This year Hellion plans to release several new multi-channel processor amplifiers. The segment is not so massive, but it is in demand: for those who are not satisfied with the standard sound, but at the same time refuse to reduce the standard number of speakers. Although, as it turned out, some features allow to use today's test subject not only in cars, but let's talk about everything in order.
Today's test subject is a 12-channel amplifier with a 16-channel Hellion HAM16.150DSP processor. The amplification channels are equal, they have a declared power of 100 and 150 W at 4 and 2 ohms, respectively. And they can be connected in bridges (this is a fundamental difference to the newer Hellion models).
FIRST ACQUAINTANCE, GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
The amplifier is housed in a flat, almost square case with dimensions of 25x28 cm, not including the connectors, and a height of 4.5 cm. The layout is similar to conventional amplifiers: power supply and outputs on one side (fuses are hidden inside the case)...
...on the other side - all the low current signal connectors. This is also the connector for the wired remote control. This is a universal Hellion DRC-1, suitable for the entire current line of Hellion Processors.
You can use processors 13-16 as line outputs, and there are no restrictions on customization.
There are a few more "pluses" planned for the next delivery set. One of them is a new black nameplate, so you can choose the color depending on the design of the installation. You can either leave the silver or replace it with black.
CONNECTIONS AND SOURCES
It's got a 12-channel high-level input. You can get it to accept a signal of up to 22 V RMS (RMS value), so it can be used with standard speakers that have more powerful channels than usual. If that's not enough, you can use the Hellion HLD-36 converter. The high-level inputs have an input impedance of 13 ohms, so many OEMs with self-diagnostics may not need a separate "cheater."
You've got an 8-channel line input, which you can switch between and the high-level one programmatically. But they basically do the same thing, so it's better to choose one of them. Also, the sensitivity adjustments for them are the same.
One other thing to mention is that having potentiometers is a plus. And even with clipping indicators. As further study showed, they work correctly—you can use them for tuning.
Everything's as usual with the optical Toslink input.
Bluetooth Audio is a module inside the case with a soft antenna "tail" outside. It understands not only basic SBC, but also AAC and codecs from the aptX family, including aptX HD. Bluetooth version is 5.0.
USB Audio is an input that lets the Hellion's built-in processor act as a sound card. It's a great way to get a signal from a smartphone or Android speaker without unnecessary transformations.
To connect to the "Android" speakers, you'll need a cable with two USB-A connectors on the ends (you can find these at any electronics store). For smartphones, Hellion offers its own set of extension cord and OTG cable with an additional power supply.Now, let's talk about the stuffing. I was a bit surprised at first to see a radiator on the back of the case, but it turns out it has an auxiliary role here. In general, the whole case is involved in cooling. The extra heatsink gets rid of excess heat from the output LC-filter chokes. Or, to be more precise, it slightly increases the dissipation surface of the case in this area.
The D-class power chips are located on the bottom side of the board and pressed against the top cover of the case. The power supply is common for all 12 channels, so if you're thinking of using Hellion for the whole system, from tweeters to subwoofers, proceed with caution. At least, choose subwoofers that won't overload the PSU. If you're planning to use a heavier subwoofer, it's better to set aside a separate monoblock for it, since there are four channels output in line format.
The processor and DAC are on two Cirris Logic CS47048C chips hidden under heatsinks. So the computing platform is basically the same as that of its "little brother," the HAM12.80DSP. One important thing to note is the conformal coating of the boards. This has made the amplifier compliant with the IP54 specification (keep in mind that the board and elements are covered with a special protective varnish). It's a bit unexpected for a multichannel amplifier, but it makes sense. It extends the scope of HAM16.150DSP use to yachts, where there are no extra channels. And if you think about the possibility of combining them into a bridge, it's a very tempting option.
CONTROL AND CONFIGURATION
The hardware itself lets you customize the processor in a few different ways, including an app for your smartphone that you connect to via Bluetooth. But at the time of this test, only the classic version is available for computers or laptops running Windows. You can download the program from the official website and run it without installing anything.
The basic idea is that you can set the most important settings in one window. Everything else is pretty standard. When you first start up, you can set the purpose of the output channels, and the crossover filters are automatically set to safe values. You can also configure the system further.
The current version has a couple of cool new features. You can link channels in two ways: pairs (odd with the neighboring even) or arbitrarily (button "L"). Plus, you can adjust the Rem OUT delay time directly in the main window.
In the near future, we'll be able to invert the polarity on analog input channels (not all processors can reverse the signal programmatically on the inputs).
The channel routing is matrix, but there's one main feature: you can mix signals from analog and digital inputs. You can also specify mixing from linear and high-level separately, as they're connected. Even if you're using something connected by "digital" as the main source, the mixing allows you to keep the OEM system signals (navigation, OEM Hands Free, park-tronic and auxiliary systems, etc.) connected by analog. As for the setting capabilities, they're pretty familiar. I've looked at the processor platform from every angle, so I'll just give you the basics here. I’ll give you some examples of the features.
Crossover filters are totally independent, with the option of choosing any frequency, a steepness of up to 48 dB/octave, and the type of filter—Bessel, Butterworth, or Linkwitz-Riley.
The equalizer has 31 bands, with the option to select any center frequency for each band, as well as the width of each control band and the gain/decay level, which can be set anywhere from +12 to -18 dB.
You can set delays up to 15 ms (which is like "pushing back" about 5.2 meters) in 0.021 ms steps (less than 1 cm). The processor takes about 3.27 ms to process the signal, which is the permanent delay.
Let's move on. You can store up to 10 configurations in the memory and then quickly switch between them from the remote control. Just a heads-up: you can also buy the Hellion DRC-1 remote control separately as an option.
Just to let you know, there's another new feature in the current software: the ability to update the firmware. When new versions become available, the program will offer to do it when you connect (if your computer has internet access). Or, if you need to, there's a menu item to manually start this procedure.
CHECKING THE AMPLIFIER PART OPERATION
The output signal's spectrum is only a small part of how the amplifier operates, but it's interesting to look at. The background noise is low, with splashing below -100 dBV on average. Higher-order harmonics are present, but their level is small relative to the main signal.
In general, the least distortion is at midrange frequencies. At low and high frequencies, it's a little higher, but not a big deal. At 4 and 2 ohms, the amplifier works almost equally well.
Now, let's talk about how the amplifier performs at different power levels. The level of CGI is pretty stable, with only a few hundredths of a percent difference between the levels. The increase in CGI at low powers is pretty insignificant.
As you can see, when operating at 2 ohms, the signal limitation is a little softer, but this isn't because the power supply is reaching its limits. It's probably down to the amplifying part itself. Anyway, the formal power ratings are decent in any case.
Here are the Hellion HAM16.150DSP power parameters, as measured at 1 kHz:
At 4 ohms, the amp can handle 97 watts of power (at 1% THD).
4 Ohm operation, max output power (THD=10%) - 121W
In 4-ohm operation, the harmonic distortion (P=0.1Pmax) is less than 0.02%.
In 2-ohm operation, the rated output power (THD=1%) is 157W.
In 2-ohm operation, the maximum output power (THD=10%) is 207W.
In 2-ohm operation, the harmonic distortion (P=0.1Pmax) is less than 0.03%.
The power rating is accurate, and at 2 ohms, there's even a small margin. When bridging a 4-ohm load, you can expect about 300-350 W of undistorted power (you don't need to include 2 ohms in the bridge, everything has reasonable limits).
What about the sound?
I'd say the Hellion sounds pretty unexpected, which makes it a good competitor with systems that use separate components and cost more. The sound delivery isn't exactly warm and languid. The amplifier sounds pretty fast, even a bit sharp, which makes the sound character closer to cold. It's important that it's not just a case of piling on harmonics and transients to make it sound quick (Hellion has everything within reason). One good example is Linkin Park's "Given Up" from CM Cup 2023. It was delivered to the amplifier cleanly, and even with a significant increase in volume, the sound didn't get too loud.
The second thing is that the detail is pretty good. Since I mentioned the CM Cup 2023 selection, I'd also recommend the jazz track "You Look Good to Me" by the Oscar Peterson Trio. You can hear the triangle after-sounds, the brushes that didn't turn into hisses, the vibration of taut double bass strings, the whispering and rustling of the double bassist's clothes caught in the microphone—all of this is not guessed, but sounds quite clearly.
Let me get to the point. What tasks should we focus on?
Multichannel amplifiers are a specific type of thing. In the automotive industry, their target audience is someone who doesn't want to have empty spots in the standard places or silent speakers, even if the automaker has already filled them.
The second, though not the most obvious at first glance, is systems in yachts. Here, the number of channels is no problem. Hellion was also adapted to this case— conformal coating of the boards and IP54 compliance.
And let's not forget the sound. It's another reason to show D-class some love. Hellion isn't for fans of vintage sound with a warm, soft presentation. But if you want a more assertive sound, it's a good option for that.