While factory fitted in-vehicle sound systems have increased in quality over recent years, the standard systems usually supplied still show huge room for improvement. Nevertheless, because increasingly fewer vehicle owners are willing to exchange the original head-unit or speakers for higher quality aftermarket system, adding an amplifier will be a quick fix to improve the system’s overall sound quality in the future. More power is the first step in the right direction, but the most important step is the introduction of extensive sound correction using the latest DSP (digital signal processing) technology. This is exactly where the Helix PP20 DSP plug and play amplifier comes in.

The overall aim of the PP20 DSP is to deliver a high quality audio experience from an existing factory system. This is achieved by maintaining the existing OEM speakers and head-unit and installing the amplifier controlled by a 56-bit DSP to extract the optimum sound. You may be thinking that you cannot obtain great audio sound from factory speakers, however, this is not the case as generally the speakers are not that bad, it is the amplifier within the factory radio that is substandard. Therefore with the PP20 product controlling the factory speakers rather than the head unit’s internal amplifier you can unleash the potential of the factory speakers with astounding results. Around 2,500 vehicle-specific profiles are downloadable from the Helix website and are uploaded to the unit by way of Micro SD card.

Using vehicle-specific profiles the DSP will optimise the performance of the factory speakers for that vehicle’s acoustic environment. There is no need to have the system professionally tuned/ set-up as each profile comes fully configured to the vehicle it is intended for. This is achieved by the DSP on the Helix PP-20 controlling the audio signal to heighten the sound stage* within the vehicle. The processor within the PP20 DSP is 56 bit therefore the audio quality will be very high and is digitally controlled so there is no danger of damage or overload on the factory speakers. One of the most impressive features of the PP20-DSP is that there is no need to cut or modify the vehicle’s existing wiring – it is completely plug and play, making installation quick and easy.

Helix PP20-DSP Key Features:

• Extremely compact
• Plug and play installation
• Immense sound quality improvement thanks to more power and sophisticated DSP technology
• Perfectly matched subwoofer upgrade available
• European-built using the highest specification components
  

Helix PP20-DSP Amplifier Features:

• 56-bit DSP technology based on today’s most advanced chip sets.
• BurrBrown A/D and D/A converters
• Vehicle-specific set-up profiles – 2,500 applications
• Micro SD card storage – world’s first
• Ready for cars with start-stop features down to 6 volts supply
• Aux inputs with signal controlled source switching (iPod, MP3 player, Sat Nav etc)
• USB connector for charging of MP3 players and similar
• SMD – Surface Mounting Devices combine minimum space requirements with highest reliability
• Smart Protection Circuits against overheating, over/under voltage, speaker short circuiting, low impedance and faulty connection.
• 1% accuracy components for perfect sound quality – multilayered printed cirecuitboards for best possible power and signal transmission
  

Helix PP20-DSP Amplifier:

• Output power: 4x30 RMS/ 4x60 watts Max front/rear channels at 4 Ohms
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 22,000 Hz
• Bass boost: +3dB / 60Hz
• Highpass: 50/75/100 Hz
• Lowpass: 50–120Hz
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) <0.022%
• Signal to noise ratio: >95dB
• Damping factor: >100
• Impedance 47 Ohms
• Dimensions: (H x W x D) 42 x 167 x 140 mm

Helix PP20-DSP compatible with the following vehicle:

• Audi A4/S4 (B8) (2009>)
• Audi A3/S3/Sportback (8P) 2003>
• Audi A3/S3 (8P) 2003>
• BMW 1 Series (E87,E88) (2004>)
• BMW 3 Series (E46) (1999>)
• BMW X1 (E84) (2010>)
• BMW 5 Series (E60,E61) (2004>)
• BMW 5 Series (E39) (2001>)
• BMW 5 Series (E39) (1996>)
• BMW 3 Series (E90,E91,E92) (2005>)
• Volkswagen Touran (2003>)
• Volkswagen Tiguan (2003>)
• Volkswagen Sharan (2000>)
• Volkswagen Scirocco (2008>)
• Volkswagen Polo (2005>)
• Volkswagen Passat (2005>)
• Volkswagen Golf MK6 (2008>)
• Volkswagen Golf MK5/Plus (2004-2007)
• Volkswagen Golf MK4 (1998-2004)
• Volkswagen EOS (2006>)
• Vauxhall Corsa D (2008>)
• Vauxhall Corsa C (2000>)
• Vauxhall Corsa C (2005>)
• Toyota Auris (2007>)
• Subaru Forester (2008>)
• Skoda Octavia (2004>)
• Peugeot 5008 (2010>)
• Peugeot 206 CC/GTi/SW (1998>)
• MINI Cooper S (2006>)
• Mazda 5 (2005>)
• Kia Sorento (2006>)
• Kia Ceed (2007>)
• Ford Focus Mk3 (2007>)