Helix Digital High-Res 10-Channel Signal Processor
| *Special Order* | Owner's Manual | DSP PC-Tool 5 |
HELIX DSP PRO MK3
The next evolutionary stage of the DSP PRO
Familiar looks with the (r)evolution inside. The successor of the DSP PRO comes in the renowned, elegant HELIX design, but is equipped with the latest technology: Unrivalled High-Res sound quality thanks to twice as much processing power compared to its predecessor, ACO Platform for an extended feature set as well as VCP (Virtual Channel Processing) for easy configuration of highly complex sound systems. Additionally, there are the revised highlevel inputs with three-stage input sensitivity adjustment and extended voltage range up to max. 32 Volts as well as our extremely compact and solid Smart Control Port. One thing´s for sure: Due to featuring all these state-of-the-art technologies, the DSP PRO MK3 without a doubt belongs to the A-list of signal processors.
State-of-the-art Technology and TwinDSP power for the ultimate High-Res 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 (resulting in an audio bandwidth of over 40 kHz) and AKM Velvet Sound A/D and D/A signal converters, ensure outstanding sound in High-Res quality.
ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor Platform
The DSP PRO MK3 is now equipped with our proprietary 32 Bit ACO platform, which doesn’t just take over all control tasks ultra-fast, but also handles a bunch of audio functions: Now, fantastic sound effects such as Augmented Bass Processing or Real Center are implemented as well as a channel-separated Input EQ including Input Signal Analyzer (ISA) for easy analysis and compensation of input signals of OE radios, which already include a sound setup ex works.
All you need for optimal connectivity
With its wide range of in- and outputs (8 x high level, 8 x RCA, 1 x optical, 1 x coaxial, 1 x HEC slot & 10 x line output), the DSP PRO MK3 offers everything for an easy adaptation to existing factory radios or multi-channel OE sound systems. Additionally, the extended voltage range allows the combination with almost any imaginable analog signal source, even with high-power OE amplifiers.
DSP PC-Tool 5 feat. TuneEQ – Powerful features for ultimate sound experiences
Of course, the HELIX DSP PRO MK3 can be easily configured via our new, professional and exceptionally intuitive DSP PC-Tool 5. The well-known, numerous setting options with their extensive sound processing functions leave nothing to be desired and guarantee an extremely precise sound adjustment even under the most difficult conditions. And thanks to the new, proprietary TuneEQ function for automated frequency response correction, you also save a lot of time when optimizing your sound.
Features
- 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
- ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor platform for extended feature set
- ISA (Input Signal Analyzer) and InputEQ for easy analysis and compensation of input signals
- Proprietary TuneEQ function for automated adjustment of the output equalizers
- SFX (DSP Sound Effects) – Augmented Bass Processing, RealCenter & Co.
- VCP (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 8-channel highlevel input with ADEP.3 circuit
- Start-Stop capability down to 6V supply voltage
- “Ground lift” switch to avoid ground loops
- Channel pair separated, three-stage input sensitivity adjustment (highlevel up to max. 32 Volts, RCA / Cinch up to max. 4 Volts)
- Compact, future-proof SCP (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 line, SPDIF and HEC/AUX
- 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
Special features:
TwinDSP Power
The DSP PRO MK3 contains two of the most powerful 64 Bit audio signal processors from Analog Devices with the outstanding overall calculating power of 2.4 billion MAC operations per second.
The TwinDSP Power concept makes the ten separately processed channels and the numerous new sound features in combination with the extended sampling rate of 96 kHz (resulting in an audio bandwidth of more than 40 kHz) possible.
ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor
The HELIX DSP PRO MK3 incorporates an extraordinary powerful 32 Bit CoProcessor of the latest generation. This not only takes over all control tasks ultra-fast, but also the lightning-fast switching between up to ten possible sound setups. But ACO offers much more – besides a channel-separated Input EQ including Input Signal Analyzer (ISA) for easy analysis and compensation of input signals of OE radios and fantastic sound effects like Augmented Bass Processing or RealCenter, there is now the revolutionary TuneEQ function for automated adjustment of the output equalizers.
A further significant advantage is the integrated, native boot loader of the CoProcessor. It allows software upgrades of all components of the DSP in order to adjust the microcontroller-controlled ADEP.3 circuit for example at future modifications / changes in the diagnostic system of factory radios or if the device will be extended with additional interfaces.
Smart highlevel input ADEP.3
Modern, factory-installed car radios incorporate sophisticated possibilities of diagnosing the connected speakers. In particular the latest generation of car radios are equipped with additional monitoring functions so that failure messages and loss of specific features (e.g. fader function) quite often appear if a signal processor will be hooked up – but not with the DSP PRO MK3.
The new ADEP.3 circuit (Advanced Diagnostics Error Protection, 3rd Generation) avoids all these problems without loading the speaker outputs of the OE radio during high volumes unnecessarily.
Start-Stop capability
The switched power supply of the HELIX DSP PRO MK3 assures a constant internal supply voltage even if the battery’s voltage drops to 6 Volts during engine crank.
Power Save Mode
The Power Save Mode is incorporated in the basic setup. It allows to significantly reduce the power consumption of the amplifiers that are connected to the HELIX DSP PRO MK3 once there’s no input signal present for more than 60 seconds. Please note that in many up-to-date cars with “CAN” or any other internal bus structures it may happen that the radio remains “invisibly” turned on for up to 45 min. even after locking and leaving the car! Once the “Power Save Mode“ is active the remote output and therefore the connected amplifiers will be turned off. The HELIX DSP PRO MK3 will reactivate the remote output within a second if a music signal is applied. It is possible to either modify the turn-off time of 60 sec. or completely deactivate the “Power Save Mode” via the DSP PC-Tool software.
Automatic Digital Signal Detection
Switching from analog 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 analog and digital inputs.
Note: The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Audiotec Fischer GmbH is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.
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 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.
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
| Inputs | 8 x RCA / Cinch 8 x Highlevel speaker input 1 x Optical SPDIF (12 - 96 kHz) 1 x Coax SPDIF (12 - 192 kHz) 1 x Remote In |
| Input sensitivity | RCA / Cinch 2 / 3 / 4 Volts Highlevel 4 / 7 / 11 or 12 / 22 / 32 Volts |
| Outputs | 10 x RCA / Cinch 1 x Remote Out |
| Output voltage | 8 Volts |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 44,000 Hz |
| DSP resolution | 64 Bit |
| DSP power | 2 x 295 MHz (2.4 billion MAC operations/second) |
| Sampling rate | 96 kHz |
| DSP type | 2 x Audio signal processor |
| Signal converters | A/D: AKM Velvet Sound 32 Bit D/A: AKM Velvet Sound 32 Bit |
| Signal-to-noise ratio digital input | 116 dB (A-weighted) |
| Signal-to-noise ratio analog input | 111 dB (A-weighted) |
| Total harmonic distortion (THD+N) digital input | < 0.0005 % |
| Total harmonic distortion (THD+N) analog input | < 0.001 % |
| IM distortion (IMD) digital input | < 0.002 % |
| IM distortion (IMD) analog input | < 0.004 % |
| Crosstalk | > 90 dB |
| Operating voltage | 9.6 - 17 Volts (max. 5 sec. down to 6 Volts) |
| Power rating | DC 12 V ⎓ 3 A max. |
| Current draw | 650 mA |
| Max. remote output current | 500 mA |
| Additional features | HEC slot, Ground lift switch, Smart Control Port, 32 Bit CoProcessor, ADEP.3 circuit, Auto Remote switch |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40 x 177 x 150 mm / 1.58 x 6.97 x 5.91“ |
Scope of delivery
1 x Signal processor HELIX DSP PRO MK3
1 x Control Input-to-SCP adaptor
1 x USB cable
1 x Mounting material
1 x Instruction manual
