[Huckleberry Sound]

Is there an Ultimate Car Audio Processor?

When it comes to this form and others, people really like enjoy; Helix DSP (Pro), RF 3.Sixty.3, Bit One and Alpine H800.

My question is. Is there a single processor that is a step above all of these in every direction. Rather it is program level, eq, room correction and etc.

I am discovering that people like to follow what others is doing. My question relates to those that want to set there self and system apart.

What is the name of some Ultimate Processors?

 

[SkizeR]

i think the helix pro is the best car audio processor out right now. if you want better, you have to step it up to pro audio processors, like Rane

 

[quickaudi07]

I don't have much of experience with processors but I truly enjoy my Alpine H800

 

[mmiller]

People are unloading those Helix processors faster than a hot potato...

 

[mmiller]

Carrozzeria ODR RS-p99x and RS-d7xiii are as good as it gets. Unless you're running a factory integrated system, a seperate volume control from the HU is nothing but a PITA... And Running processors like the Helix, PS-8, Ect with analogue inputs and not using digital input is stepping backwards 10 years... Imo.

 

[palldat]

6to8, always works and does what it says.

 

[kyheng]

Carrozzeria ODR RS-p99x and RS-d7xiii are as good as it gets. Unless you're running a factory integrated system, a seperate volume control from the HU is nothing but a PITA... And Running processors like the Helix, PS-8, Ect with analogue inputs and not using digital input is stepping backwards 10 years... Imo.

Second to this. I can get what ever "best" DSP in the market, as long as I can't feed digital signal to it and a good source, it is pretty useless.

 

[Ultimateherts]

carpc? always upgradable

 

[WestCo]

Carrozzeria ODR RS-p99x and RS-d7xiii are as good as it gets. Unless you're running a factory integrated system, a seperate volume control from the HU is nothing but a PITA... And Running processors like the Helix, PS-8, Ect with analogue inputs and not using digital input is stepping backwards 10 years... Imo.

I think for ease of use I would rather sit back on my laptop with a dsp pro or ps-8, then use the RS-p90X / p99x via the small display on a rs-d7xiii. Raw sound of the p90x is a touch digital (crisp sounding), but very very good.

That being said, I am still really tempted to run an alpine DD with optical out to a dsp pro. I can use velcro to stick the dsp remote next to the deck for the volume knob... >.< I totally agree it's a PITA.

 

[WestCo]

carpc? always upgradable

A car pc would awesome, but voltage stability is a concern. I have not seen a single cap puter at any of the audio shows. I would very much like one though.

 

[WestCo]

i think the helix pro is the best car audio processor out right now. if you want better, you have to step it up to pro audio processors, like Rane

^agreed

 

[sqnut]

A processor is only as good as the tuner using it. In this equation only about 0.001% of folks who tweak are at a stage where they are fully utilizing the potential of any given dsp.

I like the 360.3 for its flexibility of 31 band PEQ/GEQ per channel, the new helix dsp pro for its variable phase feature and the bit series for the 0.3db resolution on the eq. Now if I could only combine them all into one, I'd have the best dsp.

 

[WestCo]

I love the last 0.001% a great preamp give me, I crave it.

 

[BlackHHR]

Huck you know why switched to Alpine and from your listening session yesterday we agreed that we found something significant in that change.
The points as we discussed to take into consideration are listed below.
(1) Reliability and stability of the operating software.
(2) Floor noise or lack there of (optical source/processor)
(3) All of the processors have x-over, eq and phase/TA . Which one does 1 and 2 best ?
If you really want a powerful processor that is modded and converted to 12 volts we have the DEQX PDC 2.6P at our disposal . I just happen to know where there is one ready and is in need of a new home. It is however a pro piece and is not commercially available for the consumer to pick off the shelf and install into their cars.
http://www.deqx.com/legacy-pdcpreamp.php
The ODR system, very nice gear. They system is out of my reach, but would be my first choice if funding was unlimited.

 

[ErinH]

I think I've had every DSP under the sun at this point. Including a couple Ranes I use(d) in my home theater. Ultimately, I favor the Helix DSP pro. It's the closest thing to the Rane at this point and offers some nice features other DSPs do not. Plus, I like the GUI. I actually prefer the Helix GUI over the Rane, myself. If I wanted to run a Rane or the like in my car, I could do it by now. I still prefer what Helix provides over any other options, though.

As for software controlled DSP, that's user dependent. Software affords ease of use when navigating menus because you don't have to follow a menu structure like you do on a headunit. On the flip side, you can't do "on the fly" tuning, which some people find important.


When you get outside of the manual aspect of tuning then it's a different ballgame.

Additionally, if you want surround sound processing the only real options are Alpine which uses Dolby PLII and the MS-8 which uses Logic7. There are a couple other others (such as the RFQ5000), but those are the main two currently supported options.


Set budget. Set goals (which determines number of channels, surround decoding, etc). Then buy what fits those. The most important factor isn't necessarily the DSP but how the user employs the DSP.

 

[JVD240]

Although I haven't used all of the processors available the Helix Pro definitely beats everyone else out feature-wise.

I've always thought it would be cool to do a Rane + Airport Express. Their web interface is pretty fantastic and means you could tune from a phone, laptop, tablet, etc. You could create a really great interface for day to day stuff, for switching between presets, and then have more complex settings buried in pages below.

 

[McKinneyMike]

People are unloading those Helix processors faster than a hot potato...

Most likely to purchase the Helix DSP Pro instead......

 

[ErinH]

Although I haven't used all of the processors available the Helix Pro definitely beats everyone else out feature-wise.

I've always thought it would be cool to do a Rane + Airport Express. Their web interface is pretty fantastic and means you could tune from a phone, laptop, tablet, etc. You could create a really great interface for day to day stuff, for switching between presets, and then have more complex settings buried in pages below.

web interface?

you mean just accessing it over the network? if so, it's no different than connecting via Ethernet... same GUI. Just wireless. Which is pretty cool, but I personally don't think it's a big selling feature. Heck, I got to where I just plugged in to mine when using them because the polling didn't always work through my network. drove me nuts.

 

[BlackHHR]

The Helix PRO DSP is a beast by all standards.
Erin pretty much summed it up, set budget, set goals and go from there. Erin is a bright guy and is easy to speak to in a real world setting. Much respect for him, he does understand in car acoustics.

 

[ErinH]

Thanks for the compliment. Truly appreciated.