I just did the same test...
A/B'd between my:
Guitar > Helix Rack > Studio Monitors
vs.
Guitar > Audient iD14 > DAW > Helix Native > Out to Same Monitors
There is a noticeable difference. It sound punchier and response with more bass (especially with palm mutes and chords).
Note this is with live playing...
However, when recording a track from the Helix Rack to my DAW, and the same track from my iD14 to my DAW (w/ the Native plug), there is no sound difference at all.
I think the hardware of the Helix Rack is doing something to interact with the guitar that my iD14 is not, resulting in differences in dynamics when playing live...
Is the Helix Rack "Loading the pickups"?? I thought I read this somewhere... anyone know what this means? Maybe that's what it's doing...
Obviously, the Rack unit sounds better playing live. It's a bit fuller, and punchier in the low end. But this is to be expected because it's a hardware unit that's designed for playing guitar (iD 14 is an all-around interface with no special interaction w/ the guitar)
