Helix DSP Mini

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Small in size, huge in sound!

High tech in compact dimensions – despite its size, the HELIX DSP MINI is crammed with state-of-the-art technology. A 64 Bit Audio DSP of the latest generation in combination with a sampling rate of 96 kHz and a High Resolution audio bandwidth up to more than 40 kHz provides phenomenal sound quality. In addition, the DSP MINI offers unique DSP sound features like the ”Augmented Bass Processing”, the “StageXpander” or the “RealCenter“ function which open new possibilities to tweak your audio system.

But not only in terms of sound quality the DSP MINI heralds a new era in signal processor technology. An extraordinary powerful 32 Bit CoProcessor (ACO) for all monitoring tasks provides a decisive speed increase particularly in data communication with our DSP PC-Tool software, but also when switching between different sound setups. Furthermore, it supplies 10 internal memory locations for sound setups instead of the usual two.

As if that weren't enough – the highlevel input with ADEP.3 circuit (Advanced Diagnostics Error Protection, 3rd Generation), the Auto Remote switch, an optical input as well as the HELIX Extension Card slot (HEC slot) for system add-ons like Bluetooth® Audio Streaming or High Resolution Audio Streaming via USB are, of course, part of the basic equipment.

The DSP MINI presents itself in the HELIX-typical, clean look - far too beautiful to hide it "somewhere" in the vehicle due to its small dimensions. Naturally, the HELIX DSP MINI can be configured as easy as usual thanks to the professional and particularly user-friendly DSP PC-Tool Software V4. Who said that size matters?

Features

Extremely powerful “fixed point” Audio DSP with 64 Bit resolution and 1.2 billion MAC operations per second

High Resolution audio bandwidth up to more than 40 kHz for unrivalled sound quality

ACO – Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor for all control and communication tasks

10 internal memory locations for sound setups

Setup switching within milliseconds

High-speed data transfer and improved usability

HELIX Extension Card slot (HEC) for system add-ons

Smart highlevel input with ADEP.3 circuit and Auto Turn-On function

Start-Stop capability down to 6V supply voltage

Unique DSP Sound Effects such as the “Augmented Bass Processing” which dynamically optimizes the bass response of the subwoofer, the “StageXpander” that significantly widens the stereo perspective, the “RealCenter” function, which allows a perfectly focussed sound staging for both driver and co-driver and much more

Freely definable signal routing with separate matrices for line, SPDIF and HEC/AUX

Optimal signal path and power supply for further improved sound quality

“Ground lift” switch to avoid ground loops

Very compact dimensions for easy integration into the vehicle

Easiest configuration via the intuitive DSP PC-Tool V4 software

Special features:

96 kHz sampling rate

The HELIX DSP MINI allows to handle all signals with the doubled sampling rate of 96 kHz. Thus the audio bandwidth is no longer limited to usual values like 22 kHz but allows an extended frequency response to more than 40 kHz. Doubling the sampling rate requires significantly higher DSP power as the number of possible arithmetic operations is halved.Only the implementation of the latest DSP chip generation allows raising the sampling rate to 96 kHz and adding new features at the same time.

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 MINI.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.

ACO - Advanced 32 Bit CoProcessor

The HELIX DSP MINI 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.

Start-Stop capability

The switched power supply of the HELIX DSP MINI 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 MINI 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 MINI 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 the digital input is done automatically as soon as a signal is detected on the Optical 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.

DSP features

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.

StageXpander

Depending on the speaker arrangement in the vehicle, a more or less wide stereo sound stage can be created on the front seats. A center speaker may limit the spatial reproduction of the music additionally. This is where Audiotec Fischer’s new “StageXpander” comes into play – 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 in four steps.

ClarityXpander

You are looking for more transparency and substance in the treble reproduction? With the “ClarityXpander” Audiotec Fischer is now offering the right tool. Properly adjusted (and therefore selectable in three steps) the feature adds additional harmonics in the upper frequency range – this is especially useful if the original speakers lack some brilliance in the treble response. The extra treble-kick is not only available for the two front channels but also separately adjustable for the center channel. Even better – the center channel allows to activate an automatic and dynamic control so that music with “loads” of treble doesn’t fatigue your hearing.

Technical data

Inputs 4 x RCA / Cinch

4 x Highlevel speaker input

1 x Optical SPDIF (12 - 96 kHz)

1 x Remote In

Input sensitivity RCA / Cinch 2 - 4 Volts

Highlevel 5 - 11 Volts

Outputs 6 x RCA / Cinch

1 x Remote Out

Output voltage 4 Volts

Frequency response 10 Hz - 44,000 Hz

DSP resolution 64 Bit

DSP power 295 MHz (1.2 billion MAC operations/second)

Sampling rate 96 kHz

DSP type Audio signal processor

Signal converters A/D: Asahi Kasei

D/A: Asahi Kasei

Signal-to-noise ratio digital input 106 dB (A-weighted)

Signal-to-noise ratio analog input 103 dB (A-weighted)

Total harmonic distortion (THD+N) digital input < 0.001 %

Total harmonic distortion (THD+N) analog input < 0.002 %

IM distortion (IMD) digital input < 0.004 %

IM distortion (IMD) analog input < 0.004 %

Crosstalk > 90 dB

Operating voltage 9.6 - 18 Volts (max. 5 sec. down to 6 Volts)

Current draw < 400 mA

Max. remote output current 500 mA

Additional features HEC slot, Ground lift switch, Control Input, 32 Bit CoProcessor, ADEP.3 circuit, Auto Remote switch

Dimensions (H x W x D) 40 x 177 x 104 mm /

1.58 x 6.97 x 4.09”

Scope of delivery

1 x Signal processor HELIX DSP MINI

1 x USB cable

1 x Mounting material

1 x Instruction manual