Hi all,
My first post on this board..been lurking since I bought my '04 TSX three weeks ago. Since then, added a nice DVD system. Now it's time to upgrade the stereo. My important tech. question: Is the OUTPUT from the HEAD UNIT (before it goes into the amp) a LOW LEVEL signal that will properly match the input of an aftermarket amp? I don't want to use Line Output Converters, as they are a compromise in sound quality (in my experience). Thanks for your help. Enjoy my new ride and this forum.
GARY

 

Yes, the stereo has F and R full-range outputs capable of ~900 mV output using the sine wave on the Alpine CAN test disc (the same output as my old Alpine 7904 CD player).

There is absolutely no need to use an Line Output Converter of any kind. A line driver might be useful- both amp upgrades I have done have been noise-free as long as the amp was set to minimum gain sensitivity, but you could hear a bit o noise once you nudged up the gain. I have a JL 300/4 and I have enough volume, but I still plan to test some line drivers.

Metra is considering makin an adapter for this... you might ind the poll thread asking abou this. Or call Metra in FL and tell them you want one - maybe you'll be the beta.


Can't believe I'm on this forum on the honeymoon...: )

(She's in the shower...)

 

What kind of adapters are you talking about eldurino?

 

Thanks, Elduderino. Right to the point. I've been reading some conflicting stuff here. If I remember right from my installation days, 1volt or a bit more is preferable, so I can see where a line driver MAY be helpful, but I'm hoping not needed. Thanks again. GARY

 

Anyone have any specifics on a good line driver and what kind of specs to look for?

 

without a line driver my system sounded like butt.

 

what line driver are you using?

 

Yes, there have been many conflicting posts on this topic. I've done two TSX installs with no LOCs.

My system sounds great w/o a line driver. The Phoenix Gold PLD 22 or 66 seem good.

J, I'm talking about plug-in harnesses in place of the factory amp, with RCA out for the amp, and the remote turn-on wire.

g, remember that the Alpine 7904 was rated to 2V by Alpine. It all depends on the test track you're using... with a "hotter" test track I could easily reach higher voltages. I think this track was -10dB but I forget... This was simply intended to show that the TSX head is capable of exactly the same output as a pre-"4V" high-end CD player.

 

Would the TLD66 be useful in boosting the output of an XM install as well as the amp signal?

 

you don't have any clipping coming from your tweeters?

i wonder why mine did without a line driver...either way i like line drivers because your amps gains don't need to be turned up as much.

 

depends.....if you have noise coming from the HU a line driver wont help, adding a line driver and the source of noise is the HU , you will just amplify the noise. if the source of noise is coming in from the wires a line driver will help, so i suspect that your noise wasnt coming from the HU in the first place.

 

Well, I can tell you that when Eld and I did my TSX, when we connected the line driver to the HU, turned down the gains on the amp and the noise went away. But, it sounded like azz. Of course the noise was probably still there, just not audable. Im still waiting on a good line driver as no one seems to have decent ones in stock. And every friggin ebay auction I've tried I keep getting outbid

 

While I am glad that jiggaman's system sounds better, his problem has never sounded like a line-driver-problem to me either... but I'm glad it sounds better... : )

 

it sounded clear as day after installing the line drivers. the installer said my highs were clipping.

 

Right. And that statement is typical of car stereo installers, unfortunately.

We know that the output of the head unit at full volume doesn't clip (that is, run out of output and chop the top off of the waveform due to lack of voltage) on a number of different amps.

We know that you had the gains on the amp UP before the line drivers, and turned down afterwards.

It's possible that he had your amp input gain sensitivity turned up too high, and the amp connected to your highs was clipping due to being maladjusted. He could have fixed that by turning it down. You may have lost too much volume by turning it down, and maybe that's the reason for the line drivers... in other words, the line driver may have fixed a problem that was caused by the real solution to your distortion problem - turning down the amp gain.

 

it wasn't a distortion sound. i wish you could have checked it out yourself. it was very strange. it was a crackling sound that only came from the right front tweeter. it happened with the stock speakers after i replaced the stock amp and it happened with my MB Quart components.