Line 6 Helix Stadium Talk

[[Nathan]]

I wouldn’t call it complaining, but there were definitely 5153 owners raising questions and concerns in this thread. Were you not around for that?

“Mob hype” makes it sound like BS but several users did some pretty solid work providing audio examples demonstrating some possible issues with the top end in that model.

I glanced at it and would honestly need to re-digest a lot of the information. I went into it thinking there was going to be a problem with the Panama. I can only base things off my usage but so far so good for me. I'm not trying to make big bold claims about it, I'm just one guy who uses a lot of this stuff and I was surprised how well the Agoura Panama was considering the sentiment I've seen around.

At the end of the day I just want the best product possible, so if people pointed stuff out and it went to Line6 HQ ready for fixing, I'm all for the updates. But on the flip side I unboxed a new stadium and the current Panama sounds good/better than the legacy one, I can't sugar coat that either.

 

[EOengineer]

I glanced at it and would honestly need to re-digest a lot of the information. I went into it thinking there was going to be a problem with the Panama. I can only base things off my usage but so far so good for me. I'm not trying to make big bold claims about it, I'm just one guy who uses a lot of this stuff and I was surprised how well the Agoura Panama was considering the sentiment I've seen around.

At the end of the day I just want the best product possible, so if people pointed stuff out and it went to Line6 HQ ready for fixing, I'm all for the updates. But on the flip side I unboxed a new stadium and the current Panama sounds good/better than the legacy one, I can't sugar coat that either.

Everything that I’ve played in Agoura is better than Hx. I’m baffled by anyone preferring Hx amps but I’ve just chalked that up to preference or whatever.

While I do think there might be a couple weird little things with a couple of the models, overall Agoura is just such a massive step forward when it comes to plugging in and playing the device. It feels and responds so much better.

 

[Mongillo19]

Everything that I’ve played in Agoura is better than Hx. I’m baffled by anyone preferring Hx amps but I’ve just chalked that up to preference or whatever.

While I do think there might be a couple weird little things with a couple of the models, overall Agoura is just such a massive step forward when it comes to plugging in and playing the device. It feels and responds so much better.

Agoura feel is 10/10.

I think the best of any modeler at the moment.

 

[EOengineer]

Agoura feel is 10/10.

I think the best of any modeler at the moment.

Yeah I think I agree, with perhaps only some of the V2 capture stuff getting there feel wise.

I bounce back & forth between Stadium and the AM4 - while I greatly prefer the AM4’s editing depth and often their choice of reference amp, Agoura just does something Fractal isn’t doing when you hit a big distorted chord and let it ring out. Even through cans it will almost trick me into thinking notes are near blooming into feedback.

Pretty cool stuff.

 

[[Nathan]]

So I’m not crazy it is better
Instead of trying to test 100 things I’m trying to show restraint and go through it a bit slower. Only really spent time with Panama and it’s either on par with the best or is the best feel, just glorious to play. The cabs also feel super usable I’m not sure if they got an overhaul from the old stuff or if I never gave the old stuff the credit it deserves, either way it’s great.

I only used helix native, never had the hardware. I’ll die on this hill but the sliders always killed my joy using helix native, it just bugged me out and I’d have to force myself to open it. Having the knob option with stadium is a huge positive update for me.

 

[Orvillain]

A = Legacy
B = Agoura

No hype or anything added, settings matched (some old ones which arent there on Agoura etc).
I thought people were complaining about the new Panama? This is why you only partially intake the mob hype.

I don't think its crazy different but it feels like a nudge in the right direction, im happy with it. The Agoura stuff also feels better under the hands (as well as being represented a bit in the clips). I'm 2-3 days into this so im not saying this stuff as absolute truths, its just my experience so far.

Also attached non potato photo of the unit
View attachment 58950

It's genuinely a lot sexier without the expression pedal. Just wish they didn't reduce the I/O !

 

[BenIfin]

Alright nerds who doesnt love a good A/B... which one do we think is Agoura/Legacy.



Here's a pic of the wav's if you're so inclined as well (A --> B)
View attachment 58941

Listening through my 40+ year old NS10's ... at quite low volumes they are close'ish.

As I turn up the playback volume to a normal level the differences become quite stark. The 2nd clip has much more "gluey" mids and chimey-non-harsh highs.

The louder I go - not stupid loud - the more pronounced the difference.

At stupid loud, its too stupid loud

B by a clear margin. I would not hesitate using A if I didn't have B, but B is audibly more-better'er.

As usual, I'll probably be wrong :)

Nathan - did A or B "feel" different ?

 

[BenIfin]

.... sh*t a freakin brick .... I just scrolled up to listen again - with fresher ears - and saw the reveal .... I freakin got one right for a change .... time to buy a lotto ticket :)

 

[[Nathan]]

Nathan - did A or B "feel" different ?

Still early days, I feel like it is better by a hair but they both are great on the unit.

I'm not sure if others are the same with digital but if I'm sitting there going, lets change this, lets change that, what about xyz etc. I'll equate that experience to "I had to mess with it a lot". If I get things in the ballpark then quickly fine tune it and everything feels right and I dont have to touch it again / my brain sinks back and half forgets what I'm even using, then I'll equate that to "its a lot better / felt realer". For what I've used on it so far it's all been very seamless and minimal tweaking, so I can't tell if my brain thinks its better because of that, or if there is some other tangible reason to the feel.

I also play super gained out stuff and I know its probably the worst benchmark. Funk/Blues players and that kind of thing would be the ones to notice drastic changes from unit to unit.... but yes in my corner of the world, it's all a step in the right direction.

 

[Lysander]

It's genuinely a lot sexier without the expression pedal. Just wish they didn't reduce the I/O !

Yeah ngl, i actually like it much better without scribble strips and expression pedal. Really looking forward to getting mine.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Alright nerds who doesnt love a good A/B... which one do we think is Agoura/Legacy.



Here's a pic of the wav's if you're so inclined as well (A --> B)
View attachment 58941

B definitely sounds like Agoura to me. Not really hearing a lack of high end vs the old model, and the low end feels punchier more dynamic (old one feels more flat/less dynamic). But there's also a kind of squish thing that gives away which is which IMO.

 

[Orvillain]

Alright nerds who doesnt love a good A/B... which one do we think is Agoura/Legacy.



Here's a pic of the wav's if you're so inclined as well (A --> B)
View attachment 58941

I actually hear the exact "darkness" in the Agoura clip that we've all been talking about throughout the thread. It is subtle, but there. Especially if you compare to the real thing and other platforms, not just the HX equivalent.

 

[[Nathan]]

I actually hear the exact "darkness" in the Agoura clip that we've all been talking about throughout the thread. It is subtle, but there. Especially if you compare to the real thing and other platforms, not just the HX equivalent.

Fair enough, hard for me to know 100% where home base is without the reference amp being there to perfectly A/B them. Realistically I'm just taking the model for face value and adjusting things by ear and it sounds great for digital.

If they find there's a problem hopefully it's fixed. I'm more than happy to have my old presets butchered if it means a more accurate amp with a firmware update.

 

[Orvillain]

Fair enough, hard for me to know 100% where home base is without the reference amp being there to perfectly A/B them. Realistically I'm just taking the model for face value and adjusting things by ear and it sounds great for digital.

If they find there's a problem hopefully it's fixed. I'm more than happy to have my old presets butchered if it means a more accurate amp with a firmware update.

Well to be honest, I went off and explored a couple of amps on both Helix and Fractal.

So imagine you've got your ear right up against the cap of the speaker.... you crank the living fuck out of mids, treble, and presence. A real amp will make your ears bleed. Many of the amp models I tried, they are smoother sounding, not as aggressive, not as murder death kill. It is kind of interesting once you start comparing.

It's something you notice at the extremes, or if you're chasing a particular sound. But if you just want a good serviceable sound, then obviously it is more than good enough.

 

[Mooselake]

.... sh*t a freakin brick .... I just scrolled up to listen again - with fresher ears - and saw the reveal .... I freakin got one right for a change .... time to buy a lotto ticket :)

Me too! I wish I was savvy enough to get a screen shot of the original post, my brief comment, and the reveal. Then frame it and hang it somewhere as proof I'm not always wrong (as has been oft alleged).

 

[[Nathan]]

This video is pretty much my thread ramblings & excitement

 

[Lysander]

This video is pretty much my thread ramblings & excitement

Congrats mate, i think you've just beat every Content Creator™ on the youtubez to the punch today

 

[dean701]

.

correct me if I'm wrong, but your comparison of the new vs old models is as they are both played through the Stadium? A true old to new test would be having the old model played through the OG Helix. I only say this as the Stadium would be adding its own inherent new improvements.

I think both clips sound good regardless and it would be all I would need. or should. lol.

 

[EOengineer]

correct me if I'm wrong, but your comparison of the new vs old models is as they are both played through the Stadium? A true old to new test would be having the old model played through the OG Helix. I only say this as the Stadium would be adding its own inherent new improvements.

I think both clips sound good regardless and it would be all I would need.

I suppose it depends on what the author is trying to convey. If we want to isolate JUST differences between the two modeling engines, that’s best to do on the same hardware. Less hardware variability.

 

[Southpaw-DD]

This video is pretty much my thread ramblings & excitement

Thanks for sharing that and it does sound more dynamic to me than the previous HX devices. I'm looking forward to getting mine tomorrow.

I'll admit - I got caught up in some of the negative comments in threads over the weekend while catching up on the bugs/updates and history.