SPDIF Issues - Works at 44.1 with issues, 48k with more issues, not at all on 96k

[ilostmysanity]

Anyone else having issues with SPDIF on the Helix Stadium? I have recently purchased a Helix Stadium XL. I have been a long time user of Helix and Helix Rack, so I was pretty pumped to try this out, but have been plagued with issues in my recording set up. When I set my Stadium XL at 44.1 and set it to be the clock, putting my Scarlett 18i20 into input - Non-clock mode it works with really intermittent dropouts, maybe one every 25-30 minutes. When I put it into 48k, it works similarly, with some additional dropouts, but typically more like once every 10 or so minutes. It completely loses clock sync, then it syncs back up. Then when I try 96k, it straight out won't work. It just constantly flashes sync on and off. To be clear I have used this exact setup for years with my Helix floor and then Helix Rack with zero issues. And yes, I have swapped back and it continues to work perfectly.

 

Troubleshooting I have tried:

• Factory reset the Helix Stadium XL
• Factory reset the Scarlett 18i20
• Swapped the SPDIF cable
• Tried all options for SPIF output - Direct, 1/4",XLR and phones. All do the same except direct, but I do not need a DI output via SPDIF. I have a DI for that inline before the Stadium XL. Direct only puts out a clean guitar signal.
• Verified I do not get any popping or dropouts via XLR, 1/4" or Phones. This seems to be isolated to SPDIF, which is my primary recording interface preference.

 

I have not yet tried a different interface, but I have a hard time believing that could be the issue because the SAME interface, with the SAME SPDIF cable has no issues on the Helix Rack. Before I go through the hassle of taking it back to the store and swapping, I just want to make sure I have ruled out everything. Anyone else experiencing this or did I just get a bad unit?

[rwandering]

My situation is probably irrelevant to your case; but I use SPDIF output from the Stadium into a different interface and don't have issues. The Stadium isn't the clock master in my case.

[ilostmysanity]

On 8/25/2026 at 7:38 PM, rwandering said:

My situation is probably irrelevant to your case; but I use SPDIF output from the Stadium into a different interface and don't have issues. The Stadium isn't the clock master in my case.

Unfortunately, when I don't run it as the clock master I get some strange audio artifacts or else this would be the fix for me too. This was also the case with the Helix Floor and the Helix Rack, they would artifact if they weren't the clock master, at least with the 2 different Scarlett 18i20 interfaces I used it with.

[ilostmysanity]

After swapping the unit at my retailer, because I only had a limited return window, this unit has the same issue. 

 

So now I have additionally tried:

• Helix Stadium XL Unit swap
• Different Scarlett 18i20 interface. (I had purchased 2 and at one time was using both, but mostly just use one now so I had this spare sitting around.)
  • Reminder, both of these still currently work fine with my Helix RACK.
• Another different SPDIF cable.

The confusion is even furthered by the fact that when I put it on 88.2kHz, the audio and sync seems just as stable as 44.1. But doesn't work at all at 96kHz.

 

I am now to the point where I am wondering if there is a bad run, or if this is a software issue that Line 6 knows about but have not gotten enough feedback about the issue since these are sill fairly limited in the use and deployment as far as I can tell. Very few stores near me had this in stock, and when they do they are only getting 1 at a time.

[silverhead]

Have you opened a support ticket to report the potential bug?

[ilostmysanity]

I had not because I was considering returning the unit and going with something else. But I think I may keep it, register it and open a support ticket.