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It's worth finding out if you like the Helix sounds - and if the FX built in will work for you. Having said that you can still use a board with loop into it.
I'm currently using the Helix connected to audio interface over S/PDIF through studio reference monitors but will be getting a Line 6 L2T FRFR speaker soon for louder moments.
I have used all of the previous Pods and an Axe-FX and the Helix is the best so far by a long way for me. The Axe-FX sounds great but I didn't like the huge amount of parameters or controls and spent far too much time tweaking or trying out different cabs a sthe range of amps and cabs was a bit overwhelming. Also there is a constrant stream of updates that I felt obliged to install and I seemed to spend more time piddling about than playing. This isn't the case with the Helix, there are enough parameters for some deeper editing but it always remains like a guitar amp and pedal where, at times, the Axe felt like you were programming a synth, for example, I got lost when presented with LFO rates and settings on a delay. Some people may love that deep level of editing ability, I didn't.
The Helix amps and effects are a huge step up from PODHD and sound superb, I am especially impressed with the drives, the Klon, Timmy, OCD and Tube Screamer models and have no need for additional analogue pedals now, they sound very close if not exactly the same. The Echoplex tape delay model is also very good and gets a lot of use.
One thing to consider if this is your first venture in top tier modelling and FRFR, is to note that to make cabs sound more like real guitar speakers I recommend you use the lo cut and hi cut controls on the cabs. I bring hi cut down to as low as 5KHz sometimes depending on the cab model and push lo cut up to 100Hz, this narrows the frequency range to a more similar range of real cabs and emphasises the mid range to get a much more guitar amp like response.
Hi cut and Lo cut can be used to great effect on the reverbs and delays as well and can make them sound better thatn the stock default settings they load with. There is a set of Youtube videos where a guy A/Bs the Helix delays and reverbs with the Strymon Timeline and Big Sky and the Helix comfortbly holds up with Strymon gear with a few tweaks. Very impressive.
For the first time, with one of these units, I have dialled in a tone through headphones and it translated perfectly to my reference monitors, I can't wait to get the L2T and play a bit louder and get some guitar/cab interaction and feedback.
Also, the Helix has much more balanced levels across the amp models, in previous Pods there could be some huge volume differences.
The Helix is a lot of fun to use and I am playing a lot more than I used to and I don't hesitate to recommend one.
I'd argue that no single piece of gear is a 'one size fits all' plethora. I'd also suggest that we can all be fickle creatures, who can suddenly change our minds when we start to crave what we no longer have, or the latest thing - it's just a human nature thing.
I don't have expensive gear - can't afford it to be honest, and space is an issue too. But I do have a range of different types of gear including 3 all-valve amps (DSL401, Cub 12R, VC30-210), one DSP/valve hybrid, one SS/Valve hybrid, and a little DSP portable 'Mini-3'). In addition to a conventional pedal board I have 3 modelling/MFX units, and a few different guitars. I use different gear for different things and sometimes it depends on my mood as to what I fancy. Nothing I have is state of the art or special in any way, but it 'does me' and I enjoy the freedom of choice.
If you sell all your traditional gear, you might regret in the future being restricted to one piece of gear.
I am so far away from shops that stock them.
Know I would not regret it...and just would look at different speaker options for home studio type and maybe larger one if PA not used at gig volume. Wondered about Keeper, but looks but more fiddly, and Axefx very in depth and I like simple
I personally don't expect it to have the same functionality as the Helix (at 30% cheaper, you'd have to be mad to think otherwise). However, the things it does have - gapless patch switching, for example - make it more attractive for me. Also it has Eleven modelling, which I happen to really like
Each to their own - there's also the engineer in me which says it's better to solve the actual problem than to implement a workaround as a "feature"
Lest we forget, though, the Headrush marketing blurb only says that it's got gapless patch changes; it says nothing about spillover. If it lacks that, then it's only half a solution and still almost as useless (to me).
Personally I prefer the snap shot approach. It's like having 1 rig with a pedalboard controller.
However, I'm reserving judgement until it's confirmed. I've been disappointed too many times by such things in the past...that's why I'm saying that anyone considering a modeller purchase would be wise to wait until after NAMM.
I plan to do a few song specific patches at some point too but the gaps are never going to be an issue for me.