Design Ideologies
The impossible takes a little longer. From the very first idea in 2011 until the sales start at the end of 2018; the world leading Brax DSP went through the longest and most intensive development process in the history of Audiotec Fischer. Desperately awaited from customers aplenty all over the world, Brax proudly presents the single most advanced car audio digital signal processor the world has ever seen; in terms of both sound quality and functionality. It is not only the first processor on the market quality enough to bear the famous Brax logo, it also elevates the performance standard to an hitherto unrivaled level. Audiotec Fischer didn’t spare any effort to carry every single detail of this technological masterpiece to extremes.
From The Heart
The heart consists of no less than three of the most advanced Sigma350 series fixed-point 64 Bit audio DSP’s with the incredible processing power of 3.6 billion MAC operations per second. This allows to run the whole system on a native 192 kHz sampling rate, extending the audio frequency range to 80 kHz. The signal conversion is handled by the best sounding A/D and D/A converters from Asahi Kasei with specifications beyond imagination.
Cautious Power Supply
Enormous care has been taken for the design of the power supply which is the essential foundation for perfect sound quality. A host of fifty-five voltage regulators cleans and stabilizes all the supply voltages for every single stage separately. A new high-performance 32 Bit CoProcessor (ACO) supervises every operation and assures fastest communication with the DSP PC-Tool software and the optional remote control DIRECTOR.
Interconnectivity Aplenty
But besides all its technical merits, the Brax DSP marks the beginning of a new era in terms of connectivity as well. Its unique modular concept allows you to configure the inputs and outputs either as analog , digital or a mix of both. It is hard to conceive that with this flexibility the Brax DSP won’t be able to support any kind of system configuration, neither today nor in the future. The total work of art is completed by a mechanical concept which gives the impression of immortality at first glance.
Hey There Good Looking
The enormous expenditure, from the massive heatsink in Brax typical straight lined design to the cinch jacks milled from the solid gold; is discernible down to the most minute detail. The unit is also available is sleek anodised black or machined silver.
Design Features
The rich heritage of this astute company, together with its ever-increasing technical acumen; is conducive to these components featuring a vast array of impressive design ideologies and latest technological advancements. Some of them include:
– Three extraordinary powerful fixed point Sigma350 audio DSP’s with 64 Bit resolution and a total of 3.6 billion MAC operations per second calculating power.
– State-of-the-art Asahi Kasei “Velvet Sound” A/D and D/A converters with a native resolution of 32 Bit.
– 192 kHz sample rate for ultra High-Res audio bandwidth up to 80 kHz.
– Benchmark specifications for e.g. signal-to-noise ratio and total harmonic distortion, close to measuring limits.
– Modular eight channel in / twelve channel out concept with exchangeable stereo analog or digital input / output modules for covering all possible system configurations.
– Modules are chosen by you at the time of building.
– Output modules with switchable sampling rate of 48, 96 or 192 kHz.
– Analog output modules with variable filter characteristics and switchable output voltage of 2, 4 or 8 Volts.
– Muting of the analog output stages via relays with gold-plated contacts.
– Additional stereo SPDIF input (optical / coaxial) as well as a Link module for system extensions.
– Double Brax etension card slot (BEC) for optional input / output modules like Bluetooth® audio streaming, high resolution audio streaming via USB etc.
– Unique DSP sound effects such as the augmented bass processing which dynamically optimizes the bass response of the subwoofer, the StageXpander that significantly widens the stereo perspective, the RealCenter function, which allows a perfectly focused sound staging for both driver and co-driver and much more.
– Incomparably complex power supply concept with a total of 55 voltage regulators and start-stop capability.
– DiSAC (digital signal analog controlled) volume control in combination with Brax MX4 PRO amplifier.
– ACO advanced 32 Bit coprocessor for all control and communication tasks.
– 10 internal memory locations for sound setups.
– Setup switching within milliseconds.
– High-speed data transfer and improved usability.
– Solely made from the very best components with lowest tolerances, fitted in a rock-solid aluminum housing.
– Eight-fold layer main PC board for ultra-low impedance signal and power supply transmission.
– Analog audio signal transmission solely on the in- and output modules.
DSP Features Explained
All Helix digital sound processors posse and extraordinary amount of technology. With said technology comes terms and acronyms aplenty. We’ll explain some of them below thenceforth.
RealCenter
The RealCenter feature is an algorithm developed by Audiotec Fischer that emphasizes the music information which is present in both the left and right front channel to create an unique centre signal. In contrast to common procedures, in which only the channels are summed up; the intensity of the centre signal is also dynamically controlled by the stereophonic informational content of the left and right channel.
Sounds complicated but this effect is astonishing: That means if solely the left or right channel delivers an audio signal, the centre channel will not reproduce a signal. In the case of common algorithms the volume level of the centre channel is only reduced by 6 dB. Audiotec Fischer’s RealCenter allows a unique, broadened sound staging for both driver and co-driver at the same time! Therefore, the disadvantages of a conventional center channel such as an intrusive, small sound stage, are things of the past.
Augmented Bass Processing
Audiotec Fischer’s proprietary augmented bass processing consists of the two revolutionary sound features called Dynamic Bass Enhancement and SubXpander. These have been especially developed to dramatically improve the bass reproduction of subwoofers. The dynamic bass enhancement ingeniously combines maximum deep bass and highest sound pressure regardless of the music style or the tone controls in the head unit. Depending on the input signal, the dynamic bass enhancement gains the lower frequency range and varies the cut-off frequency of the subsonic filter. The result is a significantly more powerful and deeper bass response at low and medium volume levels without the risk of overloading the subwoofer neither mechanically nor electrically at high volume levels. It is simply fascinating how much subbass performance is suddenly possible.
If you want an even lower and darker bass reproduction, the SubXpander can be additionally activated. In doing this, subharmonic tones are added to the fundamental tones in the frequency range between 50 and 100 Hz.
StageXpander
Regardless of the speaker arrangement in the vehicle a wide stereo sound stage can be created on the front seats. A center speaker often will limit the spatial reproduction of the music additionally. This is where Audiotec Fischer’s new StageXpander comes into play. It’s a sound feature which seems to break the acoustic limitations and thus allows to create a way broader stereo base without negatively affecting the precision of the localization of voices or instruments! The effect can be adjusted according to your personal preferences.
ClarityXpander
If you’re looking for more transparency and substance in the treble reproduction, then the ClarityXpander tool is what you need. Properly adjusted the feature adds additional harmonics in the upper frequency range; this is especially useful if the original speakers lack brilliance in the treble response. The extra treble is not only available for the two front channels but also separately adjustable for the centre channel. Even better; the centre channel allows to activate an automatic and dynamic control so that music with loads of treble doesn’t fatigue your hearing.
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