Browsing on the net, I randomly came across a headunit by the name of Helix Competition Conductor. It's made by Helix, which are the little brother of Brax, a german car stereo company which is well known for its amps.

When I saw this headunit...I was stunned Here are some pics:







The design is nothing like I've ever seen before, but then I took a peek at the specs.......my jaw dropped
Audio

• 24-bit Burr Brown DAP, 24-bit Burr Brown ADC
• Line input (stereo) + microphone input (stereo)
• 6 independently controlled line outputs (7V) + subwoofer output
• 6 power amplifier channels (max: 4х45 W + 2х35 W)
• 6 independent channels of DSP processing
• 6 independent high-accuracy time delay channels
• Embedded 3-lane crossover (cut-off rate 12/24 dB/oct)
• Embedded graphic one-third-octave (30 lanes) or equivalent parametric equalizer
• Independent stereo base control for three pairs of stereo channels
• Embedded test and measuring signals generator

CD-section

• Media: СD-DA, CD(-R,-RW), Mixed - CD
• File control systems: multisession ISO9660/Joliet, UDFS*
• Compression formats: (AD)PCM, WAV, MP3, Vorbis, FLAC
• СD-Text (CD-DA), Tags (for compressed formats)
• Electronic antishock (including that for CD-DA)

FM-radio

• Digital programme and hardware radio signal processing
• FM(stereo) and VHF (stereo) bands
• FM synthesizer’s frequency spacing 10 kHz
• RDS and Radiotext system support
• Random station choice option
• Fragment repeat mode (without information loss)

User interface

• Graphic VFD-display
• Tentative one-button control (encoder)
• Multimedia animation menu
• Multilanguage font and code support (UNICODE-16)
• Voice informer
• Distance control desk (widespread desk support)

Attachment interfaces

• Embedded automobile diagnose interface (Electronic document management system)
• MegaBUS fast-speed interface (5Mbps):
o ATAPI BOX*: ATA-accumulator support (HDD, ATAPI-CD/DVD)
o Computer connection

Software support and update

• Embedded software update performed by the user
• Reprogrammable menu, options, animation

Additional service options

• Nonvolatile memory of all settings
• Embedded real time clock
• Calendar, alarm-clock, timer/time check

Safety

• Power saving timeouts
• "Hands Free"* option
• Many-level anti-thief protection system

It seems the technology has been copied over from a little-known head-unit made in Russia called URAL CCD, with the addition of some features, whole new software, and redesign of the face plate.

This unit was only released in August 2006, and for now is only available in Germany, however I'm sure you can purchase these from Germany over the net:D

More info can be found on these sites (its all in German)

http://www.audiotec-fischer.com/produkte/conductor.html

http://www.caraudio-store.de/Competition,C...::62dae8a2.html

http://www.carhifidirekt.de/catalog/produc...ios-mp3-cdtuner

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!

THAT THING IS PURE SEX!

I WANT ONE!

yeah saw these around 8 - 10 months ago, not to shabby but the round and square buttons look a little odd, other than that i like it

man that is pure sex


how much are these babies worth?

Ive known about this unit since about May, been keeping an eye on it...

Visually, its quite nice, though Ill wait until the market accepts it as a SQ unit before attempting to buy it. They are nice specs, but spec's aint everything!! To be able to fit all that stuff into a box, it would have to be a dual-unit system with an outboard, otherwise some major compromises would have to be made!!

As mentioned on another thread, Audio Art & Technologies is the importer for AudioTec Fischer. So if you want one, get in contact with Yanddy. They are also a CAA ADN member FYI.

Russians make a similar one, from memory?

yeah seen the russian one, this one i posted up in the admin forum a while ago

Damn .... thats a nice looking deck!!

Probably cost more than my car

yea, the Ural CCD. It appears that Helix have bought the rights of Ural to utilise the technology in the CCD for the Competition Conductor, as they are almost identical, bar the 24bit Burr Brown and also I hear Helix will add integration with their amps

As far as cost. It seems they retail in Germany for round 800EU...which equates to AU$1350 + shipping



What do u mean by "dual-unit system with an outboard"?

a seperate brain box is what i think he means.

looks pretty cool. might be a bit of a pain to use with only 2 buttons

The Ural CCD had exactly the same design with respect to only having 2 buttons, and from what I've read from its users, its extremely user friendly, and you can control almost all the features of the headunit by just using the rotary knob and that other button. I was rather skeptical of this at first, but then I saw a video of it in action, and it does seem that it is extremely user-friendly.

Here's the link to download the video, its 16MB from memory:

http://www.uralcdd.com/UralCDD.mpg

mm. mp3 etc capabilites, a built in six channel amp....that doesnt sound amazing for sq.

then again, nonvolatile memory of settings etc....quite a good all-rounder.

The question i ask is, in that same price range (Approx $1400) what else is available on the market that has the same capabilities...??

Woody

Alpine 701? not a transport...
HXD2 is a little bit more...

Nothing else can really do 3-way + sub in that price range.

I think we need a drool emoticon

that is absolutley gorgeous *stunned*

yeh the ural got so much hype in america but nothing ended up happening

agreed the specs and features are amazing but in a single din unit!! must have external something ot be considered a excellent SQ HU.

mmm yes, this is something I've been looking for, for a long time.

Agreed it would at least need external Power Supply to fit all that gear in there properly,
I would have liked to have seen a model without internal power amp,
a internal amp is somewhat of a sacrifice in power supply power for the head unit itself.

Juls

My dream HU became a reality over the weekend when I finally installed my HX-D2
- Now I'm finding out what they meant when they said "It's a pain to use" lol

Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems at first. I like this head-unit though

That thing is gorgeous

Will consider it very seriously as a viable alternative to the HX-D2 I was planning on getting... that is if it's available here.

Yes so true
I'm just getting used to my new unit and as always there's frustrating moments. For example I keep ejecting the CD when I want to pause it! And the owners manual seems a bit vague at times but in the end I think me and the D2 will be good friends.

The Helix certainly does look sweet and its got some very tempting specs

wheres the DVD-A and the SACD?? *crys