Which small HX should you buy?
Four pedal-sized Line 6 boxes that share the effects library and differ in what else they carry. The first question is whether you want amp models at all.
HX Stomp XL
The one to buy if you plan to gig it. Same engine as the Stomp with six free switches, a fourth snapshot and every jack on one face.
Open the HX Stomp XL guide →HX Stomp
The smallest box with amp models. Excellent if it is going into a board where something else does the switching — MIDI is the real answer to three switches.
Open the HX Stomp guide →HX Effects
For players who already have an amp. No modelling budget spent, two loops to keep your analogue pedals switchable, and colour-coded switches.
Open the HX Effects guide →HX One
One effect, one pedal slot, one normal power draw. Buy it to replace the pedal you keep swapping, not to build a rig.
Open the HX One guide →Only the lines that actually differ are here. Everything these devices share — the model library, the way presets are built, the cab block rule — is the same on all of them and is covered in each guide.
| HX Stomp XL | HX Stomp | HX Effects | HX One | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | ||||
| Amp and cab modelsThe first fork. If you already own an amp you like, HX Effects spends none of its budget on modelling one.HX Effects 3.80 Owner's Manual · HX Stomp 3.80 Owner's Manual | Yes, the full library | Yes, the full library | No — effects only, but IRs are included | No — effects only |
| How many effects at onceHX Stomp XL 3.80 Owner's Manual · HX One Owner's Manual | Eight blocks | Eight blocks | A full chain, no amp taking up room | One, in stereo |
| Using it | ||||
| FootswitchesOn the small Stomp only two switches are genuinely free. That is the single biggest reason to step up to the XL.HX Stomp Cheat Sheet (Rev C) · HX Stomp XL Cheat Sheet (Rev A) | Eight — six stomps plus MODE and TAP | Three, and FS3 is always tap tempo | Eight — six stomps plus MODE and TAP | Two — ON and TAP/FLUX |
| SnapshotsHX Stomp XL 3.80 Owner's Manual · HX Stomp 3.80 Owner's Manual · HX Effects 3.80 Owner's Manual | Four | Three | Four | None — one effect at a time |
| Fitting it on a board | ||||
| Where the jacks areThe HX Stomp's side-mounted send, return, MIDI and headphones decide your board layout for you.HX Stomp Cheat Sheet (Rev C) · HX Stomp XL Cheat Sheet (Rev A) | All on the rear | Spread over three faces | All on the rear | Three faces — rear, and both cheeks |
| PowerOnly the HX One runs off an ordinary pedalboard supply. The others want three amps from a single output, which most supplies cannot give.HX One Owner's Manual · HX Stomp Cheat Sheet (Rev C) | 9 V, 3 A — supplied adapter only | 9 V, 3 A — supplied adapter only | Supplied adapter only | 9 V, 500 mA — a normal pedalboard draw |
| USB audio interfaceHX Stomp XL Cheat Sheet (Rev A) · HX Effects Cheat Sheet · HX One Cheat Sheet (Rev A) | Yes, with re-amping | Yes, with re-amping | No — editing and firmware only | No — firmware only |
Amp and cab models
The first fork. If you already own an amp you like, HX Effects spends none of its budget on modelling one.
- HX Stomp XL
- Yes, the full library
- HX Stomp
- Yes, the full library
- HX Effects
- No — effects only, but IRs are included
- HX One
- No — effects only
How many effects at once
- HX Stomp XL
- Eight blocks
- HX Stomp
- Eight blocks
- HX Effects
- A full chain, no amp taking up room
- HX One
- One, in stereo
Footswitches
On the small Stomp only two switches are genuinely free. That is the single biggest reason to step up to the XL.
- HX Stomp XL
- Eight — six stomps plus MODE and TAP
- HX Stomp
- Three, and FS3 is always tap tempo
- HX Effects
- Eight — six stomps plus MODE and TAP
- HX One
- Two — ON and TAP/FLUX
Snapshots
- HX Stomp XL
- Four
- HX Stomp
- Three
- HX Effects
- Four
- HX One
- None — one effect at a time
Where the jacks are
The HX Stomp's side-mounted send, return, MIDI and headphones decide your board layout for you.
- HX Stomp XL
- All on the rear
- HX Stomp
- Spread over three faces
- HX Effects
- All on the rear
- HX One
- Three faces — rear, and both cheeks
Power
Only the HX One runs off an ordinary pedalboard supply. The others want three amps from a single output, which most supplies cannot give.
- HX Stomp XL
- 9 V, 3 A — supplied adapter only
- HX Stomp
- 9 V, 3 A — supplied adapter only
- HX Effects
- Supplied adapter only
- HX One
- 9 V, 500 mA — a normal pedalboard draw
USB audio interface
- HX Stomp XL
- Yes, with re-amping
- HX Stomp
- Yes, with re-amping
- HX Effects
- No — editing and firmware only
- HX One
- No — firmware only