Helix LT Vs Headrush: Part 1 - Rig Wars! (kcs_tv)

#helix #headrush
Dave makes a couple of matching rigs on the Line 6 Helix LT and the Eleven Rack Headrush.
Aaron pops in to give his opinion.
Keyboard Corner
Kc's Rockshop

[@David-ej1ps]

they sound very similiar, but line 6 is cleaner (higher frequencies) but the Headrush (more mids) sounds like a "real amp" that hasnt been eq'd. over all they both sound good, its a matter of workflow preference

[@Redbelo]

What is the point of the blind fold , you gave away the pedalboard by the click of the buttons

[@jvmusicph]

Helix is more clearer. But my budget fits HEadrush. Is there any tweak in headrush to achieve that clearer sound like helix?

[@sgmarshall3]

Cool video. I agree with you both. I think the LT sounded a little more "alive" but the ease of use is a big win for the Headrush. Makes me wonder if the next update will add some additional overdrives and effects, because then it could be a toss up.

[@kcstvchannel]

Thanks for watching! Headrush firmware v2 has been launched and has added a heap of new amps, cabs and effects. Check it out here headrushfx.com/news/articles/headrush-announces-pedalboard-firmware-2.0 Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already. - Dave

[@LIHPIT]

Which one's got the best markup

[@U2WB]

I personally thought the HeadRush blew the Line6 right off the stage. HR sounds SO much better to me.

[@alamakluke]

I just bought the Helix LT but I still have about 20 days to decide if I will keep it or not. I really like the sound of the Helix, but from the videos that I have seen the Headrush screen looks very easy to use please I like the scribble on top of the pedals in the Headrush. Decisions decisions...

[@kcstvchannel]

It's a tough one! The touch screen on the Headrush is truly amazing but the sound has to be the decider. Thanks for watching! - Dave

[@JimsGuitarGarage]

alamakluke the HeadRush has the scribble strips on the footswitches. You can type in whatever you want to label your pedals and your “scenes”.

[@limerickfile30]

Still can't believe L6 had bluetooth tablet control on the Amplifi and Firehawk and then comes along the Amazing Helix and they go back to clumsy menus and sub-menus...giant step backwards

[@metallion0738]

The Headrush sounds more like a real amp, Helix sounds more digital.

[@graysonfernando8272]

i know it is quite off topic but do anybody know of a good site to stream newly released series online?

[@callankellan4955]

@Grayson Fernando flixportal :D

[@graysonfernando8272]

@Callan Kellan Thanks, I went there and it seems to work =) I really appreciate it !

[@callankellan4955]

@Grayson Fernando You are welcome :D

[@jerryhorton5708]

I’ve been researching this exact comparison for the last 2 weeks. Still prefer the Headrush amp sounds but Helix has a bit of an edge on the delay sounds to me. Think the Headrush is in my immediate future.

[@V.X.I.N.N]

What did you end up choosing ??

[@jerryhorton5708]

@@V.X.I.N.N wound up getting a Headrush but couldn’t bond with it. Months later, I got a Helix and I’m very happy with it. Life is weird that way…

[@mick2181]

Headrush the best ... for me ...

[@dancortes2164]

Lets be honest, Both of them have a comparable sound Quality, theres no better between these two, its just a matter of taste. The real difference between the Helix and the Headrush is the workflow.

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Cool video. Thank you for posting this. What model Ibanez is that?

[@davidweisbrod5771]

I watched a lot of videos comparing the two rigs and until now, I had a preference for the Headrush because it is very intuitive to use and configure, with the touch screen. I saw it in a local music shop and played with it for 1 hour on a strat. Ok i am not familiar with any setting at all and it takes more than 1 hour to really feel something, but I was a bit disappointed because the clean sounds were pretty artificial for me. I usually like the sound of a strat plugged with some clean amp and little reverb (knopfler, mayer , gilmour) or with delay (the edge style) but the sounds were not so far way from what i can heard with my 10 years old podfarm software.. I did not tried yet the Helix but the video raised the same issue (cleaner sound in helix)

[@mikeaustin4138]

I had a HR, having upgraded from an Eleven Rack. It was perfectly fine for me, but I wanted something I could travel with (on planes), so I sold it and bought the HX Effects. I've bought some HX rigs from pretty famous YT vloggers and wasn't impressed. The HX rigs I created sound much better, IMO. Almost all the YT comparisons I've heard have the HR sounding "muddier", which is not my personal experience at all.

[@georgeirisarri4371]

HeadRush for life!!

[@duncanmcneill7088]

There is something about the breakup sound of the Helix which sounds unnatural to me - almost as if the distortion is separate from the straight signal and just layered on top. The Headrush distortion doesn’t offend me so much and sounds much more integrated into the guitar sound. The Headrush isn’t as bright though and has more low mid. The Helix sounds very “Yamaha”.

[@effektgeraeteinfo]

Invest in an A/B Pedal the next time. Didn't cost very much.

[@kcstvchannel]

Thanks for the tip and thanks for watching! - Dave

[@edruiz1202]

Headrush for me! Plus it’s like the helix floor because it has the strips on top of buttons.

[@PSYRE_OFFICIAL]

Hi there,What kind of stands are you guys using for the HeadRush and the Helix LT? Thanks.

[@kcstvchannel]

K&M Heli-2 electric guitar stands. produkte.k-m.de/en/product?info=139&x9895a=8bef3544af96f03fd44378a6e91168bd. Thanks for watching and don't forget to like and subscribe! - Dave

[@ironmantran]

IF all things being similar (price, value, sound quality, . . .) i will ALWAYS chose the most-block pedal : HR has 11-12 but Helix has 31-32 , i believe.

[@steveconrad3529]

To aid the test, it would be ideal if we knew the specific Firmware version on each, and if you could share the specific Helix and Headrush patches you used for the video - so others who have access to both can perform independent comparative testing on their own

[@kcstvchannel]

Helix is 2.70, Headrush is pre-version 2 update. Watch the second vid where I put together each patch. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5_VmYl3o8mjoNU Thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe! - Dave

[@Johnnybananass-_]

best thing would have been to use a looper pedal with a riff in it so it would have been the same and set up both units and use a RTA to set the eq curves in each so then it was donwn to which actual unit sounded better , this test is kinda flawed .

[@l3ertuz362]

just use a A/B box and a looper next time

[@VelhosNovos]

Although the Helix is louder, I think they are similar, with just little tweak.

[@kcstvchannel]

Thanks for watching and commenting! - Dave

[@joachimstoller955]

The HR goes to 11:)

[@odourboy]

What's missing from this review is the player's perspective. Dave and Aaron should have switched roles and have Dave blindly play each unit and comment on the touch and responsiveness.

[@SergeyPupkoMusic]

Headrush sounds good until you put it up against a Helix then it just gets schooled.

[@MrVyrtuoso]

Helix LT for me. The two unit's tones and effects quality are comparable. But the HXLT has far more flexible control options than the HRPB. My criticism of the HRPB from the beginning that remains to date is that like the POD HD series, except for effects block on/off or parameters that are of only on/off states, parameters cannot be assigned to footswitches or MIDI CC. I need to be able to toggle between min/max values over a range of multiple parameters in addition to enabling/bypassing certain blocks with a single footswitch or MIDI CC number or multiple MIDI CC numbers assigned to a single controller. I've been doing it this way since the AX SYS and J-Station up through the X3 series. That Line 6 would omit this functionality on the POD HD series was terrible, and to this day the Headrush FX lacks these facilities. Line 6 brought it back on the Helix, allowing not just about every parameter to be assigned to MIDI CC or footswitches but also the footswitches themselves being coded to respond to fixed MIDI CC numbers.

[@isaiahfurrow7414]

I'm just starting to research pedals, and will likely get a small, inexpensive multi-effects pedal for now. Either of these sound way better than my skills or ears could really differentiate between.... Granted, I'm listening through KZbin and a not super high-end pair of headphones, but the Headrush in this video sounds warmer and fuller, which I prefer... It still sounds plenty "clear" to me... Probably more so than what I'd get out of a bunch of pedals, patch cables, power supply, etc.... Especially if you were to give yourself the same kind of budget as the cost of one of these boards, and use that said coin to buy a board, power supply, cables, Wah, compressor, couple drive pedals, delay , reverb, phaser/flanger, and a simple looper... This gives soooooo much flexibility, and to me the Headrush user interface and workflow just seems so simple to use... I think when I get good enough at playing to use something like this, I'll be revisiting the Headrush and hopefully get one.

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

Isaiah Furrow and don’t forget the cost of all the amps!

[@robertsimpson5801]

I think it would have been a better shootout if you had just used an A/B box and if you played some simpler, cleaner riffs. Toward the end of the test, this started to feel more like you were trying to show off your "riffage" as opposed to playing really repeatable phrases that would be easy to analyze and compare. Thanks for the video, regardless.

[@kcstvchannel]

I didn't even think to use a A/B box! Thanks for feedback and thanks for watching! - Dave

[@marcelblade]

helix for me sounds to me that the headrush has build in high cuts , sounds much darker. i'd rather take highs out than to have them eq back in.

[@batmandeltaforce]

Headrush sounds more like an amp miked up.

[@kcstvchannel]

Thanks for watching and leaving your opinion! I hear the comment often that Headrush amps are nicer and the Helix effects are nicer. (Maybe get both? :D ) I'm still sitting on the fence. - Dave

[@TVoltG]

@@kcstvchannel I run a Line 6 HX Effects with a Headrush. ✊

[@kcstvchannel]

@@TVoltG Pure genius! - Dave

[@TVoltG]

@@kcstvchannel I have my moments. Lol

[@poockoo]

Use an A/B switch

[@pauljosse]

It should be a jail able offence that you ever use that whammy again dude.

[@727strat]

Not ideally a good test in the fact that he knew what they were to start with!

[@kcstvchannel]

Aaron knew it was a Helix and Headrush but he didn't know what he was listening to. Thanks for watching! - Dave

[@kcstvchannel]

Let us know who you think the winner is. I really can't decide! - Dave

[@LCo4874]

These guys spent $2300ish on pedal boards and zero dollars on an A/B pedal HaHa

[@86lanzo]

Headrush sounded drowned to me....helix sounded live .. direct .....was planning to get the headrush ...but this making me think again about it

[@BakerImageGroup]

Orlanzo Telfer I wouldn’t decide solely on this video. Watch Brett Kingman, Pete Thorn, Rebea and others as well. In some videos the Helix sounds better and vice versa. They both sound really great. It also has a lot to do with the player. Best thing would be to play them both and see how you sound and how it fits your style and needs. If you flipped a coin you would win either way.

[@danielpolanco6708]

Helix 👌🏽🔥

[@kcstvchannel]

Fuego! - Thanks for watching! - Dave

[@Proganaut1989]

Wish you got a better guitar players....wang wang wang...keep working on those bends too

[@AC-hz4xq]

HELIX FOR ME

[@super7boys]

The both sound good but hilex is more clean and think is the best

[@joachimstoller955]

Sorry but such tests I find absolutely nonsensical because every person hears differently and everything is ultimately a matter of taste. Personally, I think the HR just sounds a lot warmer than the LT. And a whole other world opens up in HR when using IRs. Where the chaff separates from the wheat is in the service, because the HR is clearly ahead of the game.

[@davecarsley8773]

Then why do you click on them and watch them

[@Gordman]

Helix wins I reckon 👌

[@leamog]

I still cant decide

[@elvinlewis4233]

Head rush for rock leads, line 6 for everything else.

[@metallion0738]

I difder, it is the other way around.

[@elvinlewis4233]

@@metallion0738 In "your" opinion.

[@elb64x2]

@@elvinlewis4233 In "your" opinion too.

[@juandoming6688]

headrush sounds fizzy and like a pod.

[@ВладимирБерезуцкий-й6я]

Хоть бы играть чуть умел

[@rajgopinoth4241]

I want my 10 seconds back this was a waste of my life

[@kcstvchannel]

Very sorry, send me your paypal address and I'll send you the 2 cents its worth.

[@MrX-ny3jv]

@@kcstvchannel hahah