to me. And I would say with the same IR you can get it to sound just like the amp.

I copied the Revv Red setting shown in this video into my Helix LT. Added some Delay, Wah and a Vol pedal then used it at band practice yesterday into a Headrush powered speaker. NICE! Sounds awesome and I will be using it live.

I think for the Pod go price...is pretty damn GOOD!!! Don't you think???🙏 Well done LINE 6🤘

There’s definitely sound difference but in a live context or within a mix, I believe it will be splitting hairs to say one sounds better than the other. Both sounded great to me in the mix.

as a guitarist not earning that much, and knowing you as an actual amp fan, your frustration indulges me as an actual Revv + Ox is out my reach for many years to come. Now I know I'll be happy if were to buy a Line6 POD GO. Great review. You are maybe the most underrated reviewer I came across YT. Keep up the good work.

People saying ‘The amp sounds better’ Of course it does.. it’s designed to do that one thing better than anything else. You know what it can’t do? Sound a lot like a Mesa or a Fender Deluxe or a JCM800 for under £400.

For the record, I liked your song. Also, wow, the POD sounds really good. Definitely more affordable than a room full of amps you use "sometimes," especially if you don't have a room to put them in.

Me, listening on my phone while getting ready this morning: Sounds the same to me. Jiminy Glick: ..And why do you think that is? Watching again now that I've got some headphones on.

they both sound great to my ears, in a blind test I definitely wouldn't no which is which.

I notice in the isolated tracks with the REVV Purple, you are NOT using an overdrive to "goose" the amp. I think that's important - it shows how good the amp itself is (sim or real) without an overdrive. Too many metal guys shove that TS or Boss OD in front and turn it on without even trying the amp by itself.

2:19 doggy peeps through window top left :)

How about testing the POD REV as a preamp into your Rev amps return, that should make the ultimate test TMO

I can hear a difference on both the red and the purple. But yah, on a track it's completely fine. The mixing does a bigger difference

i honestly think the pod go is clearer sounding. I still want the revv though, but ill get the pod go first.

Almost heard some Nuno style pinch harmonica in the first playing segment! Superb demo! 🤘🏻😜🎸

May I suggest an even better way to compare the two? Put the real amp in the fx loop then assign the fx loop and the amp to the same footswitch - use the amp out to go the DAW with the full signal chain and use the real cab - when switching between the fx loop (real amp) and the modeled amp, the rest of the signal chain is identical...

The amp sounds significantly better to my ears.

Super killer tones coming from the line 6 stuff, you’re exactly right, it doesn’t matter, if it’s sounds good, then it’s good. Just like Yngwie and Vai have nothing said. And Henning has said it here. Thank you for the badass video.

I'm glad you used the inbuilt cabs. If I were to have one of these that would be how I would use them, so thanks for that.

You can pimp helix sounds a lot by combining 2 different cabs in a splitted signal path. Even splitted by a crossover frequency, putting some more muddy reflexions to the low frequency cab, positioning them slightly different in the stereo image, using diffrent mics and mic distances or short room reverb in only one path. I think a lot of the magic of commercial IR is, that they are stereo, but you can do the same with the helix standard cabs in a splitted stereo path.

Perhaps the question isn't does it replace the amps, but the Revv pedals? Would be interested to see how it compares to those, considering each one is half as much as the Line 6. Keep up the good work.

Just ordered mine, I've been following you since the tc electronic tank series you'll sell a lot of pods. Great series, very informative and professional, congrats.

The amp sounds wider and more... Which must be the ir... The pod sounds very mono... So really it's hard to tell like this.

Kudos for all these comparisons, done just like they all should be: direct record first and then reamp in the different conditions you want to test and, very important, switching on the fly between them (you could even have omitted the independent full playing of each one). In this 5th part it is natural that you ear more differences because unlike the others you have different IRs in the path which where certainly built from different speakers. And between different V30s there are differences (I know because I have tested it at home). Besides that, a 4x12 has a variety of tones when you move just one meter from center to side, being at three meters distance. So it depends a lot on how many mikes you've used, where they were placed and how you have mixed them to make its IR.

Great series Henning! Yeah, the real amp sounds better...it most always will. I think the pod go is in the ballpark tho, and with a little more eq or better IR it could get even closer. The pod go is a great deal for folks needing a complete live rig/practice rig on the cheap. I mean c'mon... is there a sub $500 modeller on the market with snapshot ability?

I have the Revv generator 100 R.....and it is a masterpiece amp.

Use a BBE Sonic Maximer with the PodGo. That will put you dead on. I've use one for many years to bring the pods to life. You're welcome.

These were very close. The Pod sounds great. I have a Helix and an original 5150 head. I play both. The 5150 model on my Helix sounds close to my real head. It’s not exact but the difference is minimal. Tube amps do have a bit better feel, more connected, but Helix is terrific. I play my Helix much more than my tube amps. There are lots of working musicians who are using modellers live. The flexibility and quality of the Helix amps and effects is well worth it.

Tubes do have that warmer sound, but again, what do you expect. Sure the Pod may sound a bit artificial, but the price and the form factor is definitely something to consider

Somewhere in the mids the pod has a small spike, like a djent-ish tone to it. Still it is amazing how close they became even with stock IRs. I think I'll buy the pod go

the distortion sounds the same but the transient bite and presence bloom on the amp is a biggie, just sounds open and inflated if that makes sense, better in what situation, stacked may be too much

Just ordered the Pod Go using the link you provide. I appreciate the in depth review and listening to your 2cents.

If I were Line6, I'd put out a new Helix. No effects. No CABs. Just 36 amps. Want effects? Put your own stuff before it. Want cabs? Put your own IR-loader pedal after it. You want volume? Lean closer. Enter the Helix Dumb. It's 68 USD. 50 USD without the box.

For the first one I am playing back and forth between 4 minutes to 5 minutes in the video and I am listening this with high end monitors...except the ground noise at 6:08 and 6:15 coming from the real REVV...they both sound exactly the same. For the Purple it is another thing, but I am not sure it is far from the real sound, I wonder with some tweaking, EQ, a little bit more bass, less mids, and a little bit less presence and treble I think it can get there. Blind test in a mix or playing with a band? Not sure I would stay polite with you if you tell me you can tell the difference. The only one here who can tell us if he can hear a difference is Mr. Henning, because we are watching it on RU-vid compressed. That was a really good series to watch Mr. Henning. As always, love the playing, except this time I would have loved to hear a real singer on that track with those amazing riffs of yours. This is like Rap, you cant call that singing. If someone wanna hear growling I will let my dogs running after them, then they will hear what really frightening growls sounds like the moment they will start touching you. No man can growl like an animal, it just sound stupid, exactly like a woman trying to sound like a man and vice versa. Let us hear your voice, from the little bits we hear from time to time pretty sure you can sound like Geddy Lee or James Labrie, and we don't care about accent. Vanden Plas and Vision divine, etc, all have accents and the moment they make a sound we forget about it. Go get yourself a Voicelive from TC you will even have back vocals singing with you.

I like the new Revv models in the Helix a lot. I am using it for practicing and when I don't want to get all the heat from my tube amplifiers. Used with the poweramp section of my old Trace Elliot Supertramp Twin it sounds killer!

He says one important thing . If you allready have the revv full stack there is no reason to play with the pod go but if you start and you have to buy it. Revv rig full stack is about 4.400 € and you dont have pedals and effekts. The Pod Go is 440 € and you are ready to go. if you want to play bass also. Real deal is another few thousand bugs added to the revv rig you have to buy. Pod Go has some nice bass tones and effekts too.

Revv Red pretty close, I agree. Revv Purple not close. You’re being too kind. So I’m not supposed to go there, but cab sim vs IR vs mic’d cab. Apples and oranges. I agree that it’s fair to see what Line 6 can do right out of the box. But...I’m also curious how the purple version compares when holding all the other variables constant, using an IR for both. As it is the tone from the Line 6 is quite narrow in comparison and just a tad dark. Will an IR improve that? I definitely believe I am hearing the difference between the mic’d cab and the sim when comparing the red channel. More so than the difference with the amp model. But this is only slight. The difference with the purple is not slight, but the whole is still the sum of its parts. Maybe that beautiful thing going on in the upper mids is brought out by the interaction between the head and the cab?

Great job of real world testing this thing. Really appreciate the thorough reviews and feedback.

If I listen with only one side of my headphones, they sound pretty similar. Nice. The Amp is a little more clear, less muffled than the PodGo.

You didn't take the digital mics in consideration and maybe could've tested some impulses to try to get as close as possible to the real deal. Mine sounds completely different (and way better) than your's with my custom DI.

I think if you used the exact same cab sim they would be closer. Most of the difference I hear sounds more the cab/mic difference. Especially on the purple channel

I’ve used the helix and loved it for the last three years or so, honestly I’ve had the hardest time getting a clean tone I really like. For me the dirty tone always has a bit of a nasal quality, which can make it really sing for leads, but I find that overall it sounds a little bit messy. I was recording a clean part the other day, and got a way better result Then I was capable of pulling out of the helix just by hanging an e609 over my deluxe reverb... that being said, the convenience factor is way above and beyond.

I think "almost" any player would say that a real amp is more fun than a modeler for any given sound. But Line 6 has gotten so close with many of their models, and their effects are so good, and you have so many choices in a single package, that "which is better", or "do they sound the same" are no longer the right questions to ask. The new question is "is the convenience and/or cost savings important to me?". For some, it is not. If it was not important to me, I would be playing through my HiWatt Custom 100 from 1972 and a Marshall 4x12 loaded with Greenbacks from the 70's. But those things are important to me. And the POD GO and HX Stomp (I own both) do more than a great job fitting into my needs. I think many players would say the same. Again, it's less about tone these days (they are so close now) and more about cost and convenience. That certainly wasn't true 10 years ago.

Not a fair comparison. Those arent combo amps, they didn't come with the loaded 4x12..... If it's based on using them with what they come with they should have used the same IRZ as well as running the podgo into a power and or fx loop and then into the cab.... THAT would be fair.

The stereo spread is different. Which most people will mistake as a “fuller” sound. That’s about it. Otherwise very close.

I don't look at is as replacing, as much as making it more accessible to a wider range of people.. it might not compare side by side, buuuuut it will sound great in a live setting or recording.

Pod sounds pretty cool for what it is but that Rev amp sounds KILLER

Well, real amp still sounds better. Much like my experience with my HX stomp vs my real amps. Love the HX stomp, but the real thing beats it out every time.

Awesome video! This was the best series I’ve seen on YT. I have been waiting a long time. Thank you. Now is this better than any other model and brand that’s available such as Moore’s 250, 300, etc., Boss GT’s or ME’s, etc? I’m ready to pick this up but would welcome any and all opinions.

Have seen a lot of comparisons with the Pod Go, but most comparisons match it up against more expensive gear. Is this the best pedal in this price range? Any others that you think compete well at under $500? Thanks for the great information and review.

Amp sounds better, but also costs 5 times the POD. You also get a more amps and pedals for that price. Is not the same but very close and very cheap.

Well done, another amazing series, line 6 should be very grateful

Helix Stomp is just $50 more than Go, which one should I pick? TIA

I'm going to get crapped on for saying this but the Helix is better. More clear. In all fairness mixing an amp is tough. Right mic, placement, pre's etc etc.

I get that you judge the unit on the possibilities it offers you stock. However I think it's also fair to show how IRs impact the sounds.

they are slightly different, but the POD for the money is crazy. Love the rev purple setting used it on my HX stomp for the solo on my "Six Feet Apart" good stuff.. \m/

The pod is missing what I call the “Organic Sponge”. It’s the difference between analog gear and digital modeling. Adding an analog dirt pedal to the front end would help bring a bit of it back.

Man I have to admit the amp sounds better in this video, but for the price of the pod go it sounds pretty damn great and can do so much! I'd also question the recording techniques for this demo as that has a big difference on the tone in the end. Regardless, super cool video I enjoyed it bigtime 😁

The amp will feel and sound different. But damn for the price you pay on the podgo, sure is really good. Anyone can tweak and make both sound exactly the same but in the end, whats convenient and what feels good for you matters. I dont have a budget for a real tube amp and cabs so having an option like this is really really good

I think all this difference between amp and pod go can be fixed with eq/presence/overdrive adjustment.

Well ... it's pretty close, the sound difference doesn't make up for the price difference. The only way to already distinguish the original amps from these modelers is by putting them side by side. You can even equalize a little and make them look even more. 2000 euros vs 450 + effects + portability + possibility of using it at home. It gets quite complicated ...

I'd like to meet the guy who's job at Line6 is to design cab emulations. Works overtime before every generation of their modelers, looks at all the reviews: "Luckily there is an IR loader in it already, so can dismiss that vile filthy garbage it came with"

I'd love to see this comparison with a custom IR you load into the pod instead of a stock one. I understand your justification for not using one, but I think the vast majority of people getting this product will import IRs into the pod.

Pretty good sound ape, but yeah, the mids magic in that Revv is tight yo.

Yeah, your justification for not using the same IR does not really stand on two legs tbh. We couldn’t hear how accurate the Pod was, how close it got to the real thing, which can only be heard with the same IR...

Can someone tell me if Pod Go was connected directly to the interface? Without using any amps?

Could it be that maybe the Revv purple real life amp is more compressed? I’ll know soon enough when I get it. There is a volume difference and I think adding a compressor might do it. I owned the HX Stomp but sold it days before the Revv models were available because I’m so stupid. It’s like the Go is playing in a room with the window open.

took me a while to find the right IR but my REVV purple patch on the helix is killer

Siento que tienen El mismo Color, cambia la profundidad y la dinamica, en El pedal Se siente comprimido.

Red channel sounded fantastic. The purple altho one of my go to amps in the helix is nowhere near the real thing. Overall I love my helix rack and might get a pod for event's.

awesome you didn't use the same IR for it all !!! so many do that & like you said it needs to stand on its own ...great vid

Somebody else posted the same thing but the difference I hear sounds like the virtual mic and placement and less the actual cab and or amp.

On a limited budget, Line 6 is an option that isn’t too bad BUT if you can afford them NOTHING BEATS THE RESPONSE AND FEEL YOU GET FROM A TUBE AMPLIFIER

Amazing, truly Amazing I love it great tone and playing

Hey Henning, that was a really great series about the equally great Helix family! What I got out of it: My decision to sell the Helix was right - it kept me from practicing. Now I have a dream rig with Boss Nextone, Helix HX Effects, and some pedals I like. And I swear: I buy absolutely nothing but strings for two years but practice, practice, practice... fingers crossed. Well, maybe you could replace a pedal sometime? Or maybe tubes sound better? Tubes after all?... But with a tube amp you don't have the flexibility of a helix. How much does the Helix cost again used?

Wasn't digging the Pod Go, but the real Revv was lovely! Those mids are the tube sound, which the Pod Go is not doing or neglecting to represent.

more than good enough in a band

the built in pod IR for the cali 4x12 sounds like a 1x12 to me

It would be great to see you do a review of the DA-20 or DA-20C from Dover Amplification, they look /sound amazing!

One of the best guitar tones iv’e heard 👍

I thought the pod sounded very very close on the red. So for a layman guitar player I can’t wait to get my pod go

hey, on another matter - love that 'Cat Punk' shirt, where did you get it from?!!

Thanks for showing all the Harley Bentons that are not available yet 😜 Well, I'm pretty sure now I'll get the PodGo. Unfortunately it is also not available at Thomann (it says in 5-7 weeks, but saying that for some weeks already 😂), so I have to wait on that also. Anyway, it's on my wish list and it will be available sometimes. Thank you for introducing and testing it. Stay safe \o/

Can you please do a demo of the looper in the pod go? I cant find a single video on it but is a huge part of these multifx pedals

Great end to a great series! 🤘

How does the Pod Go feel? I'm thinking of getting into modelers but I am hesitant because the modelers I've tried in the past didnt respond like real amps.

Just mic placement and reflections, line 6 is on it!

Nice! but not quite there al least from youtube and my Shure's SRH1540 xD. It's not only the mids, higher frequencies in the amp are a biig difference.

Good series, Henning. Maybe I missed it in one of the earlier videos. Did you talk about the expression pedal at all? I'm sure it's not as good as the Helix Floor. How does it compare to the LT? Is it better than an external mini pedal (like a Dunlop DVP4)? Could you, personally, get away with using it for a live performance if you had to, or would it force you to lug around an external expression?

sounds to me like the amp sounds are very close, the difference being the IR's...

I do love your videos don't get me wrong, I just do not agree with the point of it being "fair" to compare stock Helix cabs with a near 1300 euro Ox with way better quality cabs and more possibilities. I do get the point of it, but it's well known most of us Helix users get 3rd party IR's anyway because the stock cabs are usually a bit meh, and as I noticed IR's make a HUGE difference, since I use ML Soundlab stuff my sound is the best I've ever had.

What's that song you play with the purp rev ??? Insanely good!

Both sound great

after binge listening to the latest 3 HP42 podcasts... going for an overdose

No matter how much line 6 pays you the real Revv amp sounds better then the modeled version. If anything it highlights that the default cabs is helix are really piss poor.

Sounds good, does work.

Fantastic review series Henning! I'm going to buy one of these. I noticed on all the videos, you had the POD Go send volume cranked to the max. Does that affect the tone if you run the send set at a lower level? God bless and rock on 🎸👍😎

So, on the one hand, you're a dork for saying Pod has to stand on it's own, but you throw a $1300 OX and cab with the Revv. On the other hand, I got a helix to see if it could replace my Synergy rig. Synergy isn't going anywhere. The Helix works nice with it though. :D. As a note: when it comes to recording, I like the Helix. My only issue is, nothing sounds like a tube amp through a 4x12 in the room, other than a tube amp in to a 4x12 in the room. And now I feel old, too many decades of that to overcome.