I've had both and definitely the POD! I couldn't get rid of the Vypyr quick enough! Sounded horrible!

I use a vyper 15 with headphones never used a pod before.

I used a POD 2.3 in an apartment with Sony headphones and it was great.

But then I thought it's a pain wearing headphones, so I got some small modeling amps (GDEC 15 and a Vox). Problem is, with a speaker you need to crank up to a certain level to get a good tone. With headphones, you get a great tone without the need to blast. So I should have just stuck with the POD and saved my money. I also got a PODxt, which is fun because USB into the laptop opens possibilities, and got all the expansion packs. But shortly after that my company switched from corporate housing to hotels, and everything has sat unused now since 1/2010. I only use my DSL100 1/2 stack at home.

I did like the POD 2.3 tone better than the PODxt tone, but the xt could do more stuff.

I've got a Vypyr 15 and it works pretty well. But I prefer the
30-watt because you can use a foot controller with it and it
includes the stompboxes option. If you can deal with the
larger size and cost, go for the Vypyr 30...

Heck, why not? POD's, despite being "obsolete", still stand the test of time in my book. Easy to use, and sound great.

Maybe look at the Amplifi FX100 while you're at it.

I also used a decent pair of computer speakers with my Pod and it actually sounded good. Just an idea if you go he pod route but get tired of headphones.

I was on the POD for years for quiet living room practice and some recording duties had all of them except the HD - which I'm not sure if they made a bean or not. Anyway - great stuff lots of fun. Used to hook it up to my 4 track with a drum machine to record and jam.

Then I got onto the Jam Looper from Line 6 which killed the POD in terms of being able to jam with loops and record easily. Loved that thing and you could run it through a clean amp to play at moderate volumes.

Now I'm onto Amplitube and Garageband on the iPad. Amplitube now has great hi-gain sounds with the SLO and the Slash AFD release. It also now hooks directly up to Garage Band (which has shitty models but great drums and recording) features. All you need is the iRig interface for $30 or the iRig HD for $100.

Line-6 also now makes an iPad interface but I don't know how much that is - and it gives you Mobile POD for free. You can demo the sounds out of it without the Line6 plug. It also works the same way as Amplitube interfacing with Garageband.

I use a pod for headphones.
I also use my pod on stage. So its really convenient for me to have the same exact setup to be able to work on tone and effects.

POD 2.3. I still use one and have always been satisfied with the tones I can get from it. I have been able to get near exact facsimile's of my rivera, my tremolux, my marshall - all amps I really own and use. plus I have the other models to poke through if I want to experiment.

POD all the way. I have the 2.3 because I never liked the XT at all. The tones just weren't as nice.

I've used it both with headphones and across a little Vox DA5, which actually sounds decent in its own right.

Lots of good info there. I didn't say before because I didn't want the "you already have so use it" comments. I have the POD and used it a lot for home recording before I started miking cabs with my Randall MTS amps.. Connected and downloaded many patches and the huge zip file off the customtone site. I have a local guy that has a Vypyr 15 for $50 and thought it may be quick and convenient but I do like the tones I have in the POD and the HD202's are pretty comfy so I guess I'll stick with it. Eventually I'll have to get into the PC based rigs. Most of the time when I'm jamming at night I'm on the laptop (getting a tablet soon..) watching videos, either trying out a new song or watching techniques anyway so a built in amp may be a great option as well. Thanks for the opinions..

Oops.. Double post..

Anyone with a Yamaha THR5/10 ???

Yamaha THR 10 owner here.
Sounds great with or without headphones.
If your wife is in the next room sleeping use the headphones.