Line 6 Helix Stadium vs Quad Cortex

[molul]

With most Agoura amps, you get access to all channels of the amp in a single block, so you're really getting 2-3 amps there....not just a single

IIRC the DSP difference of having a second channel of the same amp in the same block is usually very small, except for some amps like Revv Gen, which are split to one block per channel.

 

[dws2384]

It isn’t a great look that it isn’t blowing the QC away, given its own issues and it being a lot older. I do actually have a stadium on order so I’m looking forward to comparing it to my LT amp wise. If I’m not blown away it’s QC time.

It’s mature tech. Nobody is blowing anyone away. You won’t be blown away vs. your LT and you won’t be blown away if you sell it and buy a QC either so I would temper your expectations,

 

[Orvillain]

but I hated the one that came with QC

I find that surprising to be honest. I think the QC 5150III sounds pretty dope:


Unfortunately he only compared Fractal, QC, TMP, and the real amp.

 

[ACSlater]

I don't think the QC's modeling is any better than the Helix. It feels like everything has a high cut applied, which I never need or use anyway. Only reason I chose the QC over the Stadium is that there's no capturing yet. Made my own captures on the QC, which was very easy btw, and they're the only ones I use. Effects and user interface are better on the Helix overall but I do like the chorus on the QC.

 

[Foxmeister]

It isn’t a great look that it isn’t blowing the QC away, given its own issues and it being a lot older. I do actually have a stadium on order so I’m looking forward to comparing it to my LT amp wise. If I’m not blown away it’s QC time.

The QC didn't "blow away" the OG Helix when it initially launched, and whilst it has massively improved since then, there are still areas where OG Helix is better IMO.

I fully expect that by the time Stadium is a year old, it is going to be a much more "feature complete" unit that the QC was after it's first year - the pace of updates during my period of ownership was glacially slow, although it is much, much improved now.

 

[mikah912]

I find that surprising to be honest. I think the QC 5150III sounds pretty dope:


Unfortunately he only compared Fractal, QC, TMP, and the real amp.

No, I like the QC 5153s. I said I hated the Soldano.

 

[Orvillain]

No, I like the QC 5153s. I said I hated the Soldano.

Oh right. I misread.

 

[GTR37]

I find that surprising to be honest. I think the QC 5150III sounds pretty dope:


Unfortunately he only compared Fractal, QC, TMP, and the real amp.

It’s interesting he chose that model though the 5153 6l6
Because QC actually shipped w the exact same model as his amp
The 5153 EL34 gold red is that exact channel , I mean it sounds good but perhaps he could have gotten closer ?

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

I actually wish the QC had a regular 5153 rather than 2 Stealths. Really like the OG blue channel, especially boosted.

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

Had another play around today and I have to say, this made a massive difference… @Digital Igloo

Also make sure your 1/4" (or XLR if you're using them) outputs are set to Line level. There was a very early bug that caught a couple people where even if it said Line, you had to toggle the setting to make sure. Ugh, yeah. NOT happy with that. It's like how Helix 1.0 loaded all 57s on the cabs, even when they said there were different mics.

Got the amps sounding much closer now, it’s almost equal across the amp models I tested.

Biggest difference is in the EVH models, though they are different models. You seriously have to crank the treble to match the QC version, but when you do that and set Hype to 10 (!) they sound very similar.

Also got the QC 70’s plate and Helix Dynamic Plate to sound almost identical.

 

[molul]

but when you do that and set Hype to 10 (!) they sound very similar.

I can see the support team telling "have you tried setting Hype to 10?" at some point

 

[Mongillo19]

but when you do that and set Hype to 10 (!) they sound very similar

Proving DI right in how QC models are super processed

 

[RiffDuck]

I actually wish the QC had a regular 5153 rather than 2 Stealths. Really like the OG blue channel, especially boosted.

WHAT. I actually never knew those were Stealths, I just looked it up to confirm. The original 5153 is my favorite amp, and I have been planning on getting a QC mini. Now I might as well go back to the POD X3. All is lost.

 

[ejecta]

I’ve been using a QC since release and now have Stadium non-XL.

I miss captures but know proxy is coming soon. I’m hoping it’s as good as NAM or I’d still be hoping they add support. Other than that, I feel like I can get equally good sounds out of each unit. Much prefer Stadium UI, workflow, size, footswitch options, etc. Will likely move the QC if Proxy is good.

Exactly my experience. I’ve not compared the XL but I did at one point have on hand a Helix OG, Fractal FM3, that were mine and I borrowed a QC and a Kemper. My friend who owned the other modelers and I did the taste test thing and we could make them all sound pretty good or pretty crappy. This whole one blows the other out of the water talk makes me roll my eyes given what I experienced but to each his own. I still say none of them are like playing the real thing and that includes even running a modeler into a power amp and cab. YMMV for the sensitive.