Back in June I bought myself a line6 hx stomp as a birthday/high school graduation present for myself and holy shit, best purchase I have ever made. The last two shows my band played ONLY used that for guitar, and it blows my mind how good it sounds. I don’t have any use for a full size helix, my patches tend to not be too complicated, but I love that the stomp just fits right on my board. Perfect for college too

I haven't ever tried the AxFX and have always wanted one because of Leon Todd. His tones he gets are amazing. And his enthusiasm towards it is infectious. One day after i am done paying for my mother's cancer treatments. But I really love the Helix tones I get. I had the powered Kemper for a bit but the Helix has something more in tones and is so much user friendly. And I didn't have to go through so many rigs to find one or two I liked. Helix is my favorite. Would love to try a Tone X because I do enjoy Amplitude 5 amps. One day as well. Good video here. Food for thought for sure.

Honestly, I think line 6 is going to add capturing and it’s gonna be the best out of all of them. They already have the plug-in to modeler ecosystem… seems like an easy win to me 🤷‍♂️🥳

I agree for the most part, especially considering your criteria, but I place tone above all else, so Kemper and QC would have to be S tier, with line 6 being A.

It’s crazy how available great tones are at nearly any price range these days. I’m a helix rack user, but really wouldn’t turn down most of these options.

The fractal axe fx3 turbo just laugh at the competition. Different level

As someone who gigs with the TONEX, i absolutely adore it. For people shopping on a budget there are options galore to capture into the pedal. Currently running an invective head into an omega granophyre cab profile and its monstrous, the only thing I don’t like is if you want to run live cabs and run to front of house you have to do something like i do which is run an ir pedal (ala TC Electronics Impulse pedal) to import cab irs into to run to FOH and then rub the signal cab-less into a power amp to a live cab, or run FRFR on both sides. My only gripe besides not having XLR outs.

It's a pity that you missed the Fractal FM3 and FM9. To me these are the best compromise of all relevant aspects...love my FM3, coming from the Helix universe...

I have been using the Boss GT-1000 for many years and I love it. As far as head rush I had the headrush MX5 and the first one I got had major issues so I sent it back and got a new one and not only did it have the same issues the first one had but it had other issues on top of those issues. I did like the touch screen and ease of set up it had but going through 2 units and both failing that is how I ended up going with the boss GT -1000 and the funny thig was I was actually trying to step away from boss stuff and try something new but Boss has never failed me my whole music career.

Fun video. I'm surprised you think so highly of the Arena. I've not experienced it, but I watched reviews prior to going with the Valeton GP 200, which is not listed above. As a former Helix user, I found that unit difficult and over kill for my needs. I sold it for good money and bought the Pod Go. It also wasn't my cup of tea. I still have it, but now I'm in love with the GP200. Maybe it's the wiring in my brain, but I find it way easy to program and get great tones. Thanks for the nice reviews. Really enjoyed watching.

I think GT1000 has the best tone despite having way less amp models. Great point about lack of hype, but I think that just keeps it underrated.

I have always just been a bedroom / basement / office recording artist, and I make crappy songs by myself. I've always used solid state, and been happy with it, more or less. My recording progression went like this, starting when I was a teen in the late 90s, to now: direct out of a Boss HM-2 -> Zoom 505II -> Line 6 POD 2.0 -> Digitech RP-355 -> Fender Mustang V v2 -> HeadRush MX5 It's been a pretty dramatic increase in terms of tone availability and authenticity. I did buy my first tube amp this year, though. I know, I'm going backwards to what everyone else is doing... Oh well.

Great video! I own a Ampero 2 Stage, it's been really amazing so far!

The "Sonicake Matribox" is awesome for its price. We need the "Ampero stomp 2" and the "Mooer GE250" on this tier list for sure 🔥

I am only at the boss as I write this comment, but I thought you would say something about the tone, the price and the experience. And the only feature you mentioned is XLR outs :/

I agree with the QC and plugin implementation will definitely be a huge boost for buyers and tier list rankings 😂 but as a QC owner from pre sale, I think the unit is exceptional in it’s current state. The touch screen and UI is so easy to use. The amp models sounds fantastic, it has all the fx i will ever and never need. EQ’s are very good. Lots of Routing options and obviously the capture feature. I have captures of amps and pedals I have sold which is in a way is like keeping them. I can see the downsides as a new user with how the cloud system process currently is and I definitely think the lack of plugin implementation still to this day is pretty poor cause it was marketed as not long after launch which was a factor when I purchased it. At this point it will be a welcome feature but not a deal breaker for me as I just capture the plugins as a workaround. I can’t fault it as is for what I need and it’s only going to get better 🔥 Great video and greetings from Australia dude 🤘👹🤘

I’m with you on the Helix. I have the Helix rack (with synergy preamps); the user interface and the control options in the helix is top notch. The Line 6 team actually listens to user feedback and regularly release firmware updates that continue to make the Helix relevant today (after being on the market for over 8 years!)

Just orded my Fractal FM9 today, very excited to upgrade from the mx5

For what it is, I think the positive grid spark is dare I say a perfect product. If you want something light and capable with built in speakers and effects, with all sorts of useful goodies at a reasonable price, it's pretty hard to beat

This is insane Everything you said about the helix the fractal does and it does it way better You can easy save a block or snap shot in 3 differnt ways. Seemless switching from scenes or presets the editing is way better you have more options and the amp ls sound the best usually people think the fractal sounds better then the real amps. The one thing you said was price. You can get a fm3 for 900 dollars and since the last update. They are just as powerful as the axe effects or the fm9. They just don’t have dual amps but unless you’re playing in front of 30 k a night you don’t need dual amps

NUX gives the Donner stuff and the Spark a run for their money!, kinda surprised they aren't getting more attention!

Hey, X-Ray, don't feel too bad about not being able to shake the temptation to use touch on these units. I barely ever touched a Headrush, and that was years ago, but when I got my Donner Arena 2000, I kept and keep wanting to touch the screen rather than the actual touch areas on the unit. I could be worse, though. I got used to manipulating many modelers with their editor/librarian apps only, so I just fall back on that with this machine, too. It doesn't hurt that, uniquely in my experience, this machine supports a mobile as well as Windows and Mac apps. One thing I don't see many people addressing is the user experience. After using DigiTech's RP350, -355, and BP355 for years, I got used to their 2-channel-amp paradigm. The Arena doesn't have that, but it does have 50 banks with 3 patches each. I can think of this arrangement as 50 different 3-channel amp rigs -- except that EVERYTHING in the patches can be different instead of just the amp head/cabinet combinations like the DigiTech units. I am now in a long, slow process where I fill the 150 user rig slots with my own creations with (phantom) gigs in mind. Each amp (bank) will have 3 patches with one clean patch, one full-on lead patch, and the middle patch can either be an alternative clean rhythm patch or a crunch patch. I play a lot of funk, blues and jazz, and those musics don't favor a lot of distortion in their rhythm guitar parts. I don't need crunch that much -- but it's good to have it when and if I want it.

Great video as always. Do you think that you can do one of these on amp in box? Like the Blackstar, Kracken, Orange Butler, etc. Would love to get your feedback on these.

The helix with a laney LFR 212 is fucking awesome, and it has a cool light on the cab 😀🤣

I love my Helix but with the new Liquid Profiles in my Kemper this unit is the most usable and incredible in tone, now. It almost works "like the modellers", now. You choose one amp (proflile) and you're good to go.

I’m only a few months into my purchase, but the Ampero Stomp II is damn good for the price!

I personally think that judging the quad cortex by only a big promise that the company did but didn’t provide yet is pretty unfair. You should rate it on how the device is not on what the company promised but broke a promise. And in my opinion I didn’t tested them ALL but the majority, I just have to be honest. If neural DSP didn’t promise plug-in implementation come on the QC is on POINT on what it does. Super easy and user friendly UI, sounds kickass, super complete and powerful. To ME some very minor issues and to me I should be judged on the device by itself exactly like you did for the others modelers. And I’d personally rank it in A-Tier maybe S not sure

I run Tonex pedal into return of my quad cortex. Game over is right. All of my effects routing etc ran by the QC. Use the tonex as amp block ( or cab) with QC IR (No cab tonex), and use Tonex noise gate etc. mind blowing good. The QC adds minimal latency this way, and it lets Tonex shine through. QC needs to update capture algorthims , as it can playback the Tonex models almost perfectly. And they blowout the QC amp models.

Yeah I agree on the helix 100% my main unit since 2019. I went with the stomp since I still use pedals. Kinda want a tonex now and link it up with the stomp.

Hey Ray, you're the man! I was just hoping someone would do this, even the most trivial, to the most technical things can help someone watching.

I love my positive grid

Axe fx fooooor eveeeeer, best sound and feel... maximum tweckability. Apart of that, you could run 2 guitarrists or a bassist if you wanted. And function like a usb interfase...

Comparing these as amp modelers solely, I think the ranking is wonky. Putting the QC in B because they dragged their feet on plug in compatibility seems irrelevant to its quality as an amp modeler. I love both the QC and the Helix. I have owned both, and love them both.

I know this video is 11 months old, but if u had to revisit it. Where do u think you would rank the Fender tone master pro? I'm in the marker for a Amp modeler now. I'm stuck between the Helix, QC or the Fender.

I know I'll get slammed for this comment but I still use my Line 6 POD exclusively. I programmed my patches 24 years ago when I first bought it. Every show I play people come up to me and ask what I'm using to get such a crushing sound. No one can believe I'm using a POD. I hook it up through the Effects loop of my 5150. Ya. You probably think I'm crazy to not use the 5150 gain but it works.

Alright, after returning to this video, having the tonex and just got the tonex one along with the quad cortex. Both tonex and quad cortex I’d have to say, easily the S tier (The tonex one is insane. It lacks no compromise besides not having a midi port. I wouldn’t even need the tonex if the tonex one had midi output by itself, so having both together is amazing). So after using tonex and IKM dedicated to updates (along with quad cortex updates, better late than never) are my S tier for all arounders.

Man I was worried you weren’t going to give helix s tier 😂 I love them

I've been playing since I was 13, and I had always used analog pedals and amps until 2020 when my local guitar shop had a PodGo demo, I loved it and took one home. I can't believe how far these have come since I tried a digitech gnx almost 20 years ago.

Just a note that I use a powered floor monitor with an unpowered when I need it. Make it pretty easy.

I use the kemper and podgo. They are incredible… great vid man…

If the tonex had a better ui and a touch screen display like the headrush, and an increase in processing power it would absolutely shake up the entire modeler market. To be able to use and edit the software from the unit itself...that would be fckn great. Even if came with a $100-$200 price increase, it would still be affordable.

It's weird to have a tier list with gear you haven't even tried. I personally have owned multiple kempers, helix, hx stomp, and a boss gx-100. I kept the Boss, it's easily A tier.

I’ve been using the fractal FM9 floor unit all year and honestly it’s insane. I still sometimes hit the cpu limit though and it has the…interesting fractal UI approach lol

Great timing, I am looking to buy one but I am a bit unsure what to do! Thanks for this bro

Ray I think the Headrush Prime Autotune feature was designed to run voice along with guitar/bass. Its for like a singer songwriter to have a all in one solution for processing guitars and vocals with one unit. Also I thought I stumbled onto a PRMBA vids for a min! Awesome job on your video.

I agree with everything on this list except, swap out the Helix and Axe FX III. The Helix doesn't hold even a small candle to what the Axe FX can provide. Yes, it's more expensive and you have to have a separate power amp and all that, but the power it has is 2nd to none.

Thank you so much for this. Appreciate the time you took and your opinions. 👏🏻

my axe fx is my favorite to play but if its not hooked to a computer to tweak, im having a bad time. i had a better user experience when i used the helix. the sounds from the axe make up for the lack of the UI in some ways. regardless, it is a GREAT time to be a guitar player. they all sound so good to what we had less than 10 years ago.

I love how the Kemper sounds better than all of these after 10 or so years. Everything else on this list has a new model every couple of years. Enough said.

The fender gtx100 is what I use, its a pretty cool modeling amp

Thank you for doing this video, new to these and this was a great introduction to whats out there

as a helix user im so happy it got s tier

Great video as usual, Ray. Hey, what supplements are you using regularly with your lifting?

I will buy a quad cortex when they make plug in availability an option

As soon as you ranked the Quad Cortex the same as the Spark, I had to laugh! If you're going to rank Amp Modelers, their modeling capabilities should come first, and the QC wins hands down. The Spark isn't even a modeler. Come on Ray!

Dude i am a die hard axe fx fan but your tier list is super considerate with people getting into amp modellers

We all know that axe fx 3 is eating competition if you're really in music and sounds. Thats why is high end. It isnt that user friendly its true, but got to be in S tier. And one way of looking at it is, if most famous guitarists in the world use it, for example John Petrucci, than I dont question it a single second. Cause guy is not famous just for guitar playing abilities, but also for creating perfect sounding instruments, effects etc. So out of those AxeFX is definitely best sounding one, with tons of features as well.

I’d put neural DSP quad vortex in S tier fractals in F tier. Everything else I agree with bruh. Sick video my man 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Kemper above Quad Cortex? You're drunk. QC software is now open beta and first plugin due to land in a few weeks. I think it will need a re consideration.

Now you can honestly gig with a positive grid because of the new spark cab.

I don't think Neural will ever truly port their plugins to the QC. By the time they get that done, it's time probably high time for a 2nd gen piece of hardware.

I think alot more people would be on board with Fractal if their marketing didn't suck ass. I own a Axe FX III, which I freaking love. Though if I'm being honest, the unit should come with a 3 hr plus training video of how to use it. The learning curve is so bad most people sell them cause they're tired of not getting the sound it's capable of.

A day before the lockdown I bought the Line6 POD GO. To this day I still use it to play at home. Revv Generator preset (red or purple channel) sounds huuuuge! It's also really cool to have the option to make loops to play on your own.

I sold my mesa dual rec last year as i dont gig out anymore and i havent played it since i got my headrush gigboard . The major advantage to any digital interface is it sounds the same on 1 as it does on 10 . I cant say that on most tube amps . None of these units are bad . I guess it depends on what your using it for . Good video Ray as always .

Quad Cortex now allows plug ins

Kemper profiles will hold up with anything else today still.

Where would Valvetone GP200 and Line 6 POD Go if you ranked them?

Good video. You should also check out Hotone Ampero.

I like how "interesting" is used for disappointment..I kinda feel the boss Gt1000 should be above the spark 40

So the QC doesn't have plugin capability, BUT you can capture your plugins which is dope

Man the Helix is hands down number one. I love this unit.

$1,700 affordable??? Bro fuck the what????. Sorry but nearly $2,000 you might as well go with a 5150 half stack. Cuz that's about how much you'll spend. Donner is the way to go. Under $300. Great sounding sims and IR, plus alot of effects with the ability to save 152 custom presets. It can be used with headphones, computer, poweramp and cap setup, and also front of house. Definitely the best bang for your buck. I'm going to be getting one soon.

Some interesting decisions here (some of which I agree with, others I question) but overall good delivery.

Tons of folks (singer/songwriters at coffee shops but also live band singers) use AT live. Why you see those TC Helicons everywhere. Fun thing, if not a good fretless players, you can use AT on that too. 😂

If the quad cortex comes out and finally makes it to run the plugins natively, I’m dropping the money instantly I see it.

Fair comparison!

HR Pedalboard has "Scenes" that do what Helix does. HR Prime does too, plus the touch screen - that makes it a S tier for me.

Would love to see this same play run back with different hardware! So many new releases 😍

Great video, i want to buy a very good product in want to give a little bit money in it, but nothing was rear the real Deal for me and then i got for a week. The tone x paddle for a great price and i must say you can do everything what the Quad quarters wanted to do and the only thing. Is you have no delay, but this is the only Problem a Sounds amazing and i am the same opinion like you. I love the tonex for this price and a Sounds amazing and you have of the best Editor and you get every top 5 and tone x-max. This is surprise Killer man

We all know that in quality of modeling TONEX and AXEFX3 are above the other ones. Then Helix and Kemper.

Just had my uncle, who was my thrash metal mentor back in the 80's, freakin' gift me a freakin' Fractal FM3 MkII Turbo!! Bruh?! I legit 💩muh britches unboxing! Karma is real. 🤘

I can understand wanting touchscreens for some things, but none of these companies have a touchscreen that’s nearly as responsive as a phone or tablet. It’s always some trash implementation of it that feels like a tablet from fifteen years ago (yea, the ones where the laptop screen rotates around and converts to tablet.) There is still a use case for physical buttons as they’re a lot more reliable. I’d hate to be bricked on one of these all because the screen got cracked.

A pretty fair assessment. I enjoyed your presentation. I have the QC and I agree that it is a bummer they have taken so long to fulfill some of the promises at launch. It is a great unit. I have had mine for over 8 months now. The running joke on this unit is "Soon"... I think they bit off a bit more than they could chew, but in fairness to Neural they have done something amazing and when they do their next big upgrade it may change a lot of people's minds about where they stand in the grand scheme of things. (You essentially said this in your vid). God bless and rock on my man!

Not sure if I agree with your ranking. If you are editing on the unit itself I would agree that the Helix is a bit easier to use than the Fractal, but if you are using a computer as an editor, I would say Fractal is easier than Helix.

just bought a Tonex last week and love it!

The $100 Zoom G1X-Four failed to even get a mention. lol

Helix S? Soundwise it is now clearly surpassed. Its cab sims are really lacking against Fractal and Neural. Quad Cortex can load plugins now btw

I wasn't super impressed with the sounds from the Tone x. Even tried the user sounds on tonenet, etc. Gonna try a quad cortex asap, they seem to be the option for no compromise on tone

You can use Auto-Tune as a Guitar-FX sounds very intresting when you set it correctly, because the guitar auto-correct itself and make it to a very intresting auto pitch shifting feature, if you are open to explore new sounds. And lets be honest there are to much "singers" who probably should use it, I mean I have a hughe "All the things I hate"- Bfmv trauma, several times xD.

Can you review the new audio assault amp plugins? Dual rec and 6150 😏

i have a helix and a headrush recently was given to me, i love both of them but helix is the better of the two especially the high gain stuff, but if i had to explain it, the helix sounds more processed and polished and the headrush sound more real and orgainic, both are good, if i only had a headrush the ONLY reason that would make me sell it for a helix is if i wanted the badonk amp model for death metal. Otherwise I can get both sounding good. Helix has way more options too. Both rock, I want to make that clear.

I only know two places to leave this and this is one of them. Dean is working with Eastwood on a Baritone.

Another vote for the Valeton GP 200.

Went from a Line6 PodHD500X to a QC and I love it…but something inside me still wants a Kemper and I don’t even know why

I'm still using my zoom 505 and digitech RP 100 they can be complicated and they are old now,I'm hoping these new modelers will be worthy enough to gig with, because while these processers can be fun I just never gig with one,the tone sounds better thru individual pedals to me,I can't stop flipping thur patches on a modeler, long enough to find my tone,hopefully the new ones sound a little better.

Interesting that you mentioned the Helix but not the HX-Stomp. That feels like the quintessential portable modeler. Though I may be misinterpreting.

Does anyone know if the Donner software issues have been addressed? I buy expensive guitars and run them through garbage so I'm interested.

Ive tried the tone x and i was seriously underwhelmed, especially the routing on the back. Can't even get a DI in parallel out of it.

Hot Take: Line 6 POD 1.0 is S Tier

I'd grab a Pedalboard Prime yesterday, if I could afford it. I already have a Gigboard and it's been just about perfect