- Description
- Features
- Specifications
- Additional Information
- Review
Helix – Ubiquitous Reference Standard Car Audio
Since its conception in 1990 Audiotec Fischer has evolved from a niche supplier to an internationally recognised leader in innovative audio products. A DIN ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company, it now delivers its award-winning brands Brax, Helix and Match to more than fifty countries worldwide. To Audiotec Fischer the label "Made in Germany" has always been more than just a designation of origin; it's a promise of quality that everyone at the Schmallenberg site remains committed to. Audiotec Fischer has more than thirty years of experience in the development and manufacture of high-end car and home audio products. From the initial brief through to the finished product; all components are assembled in-house with the sole aim of reproducing acoustic signals as authentically as possible whilst optimizing the sound experience ever further.
Helix Processors – The Passion For Perfected Sound
It’s not the components, it’s the environment. Fundamental car audio components are often unfairly blamed for poor aural performance, despite the blame laying elsewhere. See whether you have OEM or enormously expensive speakers your windscreen still reflects, your right leg still absorbs the midrange and you’re still sitting to one side with a whole instrument cluster before you. It’s for this reason that all vehicles require a sound processor. These devices can rectify all negative cabin phenomenon and make even the most rudimentary components sound amazing. However a questionable quality processor is conducive to headaches aplenty, that’s why you need a Helix device. Helix processors are renown around the globe for being the best processors in history. Trickling technology down through its various processors means even its entry level processor far outperforms all other comers. Whether you’re planning a budget system or one only the Royal Family could afford; Helix has you well covered when it comes to processing it to perfection.
Design Ideologies
The DSP PRO MK3 represents the next evolutionary stage of the DSP PRO series units. Externally it might appear familiar, however internally its nothing short of a (r)evolution. The successor of the DSP PRO is equipped with the latest technology; unrivalled high-resolution sound quality thanks to twice as much processing power compared to its predecessor. It includes the new ACO platform for an extended feature suites as well as virtual channel processing for easy configuration of highly complex sound systems. Helix has also revised the high-level inputs with a three-stage input sensitivity adjustment, extending the voltage range up to maximum 32 volts. Gone in the old control port, replaced with the superior smart control port. Proof positive that all these state-of-the-art technologies and features is conducive to the DSP PRO MK3 heading the a-list of signal processors.
Design Features
The Helix engineering department is at the forefront of research pertaining to every aspect of digital sound processing. It’s developed proprietary analysis systems and invested heavily in state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing. The resulting range of products has become widely considered as reference standard, as this ingenious company continues to push the technology envelope further. Let’s take a closer look at some of this tech.
State-Of-The-Art Technology And TwinDSP Power
For the ultimate high-resolution sound experience the DSP PRO MK3 is equipped with two of the most powerful 64-bit audio signal processors from Analog Devices. The incredible processing power of 2.4 billion MAC operations per second, combined with the high sampling rate of 96 kHz results in an audio bandwidth of over 40000 Hz. AKM Velvet Sound A/D and D/A signal converters ensure outstanding sound in high-resolution quality.
Advanced 32-Bit CoProcessor Platform
The DSP PRO MK3 is equipped with Helix’s proprietary 32-bit ACO platform. This processor doesn’t just handle all control tasks ultra-fast, it undertakes a bunch of audio function, functions including augmented bass processing or real center are implemented, as well as a channel separated Input EQ including input signal analyser for easy analysis and compensation of input signals of OEM radios, many of which include heavily processed sound.
Optimal Connectivity
With its wide range of inputs and outputs including eight high level, eight RCA, one optical, one coaxial, one HEC slot and ten line-level outputs, the DSP PRO MK3 offers everything for an easy adaptation to existing factory radios or multi-channel OEM sound systems. The extended voltage range allows the combination with almost any imaginable analogue signal source, even with high-power OEM amplifiers.
PC-Tool 5 Featuring TuneEQ
The user software offers powerful features to achieve the ultimate sound experiences. The DSP PRO MK3 can be easily configured via the latest version of the professional and exceptionally intuitive DSP PC-Tool 5 software. The numerous setting options with their extensive sound processing functions leave nothing to be desired, guaranteeing an extremely precise sound adjustment even under the most austere conditions. And thanks to the new, proprietary TuneEQ function for automated frequency response correction, you can save a lot of time when optimizing your sound.
TuneEQ is an extremely flexible and particularly easy-to-use function for automated frequency response correction. A single measurement per audio channel or channel pair with a suitable measurement microphone such as the Helix MTK1 is sufficient for TuneEQ to independently and precisely adjust the equalizers to the desired reference curve. TuneEQ uses the full function set of the parametric equalizer including center frequency, Q-factor and gain adjustment. And since the highly complex arithmetic operations required for this run in the background, you also save a lot of time when optimizing your sound with TuneEQ.
Smart High-Level Input ADEP.3
Modern factory installed audio systems incorporate sophisticated abilities that diagnose all connected speakers. Latest generations of cars are equipped with additional monitoring functions so that failure messages and loss of specific features such as parking sensor and lane departure warnings often appear if a signal processor is plumbed in. Not with the DSP PRO MK3 though. The new ADEP.3 circuit (Advanced Diagnostics Error Protection, 3rd Generation) avoids all these problems without loading the speaker outputs of the OEM radio during high volumes unnecessarily.
Start-Stop Capability
The switched power supply of the DSP PRO MK3 assures a constant internal supply voltage even if the battery’s voltage drops to six volts during engine cranking.
Power Save Mode
The Power Save Mode is also incorporated. It allows to significantly reduce the power consumption of the amplifiers that are connected to the processor once there’s no input signal present for more than sixty seconds. Many newer cars utilising digital networks and other internal bus structures may remains invisibly turned on for up to 45 minutes after you’ve locked the car! Once the power save mode is active the remote output and therefore the connected amplifiers will be turned off. The processor then reactivates the remote output within a second if a music signal is applied. It is possible to either modify the turn-off time or completely deactivate the function via PC-Tool software.
Automatic Signal Detection
Switching from analogue input to one of the digital inputs is done automatically as soon as a signal is detected on the optical or coaxial input. This feature can be deactivated in the DSP PC-Tool software. Alternatively you can use an optional remote control for manual switching between sources.
As If That Wasn’t Enough
Now we’ve cover some of the abilities in detail let’s just have a quick recap before we move into some of the software abilities:
– TwinDSP power – two extremely powerful “fixed point” Audio DSPs with 64-bit resolution and 2.4 billion MAC operations per second.
– State-of-the-art 32-bit AD and DA signal converters from AKM.
– Advanced 32-bit CoProcessor platform for extended feature set, including input signal analyser and InputEQ for easy analysis and compensation of input signals, proprietary TuneEQ function for automated adjustment of the output equalizers, SFX sound effects, augmented bass processing, RealCenter plus more.
– Virtual channel processing allows even more flexible configuration for highly complex sound systems.
– HEC slot for system add-ons like Bluetooth® HD Audio Streaming, High Resolution Audio Streaming via USB etc.
– Smart eight channel high-level input with ADEP.3 circuit.
– Start-Stop capability down to six volt supply voltage.
– Ground lift switch to avoid ground loops.
– Channel pair separated, three-stage input sensitivity adjustment, including high level up to thirty-two volts. RCA / Cinch up to four volts.
– Compact, future-proof smart control port, for connecting remote controls and accessories.
– Time alignment with up to 20 ms delay time per channel, additionally reverse time alignment for in-phase summation of the inputs.
– Freely definable signal routing with separate matrices for SPDIF and HEC / AUX inputs.
– Inputs: 8 x RCA / Cinch, 8 x Highlevel, 1 x optical SPDIF and 1 x coaxial SPDIF.
– Outputs: 10 x RCA / Cinch with max. 8 Volts output voltage.
– Easiest configuration via the intuitive DSP PC-Tool 5 software.
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.
Electrical Specifications
– Nominal configuration: ten channel digital sound processor
– Frequency response: 10 Hz – 44000 Hz
– Total harmonic distortion: 0.001 %
– Signal-to-noise ratio: 111 dB
Physical Specifications
– Length: 177 mm
– Width: 150 mm
– Height: 40 mm
– Weight: 1.05 kg
Documentation
– Software download
– User manual
Important disclaimers
Given the dynamic nature of electronics industries these days; below are listed some very important specifics you need to be aware of.
Brand authorization and stock sourcing
We are a fully authorised Australian dealer of this brand and all stock is sourced through legitimate channels. It therefore enjoys full Australian warranty, backing and support.
Pricing structure
Whilst we endeavor to offer the best price possible, we ask that if you do find a better price elsewhere from an authorised dealer; please contact us. Also be aware that we regularly conduct group buys and sales, therefore pricing can sometimes be subject to change without notice.
Stock structure
Being a dynamic store is conducive to our inventory constantly changing. We list only a small portion of our stable online, usually products most popular. Aside from these we also stock numerous other variants and configurations of these products, hence if you don’t see what you’re after please contact us.
Shipping
All our products are shipped with registered and insured postage. Upon ordering you’ll be issued with a receipt, a consignment note via which you can track your order, and we’ll also SMS you photos of the package for identification purposes.
Technical support
This last one we cannot emphasise enough! Please contact us if you require any further information or assistance with the setup and use of this product, especially pertaining to aspects more technical. As we want you to get the very best from this product.
Helix DSP PRO MK3 - Car Audio Digital Sound Processor.
$1,799.00
2 In stock
Brands
Australia Wide
Installations
Dispatch
If you require any further information on this product, pricing, shipping or anything else for that matter please don’t hesitate to contact us for a quick reply.
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