HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP – Connectivity beyond expectations

Whether it's an upgrade for a multichannel premium sound system or even the design of an entirely new, extensive audio configuration: The HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP is the all-in-one tool for anyone with insatiable audio system ambitions. This all-purpose miracle sets new standards for the enhancement and implementation of highly complex audio setups.

About

Multifunctionality and intelligent adaptation for a breathtaking audio experience

Following the Pure Class GD concept, this 18-channel amplifier combines exceptional sound quality and high performance, delivering an impressive musical experience even for the most discerning audiophiles. Moreover, the HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP features an equal number of 18 highlevel inputs with up to 32 V RMS input sensitivity, enabling an 1:1 input-to-output routing. Especially when the exchange of existing components poses an obstacle and only the expansion through another amplifier is possible, the V EIGHTEEN DSP, with its extensive adaptation capabilities, is the ideal problem solver. The management of the remarkable twenty (20!) separate DSP channels is handled by two extremely powerful "Fixed Point" Audio DSPs with 64 Bit resolution, in conjunction with our unique DSP PC-Tool.

Our Smart Control Port (SCP) simplifies accessory connection, providing a compact and secure plug connection along with integrated power for remote controls such as the CONDUCTOR or DIRECTOR. The integrated HEC Slot allows system expansions like Bluetooth^® HD Audio Streaming, High-Resolution Audio Streaming via USB, and more.

Virtual Channel Processing – this is how signal routing works today

The adaptation to modern OE 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 recognized user-friendly DSP PC-Tool software makes it easy to realize even highly complex system configurations. Besides, it allows to freely assign our proprietary FX sound features such as "RealCenter" or "Augmented Bass Processing".

Rapid processing power – thanks to ACO

Of course, the HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP is 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: Fantastic sound effects such as Augmented Bass Processing or Real Center are implemented as well as an 18-channel 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.

DSP PC-Tool 5 feat. TuneEQ – powerful features for the ultimate sound experience

Of course, the HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP can be easily configured via our professional and exceptionally intuitive DSP PC-Tool 5. The familiar, numerous setting options leave nothing to be desired and guarantee an extremely precise sound adjustment even for complex system configurations. And thanks to the new, proprietary TuneEQ function for automated frequency response correction, you also save a lot of time when optimizing your sound.

Perfect sound without compromises

The sound performance of the new HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP is as impressive as its range of features. The highly efficient Class GD technology and excellent A/D and D/A converters from BurrBrown ensure optimal sound performance, best possible signal-to-noise ratio and lowest distortion. Thus, despite its extremely high flexibility and super compact design, the HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP is a sound masterpiece that does not need to hide from the absolute top class at all.

Features

20 DSP channels for maximum flexibility with multi-channel sound upgrades
18-channel amplifier with Pure Class GD concept, which combines exceptional sound quality with high performance
High power 18-channel highlevel input with up to 32 V RMS input sensitivity and ADEP.3 circuit
1:1 IOR (Input-to-Output Routing) – same number of highlevel inputs and amplifier outputs
Up to 160 W RMS output power per channel into 2 Ω
TwinDSP Power – two extremely powerful “fixed point” Audio DSPs with 64 Bit
VCP (Virtual Channel Processing) allows even more flexible configuration for highly complex sound systems
ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor platform for system and DSP features like:

ISA (Input Signal Analyzer) and InputEQ for easy analysis and compensation of input signals
SFX sound effects – Augmented Bass Processing, StageXpander, RealCenter & Co.

Compact, future-proof SCP (Smart Control Port) for connecting remote controls and accessories
HEC slot for system add-ons like Bluetooth^® HD Audio Streaming, High Resolution Audio Streaming via USB etc.
Optical digital input in SPDIF format and two processed signal outputs
Start-Stop capable power supply with extended input voltage range up to 18 V – ideal for modern EV vehicles
Automatic Remote switch
Compact design with low heat dissipation thanks to extraordinary efficiency

Special features:

Pure Class GD amplifier technology

Audiotec Fischers proprietary Pure Class GD concept takes the efficiency of conventional Class D amps to the next level. By varying the internal supply voltage depending on the amplifier’s input signals, idle losses are significantly reduced and overall efficiency is close to maximum at any time.
So heat dissipation is almost negligible thus allowing smallest heat sinks and most compact form factors. Besides that Pure Class GD amp outperforms conventional Class D designs in terms of sound quality by implementing a fully differential signal path and improved output filter design.

TwinDSP Power

The V EIGHTEEN DSP 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 20 separately processed channels and the numerous new sound features possible.

ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor

The HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP amplifier incorporates an extraordinary powerful 32 Bit CoProcessor of the latest generation for all monitoring and communication tasks, both internally and externally. In opposite to the 8 Bit predecessor generation this MCU achieves way higher speeds with respect to setup switching and data communication with our DSP PC-Tool software. 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. In addition, thanks to the new flash memory, the ACO offers 10 memory locations for sound setups instead of the common two.

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 common amplifier will be hooked up – but not with the V EIGHTEEN DSP.
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.

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 V EIGHTEEN DSP 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 V EIGHTEEN DSP 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.

Start-Stop capability

The switched power supply of the HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP assures a constant internal supply voltage even if the battery’s voltage drops to 6 Volts during engine crank.

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

Power RMS ≤ 1% THD+N
- @ 4 Ohms	Channel 1 - 12: 70 Watts Channel 13 - 18: 75 Watts
- @ 2 Ohms	Channel 13 - 18: 120 Watts
- @ 1 Ohm	-
- bridged @ 4 Ohms	-
- bridged @ 2 Ohms	-
Max. output power per channel*	Channel 1 - 12: Up to 100 Watts RMS @ 3 Ohms Channels 13 - 18: Up to 160 Watts RMS @ 2 Ohms
Amplifier technology	Pure Class GD
Inputs	6 x RCA / Cinch 18 x Highlevel speaker input 1 x Optical SPDIF (12 - 96 kHz) 1 x Remote In
Input sensitivity	RCA / Cinch: max. 4 or 8 Volts Highlevel: max. 16 or 32 Volts
Input impedance RCA / Cinch	12 kOhms
Input impedance highlevel	9 - 33 Ohms or 20 kOhms with ADEP.3
Outputs	18 x Speaker output 2 x RCA / Cinch 2 x Remote Out
Output voltage RCA / Cinch	3 Volts
Frequency response	20 Hz - 22,000 Hz
DSP resolution	64 Bit
DSP power	2 x 295 MHz (2.4 billion MAC operations/second)
Sampling rate	48 kHz
DSP type	2 x Audio signal processor
Signal converters	A/D: BurrBrown 24 Bit D/A: BurrBrown 24 Bit
Signal-to-noise ratio digital input	107 dB (A-weighted)
Signal-to-noise ratio analog input	102 dB (A-weighted)
Distortion (THD)	< 0.015 %
Damping factor	> 50
Operating voltage	10.5 - 18 Volts (max. 5 sec.down to 6 Volts)
Power rating	DC 12 V ⎓ 108 A max.
Idle current	1.3 A
Max. remote output current	500 mA
Operating temperature range	-40° C to +70° C
Fuse	3 x 30 A LP-Mini-fuse (APS)
Additional features	HEC slot, ADEP.3 circuit, Smart Control Port, Auto Remote switch, 32 Bit CoProcessor
Dimensions (H x W x D)	44 x 255 x 220 mm / 1.73 x 10.04 x 8.66“

* In typical multi-channel applications (2- / 3-way system + rear + subwoofer)

Scope of delivery

1 x Amplifier HELIX V EIGHTEEN DSP
4 x Speaker connection cable
1 x USB cable
2 x Allen key
1 x Mounting material
1 x Instruction manual