Headrush MX5 - The Good, Bad, And Ugly 

After using the Headrush for the past 4 years I have not experienced the negatives you talked out. I bought mine after watching Pete Thorn's review and i still love it.

Interesting comments! I have one as a backup to my Fractal FM3 and I really like it for practice. So much that I sold my Kemper. Really easy to use and sounds pretty good to me. I only use aftermarket IRs which help quite a bit.

My Mooer had a similar background, digital noise and I fixed it by using a better quality power supply than the one provided with the unit. That doesn't mean that its the case with your MX5, but it would be interesting to try it and maybe useful for others.

ditch the presets , make your own, get decent 3rd party ir files and adjust the global eq ... will sound like a different unit.

It's so refreshing to hear a RU-vid review that lists negatives. Makes you realise how much RU-vidrs rely on keeping brands on their side.

I have found this unit and it's unique tones to be very satisfying for overdriven slide tones .I am going to try recording some slide tracks tomorrow for the first time. I also have a vintage tube amp to try through a two Notes Torpedo .I have not noticed the negatives you pointed out but will be on the lookout for that. Be neat to compare the sounds ! One quick note is I traded my Stomp Pod Go in to get this unit. I also thought it sounded pretty good but being an old guy I found the Pod go very difficult to adjust on the fly. Thanks for your great review.

Have to say, I really liked that first tone (the ‘alias frequencies’ example) thought it sounded awesome. All depends on what you’re going for and personal taste. There’s something for everyone out there.

I own this unit and haven’t ran into that yet. But, I do notice a difference between the “feel” of this and the helix. It would be great to do a Good, Bad, and Ugly with the Helix. I think this could be a really great series for your channel. Really refreshing to see the bad side of pedals as well as the good. Although, I would have liked to have heard some really high gain/metal good/bad comparison as well. Great video though! 👍🏻

Spent some time with one that the shop had set up to run through a line 6 Powercab as monitor. Found it really easy to create patches but wasn’t too impressed with the speaker simulations. Swapped it around so Headrush cabs were disabled and used the Powercab modelling, sounded a lot better.

This is interesting, I am in the market for a looper/effects pedal. Glad I saw this, but one thing I can't help but wonder is... 1. Are you using a daw or are you going into a amp? A. If daw, did you readjust for latency based on this pedal B. If amp, are you running completely clean? If that's the case, should amp sim be off also? 2. Did you adjust the EQ in the rig based on what you are outputting to? 3. Did you make any of your own presets? 4. I'm sure the pickups in your guitar are passive, but just curious, are they active? Wouldn't want to assume.. This will definitely help me and others with a decision to purchase and would rather see a little more convincing detail spec wise with everything else you are using in this particular mix to prove out that it is a poor pedal and not user error on the heavier sounds you are complaining about. Look forward to your response, cheer's!

Did you happen to try the high gain amps out with some good IRs vs using the built in cab an mic sims? I have one of these and I absolutely love it, but only when I use my favorite V30 IR. Also, the input block has noise gate turned on by default, so that may have accounted for some of the odd artifacts as the sustain dies off.

Never clicked a notificatiom so fast! Your videos are beautiful, short, concise, super precise, wonderful playing and professional. Thanks guys!

That kinda high frequency “shyew” sound on the Modern Plexi patch is honestly something I’ve always associated with dimed plexis. Johan Segeborn has many videos with crank marshalls that have that super intense high end character.

Thanks for your valuable impressions.👍👍

I have the pedalboard and carry the mx5 as a backup. We play casinos, theaters, larger clubs, large outdoor festivals, etc. One theater we played at, the stage manager said, "We had xxx in here last weekend and you got a better tone than he did in less than half the time." The unmemtioned person is a well known player around here and has an equally well-known affinity for his collection of tube amps.

Paul, really appreciate the honest overview (pro’s and con’s). I didn’t see this as negative at all. You have always been a great educator when it comes to showing us how to dial in sounds. This was no different. Maybe the input noise gate was set to global and caused the sound to clamp and cause aliasing. It doesn’t matter because some of the sounds just aren’t there, which is often the case with a cost effective unit-does-all mu

Did you check both your input/output signal on the Headrush to make sure you weren't in the yellow or red, clipping the internals on one or both?. Both have horizontal bar meters that have to be set for pickup output and overall rig output. Sounds like operator error. I've listened to most if not all the reviews of the Pedalboard, Gigboard and this MX5 and your the only one to have this problem or at least mention it.

Very good points that are from an electric guitar player's angle, I suppose. My main gig is acoustic stuff where I'm looking at units like this for touring and packing small, almost an "all in one" practical solution.

Most people use 3rd party IRs and delete the factory presets on a headrush. My gigboard is ace. My GT1, and 2 katanas are gathering dust since I bought the gigboard.

Having used both Headrush and Helix, I'd say Headrush amps sounded much more realistic and natural to my ears. Helix has more amps and effects though and also more usable blocks on screen (16 blocks on Helix vs 11 blocks for Headrush), so it's quality over quantity.

I think you are correct on the gain sounds if you play the factory presets which are all bad- if you tweak it and get a few IRs- it is a great little processor

It used to be the BOSS that had the digital noise up in the high end

Does it have compression?

You're the only reviewer to bring these issues up! Thank you! I'd love to hear what you thing of either of the Hotone Ampero multi-fx amp sim units.

Got one recently and yeah... the amps models where a bit of downer, you can still do a lot but if only they added the amp captures on mx5 and the other cheap models, this could be a really good option but as is, I ll probably end up selling it and getting something better

You can't expect the presets to sound good on any multi effects modeling pedal. I've used ones from Digitech, Vox, Zoom, Line 6, Boss, and Mooer, they all needed adjusting to my pickups, amps, and speakers that were being used. Even if you're using the built-in amp's and cab's they'll sound different going into different pa systems!

What amp are you plugging the MX5 into? What are we actually listening to?

Before putting out bad video's of this unit, you should spend way more time getting into the headrush, the little ins and outs where you can actually go in and change frequencies etc. To many people putting out bad reviews on this unit without really getting to understand it. Really learn this unit. As for the touchscreen the only difference between the MX5 and thepedalboard that I've noticed is obviously it's smaller, but it is responsive. that part confused me, and never judge this thing off the stock rigs.. So many downloadable rigs out there that are far superior, some are even free and just go back to really learning it and creating your own rigs. It's a really good unit. I have the pedalboard but bought the Mx5 cause I travel a lot for work and be in a hotel room for weeks, this thing fits in my backpack and weighs less than laptop.. You can create really good cleans all the way crazy death metal growling distortions.. Whatever you can imagine you can create this. Oh and the expression pedal works great.

I own a kemper and hx stomp and this unit. I found that they all sound bad out of the box. The kemper being th worst. After putting Michael britts stuff in there the kemper sounds great and I find they all sound great. You just have to spend some time dialing in. And I found the mx5 being the one that has the most usable stock sounds.

Thanks for your video. But….So much more you can do with this…..Input gains, output gains, iRs, mic-ing and leveling. So much more than your showing to dial this unit in. Have a good one

It's funny you are not very positive about it but it all sounds really good! 😊

How about NOT using the amp modeling, and just using the effects?

Me compré una mx5..y la verdad estoy contento...buen video

I sold the Boss GT1000 and bought an MX5. Boss gt1000 has many, too many things to change and boss doesn't do updates. I know you love boss units, but they have many things that suck. (impulse response that sound terrible, embarrassing parametric equalizers, very very very noisy, amplifiers that they sound bad, always dull sound, etc

I'd love to see you guys check out on of the Ampero family of processors. Their new one is about to be released.

Can I just use it as a stomp box? 1 as a heavy distortion, 2 as a creepy reverb and 3 as a solo effect?

I myself just bought this unit after a lot of reviews and watching how it works I picked one up as well New after 2 days 16 hours of those 2 days trying to dialing something in on the ( Clean ) my Own (Rig ) Not factory presets ) I have to agree with the milliseconds lag when you strum a string know matter which one there is a alien like pause lag maybe something in the hardware assign from the factory not sure but I agree StudioRats there is lag I could not get a good sound out it

I used to have a headrush pedalboard which I loved and then I downsized to the gig board which I still loved. However then I got a helix and loved loved loved the helix. Then I got another headrush pedalboard because I was feeling nostalgic for it. However, since I had been so used to the better feel in the helix at that point.... I never bonded with the headrush pedalboard again once I had it. Now I play the quad cortex and love it. I don't think I will be going back to the headrush line ever again. My view on the headrush stuff: great for your first effects processor but it should be just a stepping stone on your way to something better/more refined.

The firmware updates have really improved the MX5

I bought one and am dealing with it. I agree there are some quite large variables between amp volumes, etc. and I think the Orange and Fender models are some of the best it has to offer. I often find myself having to use 2 of everything to get what I want, 2 compressors, 2 amps, 2 cabs, 2 reverbs, etc. That being said I believe you do get your moneys worth as it does have the processing power to be able to do that. My home rolled patches feel really good under the fingers too. I have the Katana MK2 100 also. They're both good, maybe each in they're own way.

I don’t want to be offensive but you don’t know how to dial it… before you post a video to point the pros and cons learn the device a little more…

Can you make Line 6 POD Go review?

I have no idea why you’re experiencing any of this. I have an axeFX 3 also and I use this just as much. I have no problems with getting amazing tones out of this device. I do use my own IRs though.

Hi Paul, I was thinking of getting a Zoom G6. Have you heard anything positive about them. Thanks 😊 . Enjoying the Channel !

Thx for the great info. I never use it on high gain

Thanks Paul. It is pretty much like I thought. I wanted to love it, but it needs some serious work before it is ready for Prime Time.

Poor review. In this review you only look at presets. You're not even use IR's. This is not a Line6 pod!

Sounds like someone got the ol nudge from Boss. 🤔

So a really good price to sound bad?

Could you please also do a review on the Line6 Helix vs Axe fx. I really wana see how good or bad is the helix compared to the axe fx 3 so that may have an idea on the two modellers to step up from helix to fractal. I miss the dynamic range and tone feel on the helix

It's interesting - all these Headrush units are supposed to be the same. Yet, the biggest one seems to have the best perceptions from everyone. I remember thinking this too if you compare the Andertons videos - they loved the big on on multiple different videos - then on the latest with this smallest one hated it. But the are all the same, right? I'd be willing to be that though the rig power and processing may be the same - there is a difference in what's outputting the sound internally.

Hey I just got one of these I'm used to using a fender toanmaster delux reverb. So far I cannot get a good clean fender amp sound out of this. I mean it sounds kind of like the amp but not the same as the m. I guess I'll keep playing with it. But it just sounds kind of solid state and cheap is my best way to describe it. My needs are pretty simple I just want to clean fender tone ,I have not found a good one

There all the same amps. Just been adjusted by the factory. Ill stick will my valve beast .but good video.

I think he really missed a lot by not messing with the cabs/IRs owning a Headrush for over 3 years and almost everyone knows the stock sounds are rubbish. MS-30 to me though is the best sounding amp model.

Most honest review I’ve heard of this unit so far

I just got one for my beginner guitar playing daughter $50.00 off the regular price at an auction; like new condition; she says it is too much for her but she has not even watched any videos or try it yet; I wonder if she would keep it vs her 3 boss pedals she has so far' chorus, distortion and wah + regular pedal box and case...🤔

Please do make a review like this one with Nux Mg30 aswell 🎸🙌🏻❤️

Have you tried the ampero 2

Listen to ‘For the creator’ on RU-vid, if anyone thinking of getting this can construct the patches as he can, make it sound as he does and play like he can then $450 is beyond a bargain.

I heard this compared to helix and boss, it's not the same modeling as in the eleven rack, they reworked everything. I used a katana, I used tube amps and I can get realistic really pleasing sound from the gigboard. When I hear what kinda sounds you are getting from it, it sounds like shit. It must be a setting or something else. I dialed in a real realistic sound without the artificial sounds you where getting without any trouble. But what I heard from this demo sounds really bad. But to each his own, I couldn't get a nice sound from the katana which I used for a very long time and it just didn't grow on me.

Paul you made me worried I am about to bite the bullet and buy Headrush Pedalboard and I have seen a lot of people saying it is better sounding than the helix. Also seen a lot of metal guitarist making top notch recording with Headrush Pedalboard…

In your previous video with your friend James you said it feels good and it has low latency. now your saying you won't use it for recording!? and that aliasing sound was not present in the previous video :/

Any interest in doing a similar review of the nux mg-30? Have they sent you one to review?

I had the Eleven Rack, which this is based off, and that was 'okay' if you avoided the awful cab sim and went into a real amp but I was never really happy with it and I can hear some modulation going on in the sound still. I need to get my backside to a guitar shop though and play one.

use headrush speaker please.

Really appreciate the honest review mentioning the negatives. It's so hard to trust most gear reviews on RU-vid when most of them don't mention the negatives, or at least try to tiptoe around them.

Nice jumper!!!

I have this unit and right out the gate your wrong about the high gain sounding digital. You also failed to mention that your using stock cab sims on it for your demo. There are after market custom cab IR’s built in that sound way better and realistic as cab IR’s do. Try them out before slamming the sound. P.S. the stock cab sims suck on all modelers including helix, quad coretex , kemper, headrush, axefx and any other unit. Line 6 has the absolute worst cab sims. So try a aftermarket custom ir there are some built into the mx5 and you’ll get a sound your looking for. Stop giving a bad revue on something you don’t like just because you don’t know what your doing with it.

Can I use tone examples people have presented on an older headrush pedalboard and put them on an mx5 headrush?

Love 50s armchair Paul. I'd park and riff in that.

It’s not good or bad, it’s honest. Thank you.

Wel... If youre dialing different amps while you are in an specific preset the sound might be "bad" or odd. The variants are infinite, starting from the chain, the order of the pedals in the chain, is there a preamp section, mic, cabinet, mods before or after the cabinet etc etc.... The aproach should have been from a preset that fits the amp, or from scratch. This is a one sided opinion, not a review.

In terms of sound do you think the gx100 sounds better ?

Do you work for Boss?

It’s looking - you do not know what you talking about.

Will line6 podgo do better than this?!!

I have one and much prefer it to say the pod go which I returned. I also don't hear the aliasing thing and it sounds way better going through my home setup than in your video...weird, I do agree it doesn't sound like the amps it pretends to be. I'll have to try the newer boss stuff to see what I might be missing. I do think its possible to nice tones out of this and some of the other features like the looper are worth a mention.

For almost half the price and a similar small size, I’d instead go with the Boss GT-1 every day of the week. The only thing the Headrush does better in my opinion is the simpler menus and touchscreen. But in terms of sound and features for the money, the GT-1 crushes it.

One big disadvantage! You can't connect it to your pc to edit presets. That's a deal breaker for me! Also I don't like the small footpedal!

A plexi does that same thing.

This thing sounds like gt6 in my ears

Thanks for the review! Could you clarify: have you noticed the same artifacts using an IR block with proper impulse responses instead of internal cabinets (which are very harsh, as I know)? I couldn't see any IR blocks in the rig presented in the video.

I have bought a headrush mx5 and brought it to Brazil... 2 mouths of use it stopped working and they didn't pay me back... desapoited with Headhush.... I should buy a Hotone

Cheap works for me.

I bet James gave the one thumb down… LOL

Multi effects. Sorry hit the button too soon.

Older dsp is an issue.

I got this unit a couple of weeks ago and I thought that I'm the only man in the universe who hears this ugly frequencies in palm muted high gain sound. All youtube reviewers are absolutely happy with this device. Finally I can hear some peace of the true. IRs won't fix this, you'll just get the same sound with another equalization. Very disappointed by the product. It's good only for clean tones and as an effects pedal. Best mx5 review, thank you!

Yeah, you're probably right, Mutt Lange. For me is still a good option for home, cheap recording.

You complain a lot! hahahaha

Sounds very digital to me..

Excellent video..There's somethign about the MX5 sounds cheap..very 2 Dimensional...The Pod Go sounded much better..too bad because the MX5 has some great features. Even with custom IR's (Ownhammer, etc..) The MX5 just sounds "Meh"...You nailed it in the first 2 minutes..it has this digital cheapy response and feel.. Bluguitar Iridium SMOKES it!! : )

The donner stage 1000 for 259 is far far better imo.

For £400 you could get a used Gigboard.