I know you've already purchased a Helix LT. But I'll put my thoughts here - I own a Helix Floor and an HX Stomp.
The main considerations in terms of choosing a product from the Helix family are as follows:
- Footprint/physical device size
- Input/Output
- Number of DSP chips/effects paths
They all do the same thing and have access to the same blocks and effects. Each DSP path supports up to 8 blocks depending on the effects used - some effects use more processing power than others, and there is a processing limit per path. Additionally, more than one amp sim can't be used on a single path. These boundaries are true for all of the Helix products.
The main difference between the HX Stomp/Stomp XL and the Helix LT/Floor in terms of DSP is that the LT and Floor have two DSP chips that can be used in parallel in a preset (or not used at all). Therefore, they have two stereo paths with eight blocks each, which can be combined via routing into one path with sixteen blocks. There is also a feature that configures the device to limit presets to one path only, allowing for seamless preset switching by double-buffering the presets. This isn't possible on the Stomp or the Stomp XL.
I/O is also different - the larger units have more I/O and effects loops, and the larger units also support an XLR input for a microphone. The Stomp series doesn't support XLR output like the LT and Floor, but does have balanced TRS outputs for DI purposes.
Other than that - the editing experience for all of the units is honestly superb, and using HX Edit from a computer normalizes the editing experience across all devices. The larger devices have more switches, but you can add footswitch controllers to the smaller devices as well.
For those of you have that have the Stomp XL or LT, do you feel like you are missing anything or feel limited in what you can do with the pedal? Are only eight blocks enough on the Stomp XL? Is the flagship more intuitive to use and adjust? Is the flagship overkill for someone that doesn't need all of the features? Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Owning both a Floor and a Stomp, I've come to realize that floor space and I/O are the main considerations in terms of a purchase. If you want to use the Helix as the core of your setup and you might want to do something with more than one instrument (or a microphone), or if you are concerned about DSP limitations because you plan to use a lot of effects in a single preset (or a lot of poly shifting), the larger units are the only choice. If floor space is at a premium or you don't want to travel with a large pedalboard, then one of the smaller options is better.
I thought that the interface on the HX Stomp would be less intuitive than the Helix Floor due to the screen size and button layouts, but it's not - it's actually very nice and actually not that different. I like both systems, and they both work with HX Edit so you can normalize the experience (and import and export presets without issues).
The flagship isn't necessarily overkill if you don't use everything, but it does have a large footprint and I think it'd lose a lot of its value if it was paired with a physical amp instead of going direct to some type of sound reproduction if you are only using it live. However, its value as an audio interface is very worthwhile due to its extensive I/O.
I don't feel limited with the Stomp, personally. There are some things you can't do, but there's a lot that you can do. Granted, I have the full Helix for cases where I want to stretch the boundaries or work with multiple instruments on different paths at one time. That's not impossible with the Stomp, but it would involve external pedals as well.
I don't think you'll go wrong with the LT. None of the products are bad choices, but the LT's form factor is a good compromise.
