** Helix Floor Users want an update later than 3.80 **

[mrrstrat]

I am one of many people who bought a brand new 2025 Helix Floor model and am wondering when there is an update to 3.80 available? There are many users of the Floor and these are STILL available at major retailers new.

 

Certainly the best of the Floor series is worthy of an update to remind loyal Helix users that their expensive investment on these units is worth it (as evidenced by support from Line 6).

[mrrstrat]

If the 2024 3.80 is the last update for the Floor, then this is a rather unceremonial end in 2026 for what is otherwise a great all-in-one FX unit. They are STILL available for sale in 2026 with the latest firmware branded 2024.

 

Line 6: please give us a nice update for the Helix Floor!! There are more of us Floor users than Stadium and those Floor sales gave the Stadium the momentum it has. :-)

[rd2rk]

This is a user-to-user support site. No one from Line6 hangs out here.

Go to The Gear Page>Digital and Modeling Gear and search for posts by @Digital Igloo (Eric Klein of L6).

You'll find many replies to your question "Will there be updates and when".

The short answer is "YES" and "When we get around to it".

That has been the answer to the question since the Helix was first released in 2015.

Rock what you got in the knowledge that you paid less and got A LOT more than what I got when I bought mine in 2016.

[mrrstrat]

Mine was still $1400.00 and the powered cab was another $900. Lots of amp and FX options out there for that kind of coin for lack of support on high dollar stuff. I really like the Floor and would hate for it to become poster child for "great idea and product, killed by poor support and rapid product generations". There was a lot of dedicated users and length of product run for the Helix Floor. This was why I picked Helix up over the ToneMaster, Quad, and the Fractal. I made this mistake with the TC Electronic G System back when it was number one. It just did not have the upgrade path to make it a viable part of a rig long term.

 

Honestly, if I knew they were dropping support, I would advise people away from this system and probably would have gone with the ToneMaster over the Floor when I bought my Floor in 2025. Ironically, the 2025 has the latest DSP series they were using from what I read and would have thought a few years of support was there as they had AWESOME support for the Floor prior to 2025.

 

To be quite honest: The unexpected (apparent) drop in support is a de-confidencer for me in Line 6 based on my purchase of the 2025 Floor on the cusp of the release of the (much more expensive) Stadium. Having a couple releases on the latest model of the Floor is not unreasonable to expect.

[rd2rk]

In 2016 Helix was $1500. You got a deal! Especially factoring in inflation! $1500 in 2015 is worth approximately $2058 today!

 

Considering that Helix was the flagship for 10 YEARS, I wouldn't say that it was killed by "rapid product generations".

Since further updates, though likely minor, ARE still being planned, you can't really claim "lack of support".

The "latest model" of the Helix Floor is identical to the first model of the Helix Floor.

Only the SW has changed through 10 YEARS of updates.

Also, bug fixes and other support will be available for years to come.

 

HONESTLY, ALL products eventually reach their End Of Life.

I have a synth that was a high-end/high-dollar unit in the mid-eighties, used by top bands.

The company that made it (Seiko) doesn't even remember that they ever made synths! I discovered that when I tried to get a manual from them.

 

TO BE QUITE HONEST, you knew that a new flagship was on the horizon,

YOU CHOSE to take the deal on the OLD tech, rather than spend the coin required to get the NEW tech.

 

And now you're whining! In LARGE FONT!

 

You are the poster child for ENTITLED ATTITUDE! MAN UP! Take responsibility for your choices!

 

Lastly, ROCK WHAT YOU GOT! If it NEVER gets another update, it's STILL some of the VERY BEST gear on the market!

[silverhead]

On 3/25/2026 at 10:50 AM, mrrstrat said:

….

 

Honestly, if I knew they were dropping support, ….

I think you’re confusing product support with product evolution. Line 6 is still selling and supporting the Helix/HX product lines. You can expect to be able to get problem resolution including replacement parts and service for years to come. Same with the history of software and firmware updates which continue to be available for download and installation. That’s called support.

 

The enhancements and improvements (evolution) have slowed down, which is absolutely normal for products that are much younger than Helix’s 10+ years. What’s surprising is that Line 6 is apparently planning another update even though the next generation product (Stadium) has been released. Your expectations are quite unrealistic.

[silverhead]

On 3/25/2026 at 10:50 AM, mrrstrat said:

…I really like the Floor and would hate for it to become poster child for "great idea and product, killed by poor support and rapid product generations". …

You can’t be serious here. 10+ years is a rapid product generation in the tech sector? C’mon, man.

[jester700]

Guys, don't feed the trolls. I mean, ToneMaster is the counterexample? How long did Fender support the Mustang Floor - 4 years?

[mrrstrat]

Did not mean to stir controversy. I was under the impression the DSP was updated several times since the original. That info was from one of the Youtuber Helix pros on an interview with the guys who are in Helix prod development. I am not sure what year the version of the DSP I have in my 2025 was updated, but it is certainly not the same chipset of the 2016 from what I have read.

 

Rapid prod development can be generational within a product line - the stuff I have found about Line 6 on the Helix is they update architecture to keep in stride with customer needs. Again, I have no idea when the DSP engine or architecture was updated in my version, but it is not the same as the 10 years ago stuff (as I have read - I do not know that as a fact first-hand). What I liked about the Helix was the product was stable even if the internals were updated with better and more capable DSP. They must have got to the point that the Stadium was to be the "major update" of everything.

 

Not trolling - just a working pro trying to gravitate on something new and not buy something being jettisoned. The Helix floor is the first Line 6 product I ever bought and had it for about 6 months. Dont really care about the previous 10 years other than it providing some sort of Market authority in digital tech. Buying a product new that is immediately deprecated by the company is bogus. I have heard and seen nothing but good for the Helix and actually have gigged with mine a couple times. I am slow to jump away from my Marshall and Fender amp fleet and 30+ years of FX pedals. But the Helix is certainly worthy - I just want an update and not have it stagnate with 2024 firmware.

 

It is true Line 6 never said the Floor was dead, but they have not said "Hey, we got a update for the Floor coming at some real point in the future".

 

The ToneMaster is good pedal system and its foundational tech in all of the new Fender DSP amps (Twin, Deluxe Reverb,..). It just has not been around enough to "become a thing" like the Helix. I hate flavor of the day stuff like most people and especially when its relatively expensive.

 

Dont get me wrong: I do like the Helix a lot and can swear by having an external FR cab to make it like an amp. The Fender FR212 is awesome and at 1000 watts had the thump and power but the feel of an amp.

 

Maybe we can petition Line 6 for an update to the 3.80 Firmware???

[rd2rk]

On 3/25/2026 at 2:03 PM, mrrstrat said:

Did not mean to stir controversy.

 

Sure you did. Your entire tone was uninformed, combative and accusatory.

 

On 3/25/2026 at 2:03 PM, mrrstrat said:

I was under the impression the DSP was updated several times since the original. That info was from one of the Youtuber Helix pros on an interview with the guys who are in Helix prod development. I am not sure what year the version of the DSP I have in my 2025 was updated, but it is certainly not the same chipset of the 2016 from what I have read.

 

The PHYSICAL DSP - the actual chipset - is the same as it ever was.

The DSP CODE has been changed countless times over the years.

What you read was wrong.

 

On 3/25/2026 at 2:03 PM, mrrstrat said:

It is true Line 6 never said the Floor was dead, but they have not said "Hey, we got a update for the Floor coming at some real point in the future".

 

Wrong again. Do what I told you to do over on TGP to get the real facts.

 

On 3/25/2026 at 2:03 PM, mrrstrat said:

Maybe we can petition Line 6 for an update to the 3.80 Firmware???

 

No need.

Again, go to TGP where Digital Igloo - aka Eric Klein, the L6 Chief Product Design Architect - has repeatedly assured us that at least one more update is in the works.

I don't use Facebook, but DI also posts on at least one Facebook group.

[jester700]

My sincere apologies; my troll line was unwarranted. A few points:

 

1. The HARDWARE wasn't updated. I mean, maybe bits that don't matter much due to component sourcing, but the actual DSP power/speed wasn't changed, nor were the D/A and A/D convertors updated to the degree that any sonic differences were claimed.

2. The software CODE was updated. There were 2 big ones - an update of the core engine in 2.80 (2019) and the new cab engine in 3.50 (2022). With roughly 2x yearly updates, not only were new amps, FX, and features added, but DSP usage was optimized, allowing more FX than was originally possible. There was also an "increased oversampling" change made in firmware 3.1. Maybe these are what was meant by "the DSP was updated".

 

We can petition (and do all the time on The Gear Page - https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?forums/digital-modeling-gear.53/), and as I have an LT and a Stomp, I'd LOVE to see new firmware for them. And I think we will; Eric at Line 6 has said so.

 

Unfortunately no details or ETA were given. That's normal; they never do that beforehand. But it's also never been 16 months since an update, so we're all skitchy. But Helix is still in the lineup and being sold, and apparently it's only an incremental effort to add new effects and models when they're developing them for the Stadium. The problem is ATM they're squashing Stadium bugs and developing things that WON'T port to Helix - Stadium-only features and Agoura models for amps that already exist in Helix. Once this flurry of activity calms down IMO we'll see some Helix updates, though not at the pace of years past. As others have said, it's a mature product and has a TON more features than when I bought it - and I thought it was great then. 

 

 

 

[jester700]

On 3/25/2026 at 6:34 PM, rd2rk said:

 

Sorry - I got distracted while typing and you beat me to it.

[datacommando]

On 3/25/2026 at 8:03 PM, mrrstrat said:

Did not mean to stir controversy. I was under the impression the DSP was updated several times since the original. That info was from one of the Youtuber Helix pros on an interview with the guys who are in Helix prod development. I am not sure what year the version of the DSP I have in my 2025 was updated, but it is certainly not the same chipset of the 2016 from what I have read.

Well, you got off to a really good start by actually being very controversial and extremely misinformed.

 

The hardware remains unchanged, but the firmware has received plenty of updates.

 

I bought my Helix floor way back in 2015, for what it could do then - which at that time comprised of 46 Amps, 30 Cabs, and 79 Effects. Since then we have had many FREE firmware updates, and Core operating system improvements, so that now at version 3.80, Helix is loaded with 103 amps, 41 cabs, and 241 effects. Yay! All FREE.

 

You’re a little late to the Helix party, and especially after the recently released new flagship “Stadium” model, you decided to launch into a diatribe about how badly done by you feel after buying an earlier unit. It may have been useful to do some really thorough research into what exactly you were about to purchase. “Caveat emptor”.

 

Me - I’m sticking with my Helix floor and Helix Native, which are used almost daily, and do exactly what I require. Are you sure you bought the correct tool to do the job.

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[waymda]

Or jump to the Stadium and get the updates it has got:

• Stabilty and bug fixes - not an issue for Helix OG
• Agora amps - not possible for Helix OG
• Proxy  - not possible for Helix OG

None of this has relevance for the OG, which is a stable and mature product with the Stadium following a very similar maturation route as the OG. Have a quick delve in this forum to see the early OG complaints and concerns, and don't ask anyone who was there what updating was like.

 

You brought the OG at a great time - its a fully functional unit, stable unit, and updates are genuine updates (when and if they occur). As a "working pro" what exactly is it that is NEEDED? I couldn't trust the Stadium for live work at this point, BECAUSE it NEEDS frequent updates.

 

OG is in the "Plateu of Productivity", Stadium is on the "Slope of Enlightenment" (just). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gartner_hype_cycle - choose your poison.

 

 

[mrrstrat]

 I do like the Helix, though. I did finally see the same old DSP from 2015 is in the 2025 (I was wrong there lol). Most surprising..

 

I dumped my today Floor as it went from being $1400 to worth $600 in less than 6 months. Luckily I was able to trade for a JVM Marshall. Not a total loss, I still have the Fender FR 2x12 for the ToneMaster Pro I am buying. 

 

tschüss!

 

[jester700]

On 3/27/2026 at 10:17 PM, mrrstrat said:

I dumped my today Floor as it went from being $1400 to worth $600 in less than 6 months. Luckily I was able to trade for a JVM Marshall. Not a total loss, I still have the Fender FR 2x12 for the ToneMaster Pro I am buying. 

I'm calling you out on this comment, as it's misleading and poor reasoning. Your unit (just as your future ToneMaster will) lost value the moment you drove it off the lot. That's life, and true of every digital FX box.

 

The floor still sells new for $1300. The used market is currently loaded with Floor units as many folks trade up for newer models, so prices are currently low. It's unfortunate timing for you, and I feel for you. That sucks. But this is how it is when units are replaced by newer ones - nothing special, or unique to Line 6. When Fender releases a new ToneMaster the same thing will happen.

 

You imply that this is the reason you're jumping brands. That's poor reasoning. If you prefer the TM to Helix for its sound or usability, great. Enjoy the TM. But jumping because of this perceived unfairness risks getting another unit you don't like as much for no good reason - and after taking a bath on the sale (at probably the worst time to sell; the stock market may not be for you).