Features
Controls
Connections
Features
5-Channel Design: The B FIVE is designed to power four full-range
speakers and a subwoofer, or two tweeters, two midranges, and a subwoofer simultaneously.
The full-range section (4-channel) of the amp is Class-AB and the subwoofer section is
Class-D. The amplifier's 1/2 channels and 3/4 channels (front and rear) are individually
bridgeable, so the B FIVE can power 5, 4, or 3 channels.
2-Ohm Stable: In stereo mode (powering five speakers), all
five channels are 2-ohm stable; at 2 ohms the power output is 90 watts RMS x 4
to the full range channels plus 320 watts RMS x 1 to the subwoofer channel.
Bridgeable: The full-range section (channels 1/2 and 3/4) of
the B FIVE can be bridged to two channels, outputting 180 watts RMS x 2-channels
into 4 ohms. You can also wire the B FIVE in four channel mode, bridging half the
full-range section of the amp and running the other half in stereo (60 watts RMS x
2 channels, plus 180 watts RMS x 1 channel, plus 250 watts RMS x 1 subwoofer channel).
Protection Circuitry: The B FIVE offers four protection circuits:
short circuit (or too low an impedance on the outputs), thermal overload, over voltage,
and under voltage.
Fully Active 3-Channel: Because of the built-in crossover's
flexibility, the B FIVE can provide power and the active crossover for a 3-way
system. Channels 1/2 power two tweeters, with a high-pass crossover point as high
as 4 kHz. Channels 3/4 power two midranges, with a band-pass crossover having a
lower threshold as low as 15 Hz and an upper threshold as high as 4 kHz. Channel
5 powers a woofer (or mono woofers) with a low-pass crossover point between 40 Hz
and 4 kHz.
Controls
5-Channel: The amplifier is divided into three sections,
channels 1/2 (full-range), channels 3/4 (full-range), and the subwoofer channel.
Each section has independent gain, bass boost, and crossover controls.
Input Mode:
- 2-channel: all five amplifier channels
receive signal from the channel 1/2 inputs; channels 3/4 receive
the same signal as channels 1/2; channel 5 (subwoofer) is the
summed signal from channels 1/2
- 4-channel: channels 1/2 and channels 3/4
receive independent signals; channel 5 (subwoofer) is the summed
signal from the other four
- 5-channel: each amplifier channel has a
discrete input
Crossovers: Each section of the amp has independent crossover
controls, each slightly different from the others:
- Channels 1/2: a two position switch
specifies the crossover operation as high-pass or full-range;
the high-pass crossover point is continuously variable from
15 Hz to 4 kHz
- Channels 3/4: a three position switch
specifies the crossover operation as high-pass, full-range,
or low-pass; the high-pass crossover point is continuously
variable from 15 Hz to 4 kHz and the low-pass crossover
point is continuously variable from 40 Hz to 4 kHz; when
the crossover switch is in the low-pass position, the
high-pass frequency dial is also active, depending on
the high-pass frequency setting, this creates either a
subsonic filter or a band-pass crossover (with a lower
limit from 15 Hz to 4 kHz, and an upper limit from 40 Hz
to 4 kHz)
- Subwoofer Channel: the subwoofer's
low-pass crossover is always engaged; the low-pass crossover
point is continuously variable from 40 Hz to 4 kHz
Gain: Each section of the B FIVE has its own gain control;
the rotary gain controls are continuously variable from 0.2 volts to 6.0 volts
to match the source signals.
Bass Boost: Each section of the amplifier also has an
independent Bass Boost circuit; they are centered at 45 Hz and
continuously variable from 0 dB to +18 dB.
Connections
Power: The power and ground inputs are set-screw terminals;
they will accept bare wire up to 4-gauge (HELIX recommends 4-gauge minimum) and
are tightened/loosened with the supplied 4mm Allen wrench.
Remote: The remote turn-on input is a set screw terminal; it
will accept bare wire up to 10-gauge and is tightened/loosened with the supplied
2mm Allen wrench.
Speaker Outputs: The speakers connect to five pair of set-screw
terminals; they accept bare wire up to 10-gauge and are tightened/loosened with the
supplied 2mm Allen wrench.
Line Input: Three pair of stereo RCA jacks connect to the
output signal from the head unit.
Speaker Level Input: Use the included harness when speaker
level inputs are needed, or use the HELIX Easy Plug Cable and vehicle specific
adapter harness (both sold separately, see explanation above).
Note: The included speaker level input harness
doesn't use the standard aftermarket color codes, and there's
no color key in the manual (although the pin positions are
labeled on the side of the amp). The colors used are:
- Black: channel 1 negative
- Yellow: channel 1 positive
- Gray: channel 2 negative
- Red: channel 2 positive
- White: channel 3 negative
- Blue: channel 3 positive
- Green: channel 4 negative
- Orange: channel 4 positive
Fuse: The amp is protected by three 30-amp ATO-type fuses.
