Smallbox vs. Helios

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SavageRiffer

SavageRiffer

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Now that they've been out for a while, for those of you who have experience with both, what are your thoughts comparing the two?
 
I have played both. I would choose the Helios. Helios is a very dynamic amp. From clean to high gain with a roll of the volume poti. I found that worked very well with the Helios. The high gain channel is just killer. Maybe the best lead tone from any amp i have played. Helios has a lot more gain on tap than the smallbox.
Helios is a hell of an amp. Helios is a little noisy in the high gain settings but not in a way that would bother me.
Both top notch amps. Can`t go wrong with either. If you are after this kind of tone the Helios is your best bet:
 
I owned the Smallbox, and traded it for the Helios 100.
For me, the Helios wins hands down. Much more grunt and power, but thats due to the bigger iron. A bit more of the raw marshall thing than the smallbox also. More voicing options on the Helios.
The only thing I wish the Helios had is the ability to have the low/high input foot switchable. The cleans on the low input are beautiful. A little hairy on the hot input. That would make it a perfect amp.
 
Helios all day long, had both. That said, both are gone and a 3rd Power Citizen Gain sits in their place :)
 
Another thing to keep in mind when comparing the clean channels...The smallbox has a gain control. So you can keep it low and crank the channel master for cleans. Or you can gain it up for a nice plexi crunch. This is a lot more flexible than the Helios clean, which doesnt have a gain control.
The small problem I had with the smallbox cleans...when keeping the gain very low and cranking the channel master (much like a NMV amp) it would play a little havoc with the fx loop when changing channels. Im guessing most people keep the gain kinda high on the plexi channel, so the channel masters are more even. And just rolling back guitar volume to clean up.
First world problems really haha. Both are fantastic amps.
 
Both are nice amps. I prefer the Bogner over the Friedman hands down.
 
Haven't owned either, but I've played both. Helios hands down.
 
I own a Helios and have tried the Small Box many times and agree with the others. The Helios is more raw, aggressive and bright, while the Small Box is a darker, more polished take on that sound. I hope the 2016 BE fixes that, but I still haven't tried one yet. I'd also look into the Metroplex
 
braintheory":1fe4bdo6 said:
I own a Helios and have tried the Small Box many times and agree with the others. The Helios is more raw, aggressive and bright, while the Small Box is a darker, more polished take on that sound. I hope the 2016 BE fixes that, but I still haven't tried one yet. I'd also look into the Metroplex
Click to expand...

I had a Smallbox for a while and thought it was bright until the volume was substantial. For some reason, all the robustness and warmth of the midrange didn't come out until it was pretty loud. I think it was one of the very first ones that shipped, so I don't know if there were any tweaks since, but it has always been a bright amp in my mind. As for the Helios, and my experience with it was brief, it kind of reminded me of a JVM for some reason, except a bit darker.

I really like both amps a lot so that's why I'm looking for other points of view. I like to have an overdrive or boost on all the time, so that's perfect with the Smallbo, but an overdrive in front of the Helios seems like it kind of gets in the way. Ever get that impression?
 
SavageRiffer":10kc6ki2 said:
braintheory":10kc6ki2 said:
I own a Helios and have tried the Small Box many times and agree with the others. The Helios is more raw, aggressive and bright, while the Small Box is a darker, more polished take on that sound. I hope the 2016 BE fixes that, but I still haven't tried one yet. I'd also look into the Metroplex
Click to expand...

I had a Smallbox for a while and thought it was bright until the volume was substantial. For some reason, all the robustness and warmth of the midrange didn't come out until it was pretty loud. I think it was one of the very first ones that shipped, so I don't know if there were any tweaks since, but it has always been a bright amp in my mind. As for the Helios, and my experience with it was brief, it kind of reminded me of a JVM for some reason, except a bit darker.

I really like both amps a lot so that's why I'm looking for other points of view. I like to have an overdrive or boost on all the time, so that's perfect with the Smallbo, but an overdrive in front of the Helios seems like it kind of gets in the way. Ever get that impression?
Click to expand...

Yeah I don't really like using overdrives with the Helios, it makes it too congested, but it's nothing like the JVM to my ears. The JVM sounds very processed and compressed (it sounds like a recording of a very good Marshall), while the Helios is one of most organic amps out there. The only amps I find more raw and organic than the Helios would be vintage amps like my old Marshalls and Mesas, but as far as modern amps go, the Helios is organic as it gets, whereas the JVM is on the opposite end of the spectrum along with amps like the Engl Powerball and Diezel Herbert in terms of being organic.

I could see the Small Box seeming bright depending on what you're used to, but it's darker than the average amp, and the Helios is definitely an inherently brighter amp
 
Great video. It does sound superb. I like the way the Smallbox treats pedals, and overall has more versatility with pedals. I like the Helios amp tone a bit more, but can see how some of the comments factored in here could make the Friedman a better pick for me personally. Hard choices man.
 
Different amps, tone. Friedman smooth, more compressed. Helios raw more organic if you will. Both cool.
 
Yeah, maybe the wildwood smallbox would work for you. Look into that one. It has an extra gain channel/knob.
I have boosted my Helios in 70s mode with the gain cut back a bit to about 1 or 2 oclock and it was awesome! I prefer 70s mode, its fatter and much more open/uncompressed.
In the end I just know that Im a 100 watt power section guy. At loud band volumes is where you really feel it.
 
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