VoiceLive 3 Extreme : Great features, faulty and unreliable construction

7 years ago

This unit does everything I need. While electric guitarists will almost certainly want a valve amp to get convincing tones, as a primarily acoustic player who uses live loops, the design of the interface and practical thinking are excellent. BUT...

I bought my first VL3X unit in 2015. It has since been back to Germany for warranty repair twice after the screen and switches froze mid-performance (I couldn't even stop the song I was playing - I had to mute the mixer and turn the pedal off at the plug). This same unit last week failed again with the same symptoms. I bought an identical backup unit here in Dubai last year for just this eventuality (and for while I was without my first pedal while it was being repaired). That backup was replaced after 4 months' use under warranty by the supplier here. So I'm on my third VoiceLive 3 in three years!

There's a clearly a massive factory fault that has not been resolved, and I know 4 pro musicians here in Dubai who have suffered the same experience with the VL3X. Why TC Helicon have not had the decency to recall the unit is beyond belief.

I love the features but this is in no way a reliable pedal for professional use. Actually, not even for amateurs.

Image TC-Helicon VoiceLive 3 Extreme

Technical Data

  • Manufactured by TC-Helicon
  • Released in 2015
  • Average price : $812
  • Dimensions (Wmm x Hmm x D): Approx. 350mm x 76mm x 216mm
  • Weight : 2.3kg
Share linkedin post Tweet Share