Axe-FxII vs. Line6 POD HD (Ola content)

[Natil]

$2600 vs $700...
Axe fx sounds more real but HD Pro is definetly money effective. And it awlays piss me off that Axe fx 2 is out for half a year and they still haven't fixed the crazy fan noise.

 

[leib10]

From the video, the Axe-FX doesn't seem to be worth an extra $2000.

 

[fluff191]

From the video, the Axe-FX doesn't seem to be worth an extra $2000.

+1

 

[Heavy Ed]

The stock cab sims in the line 6 are weak but its not bad with 3rd party IRs.
If L6 comes out with an update for an IR loader i know i'll be picking one up!

Granted the L6 doesn't have all the features of the Axe, but for the price its pretty much a no brainer.

 

[Shark Diver]

The stock cab sims in the line 6 are weak but its not bad with 3rd party IRs.
If L6 comes out with an update for an IR loader i know i'll be picking one up!

Granted the L6 doesn't have all the features of the Axe, but for the price its pretty much a no brainer.

IDK, I still don't hear anything really good out of the POD. It is muffled and fizzy compared to the Axe Clips in this vid. I haven't played the Axe II or Pod, but based on these clips I would shell out the coin for the Fractal. Obviously - all gear outboard gear dependent, user preference, etc..., but I'd save my pennies for the AXE. Do you want a BMW or a Honda and some cash? Really just depends what your priorities are.

 

[Spaceboy]

The stock cab sims in the line 6 are weak but its not bad with 3rd party IRs.
If L6 comes out with an update for an IR loader i know i'll be picking one up!

Granted the L6 doesn't have all the features of the Axe, but for the price its pretty much a no brainer.

To me, the Ultra clips were a thousand times better than the POD... but of course that's all in the dialing. It's sort of lame to be comparing and writing off the Axe FX based on a single high-gain tone (not that you or this clip was an attempt at that). The Axe FX has tons of features the POD doesn't. If someone only needs that one sound and the features of the Axe FX isn't their thing, then why the heck would that person shell out 1500 more for an Axe FX? But it certainly doesn't mean that the Axe FX sucks or is overpriced and some people are implying, just because the POD sounds good too. Good hands and ears would make either product sound great... people on the internet argue and fight about everything though, no matter how silly it is.

 

[Heavy Ed]

The stock cab sims in the line 6 are weak but its not bad with 3rd party IRs.
If L6 comes out with an update for an IR loader i know i'll be picking one up!

Granted the L6 doesn't have all the features of the Axe, but for the price its pretty much a no brainer.

IDK, I still don't hear anything really good out of the POD. It is muffled and fizzy compared to the Axe Clips in this vid. I haven't played the Axe II or Pod, but based on these clips I would shell out the coin for the Fractal. Obviously - all gear outboard gear dependent, user preference, etc..., but I'd save my pennies for the AXE. Do you want a BMW or a Honda and some cash? Really just depends what your priorities are.

I do think the Axe sounds better just not $2000 grand better Just from that clip i posted I know I can get good usable tones out of it and have cash for other gear whoring!

 

[Spaceboy]

2000 grand is a whole buncha money!

 

[dfrattaroli]

To me, the Ultra clips were a thousand times better than the POD...

No way. In a double-blind test, you'd pick the POD 50% of the time for sure. The Axe does not sound $2000 better here. It just doesn't.

 

[Spaceboy]

whatever you say...

 

[tjon]

He should have not told us which amp was which at first too see if anyone could really tell the difference with their ears and not their eyes.

 

[kasperjensen]

He should have not told us which amp was which at first too see if anyone could really tell the difference with their ears and not their eyes.

 

[jharpersj]

I have owned both, still have the axe2, they are not even in the same universe, the AXE2, in my opinon, is better in every respect. I love Ola's vids and playing and appreciate that he does these, but that style of playing is not the best way to bring out all the nuances, tones and sounds of either. Most of his vids sound awesome but also similiar. He is a great player and can make whatever he uses sound great but I have owned many of those amps in his vids so I know they all don't sound that good in person, while many of them do. It is also funny to hear RTalkers saying they would buy the POD because of the price difference yet many of you (myself included) pay considerably more for your amp of choice when there are cheaper alternatives that get you in the ball park. Ie Soldano vs. Peavey or even a Marshall with a pedal vs. a Cameron or a Wizard. YMMV.

 

[thiswaythatway]

It is also funny to hear RTalkers saying they would buy the POD because of the price difference yet many of you (myself included) pay considerably more for your amp of choice when there are cheaper alternatives that get you in the ball park. Ie Soldano vs. Peavey or even a Marshall with a pedal vs. a Cameron or a Wizard. YMMV.

I'd gladly pay more for an amp than I would for a modeler and I think most others would as well especially when the digital unit gets upgraded and the obsolete unit becomes scrap heap fodder. The Ultra is dropping in price and I've some for less than $1500, and they're only going to get cheaper. When the Axe 3 comes out with another level of realism, I expect another wave of angry Axe 2 owners to come out crying because their toy got 1-upped.

 

[Soundguy213]

i dunno i think it all sounds great. perspective is everything. Use and abuse it all and make it sound amazing because thats what you do!

 

[Spaceboy]

that's the electronics world. it happens to everything, not just modelers. but internet musicians are whinier than other people, lol.

 

[polaris20]

It is also funny to hear RTalkers saying they would buy the POD because of the price difference yet many of you (myself included) pay considerably more for your amp of choice when there are cheaper alternatives that get you in the ball park. Ie Soldano vs. Peavey or even a Marshall with a pedal vs. a Cameron or a Wizard. YMMV.

I'd gladly pay more for an amp than I would for a modeler and I think most others would as well especially when the digital unit gets upgraded and the obsolete unit becomes scrap heap fodder. The Ultra is dropping in price and I've some for less than $1500, and they're only going to get cheaper. When the Axe 3 comes out with another level of realism, I expect another wave of angry Axe 2 owners to come out crying because their toy got 1-upped.

I had the chance to get the Axe II (my spot came up on the list) but I just have a mental road block to spending $2200 on something that will be obsolete quickly. With tube amps that's not a problem; they're already obsolete!

The fact that we're even having this conversation is pretty amazing. Who would have thought Line 6 would come out with something even worthy of being compared to a FAS?

I do find it more than a little amusing that some are saying the FAS Axe II is "a thousands times better" or "it's not even close". Okay, golden ears. It's a Youtube video.

 

[Ola Englund]

The Pod is great and all BUT... would I use it for pro recording? No...

Pro recording with the Axe Fx 2? Definitely...

 

[Shask]

The Pod is great and all BUT... would I use it for pro recording? No...

Pro recording with the Axe Fx 2? Definitely...

How would you compare the Ultra/Standard with the Axe II?

 

[dfrattaroli]

The Pod is great and all BUT... would I use it for pro recording? No...

Pro recording with the Axe Fx 2? Definitely...

How would you compare the Ultra/Standard with the Axe II?

Great question. I've heard that the Axe II is a thousand times better than the Ultra.

One.

Thousand.

Times.

Note: I'm being sarcastic and having fun. So no butt-hurt please. I've owned the Axe and LOVED it. I gave up on getting the II on principle. I chose not to do business due to the rollout. I just didn't post about that for months on-end. Maybe one day I'll own another Fractal product but it's not in the cards now.