POD HD300 or HD400?

[James Knox]

I want to get one of the new POD's but not a HD500.

Reading and listening to YouTubes, etc reveals I just need a few sounds for my live tones. No need for all the extra's afforded by the HD500.

So focusing on the HD300 and HD400, I have read all the specs - I know there are 20 more EFX on the 400 - don't need the EFX loop or expression jack. I think I might like having one more preset button on the HD400.

So..... how did you pick between the HD300 and the HD400?

Thanks for sharing your "thinking process".

Peace,

James

[dwolfggc]

I have an hd500 but my thinking regarding the 300 vs 400 debate is that the price difference between the 400 and the 500 makes getting the 400 kind of pointless (to me) so I would go with the 300 purely on bang for the buck.

[Bobby D]

if i was only gigging it live, i might go with the 300.

but i went with the 500.


the 400 seems to be middle ground


hard to argue with a $329 modeler that sounds THAT good that cheap though.....

i heard a guy using one at Sloppy Joes in Key West a couple weeks ago, just running direct to PA and listening to himself thru the monitor system, no amp at all.....and it sounded great.

i like having the looper and all the functionality of the 500.

but if my boss, who i tech for, decides HE wants to use an HD unit live (he is starting with the M13 first) -- i might steer him into the HD300, for simplicity:YinYang

[James Knox]

I have an hd500 but my thinking regarding the 300 vs 400 debate is that the price difference between the 400 and the 500 makes getting the 400 kind of pointless (to me) so I would go with the 300 purely on bang for the buck.

Yeah - thinking the same thing!

hard to argue with a $329 modeler that sounds THAT good that cheap though.....


I've spent more than that of OD's :)

I would go with the 300 purely on bang for the buck.

leaning - leaning - leaning...

[olerabbit]

It depends on what you use it for IMO. I will use a floor modeler to connect it to my amp using 4CM. So I need a floor processor with FX Loop functionality. There are not so many choices in the market currently (Line6 HD400/500, Digitech RP1000).

I decided to order a HD 400 compered to a HD 300:
1. HD400 has an FX Loop so you can run it 4CM.
2. If you run 4CM HD400 has an FX Loop footswitch to turn it on/off.
3. HD400 has seperate Bank Up/Down foot switches.

I decided against the HD500 compared to the HD400:
1. HD500 offers functions I do not need.
2. HD500 misses a standard FX Loop footswitch.
3. HD500 mixsses the FX Only option of the HD400.
4. HD500 is anything but plug&play and needs a lot of configuration work because you have to assigned all components needed on your own.
5. HD500 needs much time and a higher learning curve to max out its possibilities.
The many sound design functions, espacially the dual chain option, and some of the other input features of the HD500 make me think it's primarily designed to be used stand alone (straight into a mixer or a powered FRFR cabinet). These sound design functions are not necessary if you run it 4CM with an amp because the amp takes over a big part of the sound design.

The biggest disadvantage of the HD400 is the weired design of the FX1 slot but I will see if I can live with it. So I just started to test the HD400 against another floor processor of the same price categorey with FX Loop support to make the most of my 30-days-money-back option.

[Rod]

I have an HD300. I love it's size and simplicity. Plenty of sounds and fx

[BadMelonFarmer]

I wanted to pick up an HD to tide me over between selling my Axe-FX Ultra and getting an Axe-FX II, so I wanted something that would get by.

Was not really interested in the FX-Loop and the variax, DT50 connectivity etc.

it came down to the fact that the effect models I needed were not in the HD300, so I had to go for one of the bigger units ...so bought a HD400.

but the effect routing options within the unit was terrible for what I needed.

So I returned it and bought the HD500...still has it's limits and frustrations with routing, but it is closer to what I need.

the problem for me with the HD300 and HD400 is the way that you have a Modulation block, a dynamics block, a delay block etc.

so you can not have two of the same types of effect, so you can not have 2 delays or a compressor and a distortion (other than amp distortion). also you only have a Pre (amp) or Post (amp) placement option, you cant put things in as many places as you may like.

the HD500 is better in that you have multiple of the same effect types and you can place them in more places .... up to the "DSP overload Limit" ... so it was this flexability that meant the extra spend was worth it, for me.

it is still limited in the way you can route and I do get the "DSP overload" error a LOT when trying to set up a simplified effect chains that I had on the Axe-FX ultra. I had a preset on the Axe-FX that was 60% CPU.... I can not get close to this this on the HD500, even simplifying the routing...in this example I guess I get "DSP overload error" at about what would be 40% on the Axe-FX Ultra equivalent...in fact I will build a like for like to see where I get to.

this is not meaning to bash the HD's, just saying that it depends on what your requirements are...if it is really simple effects routing wise then the 300 and the 400 work in the same way ....from what I can see.

[James Knox]

it came down to the fact that the effect models I needed were not in the HD300

Good point - I better check the 80 v. 100 effects list to make sure an EFX I love didn't make the cut.

[Pietro]

For me, I desperately wanted the flexibility of the 500, and it had a handful of FX on it that were not on the 400, at least 2 or 3 of which I really needed.

I'd look at the list of FX and see if the ones on the 400 that are not on the 300 are FX you can live with... Then... figure out if it's really worth only 70 bucks more for the 400.

Me? I'd get the 400 if I was sure the 500 was too much... but look carefully at the flexibility of the 500 to be sure. One thing that is too cool for school is dual amp chains... you can switch between a clean and dirty amp in one patch, or even crossfade between them or layer them. Even for simple sounds, that can be HUGE! And it's totally unavailable in the 300 and 400.

[James Knox]

you can switch between a clean and dirty amp in one patch, or even crossfade between them or layer them. Even for simple sounds, that can be HUGE!

Ahhh -good point.

[NickCormier]

Look at the HD300 used prices... around $230-250.. can't beat that (assuming you dont need the extra features)..

Now the HD400, I kinda consider pointless. Its size is the same as the HD500 (one of the appeals of the 300), and its price used or new is really close to the HD500 also.. So, mise well go either HD300 or HD500

HD500 is also a MIDI controller for other gear, dont forget that. If you can get by the size and cost, thats the obvious option.

[Gasp100]

I'm still contemplating an HD300 while I wait for the AxeFX II. I listened to some quick gear demo's I did using the 500 and they actually sound pretty nice (direct recordings). Also, the HD300 would fit fine on my studio desk (the rack is currently empty :( whereas the 500 was way to big and bulky.
I don't use too many FX "live" and I would like to try and use external cab sims (Red Wirez) when recording. Does the 300 allow you to disable cab sims (or at least use a super flat response mic/cab) so you can add cab simulation from within your recording software? I can't remember the answer to this one.
Also, is anyone using one or two nice analog over drives in front of something like the 300? That would probably be more than enough for me.

[BadMelonFarmer]

Iis anyone using one or two nice analog over drives in front of something like the 300?

I am currently using a Paul Trombetta Tornita Fuzz in front of the HD500.. works great.

I used to use various dirt pedals before the PodX3 Live (Maxon OD9, Big Muffs, modded DS-1, Tim, Lothar) before I sold all that for the Axe-FX ultra....again worked fine, so no reason to think it would not work just as well in front of an HD

[guitarnet70]

Also, is anyone using one or two nice analog over drives in front of something like the 300?

Zendrive2, Xotic AC Plus and CAE Booster. They all work very well on the HD500

[longi]

I tried the HD300 and couldn't get on with it, I found it too limiting, I went with the HD500 in the end. I'd take the HD400 over the HD300, there's a few more options available that would be critical for me.

I also use a modded Boss SD-1 with my HD500 and it works very well with it.