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.

M Series – The Bedrock Upon Which Amplifiers Are Built
Not everyone is looking for uber expensive amplifiers to power their system. Whether by choice or by force; we all have a fiscal point upon which we cannot pass. Wouldn’t it be nice though, if a company took many of its highly successful design ideologies from its flagship ranges and leaked them down into a range more affordable? Your wish is Helix’s command! Welcome to the M series, a series featuring some of the most affordable yet technologically packed audio gear available today.

Design Ideologies
The M FOUR DSP is vastly more than just another four-channel amplifier. Despite its small dimensions it’s a powerful control centre possessing ten processed DSP channels. It’s no lightweight either, the amplifier portion delivers a plentiful 100 watts continuously per channel into either 4 Ohms or 2 Ohms load. Finally there is some balance in the price to performance ratio!

Tonality By Helix
Compromises in terms of sound quality have no place in Helix products. Hence the M FOUR DSP is equipped with all the finesse for perfect sound. Excellent and separate A/D and D/A converters are included on the circuit board, which is completely manufactured in Germany. Six additional 6 Volt pre-outs provide more than enough level to drive any additional amplifiers.

Maximum Flexibility
Even the internal amplifier section of the M FOUR DSP is extremely flexible. It can be operated in 4 channel mode or, thanks to its bridging capability; can also be configured as a 3 channel or even 2 channel amplifier. But that’s not all. For utilising the six pre-amplifier outputs you can expand the system to ten channels.

Virtual Channel Processing
The adaptation to modern OEM sound systems via an increasing number of inputs has a significant impact on the complexity of the signal routing inside the amplifier. Especially when several input signals are mixed together and then split again into multi-way systems. Conventional routing concepts quickly reach their limits. Audiotec Fischer’s new multi-stage Virtual Channel Processing, in conjunction with the user-friendly PC-Tool software; makes it easy to implement even highly complex system configurations. It allows you to freely assign Helix’s proprietary SFX sound features such as RealCenter and augmented bass processing.

The Plus Is Speed, Thanks To ACO
Faster is better, and the particularly powerful 32-bit ACO platform takes over all control tasks and ensures significantly more speed. Not just for data communication with the PC-Tool software but also for the lightning-fast switching between up to ten sound setups. But ACO offers much more; fantastic sound effects such as augmented bass processing and RealCenter are implemented as well as a channel separated input EQ including the Input Signal Analyzer (ISA). This allows for easy analysis and compensation of input signals of OEM radios that already include heavy processing.

Compact, Cool And Absolutely Practical
Despite its vast range of functions and huge output power the M FOUR DSP presents itself as most Helix products; distinctive lines, equally classic as they are smart. Thanks to its class D amplifier technology it keeps a cool head even at full power, and features such as start-stop capability, ADEP.3 circuit and power save mode it’s ideally equipped for the everyday challenges of modern OEM integration.

Advanced 32-Bit CoProcessor
The M FOUR DSP incorporates an extraordinary powerful latest generation 32-bit CoProcessor for all monitoring and communication tasks, both internally and externally. Evolved significantly from the previous 8-bit generation, this MCU achieves way higher speeds with respect to setup switching and data communication with the PC-Tool software. Another significant advantage is the integrated, native boot loader of the CoProcessor. It allows software upgrades of all components of the integrated DSP and the microcontroller controlled ADEP.3 circuit. Basically, as cars’ OEM abilities expand the ADEP.3 can expand with them. Lastly, thanks to the new flash memory; the ACO offers 10 memory locations for sound setups instead of the common two.

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 M FOUR DSP 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 M FOUR DSP 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.

Design Features
Now we’ve cover some of the functionality in detail let’s just have a quick recap before we move into some of the ancillary abilities:
– Up to 100 watts continuous output power per channel at 4 Ohms or 2 Ohms.
– Extremely powerful 64-bit fixed point audio DSP and state-of-the-art AD and DA signal converters.
– Advanced 32-bit CoProcessor platform for enhanced system and DSP features like Input Signal Analyzer (ISA), InputEQ for easy analysis and compensation of input signals and SFX sound effects like augmented bass processing, StageXpander and RealCenter.
– Smart 6 channel high-level input with ADEP.3 circuit.
– Four RCA / Cinch line outputs with maximum 6 Volts output voltage.
– Virtual Channel Processing allows even more flexible configuration for highly complex sound systems.
– Bridgeable amplifier channels for driving powerful woofers or subwoofers.
– DSP board manufactured in Germany.

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.

Electrical Specifications
– Nominal configuration: four channel class D amplifier with ten channel processor
– Continuous power @ 4 Ohms: 4 x 100 Watts
– Continuous power @ 2 Ohms: 4 x 100 Watts
– Continuous bridged power @ 4 Ohms: 2 x 200 Watts
– Frequency response: 20 Hz – 22000 Hz
– Total harmonic distortion: 0.03 %
– Damping factor: 100
– Signal-to-noise ratio: 105 dB

Physical Specifications
– Length: 230 mm
– Width: 154 mm
– Height: 50 mm
– Weight: 3.1 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.