Helix V Eight DSP Ultimate
Helix V Eight DSP Ultimate
14 channel DSP, 8 channel amplifier
Features
- 14 DSP channels for maximum flexibility with multi-channel sound upgrades
- 8-channel amplifier with latest Class HD concept, which combines excellent sound quality with outstanding efficiency
- High power 12-channel high-level input with up to 32 V RMS input sensitivity and ADEP.3 circuit for seamless OEM integration
- 1:1 IOR (Input-to-Output Routing) – all high-level inputs can be individually assigned to an amplifier or line output, allowing signal routing directly from input to output
- Up to 270 W RMS output power per channel into 2 Ω
- USB PerfectStream technology – lossless high-resolution audio streaming (up to 192 kHz / 32 Bit), AISA measurement (Advanced Input Signal Analyser), and simultaneous DSP configuration via USB-C
- Extremely powerful “fixed point” Audio DSP with 64 Bit resolution
- VCP (Virtual Channel Processing) offers outstanding flexibility in configuring complex sound systems, thanks to:
- Cross-channel group equalisers that affect several output channels simultaneously
- Multi-way speaker configuration of DSP sound effects (SFX)
- Additional features such as Rear Attenuation
- ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor platform for system and DSP features like:
- AISA (Advanced Input Signal Analyzer) and InputEQ for easy analysis and correction of input signals
- DLC (Dynamic Loudness Control) and RTC (Remote Tone Control) for volume-dependent dynamic adjustment of highs and lows
- Proprietary TuneEQ function for automated adjustment of the input, virtual and output equalizers
- SFX Sound Effects – Augmented Bass Processing, RealCenter & Co.
- Compact, future-proof SCP (Smart Control Port) for connecting remote controls and accessories
- Extension Card 2.0 slot for system add-ons like Bluetooth® HD audio streaming, extra analogue inputs, or future signal sources
- Optical digital input in SPDIF format and six processed line outputs with max. 3 Volts output voltage
- Stabilised Output Power technology (SOP Max) for consistently stable output power – delivering full performance at all times, regardless of input voltage
- Intelligent power management ensures perfect voltage stability across all modern vehicle platforms
- Start-Stop capable power supply with extended input voltage range up to 18 V – ideal for modern EV vehicles
- Auto Remote switch for amplifier activation without the need for an external remote signal
- Compact design with low heat dissipation thanks to extraordinary efficiency
- Maximum control with DSP PC-Tool 6 – professional software for precise amplifier configuration and accurate sound tuning in the vehicle
Special Features:
Class HD amplifier technology
The unique Class HD concept combines the advantages of a Class H technology with the principle of a class D amplifier. The result is an unsurpassed efficiency which easily outperforms any conventional Class D amplifier. By continuously varying the internal supply voltage depending on the amplifier’s amplitude of the input signals, idle losses are significantly reduced and overall efficiency is close to maximum at any time.
USB PerfectStream
USB PerfectStream technology extends the amplifier with a powerful, bidirectional USB audio interface. It enables lossless high-resolution audio streaming with up to 192 kHz / 32 Bit directly into the DSP – allowing music content or test signals to be streamed straight from a computer or smartphone into the signal processor.
In addition, USB PerfectStream allows audio data from individual DSP channels to be sent back to the computer in real time and high resolution. This makes it possible to process and fine-tune these signals within our Advanced Input Signal Analyzer, using input processing to correct and optimize them with precision.
ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor
The ACO platform (Advanced CoProcessor) handles all control and communication tasks within the DSP system. It ensures extremely fast system startups, lightning-fast switching between up to ten sound setups, and provides the decisive speed boost, especially in data communication with our DSP PC-Tool software.
ACO also serves as the foundation for a wide range of additional features – including SFX Sound Effects like “Augmented Bass Processing” and “RealCenter”, functions such as Dynamic Loudness Control (DLC) and Remote Tone Control (RTC), and a channel-separated input EQ with integrated Advanced Input Signal Analyzer (AISA) for easy analysis and correction of input signals with factory-applied equalization.
ACO stands for maximum performance, flexibility, and future-proof system architecture.
Smart highlevel input ADEP.3
Modern, factory-installed car radios incorporate sophisticated methods for diagnosing connected speakers. In particular, the latest generation of car radios is equipped with advanced monitoring functions, which can often lead to error messages or the loss of specific features (e.g., fader function) when a standard amplifier is connected.
The ADEP.3 circuit (Generation 3) meets the demands of these advanced OEM systems and ensures seamless integration. Controlled by the ACO platform, the system is future-proof and designed to flexibly adapt to changes in vehicle radio diagnostics.
This guarantees maximum compatibility with nearly all OE head units – without unnecessarily loading the speaker outputs at high volume levels.
Power Save Mode
The Power Save Mode allows to significantly reduce the power consumption of the amplifier (and any additional connected amplifiers) when no music signal is detected for a certain period of time.
When power save mode is active, the internal amplifier stages and the remote output are automatically switched off. Once a music signal is detected again, the device returns to normal operation within approximately 2 seconds. The switch-off delay can be adjusted or completely deactivated via the DSP PC-Tool software.
Start-Stop capability
The switched power supply ensures a constant internal supply voltage even during short voltage drops down to 6 Volts (e.g. during engine start), so the functionality of the device remains stable and unaffected.
DSP features
TuneEQ
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 (e.g. our AMI Tuning Kit) 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.
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 center signal. In contrast to common procedures, in which only the channels are summed up, the intensity of the center 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 center channel will not reproduce a signal. In the case of common algorithms, the volume level of the center channel is only reduced by 6 dB (= half volume level). 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”, consisting of the two revolutionary sound features “Dynamic Bass Enhancement” and “SubXpander”, has 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 which bass performance is suddenly possible.
If you want an even lower and “darker” bass reproduction, the “SubXpander” can be additionally activated. Therefore, subharmonic tones are added to the fundamental tones in the frequency range between 50 and 100 Hz.
Technical data
| Power RMS ≤ 1% THD+N | |
| - @ 4 Ohms | Channel 1 - 8: 8 x 110 Watts |
| - @ 2 Ohms | Channel 5 - 8: 4 x 220 Watts |
| - @ 1 Ohm | - |
| - bridged @ 4 Ohms | - |
| - bridged @ 2 Ohms | - |
| Max. output power per channel* | Channel 1 - 8: up to 140 Watts RMS @ 4 Ohms Channel 5 - 8: up to 270 Watts RMS @ 2 Ohms |
| Amplifier technology | Class HD |
| Inputs | 6 x RCA / Cinch 12 x Highlevel speaker input 1 x Optical SPDIF (12 - 96 kHz) 1 x Remote In 1 x USB Audio |
| Input sensitivity | RCA / Cinch: 1 - 8 Volts Highlevel: 4 - 32 Volts |
| Input impedance | RCA / Cinch: 25 kOhms Highlevel: 9 - 33 Ohms with ADEP.3 |
| Outputs | 8 x Speaker output 6 x RCA / Cinch 2 x Remote Out |
| Output voltage RCA / Cinch | 3 Volts |
| Frequency response | 15 Hz - 22,000 Hz |
| DSP resolution | 64 Bit |
| DSP power | 295 MHz (1.2 billion MAC operations/second) |
| Sampling rate | 48 kHz |
| DSP type | Audio signal processor |
| Signal converters | A/D: BurrBrown 24 Bit D/A: BurrBrown 24 Bit |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted) | Digital input: 107 dB Analog input: 102 dB |
| Distortion (THD @ 1 kHz, 1 W into 4 Ohms) | < 0.007 % |
| Distortion (THD+N @ 1 kHz, 1 W into 4 Ohms) | < 0.009 % |
| Damping factor | 100 |
| Operating voltage | 10.5 - 18 Volts (max. 5 sec.down to 6 Volts) |
| Power rating | DC 12 V ⎓ 110 A max. |
| Idle current | 750mA |
| Max. remote output current | 500 mA |
| Operating temperature range | -40 °C to +70 °C |
| Fuse | 2 x 40 A LP-Mini-fuse (APS) |
| Additional features | 32 Bit CoProcessor, Extension Card 2.0 slot, ADEP.3 circuit, Auto Remote switch, Smart Control Port, USB-C, USB PerfectStream |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 44 x 220 x 180 mm / 1.73 x 8.66 x 7.09” |