Upgrading the ELS (i.e.,with Navi) audio system with Rockford Fosgate 360.3
02-26-2015, 02:19 PM
#1
Upgrading the ELS (i.e.,with Navi) audio system with Rockford Fosgate 360.3
I wanted to upgrade my ELS system and so I added a Rockford Fosgate 360.3. The 360.3 is an 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor w/ 248 Band Parametric EQ. It takes the high level signal (i.e., the signal coming out of the factory amplifier) and normalizes it. That is, it flattens out the equalizing done by the factory amplifier. The signals from the front right and left speakers go to channels 1 and 2 of the 360.3. The rear doors go to channels 3 and 4 of the 360.3. The two signals for the 6.5 inch speakers in the rear deck are going to channels 5 and 6--I am also feeding the 8 inch midbass in the rear deck the signal given to the rear deck speakers via the preamp output from the amplifier channels that feed the rear deck 6.5's. The signal previously going to the 8 inch in the deck is now routed to channels 7 and 8, which go to my subs in the trunk.
If you want to add a 360.3 you will need to know what wires to select from the output harness of the OEM amplifier. I have the helms manual which indicated what wires go to what speaker. Thus, you will need to hook up the 360.3 after the amplifier and not before. To be clear, the 360.3 does not "bypass" the stock amplifier, it is not supposed to, it was designed specifically to go after the stock amplifier.
I am very impressed with the 360.3. The 360.3 has various crossover types (e.g., butterworth), high shelf, low pass, bandpass, etc. To tune the 360.3, set the db eq gain for every frequency to 0db's. Then find the cross over settings that you like best. I did this by muting all of the speakers except the ones you are tuning (e.g., muting all speakers except the front left and right).
Fair warning, the 360.3 takes a lot of time to learn how to use. However, once I learned how to use it and all of its functions, I have been able to tune it to perfection. With the 360.3 and the right selection of speakers and amplifiers one can achieve amazing results with the ELS package. The 360.3 is also great for the tech package because it has a switch to work with balanced and unbalanced signals from the headunit. I believe the tech package has a balanced signal, and I have my 360.3 switched to balanced mode and it is very clean signal.
I am not going to go into how to install the 360.3 because it comes with instructions. I am also not going to go into how to run wires to speakers in the doors or install amplifiers because that can be found elsewhere.
I just wanted to state that the 360.3 is a great way to go IMO for the tech package. Tuning will take a long time. I spent months dialing in my system and learning what all the functions did. If you like to tune every aspect of your system then the 360.3 is great. You can go "active" with the 360.3. I am going active with the 360.3 and passive as I also use passive crossovers that came with my components and amplifier crossovers to help me squeeze every drop out of my system.
The 360.3 also comes with a gain control for the subs and a db boost control for the sub, which I love. It also maintains all the stock functions of the head unit, including fade, bass, treble, steering wheel control etc.
If you want to add a 360.3 you will need to know what wires to select from the output harness of the OEM amplifier. I have the helms manual which indicated what wires go to what speaker. Thus, you will need to hook up the 360.3 after the amplifier and not before. To be clear, the 360.3 does not "bypass" the stock amplifier, it is not supposed to, it was designed specifically to go after the stock amplifier.
I am very impressed with the 360.3. The 360.3 has various crossover types (e.g., butterworth), high shelf, low pass, bandpass, etc. To tune the 360.3, set the db eq gain for every frequency to 0db's. Then find the cross over settings that you like best. I did this by muting all of the speakers except the ones you are tuning (e.g., muting all speakers except the front left and right).
Fair warning, the 360.3 takes a lot of time to learn how to use. However, once I learned how to use it and all of its functions, I have been able to tune it to perfection. With the 360.3 and the right selection of speakers and amplifiers one can achieve amazing results with the ELS package. The 360.3 is also great for the tech package because it has a switch to work with balanced and unbalanced signals from the headunit. I believe the tech package has a balanced signal, and I have my 360.3 switched to balanced mode and it is very clean signal.
I am not going to go into how to install the 360.3 because it comes with instructions. I am also not going to go into how to run wires to speakers in the doors or install amplifiers because that can be found elsewhere.
I just wanted to state that the 360.3 is a great way to go IMO for the tech package. Tuning will take a long time. I spent months dialing in my system and learning what all the functions did. If you like to tune every aspect of your system then the 360.3 is great. You can go "active" with the 360.3. I am going active with the 360.3 and passive as I also use passive crossovers that came with my components and amplifier crossovers to help me squeeze every drop out of my system.
The 360.3 also comes with a gain control for the subs and a db boost control for the sub, which I love. It also maintains all the stock functions of the head unit, including fade, bass, treble, steering wheel control etc.
The following 3 users liked this post by hokusai:
05-01-2015, 12:03 AM
#3
Thanks Cbass.
I went the 360.3 route because my other option was the JBL MS8, however, I wanted to be able to tweak and tune the heck out of my system, which the 360.3 allows. I have read that an Audison Bit something is also good. However, the 360.3 was less expensive. I also got a 360.3 because I was not able to get a mercman harness.
Using a 360.3 is probably one of the best ways to go for the ELS or technology package.
I went the 360.3 route because my other option was the JBL MS8, however, I wanted to be able to tweak and tune the heck out of my system, which the 360.3 allows. I have read that an Audison Bit something is also good. However, the 360.3 was less expensive. I also got a 360.3 because I was not able to get a mercman harness.
Using a 360.3 is probably one of the best ways to go for the ELS or technology package.
05-05-2015, 04:29 PM
#4
I've been wanting to upgrade mine for a while but dealing with the ELS seems to be more headache than its worth.
So just for clarification, you hook the 360.3 up after the stock amp and then send the signals to another amp which sends the signals to the speakers?
Or is it just stock amp -> 360.3 -> Speakers?
So just for clarification, you hook the 360.3 up after the stock amp and then send the signals to another amp which sends the signals to the speakers?
Or is it just stock amp -> 360.3 -> Speakers?
05-05-2015, 05:01 PM
#5
Marmar, yes you are correct, the 360.3 has 8 RCA outputs or channels that send the signal (taken AFTER the stock amplifier) to aftermarket amplifiers.
You also have to run a power cable and ground for the amps. Then the 360.3 hooks up to a laptop that shows you the frequency of the speaker signals. The 360.3 takes the speaker signals from the ELS System and flattens the signal, allowing the user to subsequently choose crossover type and actively equalize the signals.
You also have to run a power cable and ground for the amps. Then the 360.3 hooks up to a laptop that shows you the frequency of the speaker signals. The 360.3 takes the speaker signals from the ELS System and flattens the signal, allowing the user to subsequently choose crossover type and actively equalize the signals.
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07-04-2015, 11:19 PM
#9
360.3 install
This is a picture of the 360.3. I cut into the plastic shell in the trunk. I got quick connects from the stock amplifier outs to the high level inputs of my 360.3. From these inputs go RCA level outputs to my amps
The two quick connect wires above the bundle is the center channel. I can disconnect it, but I think that it sounds better with my center channel connected. It is the only speaker that I have powered by the stock amplifier. The center channel fills in the front stage and it adds a good frequency because it is 3 inches. Additionally, it is good to have it connected because of bluetooth (the speaker of the person on the phone comes through the center I believe, as well as navigation also functions through center channel-I may be wrong about this though).
The two quick connect wires above the bundle is the center channel. I can disconnect it, but I think that it sounds better with my center channel connected. It is the only speaker that I have powered by the stock amplifier. The center channel fills in the front stage and it adds a good frequency because it is 3 inches. Additionally, it is good to have it connected because of bluetooth (the speaker of the person on the phone comes through the center I believe, as well as navigation also functions through center channel-I may be wrong about this though).
07-04-2015, 11:32 PM
#10
360.3 install
This is a picture of the 360.3. I cut into the plastic shell in the trunk. I got quick connects from the stock amplifier outs to the high level inputs of my 360.3. From these inputs go RCA level outputs to my amps
The two quick connect wires above the bundle is the center channel. I can disconnect it, but I think that it sounds better with my center channel connected. It is the only speaker that I have powered by the stock amplifier. The center channel fills in the front stage and it adds a good frequency because it is 3 inches. Additionally, it is good to have it connected because of bluetooth (the speaker of the person on the phone comes through the center I believe, as well as navigation also functions through center channel-I may be wrong about this though).
The two quick connect wires above the bundle is the center channel. I can disconnect it, but I think that it sounds better with my center channel connected. It is the only speaker that I have powered by the stock amplifier. The center channel fills in the front stage and it adds a good frequency because it is 3 inches. Additionally, it is good to have it connected because of bluetooth (the speaker of the person on the phone comes through the center I believe, as well as navigation also functions through center channel-I may be wrong about this though).
07-05-2015, 11:07 AM
#12
Musically, center channels are typically bad for imaging but good for surround sound qualities. Must be hard to balance/mix it in since it has a different power source from the rest of your components? Are you going to keep it stock or looking for a replacement that has better tonal qualities? I would imagine it is overbearing and bright at times?
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