Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

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davidd

New member
I was wondering if there is a way to play a pod though a reguular 5.1 Sorround system.

I am not going to be owning any amps or big gear anytime soon. I have two acoustic gutiars I play. I only have one franken tele I am working on that I just want have arround when I feel like cranking it up a notch.

Anyway I am getting a new sorround system for the house. If it has a input jack for lets say a 1/8 couldn't I somehow use that for the pod?

Is there any risks that I might damage the sourround system or the pod?

Thanks in advance guys.

Davidd
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

Bust out your manuals for the POD and the stereo and find out how strong a signal the POD puts out and what kind of signal the stereo wants to receive. If your stereo can accept a line in on a 1/4" or 1/8" plug, and your POD can put out a line out signal, connect the two, and you should be good to go. Whether or not it will sound any good is another mater entirely.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

I run my guitar stuff through a little Class T amp and pair of bookshelf speakers for low-volume stuff and it works fine. Just watch that you're not getting close to maximum output.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

I use my V-Amp through some powered computer speakers when I'm travelling, and I have no probs...
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

Sounds good. I guess I might mess around with some ideas.

I remember a buddy of mine has a guitarport and really good pc speakers. I wasn't good enough to play with a band of course but it was enough to jam with. That is what I am trying to replicate with my sorround sound.

I can also make with what I have now..I have a Line 6 Pod a really nice pair of JBL bookshelf speakers...but how to power them would be the key.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

So kind of like Ebay item number 250496892564?

Those speakers shown in the listing are like mine JBL Control 1.

The thing is how the pod connects to one of those mini amps?

Thanks again guys for your help. Looks like I am getting closer to gettting the ultimate $20 rig. :headbang:
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

It should work with the audio in fine. Left and right out with adapter to line it.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

or you could get an old sa-150 realistic amp from me for about the same price and not have to use a 12v adapter (which is not included in that auction)
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

WOW!!! Talk about ask and you shall receive. I took your advice about the power amp thing and started digging around the garage junk box. I have an old Optimus SA-155 Stereo Power Amp. I might be jamming by tomorrow. So here is the plan too hookup the thing

Guitar > Pod > Olympus Amp > Speakers

The only question is will I get a stereo sound by going out of the Pod only from one side?

I also found in my garage some Hosa Y cables that say Tip & Ring on them. So will these work to go out from the Pod? Of course I need to convert the input jack from 1/4 to 1/8 for the amp.

Again thanks for the help guys.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

All PODs I know have either an Earphone Out (1/4 or 1/8), a Direct Out (1/4 or 1/8 or XLR), or 2 1/4 Right/Left out. The earphone's the easiest one for you, as it already goes through some sort of pre-amp inside the POD, and as it should be a 1/8-1/8 cable. Depending on your PA input, you should either use a Y cable or a stereo-stereo cable. Just start with a very low output volume and build it up until it sounds good, so the signal does not get overdriven, getting broken highs and lows.

I used the POD as a DI box going direct to the house PA on more than one occasion and it was fine.

Have fun

DoDo
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

So I have been trying to get this to work and it sounds like crap.

First of all the speakers with the little amp sound awesome. They are nice and loud with other things like a cell phone or mp3 player.

So basically the guitar and pod have too much juice or I got the wrong cables.

I tried to out of of the left and right outputs with a y cable and it was pretty muddy sounding, too much base.

Then I tried the headphone out but I think I am using a wrong cable since it was just a regular guitar cable with a 1/4 to 1/8 converter plug. Maybe a stereo to stereo cable from headphones will overdrive it less?

Basically guys I am trying to create another Line 6 guitar port/pc type volume/sound. I would just jame to my pc speakers with a guitar port but this setup is going to be in a seperate room.

THanks again for all the help u guys always offer.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

Probably a setting on the POD for A.I.R. - Make sure you have it configured for a line out. Which POD do you have? Some of them had a small switch on them for the A.I.R. setting.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

Probably not going to sound the best. Home theatre speakers are made for movies....thundering low bass + dialogue. You can do it but it won't be ideal.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

Booo this sucks. Oh well. But what allows a computer to sound great using a Line 6 guitar port? Is that because that guitar port has no real power in it like the Pod does?

Is it really all about the speakers here? I pod hooked up to a regular 1x12 Combo sounds great. But what makes it sound so bad to a small little amp and 2 JBL monitors? Its it the POD or the AMP that is causing the problem or the whole thing?

I am going to try another configuration tonight and see what happens but it looks like I might just end up with another combo amp.
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

Ok here is another thought. You know the sound that comes out of the headphones with a pod? That is what I am trying to get out of some small speakers, that same stereo super clear clean sound to that crazy ultra heavy distortion without waking the kids or neighors.

Would some small non powered no amp speakers work? Or do I always need some kind of power amp?
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

I bought a Tech 21 Power Engine for my modeling gear- it's a combo designed for modeling and does an amazing job.

I tried the 5.1 surround sound/ home theatre setup. First, there is a quarter second delay from when you hit the string to when it comes out the speaker, making playing difficult. Second, it just didn't sound good at all.

If you have to go cheap, the Roland Microcube is good- just used the JC-120 setting- that costs about $130
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

i've run my POD into a Mixer and then into a Stereo before... it works but like the others watch you do not over do the mixer to Stereo signal level with too much gain
 
Re: Using a Line 6 POd without an Amp or PA

Maybe its just proper tweaking. I have used a POD with a PA before and of course headphones sound good.

I am just trying to get that full sound at reasonable lower volumes.
 
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