Line 6 Helix compared: Stadium, Floor, LT, HX Stomp & HX Effects

• Line 6 Helix modellers compared
• Line 6 Helix LT: big features, light package
• Line 6 Helix Stadium: behemoth flagship model
• Line 6 Helix Floor: the comprehensive original innovator
• Line 6 Helix HX Stomp: pedalboard friendly modeller
• Line 6 HX Effects: the complete FX library
• Quick summary

The Line 6 Helix changed the game for digital guitar amp modellers. A big reason why it had such an impact on the guitar world was down to the easy-to-use interface. Before the Helix, modellers took a science degree to operate – they were clunky and user unfriendly. On top of the now enjoyable process of dialling in your amp sounds, the Helix’s robust hardware and floor and rack mount designs also made it an excellent piece of gigging equipment in being so versatile and quick to set up. Most importantly, the quality of the amps, cabinets and effects has blessed it with unrivalled longevity in a scene where the shiny new thing is often the best option. 

There are currently five core versions: the original Helix Floor, the Helix Stadium, the Helix LT, the HX Stomp and the Helix Effects. Within this family tree are more models like the Stadium XL, HX Stomp XL and HX One that share the same core design principles but add a few bonus features. 

Let’s explore where each Helix excels and help find you the perfect one. 

Line 6 Helix modellers compared

Line 6 Helix LT: big features, light package

The Helix LT is designed for players who wants a modelling amp on the smaller lightweight side, but one which still makes the most of all the core Line 6 guitar tones. It’s still packing the same number of guitar and bass amp models as the Helix Floor as well as all the effects, cabs and mic sounds. It’s also got stereo ins and outs that make it incredibly flexible for live use and stereo rigs, as well as the expression pedal and an expression out to add another if required. 

Where it does differ to the standard Helix is in fewer inputs and outputs to integrate with a large external pedalboard, although you can still do so with a small board and the effects loops. With that key difference and the few feature omissions listed above, the Helix LT clocks in at a significantly lower price than the original Helix Floor and will prove to be the sweet spot for most guitarists.

For the players who want:

• Industry standard amps tones and effects
• 95% of the Helix Floor features for considerably less money
• A lightweight, portable unit
• Good streamlined connectivity for gigging

Line 6 Helix Stadium: behemoth flagship model

The Helix Stadium is the best Line 6 can muster in a modern floor modelling amp. Its cutting-edge Agoura DSP improves picking dynamics, volume clean-up, gain textures and sag and compression, so your guitar tone even more closely resembles a real valve amp. That realism, even though the Stadium name is at odds with its best role, is actually great in a studio setting where all the smaller details matter in a final recording. On top of that, this modeller is future-proofed for years to come as amp and effects modelling keeps progressing over the next decade.

What does make the Stadium exceptional for gigging guitarists, however, is the substantial upgrade to processing power, allowing it to run more complex amp sims for multiple instruments. The large and vibrant touchscreen makes dialling in tones a breeze, and the automatic switching and extensive routing options are a real lifesaver for players who like everything planned out before a show. The Stadium is less reliable on having a laptop or PC handy thanks to the Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, letting you manage and edit patches and download firmware updates.

The only omission from the Helix Stadium is a built-in expression pedal – you’ll have to get the Stadium XL for that.

For the players who want:

• The most realistic amp sounds available
• Effortless tone selections
• To run expansive live setups
• To not be reliant on PC connections for editing and updates
• Future-proofed amp modelling

Line 6 Helix Floor: the comprehensive original innovator

Thanks to continues support through firmware updates over the years, the Helix Floor remains as relevant as ever in the extremely competitive modelling amp market. Crunchy Mesa Triple Rec to glorious Fender Deluxe clean tones, Matchless 2×12 cab to Marshall 4×12 stack, and from Russian Big Muff to stereo Yamaha rotary speaker, the Helix contains the sounds you’ll want to make. It covers just about every in/out you could need like four FX loops, three expression pedal ins, a mic in and MIDI compatibility to integrate it into an existing setup or use solely to power your guitar sound. I could wax lyrical about how much this changed amp modelling like its POD predecessor, but you get the point. 

For the players who want:

• Tried and tested professional quality guitar tones
• Maximum features from the original Helix modeller generation
• Extensive effects loop and expression pedal connectivity to run multiple setups
• Super handy scribble strips to see where each preset is assigned

Line 6 Helix HX Stomp: pedalboard friendly modeller

The Line 6 Helix HX Stomp is the smallest in the range is incredibly powerful for such a tiny pedal. Once again, it boasts the same 400+ effects, amp and cab models as the Helix and LT. The obvious trade-off in picking the much smaller footprint of the HX Stomp is that it leaves out a few connectivity features and it has less processing power than the Helix LT, and so is best used by just one guitarist.

The Stomp can manage up to an impressive eight amp, cab, and effect blocks, including a looper and IR loading simultaneously. The three switches have nice colour-coded LED rings for fast patch recall. Connectivity-wise, it has one set of stereo outs, a stereo FX loop and is fully MIDI compatible for seamless integration with the rest of your gear. The miniature size of it and incredible wealth of tonal options makes it a great choice to power a pedalboard amp or plug directly into a PA system to use as your entire portable guitar setup.

If you’re after a few more switching options and a more attractive LCD screen, then the larger HX Stomp XL version could be the worthwhile upgrade. 

For the players who want:

• To build an impressive pedalboard amp
• The Helix amp tones in the smallest package possible
• A modeller to integrate into an existing portable setup
• A reliable modeller to use as a standalone rig

Line 6 HX Effects: the complete FX library

The HX Effects is a pure a multi-FX pedal unlike the Helix and HX Stomp, which are primarily amp and cabinet modellers. So with an HX Effects, you’ll be looking to add it to an existing amp and pedal setup to broaden your sounds with 274 effects and expand your switching capabilities. It also acts as a standalone cab simulator pedal. 

You get an expanded 9 simultaneous processing blocks to load up on sounds and accommodate for your creativity and potential to make huge soundscapes. The overdrives stack beautifully on the HX Effects and pair nicely with a driven amp. You even get legacy effects from the M series that are difficult to obtain these days.

It’s also got the ability to host 4 ‘Snapshots’, which are essentially different settings for your effects. A Snapshot allows you to hit a single button and change the settings on any or all of the possible 9 virtual pedals in one go. 

The HX Effects is incredibly adaptable to whatever setup you’ve got running. It’s got two FX loops, has stereo ins and outs and is MIDI compatible, which makes it possible to perform as a switcher when hooked up to other MIDI pedals. It’s even got an in-built tuner. You’ll want to edit all your settings on the HX Edit software for the best experience.

If the standard HX Effects is a beyond what you need from an effects processor, then the more affordable, even smaller HX One fills that gap for players with a touch more pedalboard space to spare.

For the players who want:

• Only the effects section from the Helix line-up
• To massively broaden their choice of guitar sounds
• An exceptionally detailed IR cabinet and microphone simulator
• Access to legacy sounds from the legendary Line 6 M series
• An incredible pedalboard addition to streamline your stompbox chaos

Quick summary

Hopefully you’ve got an idea of which Line 6 Helix, Stomp or HX would suit you best. To summarise: 

Line 6 Helix: The OG powerhouse. It has all of the features you’d need from a multi-FX, amp and cab sim unit and it’s incredibly easy to use, especially in comparison to its competitors. The Helix is as powerful in the studio as it is on stage and as a practice tool. It’s been designed to contain everything a guitarist might need in one box. 

Line 6 Helix LT: The ‘light’ version of the Helix that still contains all of the amp, effects and cab sims. It hasn’t got the uber-flexibility of the bigger Helix, but it’ll cater to the vast majority of guitar and band setups.

Line 6 Helix Stadium: The next generation of modellers for more life-like amp simulations, capturing the realism of dynamics, sag and compression, and the way different settings mix to create a unique tone. Insane processing power to run massive complex signal chains and a lovely interface to customise your tones.

Line 6 Helix HX Stomp: This sees the Helix squeezed into a pedal-style chassis. It’s got 400+ Helix amps, cabs and effects in a tiny format for your compact pedalboard amp rig. 

Line 6 Effects: Due to incredible demand from fans of the Helix, Line 6 decided to release an ‘effects only’ version of their Helix floor units. The HX captures all of their coveted effects in one unit and can serve as a pedalboard replacement pedal, or you could integrate it into an already existing setup and use it as a pure cabinet simulator.

Shop all Line 6 Helix amp modellers

Want to find out how Line 6’s Helix range compares to other amp modellers? Read our blog comparing the Helix to the Fractal Axe FX, Kemper Profiler and Atomic AmpliFIRE modelling amps. Interested in comparing more guitar gear? Check out all our Labs articles!