Line 6 Powercab 212 Plus Active Guitar Speaker Reviews

I am a novice father of 2 teenage boys that have been practicing for 5 solid years now. They're up to a few hours a day now. Their first real upgrade last year was to a Helix Floor and Powercab 212 Plus. We have NEVER been disappointed with them. Now I'm back looking for another one because it turns out if 1 doesn't do ya you can make it 2, or even more. I don't know what the limit is but I know you can daisy chain the Powercabs together with a single Line6 cable. The range is what most astounding about this rig. In addition to the quality sound and volume, you can dial in any tone. And here's a pro tip, if you need more presets, not only can you make your own but others have already done many for you. They are out there just have to look. Anyway, i have absolutely no regrets over this purchase and we are 100% satisfied with it a year on now. Thank you to Sweetwater, Line6, and our Sweetwater sales engineer, Robert. Thanks guys!

It took a little tweaking but the sounds are just awesome. I'm glad I finally got it, only regret is not getting it sooner. Speaker Sims are just wow. Haven't really used cab Sims or irs lately. I'm sure that will be some tweaking for preference but I'm really impressed and it's not that heavy.

I purchased the Powercab Plus 212 as an FRFR for the Kemper Profiler Stage (an amazing piece of equipment, BTW) and my initial reaction did not match the glowing comments from the Sweetwater customers. The tone in my ears lacked dynamics and had way too much bass in my carpeted music room. After switching the out from the Kemper's TS monitor to TS main and then using the Powercab's tilt-back legs, the sound quality improved significantly but it was still a bit muddy.

Not willing to give up on the investment, I acquired an amp stand (On-Stage RS7705) that raised the PC approx 2' up and allowed me change the tilt angle. BINGO, that was it! Now sufficiently elevated above the carpet, I was finally able to hear the "amp in the room" sound that others raved about. Going through patch after patch on the Kemper, I am now completely blown away at how well the numerous amp profiles emulate their "real" counterparts. The Powercab Plus 212 and Kemper Profiler Stage are a perfect combination.

As a guitarist for over 40 years now, I have gone through a lot of equipment. I started using line 6 gear over a decade ago with the L6 POD X3Live. I picked up a Helix about 7 years ago now. I had been using two Tech 21 Power Engine 60 cabs for the X3Live, and then for the Helix. The Tech 21's were okay... They served their purpose, but I was getting frustrated with the lack of true tones for most amp models on the Helix. So, I finally pulled the trigger for the L6 212 Powercab.
I have only been using the Power Cab for a couple of weeks now, and all I can tell you is DO NOT HESITATE getting one of these ! The first time I plugged my Helix into the powercab and started playing, it was like having the best new toy on the block. EVERY amp model now sounds true to the actual amp. This Cabinet is the single BEST piece of equipment I have bought in years. I was starting to rethink my usage of my Helix and going back to my tube amp and effects. Not any more. This cabinet has BLOWN ME AWAY. So far, I have used the PowerCab's cabinet models, as well as my own patches with either IR's or the Helix's Cabinet models. They ALL sound great.
DON'T WAIT.... GET IT ! I promise you that you will love this thing ! Thanks to Keith at Sweetwater for all his help. ROCK ON !

The tonal option of the Helix are profound and it sounds great, however, it was lacking a certain feel that no matter what IRs, FRFR, etc I played with and through I could not be inspired. On a whim after checking out lots of videos about the Powercab Plus 212 I bought it. From un boxing to plugging it in, it took about 15 minutes for me to be blown away.

I have been playing for about 35 years and love those glorious edge-of-break-up and creamy saturated tones. There is a feel with those tones, that need to control feed back or harmonic resonance that the Helix was not giving me. The Powercab fixed that.

Using IRs there is a boom and a feel that is returned to playing that we all crave. This thing is loud so on roughly level 3 it feels like you are in front of real 2x12 with every nuance you would expect. However the real joy is by passing the IRs and selecting a speaker type from the Powercab. OMG. Just try it. I loaded up a Plexi patch, no effects just the amp and then selected the Vintage cabinet type. It was glorious.

This thing is amazing. The Powercab is pricey and worth every cent!!!!!!!

I was looking for a good powered cab to pair with my axe FXIII, and this thing works great. I like the stereo option in a single cab. This thing is loud enough during band practice to be heard over drummer and PA. I primarily use it as FRFR, and haven't really found the need to use the speaker emulation as I usually use the IRs in my Axe FXIII.

This thing is simply put amazing! The tone and clarity are absolutely top of the line! No clipping, no hiss, no hums! It sounds phenomenal at gig/practice volumes and sounds like a quality Bluetooth speaker unit at room volume!

I don't think I can ask for much more for my guitar needs!

Thank you to Jimmy Hart here at Sweetwater for getting it out to me in 3 days!! Always quality sales and service!

While I have not received my Line 6 Link cable, the sound coming out of my new Line 6 powercab 212 Plus is simply amazing.
I had never heard sound so crisp and so clear using my Helix until it was hooked up to the 212 Plus in FRFR mode.
The Helix pedalboard and Line 6 212 Plus are a great combination to the best sounding music you will ever hear.
Prior to getting my 212 Plus, my Helix was hooked up to a PA power speaker or to a modeling amp, but the sound coming out just did no do justice to the Helix. The great sound from the Helix just wasn't there.
But the 212 Plus made a huge difference, connecting the Helix to the 212 Plus with an XLR cable. I can not wait to get my Line 6 cable. This will allow me to communicate directly between the Helix and 212 Plus via Helix edit.
Of course, many thanks to Sweetwater for the outstanding support I have always received from them them. Special thanks to Jimmy Hart, my sales engineer.
Way to go Line 6!

I absolutely love this amp. I've been a Helix user for a few years now and finally have a stage speaker that unleashes the power of the Helix in stereo. I've had the speaker for month now and spent plenty of basement time playing around with it trying various settings. So many ways to tweak your sound, especially with the L6 link cable. Yesterday, for the first time, I played a socially distanced gig with the band. Always a little on guard when I take a new piece of gear out of the basement to the band setting. Sometimes things don't always sound like you thought they would when played with your group. Well....blown away. Can't wait for the next gig (who knows when that will be :(.

The only downside? A pretty minor one...47 lbs. Which, I know. Pretty light considering it's a 2x12. So not bad, but I did go ahead and buy the 112+ for smaller gigs and it's lighter.

Don't hesitate if you're thinking about it....

I am a helix user but also run the HX stomp in my living room where the powercab sounds great at like 10% volume. I am also a sound engineer so I know how to hear, and amazingly, tones tweaked in my living room sound great on stage. I can't roam as far from the amp as I could with multiple 4x12s, but as long as I go to the amp I can still do all the feedback stuff. (and the house sound is EXACTLY my amp sound). To put it another way, I find it great at providing all the stage volume I need for medium sized clubs or even (given in-ears and a decent soundguy) large stages. This is a great final stage for any FRFR needing rig.

Took a bit to get things sorted from Helix to Cab, but once you make some minor adjustments it provided phenomenal sound. This will allow me to go true stereo through the house and use this as a "monitor". Volume control, sound control gives me what I have looked so many years for. Every type of guitar equipment with total live control. Going to gigs with it this year and won't look back.

I normally don't write reviews, but WOWWWWWWW!!! I was a little put off by the price, but glad I didn't let that stop me. This thing is incredible and takes my Helix to a whole other level. The sound coming from the cab, just on flat mode alone is shockingly good...and it's in stereo. Also being able to add, tweak and combine multiple IR's is just awesome. Very happy!!!

Everything you have heard about the PowerCab 212 Plus is true. Extremely versatile and the sound is to die for!

Even if you're not a Line 6 Helix player/user, the powercab 212 plus will defin with definitely scratch your itch for "that" perfect set up. I do like the FRFR sound coming directly from my Helix LT, but with the addition of the native speaker models (use the same model or split speaker models) and ability to use existing or load IRs the options are seemingly endless. Tilt back is cool, as is the color coded dial for distinguishing what speakers/cabs/IR combos you're using, which is customizable in the Powercab edit software as well.

Again, the sound combinations are endless, and the reproduction of speakers is absolutely phenomenal. It can get very loud, so make sure you adjust the volume when using as a USB sound out option with your DAW/PC/Mac. And that "amp in the room" feeling? Definitely true. The floor will ramble and you'll feel it in your gut. Dream in stereo my friends :) Killer equipment, very happy with it. Now I just need to invest in an L6 link cable.

Sounds great to me, very happy so far. Capable of being louder than I need, good response.

I generally don't do reviews as every purchase begs a review. But this product deserves a review. First, I own the Mission Engineering 212 Gemini, and Friedman ASM12. Both are pretty good, but not quite there. The Gemini is heavy, lacks that low end thump one gets from a 4x12 cab, and will howl if turned up too much in an attempt to get that thump. The Friedman is also heavy and only mono and not quite there on the thump as well.
The line 6 power cab 212 Plus is lighter, has built- in tilt-back legs, and man it thumps if you want it. In fact it has different IR voicings and the option to add many more. I found the stock ones to be quite useful. It makes my Helix sound like a tube amp! Just to be complete, I have owned Axe Fx, and Kemper, as well as a many tube amps like Mesa Boogies and Marshalls. Now my gigging life is simpler, much more flexible, lighter, and my back is happier! Nice job Line 6!

Got this in just the other day. Has completely surpassed my expectations. Used in practice last night, other guitarist has a Kemper so we ran him through one speaker and me through the other speaker from my Helix (it has individual inputs). Saying this thing is versatile is an understatement. You can run your cab sims from Helix through it in FRFR mode or drop the sims from Helix and just use the Speaker emulation modes for even greater variety of sounds. (speaker sim in cab actually changes the frequency response of the physical speakers to emulate classics!) I could go on and on but you get the idea. Combined this with my Helix via L6 Link so I can remote control it with Helix. The only thing I wish you could do is control the Powercab parameters per Snapshot instead of per Preset....that would be a ridiculous amount of control, but I will take what I can get! Definitely recommend getting this or the Powercab Plus 112. A little pricey but you get som much more than you do with other speakers

I bought this and a Kemper Power Kabinet to compare the two, and there was no contest. The Line 6 won hands down. (It wasn't really a fair fight, because I would've had to have two Kemper powered cabinets to compare to the stereo Line 6, but if I'd thought the Kemper sounded better I would've bought a second to run stereo.) Either way, this thing sounds great with the Profiler.

I thought the built in speaker profiles on the Line 6 sounded better than the Kemper cabinet profiles, even though they are less convenient (the Kemper profiles can be switched from the front of the Kabinet or from the Kemper itself). I use a simple midi pedal so I can flip through the profiles as I change sounds.

Stereo effects sound amazing, and it has the low end oomph and growl that sounds more like tube amps - more so than the Kemper imho.

One disappointing aspect is that the AES input doesn't work. I've tried two different S/PDIF to AES impedance converters and could not get a digital signal to work from the Kemper to the Powercab (and the same converter works into an interface for recording so I know it's not the Kemper output). Line 6 support was of no help. I read posts from others who had this issue and at least one who got it to work, so I suspect it might be a bad batch of AES inputs. That's a bummer. If a product says it has a feature that feature should work. I'm sure it works well with Line 6 gear though.

Overall, it's the best cabinet for a modeler I've heard, the stereo sound is killer and I'm happy with it. If you have a Line 6 it's a sure winner, and it's great for other modelers as long as you're okay with only using analog inputs and not digital/AES.