Schmalle

I'd guess that dark horse thing is some kind of profiling. Like Fractal Audios realtime analyzer block or something...

The obvious point to start are the preamp versions of the Solo Lead or the amp sims with master/sag/presence at 2. Keep in mind that the cab makes up for a huge part of the sound. If you still have the podxt you can play the hxstomp with only the amp sim on into the podxt with only the cab sim on and vice versa.This way you can match the amp and cab one at a time in isolation.

+1 for phase inversion option. I'd imagine it to be an option on the gain block.

I have a good strategy against fear of obsolescence: Take the manual and go to the pages where the amps, fx etc. are listed. Then take one item of this list that you are curious about. Start a web search and find out what the real world device does, how it is supposed to be used and how players use it in real life. Then take your guitar and Helix device and start experimenting. When you're done think about how good the real device is modeled and how easy and without spending extra money or purchasing time you could achieve these results. Then take a pencil and check off that item from the list. The next day you can pick another and start again. This will help you appreciate / focus on what you have instead of what you don't have. As a side effect your patch creating skills, your understanding of tone tools and signal paths as well as you ear will improve.

These three spectacular amps that would broaden the sonic palette: Bogner Shiva clean channel - Beautiful cleans and plexi crunch sounds Fryette Deliverance 120 MKII - Ultra versatile amp that stays open and articulate no matter what Two-Rock Jet 35 - Dumble-style amp with a unique tone - very vocal / violin like with exceptional transmission of the pick attack

Let me chime in here. Your clip sounds like a Mark 4 sound. Use the Cali IV Lead with following settings as starting point: LdGain 6 LdDrive 10 Bass 0.5 Mid 2.5 Treble 7 Presence 5 Master 3.7 Sag 1.5 80Hz 3 240Hz 3 750Hz -9 2200Hz 3 6600Hz 3 4x12Cail V30 Mic 160 Ribn Distance 3.0" Add a Tube Screamer in front with Drive @ 0, Tone 6, Level 8 for over the top lead gain. Play with the 80 240 750 2200 6600 settings to find out what these do to the sound. Also try increasing the LdGain while lowering Bass and Mid to compensate so it does not get muddy.