Thoughts on these 4 Channel Amps?

[Type550]

Hey guys,

I'm shopping for a 4-channel amp for my new audio setup, and am considering either the Helix M-Four or Alpine R series amp below:

https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/helix/amplifiers/m-four

https://www.alpine.com.au/shop/amplifiers-processors/r-series-amplifiers/r-a60f/

What do you guys think?

The 4x100w RMS amp will power Focal Flax Evo 3-way components (front stage) and a couple of Kicker CompC DVC 8" subwoofers (to replace the OEM rear shelf 6.5" speakers).

Also looking to sound deaden the doors and boot lid whilst I'm at it.

Thoughts on these amps? I don't really want to stretch my budget for a DSP as well.

Thanks

Sponsored

 

[Cathul]

If using the Helix M-four think about upgrading to the M-four DSP. 10 channels of Helix DSP power in addition to the amplifier. Bargain!

 

[Type550]

If using the Helix M-four think about upgrading to the M-four DSP. 10 channels of Helix DSP power in addition to the amplifier. Bargain!

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into the M-Four DSP. I can't seem to find a reseller in Australia.

 

[Type550]

If using the Helix M-four think about upgrading to the M-four DSP. 10 channels of Helix DSP power in addition to the amplifier. Bargain!

I asked my local Helix reseller and he suggested using the M FOUR and the M FOUR DSP units to drive all my front and rear speakers.

I don't quite understand why I can't just power them all with the M FOUR DSP and be done with it?!

 

[gadgtfreek]

Not sure if you have access to RF, or are planning any subs, but I had a punch 1000x5 installed in mine a couple of weeks ago. 4 channels for upgraded in car speakers, one channel for 12" sub in trunk.

 

[Type550]

Not sure if you have access to RF, or are planning any subs, but I had a punch 1000x5 installed in mine a couple of weeks ago. 4 channels for upgraded in car speakers, one channel for 12" sub in trunk.

Sounds like a nice setup! Well done!

Yeah, I'm replacing the two rear 6.5" speakers with two Kicker 8" subs.

I was hoping to just power them all with a 4-channel amp with integrated DSP.

The Helix M FOUR DSP has 4 x 100W RMS @ 4 ohm output, which is more than enough I think:

https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/helix/amplifiers/m-four-dsp

 

[gadgtfreek]

Gotcha. You would think that 4 channel would be enough juice.

 

[OF5.0]

I asked my local Helix reseller and he suggested using the M FOUR and the M FOUR DSP units to drive all my front and rear speakers.

I don't quite understand why I can't just power them all with the M FOUR DSP and be done with it?!

You could use just one M FOUR DSP amp to power everything, but you’d be wasting $$ if you did it that way. The Helix reseller is maximizing your sound by using the M FOUR DSP amp as your time-alignment/EQ/crossover processor and powering 4 channels while also sending out 4 outputs to the M FOUR amplifier already processed. The idea here is to actively power each speaker with its own channel while individually equalizing, time-aligning, and crossing over each speaker output.

I can guarantee you that powering your system the way your Helix reseller has suggested will be much better than using the passive crossovers with the Flax Evo 3-way set, using two channels, and powering your two 8” subs with the other two channels. For the money that you are spending on the Flax Evo speakers, follow the Helix reseller’s advice. You’ll be very satisfied once everything is tuned properly.

 

[Type550]

You could use just one M FOUR DSP amp to power everything, but you’d be wasting $$ if you did it that way. The Helix reseller is maximizing your sound by using the M FOUR DSP amp as your time-alignment/EQ/crossover processor and powering 4 channels while also sending out 4 outputs to the M FOUR amplifier already processed. The idea here is to actively power each speaker with its own channel while individually equalizing, time-aligning, and crossing over each speaker output.

I can guarantee you that powering your system the way your Helix reseller has suggested will be much better than using the passive crossovers with the Flax Evo 3-way set, using two channels, and powering your two 8” subs with the other two channels. For the money that you are spending on the Flax Evo speakers, follow the Helix reseller’s advice. You’ll be very satisfied once everything is tuned properly.

Hey thanks for tuning in OF5.0, and the explanation. Kind of makes sense now.

So the HELIX M FOUR + M FOUR DSP will cost around $1.5k all up. Sounds expensive, but then again, the Focal Flax Evo's cost me $1k alone plus the dual Kicker subs another $300.

 

[Cathul]

You could use just one M FOUR DSP amp to power everything, but you’d be wasting $$ if you did it that way. The Helix reseller is maximizing your sound by using the M FOUR DSP amp as your time-alignment/EQ/crossover processor and powering 4 channels while also sending out 4 outputs to the M FOUR amplifier already processed. The idea here is to actively power each speaker with its own channel while individually equalizing, time-aligning, and crossing over each speaker output.

That's the exact reason.
Don't get me wrong. You can go along with passive crossovers first if the amount of money needed is a bit of a stretch to your budget and add the 2nd amplifier and remove the passive crossovers later.
With the passive crossovers you time align left/right to the midrange and EQ the whole left/right side at once.
This will give you massive improvements over your current system!

Adding the 2nd amp later and individually eq all drivers, set specific crossovers for them and time align each driver on top of each other in addition to individual allpass filters if needed will make it even better.
Oh so many possibilities with that DSP-amplifier...

 

[Type550]

That's the exact reason.
Don't get me wrong. You can go along with passive crossovers first if the amount of money needed is a bit of a stretch to your budget and add the 2nd amplifier and remove the passive crossovers later.
With the passive crossovers you time align left/right to the midrange and EQ the whole left/right side at once.
This will give you massive improvements over your current system!

Adding the 2nd amp later and individually eq all drivers, set specific crossovers for them and time align each driver on top of each other in addition to individual allpass filters if needed will make it even better.
Oh so many possibilities with that DSP-amplifier...

Thanks, Cathul.

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll do it in stages.

Do you recommend I do the Helix M FOUR 4-channel amp first, and just power all my speakers with that in conjunction with the Focal passive crossovers? Then at a later date put the DSP in?

The reseller quoted me $2.5k in labour alone for the install (inc. sound deadening)!

 

[Cathul]

No, do the DSP amp first. This way you can time align your mids and eq the system.

 

[Type550]

No, do the DSP amp first. This way you can time align your mids and eq the system.

Great, thanks for the advice!

Since I'm going 3-way components up front, is there a better DSP Amp I should look at? Or is the M Four DSP sufficient?

 

[Cathul]

It is probably the best DSP amp in regards to DSP features. 30 band parametric EQ for each driver, virtual channels with 30 bands of parametric eq, allpass filters, automatic time alingment, variable phase shift in addition to time alignment, Center channel upmixer, 4 amplified channels and 6 more processes line outs (10 channel DSP!) and
much more.

Right now i don’t know any other DSP amp that is that good.

 

[Type550]

It is probably the best DSP amp in regards to DSP features. 30 band parametric EQ for each driver, virtual channels with 30 bands of parametric eq, allpass filters, automatic time alingment, variable phase shift in addition to time alignment, Center channel upmixer, 4 amplified channels and 6 more processes line outs (10 channel DSP!) and
much more.

Right now i don’t know any other DSP amp that is that good.

Yeah impressive feature set indeed.

So the factory amp will feed the audio signals into the M Four DSP high level inputs right? Then the DSP flattens the incoming signal and does all the processing before sending it to the speakers?

Are the Focal passive cross overs discarded then?

Sponsored