I received my new Helix Rack yesterday after years of using VSTs, I missed having a hardware amp and hoped that the Helix was going to be the dream rig!
I stayed up last night for a few hours to really dig into the thing and put it through its paces.
Honestly, I have to agree with Rezonator at this point... I'm loving all the clean amps and bluesy amps - the sounds and FX are fantastic! However, I too am struggling with all the Hi-Gain channels - it's like they're digitally clipping or something, there's this distortion in the high end that just won't go away. It's almost like it's on top of the amp sound - this fizzy crushed sound. I have no idea what it is. I assume, it can't be my input signal too hot, because the clean sounds are fine.
I don't believe the sound I'm hearing is present in the real amp. I've being playing for a long time through many amps and Sims and know what amps sound like and how they respond.
I've tried playing with the BIAS and other settings and can't get rid of it. If I use just the preamp instead of the amp, that helps, but it sucks the power out of the tone too.
Really quite disappointed at this point and considering sending the unit back for refund which would be a real shame, because I love the thing in every other way! It should be perfect for my needs.
I actually even read this thread before I purchased and put it down to a single bad experience, given the replies. But now, not so sure.
Rezonator: did you find a "magic switch" to get rid of it?
I'm just monitoring through headphones at this point, so can rule out and other monitoring issues. Also upgraded firmware to 2.21. any advice?