Effects loop with Multi-fx unit as preamp

[apdale]

I've got a POD XT Live that I want to run into my VJr combo. The preferred way to run the POD is into a power amp since it has its own preamp. Does anyone have experience with running a POD or similar unit into the effects loop return? It sounds decent running through the front end of the amp but I suspect it might be a lot better if I install an effects loop in the amp and run it through that. One other question - why does the effects loop typically come before the second half of the 12AX7? for volume control? Is there a different place where I could put the input that would be after that? If someone has had better experience with some other method, let me know.

[cGil]

The usual FX loop jack is placed before the last preamp gain stage because it's a passive loop, and therefore needs the buffer the stage provides, and the gain boost. If the loop jack is located before the volume pot, then you can dial up a nice hot signal from the POD to compensate for any signal losses in a long cable run, and have final control over it at the amp's volume pot. And yes, the POD works great feeding a loop return. Works even better with two VJr's (with loops) for stereo.

 

Gil...

[apdale]

Thats what I expected but I wanted verification that it was going to sound better if I was going through the trouble of adding an effects loop to my VJr. Thanks Gil.