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I just tried a Fractal Axe-FX II expecting to be blown away but I was not. It's supposed to be state of the art. Least it was before Axe-FX III took it's place. But even the Marshall JCM 800 did not sound as good as what is in the POD X3. I've tried a Fractal and an Eleven rack and neither one compares to the JCM 800 that is in my X3. Plus all the detailed knobs which are unnecessary that don't do much to change the sound of what you are hearing. Maybe I'll try a Helix next. Seems Line6 stuff is equal to if not better than anyone else's.

Honestly the disàppoinment you felt on axe 2 I get on hd500. It was advértised that you can create a chain as your heart desires. But I run out of dsp very quick, and to get a good sound you needed at least 2 eq in a 8 effects chain. As for the jcm 800, personal taste I agree with the op. The jam 800 of xt and x3 was really great sounding, as well as the modern high gain. I can not replicate these sounds on any other unit.

Most mixing boards expect XLR inputs at Mic level, but you don't really have to use the 1/4" out to avoid phantom power. You can simply use the Helix XLR set to Mic level and just connect through a phantom power blocker which typically sits inline from your XLR output. They're not expensive at all and a fraction of the size of a DI box. If you do that you have your 1/4" output available to run to your FRFR112, which are set to Line level typically as the industry standard input level. This type of setup also gives you the benefit of being able to disengage your Helix volume knob from the XLR output so it's sending that signal at full unity level, while still using your Helix volume knob to control your on stage FRFR level.

Whoa this is kinda the idea I was looking for! The branch idea might just work. The issue I ran into with simply assigning “drive” to the EXP pedal was that as soon as I clicked the distortion block on using the foot switch, the tone was immediately colored by the distortion block’s EQ settings. I was hoping for a truly pure, unaffected dry signal at heel position being blended into the distortion block as pedal is pushed. The branch idea you mentioned seems logical to me. I’ll let ya know how it works!

Sure there will be some differences, but huge differences? Nope. It's more what the company is doing to them.