Line 6 Powercab 212 Plus 500W 2x12" Active Stereo Guitar Speaker System

Line 6 Powercab212 Overview

Offering a new kind of versatility for the modern guitarist, the Powercab 212 Plus from Line 6 is a combination guitar amplifier and speaker cabinet specifically designed to make the most of modeling processors. With Flat mode active, you can connect your preferred modelers and simply get perfectly neutral, clean amplification, but with the 12 onboard Speaker Models, you can combine impulse responses with the onboard speaker and cabinet emulation for an incredibly detailed amp-in-the-room sound.

With its 500W stereo amplifier (250W bi-amped) and two 12" custom speakers, the Powercab 212 Plus delivers flexible dual-mono or adjustable, fully stereo operation, including support for ping-pong delays, expansive reverbs, and even dual-amp setups. There's plenty of I/O onboard for any professional application, including combo XLR-1/4" inputs, XLR DI outputs, AES/EBU digital connectivity, MIDI I/O, and a USB-B port for loading and saving IRs or any of your 128 user-adjustable presets. The Powercab 212 Plus includes a power cable.

The Perfect Choice for Modelers

The Powercab 212 Plus active speaker system was specifically designed for use with modelers. Your amplification and speaker system is responsible for at least half of your tone and also determines how your modeling rig feels and responds to your playing, so why play through anything incapable of making your modeler sound as true to your intended tone as possible?

Flat Response Mode

In Flat mode, Powercab 212 Plus delivers a neutral frequency response from 70 Hz to 20 kHz with plenty of headroom. Guitarists enjoy all the benefits of a full-range, flat-response (FRFR) speaker system-but while playing through guitar speakers rather than the usual thicker-coned P.A. speakers, resulting in a more authentic and familiar feel. Just plug any modeler into Powercab 212 Plus, select Flat mode, and play.

Speaker Modeling Mode

Speaker Modeling mode enables guitarists to access 12 onboard classic and modern Speaker Models, distinct from cabinet models or impulse responses, for a more organic amp-in-the-room playing experience. Simply bypass the cab model in the modeler's preset, switch to Speaker Modeling mode on the Powercab 212 Plus, and select from the 12 onboard speaker types.

You can swap out speakers with the press of a button, rather than the twist of a screwdriver, and even mix-and-match different speaker types. Modeled speakers range from classics such as Greenback and Blue Bell to modern designs, and may be mixed or matched.

Custom Guitar Speakers

The custom coaxial speakers in Powercab 212 Plus have lightweight neodymium frames and feature lightweight cones and high-frequency compression drivers, delivering the extended range of PA speakers, but with the punch and dynamic response of guitar speakers, a design that increases the authenticity of the sound and response of the 12 onboard Speaker Models.

• Two 12" neodymium coaxial custom speakers from Eminence
• Two 1" Celestion CDX 1-1010 compression drivers
• Robust 2" voice coils
• High maximum loudness of 131 dB SPL

Stereo and Dual Mono

Why play your stereo presets in mono? Powercab 212 Plus lets you hear ping-pong delays, expansive reverbs, full-spectrum flange and chorus, panning effects, and other stereo sounds the way that you intend them to be heard-critical when performing ambient, shoegaze, chillwave, and other styles that rely on widescreen musical soundscapes. Powercab 212 Plus can also be run in dual-mono mode, letting you pair, say, a high-gain British amp on one side and a bluesy American amp on the other, each matched with the appropriate, or inappropriate, Speaker Model.

Performance Ready

Unlike many FRFR speaker systems, the Powercab 212 Plus is constructed of wood rather than plastic, and tuned like a traditional guitar cabinet for enhanced acoustic resonance. And while built to withstand the rigors of the road it weighs only 47.6 lb, making it considerably lighter than most FRFR cabs. Additionally, foldout kickstands enable the Powercab 212 Plus to be angled up toward the player, and an optional heavy-duty cover is available.

Expansive Connectivity

Powercab 212 Plus features AES/EBU connectivity. Connecting it to any modeler equipped with AES/EBU capabilities reduces both latency and noise levels by avoiding the necessity of digital to analog conversion. There's also a L6 LINK port for connecting Powercab 212 Plus directly to Helix modelers.

• Stereo pair of XLR-1/4" combo inputs
• The Left combo input can be optionally used as mono while Right can be used as an aux input
• Stereo pair of XLR outputs for PA systems or DI use, such as mixers and interfaces
• AES/EBU XLR I/O for easy digital connections to modelers
• AES/EBU connections can also be used for L6 LINK functions
• DIN 5-pin MIDI input and output/thru
• USB-B port for firmware updates and loading or saving presets and IRs

The Ultimate Cab for Helix

Although Powercab 212 Plus was engineered to deliver superb results with any modeler, it is the perfect sonic complement to Line 6 Helix guitar processors, completing the chain from guitar input to guitar speaker. Combining a Helix with Powercab 212 Plus via L6 LINK multiplies the power of both, resulting in a state-of-the-art, professional rig that can handle any musical situation.

How It Works

Speaker Models vs Cabinet Modeling

A Speaker Model is Line 6's proprietary method of taking a known, flat, and neutral guitar cabinet and through signal processing, virtually install a different speaker into it. Each speaker model is intended to sound like wiring up your cabinet with that guitar speaker.

A cabinet model is a speaker cabinet that has a microphone placed over one or more of its speakers, which is then typically run through a mic preamp and other post processing, similar to placing a mic on a cab in the studio, which is then piped into the studio monitors or headphones. Instead, a speaker model takes an existing speaker, resonating in a cabinet, and only changes its frequency response to match that of a different speaker. The result is, when standing in front, it still behaves like a traditional guitar amp, just with a different speaker.

Powercab Speaker Models

• VINTAGE: based on the ubiquitous Celestion Vintage 30 which, despite its name, is commonly used and beloved for modern tones.
• GREEN: based on the Celestion Greenback speaker, typically paired with a vintage Marshall Plexi amplifier for a signature classic rock tone.
• CREAM: based on the Celestion G12M-65, a higher powered version of the ceramic C12N with a brighter top end.
• JARVIS: based on the Jensen P12Q, often paired with Fender amps for rich, clean tones.
• BAYOU: based on the Eminence Patriot Series Swamp Thing, which provides big aggressive bottom end with classic American tone, perfect for blues or jazz.
• ESSEX: based on the Blue Bell speakers often paired with Vox amplifiers and Class-A amps for a chimey tone.
• DINO: based on the Eminence Cannabis Rex, a unique hemp-based speaker cone with a smoky, smooth high-end definition and a full, clean tonality, plus lots of body and sparkle.
• LECTO: based on the Electro-Voice EVM 12, which was designed for professionally precise, fully overdriven, punchy tones and brilliant cleans. They are a signature component of the classic Mesa/Boogie sound.
• HERALD: based on the Celestion G12H (55) Heritage, this speaker features a heavier magnet than the original G12M Greenback and replicates the sound of the original G12H.
• BROWN: based on the Celestion G12 EVH, this speaker is based on the '60s version of the Greenback 20 and was used in Eddie Van Halen's signature amplifier.
• SHADE: based on the Mesa/Boogie Black Shadow C90, this custom-made Celestion speaker provides a tight and controlled low end, aggressive midrange attack, and strong high-bass and low-mid punch.
• JETSON: based on the Jensen C12K, this speaker is often paired with Fender amps for heavy mids and a solid, straightforward, slightly dark tone. It can also present bold and heavy overdriven tones.

Impulse Responses

Powercab Plus systems allow you to import 128 Impulse Response (IR) files for an even greater variety of speaker cabinet models. By default, the Line 6 Allure pack of IRs is already included, and you can optionally load your choice of third-party IRs. This can be a great way to off-load some of the DSP usage from your Helix or POD device, making room for additional effects on your modeler.

Powercab Plus systems can import IRs by way of the Powercab Edit software. It is possible to import any mono .wav file IR, provided it conforms to the compatible IR properties (48 kHz, 24-bit, mono, 2048 samples). You can also load Acoustic Guitar IRs for enhancing the tone of your acoustic guitar. It is recommended that a preamp is used to achieve proper impedance when connecting a line level input signal.