So it’s just… HX Stomp, but with more touch footswitches and all the jacks on the back? For $150 more?
Yes.
…Why?
Because customers asked for more switches. Or kept finding clever—but way less elegant or integrated—ways to add more switches. And it was relatively easy. We’re not going to pretend it’s the most innovative product we’ve ever designed but for some customers, it’s the goldilocks form factor.
Thanks, but my personal needs require a Variax input, twice the DSP, and six switches, not eight. Why didn’t you give me exactly what I want?
<exasperated sigh>
So it’s like the size of two HX Stomps?
If you omit the space required for jacks on the side (even pancake jacks), more like 1-2/3 Stomps. It’s 12.5” wide (vs. HX Stomp’s 7” width). Depth and height are virtually identical.
Does it add anything else?
Hands-free Pedal Edit mode (tweak presets with your feet), 128 presets vs.126, four snapshots per preset vs. three, and you can access the 6 Switch Looper without needing a MIDI controller. Other than that, it is HX Stomp with 5 extra switches.
Does it have the Command Center?
Absolutely. In fact, a big reason HX Stomp got the Command Center in 3.0 is because we had already done the work for HX Stomp XL.
Wait, what happened to the Volume knob?
We moved it to the back panel to save room. It’s spring loaded so you can recess it into the chassis to keep your cables from accidentally turning it.
Can I use third-party power supplies?
Yes. Any power supply that works with HX Stomp should work fine with HX Stomp XL.
Can it load HX Stomp presets?
Yep, just drag ‘em in via HX Edit. It can also load Helix, Helix Rack+Control, Helix LT, Helix Native, and HX Effects presets, as long as they contain 8 or fewer blocks on a single DSP path.
What are the reset options?
Hold these button combinations while powering up the HX Stomp XL:
1. FS ^, C & D: clears all presets/IRs
2. FS ^+C: resets presets and IRs
3. FS C+D: factory restore (globals, presets, IRs)
4. Page >: Update mode. This update mode is helpful if the update is interrupted, and the HX Stomp will not boot properly. You will see a blank screen (no visual feedback on the display).
5. Upper & Lower Knobs: Rebuild presets. Wait for "Will Rebuild Presets..." to appear and let go.
Can backup files be exported/imported between HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL?
No, the backup file is not compatible across HX Stomp and Stomp XL.
If you would like to move your presets, IRs, etc. You would need to manually export the individual files and import them into the other device.
You can also connect both devices to HX Edit simultaneously and then drag and drop the files across HX Edit windows.
Both versions of HX Stomp or HX Stomp XL should be on the same firmware version for dragging and dropping to function.