There is no "best" all have great sound quality nowadays. It's what will work best for you and your setup. I have a helix and love it considering line 6 thing is modeling they know there shit.
If you know how to setup the Helix/AXE/Kemper they nail the recorded sounds or if routed differently nail the tone of which it models. Modelers have caught up to there tube counterparts. If you really really listen there are subtle differences but then your just being nitpicky.
I would take a look in to a company called guitarmory. They have slew of options to choose from for extend range guitars. I would look at the Red Stone offering they have it both in Alnico V and VIII so many flavors of the same pickup. Also don't worry about whether its high, low, medium output...
I have heard of them. They do sound good but they do still just sound like something trying to dethrone EMG. I did how ever pull the trigger on a Foxbat set from guitarmory with padauk bobbins.
Not sure about lace drop and gain but I just returned the deathbucker I am not liking anything I have tried from Lace. Take a look at guitarmory they have some amazing choices for 6,7,8 string guitars.
Classic 81/85 set. Came with the Schecter C1 Platinum. Never got along with any active or any other ceramic loaded pickup to harsh sounding. Also don't want to be wasteful with the batteries.
The Claymore and the Orion have caught me eye from guitarmory. Leaning towards the Claymore but would love to know what the alnico 9 vs the alnico V would sound.
The elysian pickups have definitely peaked my interest they just came out with a new one called Hellfire. I'll look into the custom 5. But the elysian pickups supposedly have a new tech that I have never heard of.
I have tried the BKP aftermath set, EMG and Lace deathbucker. None of those are to my liking hopefully people on here can help me find one and ask the right questions. Hopefully, I'll have the right answer. I know for sure I want to go medium output have been looking at a SD Pegasus and the SD...