That last Kemper tone is so raw! Never heard a better high gain tone out of a modeler.

If the Kemper and the Helix had a baby : it would be the perfect BABY ! Kemper engineers pay attention to this : Make your products more user friendly like the Helix…. Helix engineers pay attention to this: Work on you sound make it more raw or real Like the Kemper …. there is always room for improvement 0:50

For amp tones, I'd go Kemper every time. But I can't deny that the Helix has a far superior UI.

Nothing is better than the sound and feel of a tube amp. So the question is not which sounds better but which unit can sound closest like this. The answer is so clear. One of the two is indistinguishable from a tube amp. The two units get closer if you use the same IRs. But still one sounds always closer to a tube amp. People complain about the UI of the Kemper. You don't need a UI. You plug in and play. It immediately sounds great.

Nice playing bro!! As a prior Helix owner (2 of them in the past), I have to wholeheartedly agree that the Kemper is the Helix Killer in the amp modeling dept. The tones are more 'alive' and " cranked amp in the room" full and crisp. I just sold my second Helix and have been leaning more and more toward the Kemper these days. I have plenty of effects/pedals and 2 great amps, a custom Blackstar 40w combo and a Mesa JP2C. What I want is the old legendary Marshall tones from the 70's / 80's that encompassed my youth and led me to play a guitar. The only realistic versions I've heard, honestly, is the Kemper. Cheers buddy and keep ripping!!

Great comparison and great playing 🙌🙌

Great video Chris! Thanks for it. I actually added a Mooer 012 and 005 in the FX Loop and now and I am totally happy with my Crunch and Heavy Tones. Now I have the best of both worlds: the best UI and excellent tones.

Through my headphones I thought the helix sounded better, but I have tried a Kemper, and I think in the room, the Kemper sounds and feels better.

Thank you so much. I think that variables such as string and note separation make the Kemper a more universally applicable device.

Alright, so I sold my 212 Hesu Cab, my EVH 5153 50W, and my whole pedalboard. Got about 1700$ for the whole thing. I need something more quiet. Decided to go for a modeler, either a Kemper Rack (or the Floor - they announced it a couple of days after I sold my gear), AX8 or the Helix Floor to use with monitors during the day and a headset at evenings. I just can't justify spending that much money on a Kemper unit. For me, the biggest questions when I approach an amp are: How it does modern metal? How it handles low tunings? To be perfectly honest, I was going to get a Kemper... and then my buddy showed me the magic of IRs. HELIX is a tweakers dream machine, and is VERY reactive to impulse responses. We loaded ML Sound Lab Mesa oversized IRs and this thing blew my mind. I couldn't care less about the Kemper after hearing how the Helix rips when IR-loaded. I also can't justify spending that much more money... actually for what? A Helix LT with external IRs does it just as good. Also, not even mentioning the UI or going FOH. It's a gigging musician tool. Also, I think a lot of these comparisons are a loss for Helix mostly because it's a Line6 product. A company widely hated for the Spider amp series. People just sticked a "sucks ass" patch onto Line6 and they judge with their eyes. Dont believe me? Go to Nick Hills youtube channel and check the modern metal tone video. If this sounds bad for you than you're straight up fan-boying. Damn, even Ola Englund liked how this thing sounds. And we all know Ola fucking rips when it comes to guitar tone. Peace!

The Profiler Stage is the better sounding unit but not so much to the point that it justifies my picking that over the Helix and living with the drawbacks of having a seriously limited MIDI implementation, amp and effects parameters that are not assignable to either MIDI CC or footswitches, less flexible routing, and USB that doesn't function as an audio/MIDI I/O by comparison to the Helix. So long as the Helix produces amp tones that to the great or sufficient degree that it does resemble those with which they're identified, I'd take the Helix's routing flexibility and better automation facilities over the better sound of other units at the expense of lesser functionality.

Kemper hands down.

The problem with helix is that you always have those harsh high frequencies wich are totally random because they are aliasing artifacts. Not a big problem if you chose to cut highs at 5-7k but it’s not an acceptable solution...

Great comparison, thanks! I have sold Helix for a Kemper Stage, still waiting for delivery. For time being i will jam and going to record material in studio, so the sound quality is first priority, hope Kemper will deliver. As for Helix yeah, super reliable gigwise, but i never really liked the sounds too much.Ok sounds but not inspiring. my 2 cents

Love the White Lion licks! Great comparison.

I heard that 'In my dreams' solo lick...you tried to sneak it in...I see you Chris....I see you! Great stuff.

I have Kemper rack running into helix rack …running 4 cable ..it’s the best of both worlds …millions of amps and helix …is perfect system

Good review- I take Kemper because sounds way better and can profile amps that the Helix cannot do. I do wish that Kemper would update their legacy UI with a color LCD screen and better interface like what Line 6 and Fractal have done.

What amp were u using on kemper for zak wylde tone?

I think they are both quite cool and GREAT. What Kemper profiles are you using?🤔

Did you upload that Helix sound that is broken where you cut the volume? Nice John Mayer sound.

Welcome Back Chris. Used to follow you a while back before the Ban.. Glad to see you are back.. Cheers

Ive had the axe8 i have the kemper stage ive been a tube amp guy for over 40yrs you have to be deaf to think the helix sounds better and i also understand cutting your teeth on crate solid state (so many do). The kemper is an incredible alternative tube having every amp known to man. Ive played it live its killer and killer in every environment. Its built like a tank

Organised disorder apart ...the Kemper is far better ...on the other hand I’m owner of a toaster since 2013 and I still love it.

I’ve got total FOMO about the kemper, been using a Helix for a few years and I love it, sometimes the low end doesn’t feel snappy enough, even with significant low cut. That’s about the only complaint I could come up with, it’s been amazing. But I’m afraid I’m missing something amazing in the kemper.

Is the mod to the look of your Helix something you can buy or did you do it?

CT...thanks so much for the honest review....its so hard to filter thru all the BS on the intraweb...everybody's pimping something in perfect studio conditions...not real world situations where we all work and play....theres so much crap that i dont do anything...just keep on working my amp and pedals...cuz they work for me, every time....rock on my brother!!!

Your playing is great. Would love to hear your favorite crunch tone on Helix vs. favorite on the Kemper, your favorite breakup tone on Helix v. favorite breakup tone on Kemper, etc.

Cheers for the review man! What profiles did you use on the kemper?

I have owned every version of line 6 floor unit owned helix for two years spent hours and hours tweaking some nights thought it sounded good other night totally disappointing. Got a Kemper grabed some sounds tweaked in practice now night after walk away going that sounded great. Line 6 has more bells and whistles but in every situation the kemper kills it for a more authentic tone. I also now have people asking how I get that sound. Years of suffering under line6 I finally feel like I am free. Never going back

Great demo and nice playing, thanks!

Kemper and Fractal would be great to have the best of both worlds.

Kemper sounds noticeably more dry and stiff, whereas Helix transforms the guitar and sounds like a great recorded sound - lively and juicy. I'll take Helix every time, and twice on Sunday. :) I had a Kemper for 2 years, couldn't find a really good fat solo sound, so i sold it in the end. For half of that money i bought the Helix LT, and i dialed in a great solo sound right on the first evening (some Plexi, i don't remember) - i'm using refined versions of this for over a year now with my 7-string and a CrunchLab/LiquiFire set, never been happier.

the reason the two sound different is the way they model amps, kemper is basically a sample of a real amp that is known to sound good already, while helix models the circuitry of a amplifier for a schematical perspective. so imagine lets say its modeling a plexi, well it would be like a brand new plexi right out of the box and not broken in, out of 10 brand new plexi's it would sound like the average of them, not the one that sounds best. thats why you have to tweak the power/sag and eq effects of the amp in order to properly compare it with a kemper, because the kemper is a sample of a broken in and warmed up amp run at the correct voltage (110/220 etc), and most likely the best amp out of say 10 off the line.... Theres downsides to both. For the Helix it means you have to tweak it. The downside for the kemper is, when you want to tweak it or change the eq, its like manipulating a wav file on a track, so when i add bass or take away treble, it will react like using the eq on a mixer, where as the helix models the circuitry and potentiometers of the original amp and you will get a different sound effect. to better explain that imagine this, if i have a real plexi in the room and i turn up or down the bass knob, you should know that it sounds completely different then if i leave the bass knob in place and just alter the bass with a parametric eq pedal. Also the kemper will have a hard time mimicing the amp when different input gains are applied(ex: turning your guitar volume down to 6 or 7 on a cranked plexi gives you an awesome clean tone). To sum it up, the kemper models an amp at its peak performance at the point in time where it was captured (where the knobs were set) but a helix can model the organicness of an amp

One thing I like about the Helix are the drives. I've heard Kempers are far inferior... If the drives in the kemper were equal, I'd go for it instantly. Great video, thank you

Could you mention what profiles you used in the Kemper, sounded great. Your points about live tones cutting through are very valid. Playing solo and listening is far different than in a mix and live.

Can u get close Zakk wylde tones out of helix?

I think you can get great tones from each unit.

Your ‘broken’ tone’s killer. 👍

proud owner of an $80 POD X3 Live 😁

Hey Chris, could you tell us the names of the Kemper profiles you used? Especially the heavier ones, they sounded amazing!!

The Helix has a broader sound 🌟🌟🌟🌟, although I heard a close to Randy Rhoads tone from The Kemper Stage ( very nice sound) fat Saturated Distortion; but smooth!! The Helix Just reaches out and grabs!!

Yeah man, the finished sound of the Helix is what I prefer. The Kemper is cool though especially if you had a nice amp collection so you could profile your own amps.

Chris. I’m a Helix owner…When I heard that Kemper tone you played on this video…. I instantly bought one. However, I can’t find that sound you had. Are you willing to share? I tried scrolling through the comments but couldn’t find where anyone had asked and received it. Thanks brother! Nice videos

Great job and tones out of booth. Nice playing too.

What is the name of that killer Kemper profile? Wow!

You've had the Kemper for a few hours....how long have you had the Helix for? :)

Great video, would you share the Helix patch please? ✌😁

The Kemper sounds far better in the amp department. The Helix effects are also uninspiring as fuck, while the new Kemper reverbs and delays are awesome. The only thing that is better on the Helix is that is cheaper, but it's a worse product so that has to be expected.

I'm biased because I have a Kemper (powered rack) and I have played the helix a lot. I never was impressed with it. I get the whole FOH thing. Honestly even with a powered rack that's the way to go but I like using my V30 loaded cab. The Helix still sounds digital to me. It feels too digital too. I don't know how else to describe that but on a real tube amp it will pick up your attack and dynamics and I just never felt that with the Helix. The UI is awesome. I'll give it that but people make the KPA UI harder than it really is. It is literally an amp chain. Input>Stomp(front pedal signal)> Amp>Cab>Out effects(looped like delay)> Output. It's nothing too complicated in my opinion.

A pretty face should never win a tone contest. I'd play through a cow terd if it gave me the best tone.

Do you sell these presets for the Helix. It sounds so good! What is your other gear for the Helix sound?

Oh crap, that Kemper is killer! The Helix sounds all have a similar flavour, its like you've used the same base tone and just modified them, whereas the Kemper is just suplexing the Helix all over the place. I don't use either unit, in fact, I have never listened to a Kemper till I saw your two vids, but, I just realised that if I save just a little bit of money over the next month I might, might, be able to buy an new modeller, and the Kemper is sure sounding good.

There seems to be a real clarity in that Kemper and doesn’t seem to be as harshly bright... hmmm?!

What cabs/IR’s are you using for the Helix tones?

1 your are great guitarplayer 2 very good and helpfull video . thanks

An honest opinion, at last! I'm so fed up with reviews that are only demos....

I hear your complaints about the "heavy" tone that your Helix lacks compared to the Kemper, and I can hear that in the comparisons too. Not sure what you are using for cabs in the Helix, but if you are using the stock cabs, that's your problem. I found the same thing for VH, White Lion, Dokken, Lynchmob that you were riffing to. If you want to seriously improve your tone on the Helix and nail those 80's hair metal icons, get the Ownhammer 412 MRBW GNR M25 IR pack... That's Slash's actual cab used on the Chinese Democracy album. These IR's (especially the '57 miced ones) made a huge difference and let me very easily tone-match most of those artists/albums in a way that the stock cabs never could. Way more ballsy and rich.

I know it isn't your primary focus, but do you think one is better than the other for blues?

Excellent demo.not to mention the playing good job.what was the Problem you have with the kamper was it the size of venue made your patches sound deffrent ?

I have both...the Kemper delivers a much bigger sound.

What power amp did you use with kemper stage? Great video

Nice overlay protector on the Helix. Where you get it? :)

Great video. I really enjoyed your "comparison" of the two units. I hope that you will check out Tonewar's upcoming "blind test" between the two.

Hey Chris you can’t shred some Vito right by us 80s kids without us noticing.🤘

Nice video. Is the helix patch available? 👍

you can't beat the kemper for tone!it sounds like real amp!

Hey Chris What are you running the Helix through? FRFR? Amp? Sound Great

It seems like you have to have both Lol! its like having both Mac and PC, these days you have to know both..

I cannot seem to find these presets on Line 6, what would they be under?

Hell with the tones... where’d you get that EVH skin?! That’s awesome

I have a completely different story. I got the helix and the Ax8. I just got a Kemper and I really love the amp sounds in it . Not all but the Marshall and Soldano amps are better than the helix . My own opinion

Great video and thank you

The crowd will not know the difference between a nicely set up pod 2.0 , or a Kemper.

Definitely kemper wins

They are all good.. spend some time with it , then you r ready to take it out on the road...

For someone that will buy one or another...what you recommend?

OMG KEMPER

I just hear that digital sound in the helix. I don’t define it as defined but more linear... the Kemper just sounds natural and professional.

Use irs with the helix , the inbuilt cab's are not that great

Kemper kills line6.

What speakers are you playing out of?

I am having a hard time finding an answer to this,so I’ll ask it this way Let’s say a band like saboton that uses kemper, what would they be plugging the kemper in too? (If they were practicing with there band and had no amps?) what would they plug in too? Thank you :))

I don't even know why I'm watching this, even playing with digital modelers at home just pisses me off... lol. I'll stick with my evh and marshall for amps and use the digital stuff for effects only.

bro the kemper sounds better

Great video and great playing BUUUT the Helix is very brittle sounding and the Kemper is not.

Pricewise, Helix is superior, at least for me... upgrade each unit with Fremen or Michael Britt patches and IRs, and let us know what you think

Kemper is sick

kemper all the way

I think you will be able to make same lead tones even with 50 dollars amp

and the patches for the Helix are????? they sound good!

Well the Kemper sounds much better but its your money do what you want with it

Chris, what is your email to get a copy of those Helix patches?

The Kemper isn't made in China, German Engineering and manufacturing. Yeah....itz a bit more $$$

May I please have the Helix patch ?

Do you share your presets for us to maybe try on the Helix??

I thing you can blow house with this sound :)

Kemper more batter

If my Kemper sounded like that Helix I'd probably sell it and go back to my Soldano.

I liked the Helix until he put the Kemper on.