ebernedo86

Hello All,


So I'm driving a 2007 Acura TL Type S and want to upgrade the sound system. As an FYI, I plan on keeping the factory head unit installed in the car.


My setup will be using a 5 channel aftermarket amp.
Amp: JL Audio HD900/5
This amp will power 4 speakers I will purchase as well as one subwoofer.


So my question lies with which path to go on Factory OEM integration.


Assumption (please correct me if I am wrong):
The TL Head Unit output 4 signals that are all full range, but come out equalized, hence the need for some type of device/product to "fix" the signal and have it come out un-equalized and at full range. This is all pre-amp.
The factory amp output signals is now 6? (4 speakers and 1 sub and center channel) Let me know if I am wrong here please.


My buddy's dad is an installer an audio shop here in Tucson, AZ (The Specialists) and there's two main options.

1. Factory HU-->JL Audio FIX-82 (formally the Cleansweep DSP CL441dsp)-->JL Audio HD 900/5 amp. I would bypass the factory amp.
2. Factory HU-->Factory AMP-->Audio Control LC8i--> JL Audio HD 900/5 amp. I've done a little bit of reading on the audiocontrol and I've heard its not just a simple LOC but also does channel summing.

Would both options bring forth the same signal quality prior to the aftermarket amp? (Full range and un-equalized).
I've heard that getting to the pre-amp signal is a lot of more of a pain in the ass to install (pre-amp) than just installing the lc8i.

At the current time I am not interested in additional equalization like a 360.3 would provide or any other fancier processor.




My other question is, based on each option, what do I do with the center channel?


I would appreciate the help with this!
Thanks in advance

chief wiggum

One of the advantages of using the Audio Control LC8i, is that you'll be able to custom configure how you'd like it set up. Since you're retaining the factory head unit, you can configure the LC8i for front, rear, and subwoofer or front, rear, center channel, and subwoofer. The later of the two configurations will require an additional amplifier for the center channel. Although it's a nice piece, the JL Audio FIX82 only has a 2-channel RCA output or digital output via Toslink.

Which Specialist location does your dad's friend work at? The Speedway location has some pretty good installers working there.

ebernedo86

My buddy's dad works on the one on Speedway. What are the odds? lol


So I decided to give audio control a call regarding the LC8i. The one draw back was that they said the output of the Lc8i will be the same as the factory HU, which is full range (which is great), but still comes out equalized and not flat (dang it).


I'm curious how big of a deal is that?


As for the FIX-82, you're right. I did more digging and regarding the center channel, I might as well not use it in that case, since I want to stick only to the aftermarket 5 channel in terms of new amp purchases. The 2 channel RCA signal output from the fix-82 should be full range and un-equalized (flat) if I'm not mistaken, which in this case is a plus. In addition, you can put the HD900/5 amp is in channel input mode as well.


I'm going back and forth between the two. The price delta between the Lc8i and Fix-82 is like $70-$80.
But if its that much more of a pain in the ass to install pre-amp (fix 82), I supposed I could go Lc8i, but am curious on how "good" this signal is since its not 100% flat and still with equalization in it.


Thanks!

sockr1

iTrader: (5)

the stock signal from the head unit is basically flat. there's lots of threads on it

ebernedo86

I did some more digging on these threads and the consensus is that the signal from the HU is mostly flat, but I found in one thread, a few plots showing that it is not technically flat:
https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-b...cessor-888547/


So a 3rd option:
Factory HU-->Factory AMP-->JL AUdio FIX-82--> JL Audio HD 900/5 amp.


I called JL Audio today and they said the FIX-82 DSP will also work post factory AMP. In essence it'll do the same summing as the LC8i, but it will also flatten the signal.
I was told to take into account, its pretty to go pre-amp, but apparently the FIX-82 post amp has even more capability than the LC8i.


Anyone tried this before? with a FIX-42 or the Cleansweep DSP post factory amp?
I may consider this route too.

stevemk07

Having tried both routes in my last TL when I do it again (God willing) I will be going preamp. The stock amp is where the equalization is done so I would rather start of will a signal that is relatively unaltered. However you should be aware that the strength of the stock preamp signal is not very high compared to aftermarket headunits (It maxes out at less than 1V) but it uses something called differential balanced output which if the receiving unit also has balanced circuitry will eliminate noise picked up along the way. I have a JL HD900/5 which does this fine but I am not certain about those other units you mentioned but I am fairly certain the JL unit would come with a line driver that converts the signal to regular rca type. Based on that I would go the JL route pre stock amp.

For the sub you could take the preamp signal and connect rcas to it to feed directly to your jl amp if you want to maintain stock sub controls... Worked very nicely for me. I was astonished at the difference in clarity switching from post amp to preamp for my sub signal.

BukvaMan

I used the Audio Control DQ-61 processor before the stock amp. Best setup Ive had thus far without going into crazy processing. Simple enough with great results. It seems it would fit you well

wlbolton

I retained the factory Head Unit and took the signal pre-amp from the front left/right and sub with RCA input to the Audio Control Matrix. The Matrix (Line Driver) was used because the factory head unit output is very low.




I am extremely pleased with the sound and have delayed adding Sound Processor to the mix

ebernedo86

Awesome good to know!


Random question, and I'm sure its in a thread somewhere..
What signals are coming out from factory head unit?
I thought it was only 4 signals, Front L/R and Rear L/R but I may be wrong?

wlbolton

IN
@ the Stereo Amplifier in the passenger kick panel in the 20 pin Black & White connector

Right Front + Black
Right Front - Gray
Left Front + Green
Left Front - Blue
C+ Brown
C- Greeen w/White
RR+ Orange
RR- Red
LR+ White
LR- Yellow
SW+ Red w/Blue
SW- White w/Green

Remote Turn-on -> Red w/Yellow
Amp Mute -> Yellow w/Green


OUT

@ the Stereo Amplifier in the passenger kick panel with the 14 pin gray connector contains the speaker outputs if you want to utilize the factory wiring.

Right Front + Blue
Right Front - Red
Left Front + Light Green
Left Front - Purple
C+ Green w/White
C- Blue w/Yellow
RR+ Red w/Blue
RR- Yellow
LR+ Brown w/White
LR- Red w/Yellow
SW+ Yellow w/Black
SW- Light Green w/Red

Ground -> Black
+12V -> White

ss650

Very interested in amp, pm has been sent

ebernedo86

As an FYI to all,
did a little bit of reading comparing the FIX-82 to the Cleansweep DSP CL441
https://jlaudio.zendesk.com/hc/en-us...Sweep-CL441dsp


The Cleansweep CL441 needed to be in the loop PRE amp, because it only flattened the signal, but did not do signal summing. If you tried to run the CL441 POST amp, then you also needed the CL-SSI or a similar type of Signal Device.


Based on my readings and talking to JL Audio, the FIX-82 can be run post AMP since this device does both processing (flattening the signal) AND signal summing.


Thanks all!
Just a little FYI to anyone trying to run with OEM.
Based on this info, If I want to run post AMP (Which is most likely in this case), I would prefer the FIX-82 over the AudioControl LC8i since it only does signal summing and not flattening of the signal.