My Headunitless Audio System Design - Input / Criticism / Advice Welcome!!

[robo_trigger]

The sound is good, I feel like I'm doing something wrong in the tuning department though. The levels seem really high, and my mids and highs arent super clean. But I've also been tuning off of the fm radio, which is silly. I think I need to install the ipod hookup to really tweak the sound. I read your amp tuning guide, but would you recommend anything different with this setup? I set the deck volume to max, then adjusted the outputs on the lc8i until its barely clipping, once I tried to set the levels at the amp though I couldn't get it to clip. Speakers disconnected so I don't blow the neighborhood away.

[StereoInstaller1]

Yes, haha and I apologize for asking a general question and just expecting you (luke) to answer it. So I spoke with Eric at audiocontrol (very awesome guys btw) and he explained to me how the e30 in this instance should be wired.

For starters the stock non slider deck with only 2 channels out doesn't put out enough voltage to engage the gto (auto turn on) so you need a remote turn on, my deck's switched power just happened to have a factory splice with an unused female spade connector. So theres your power. Crack open the audiocontol and set the gto to disabled.

Now for sound, in order to produce three channels from only two speaker level inputs, wire the inputs to channel 3 on the audiocontrol, and once again inside the unit set all the outputs to summed. Now your front channel will be your main out, rear will be out #3, and subs will be 4. The audiocontrol will automatically reproduce the speaker signal to all 4 outputs. I suppose if you wanted to maintain the ability to fade you could leave the factory fader in the dash and just wire the 4 channels from that into the audiocontrol unit, only setting the sub output (#4) to summed but thats not what we're doing here.

As far as your amp, the audiocontrol can put out some serious line level volts so on something like the planet audio make sure the input sensitivity is set to 2v-8v.

Awesome! Yes...go figure I knew all of that...but i am so glad you called them.

See why I am so loyal to them? Aside form great products, they are great people. BTW, and old Audiocontrol product gets repaired for $35...they are awesome.

So...how is your sound?

BTW, whoever sees this, the fastest service you can get from me is either calling, texting or the Facebook German Audio Specialties page. The number is on the FB page, as is email addresses.

If you get stuck, get hold of me!

Luke

[robo_trigger]

Yes, haha and I apologize for asking a general question and just expecting you (luke) to answer it. So I spoke with Eric at audiocontrol (very awesome guys btw) and he explained to me how the e30 in this instance should be wired.

For starters the stock non slider deck with only 2 channels out doesn't put out enough voltage to engage the gto (auto turn on) so you need a remote turn on, my deck's switched power just happened to have a factory splice with an unused female spade connector. So theres your power. Crack open the audiocontol and set the gto to disabled.

Now for sound, in order to produce three channels from only two speaker level inputs, wire the inputs to channel 3 on the audiocontrol, and once again inside the unit set all the outputs to summed. Now your front channel will be your main out, rear will be out #3, and subs will be 4. The audiocontrol will automatically reproduce the speaker signal to all 4 outputs. I suppose if you wanted to maintain the ability to fade you could leave the factory fader in the dash and just wire the 4 channels from that into the audiocontrol unit, only setting the sub output (#4) to summed but thats not what we're doing here.

As far as your amp, the audiocontrol can put out some serious line level volts so on something like the planet audio make sure the input sensitivity is set to 2v-8v.

[StereoInstaller1]

So I went ahead and installed my audiocontrol lc8i based system with the rest of luke's $500 setup and the stock deck. I seem to be having major issues, My e30 headunit only seemed to have front stage wires coming from the deck and then they got split at the fader, so I ran the left and right wires directly from the headunit to the lc8i, and its definitely not getting a clean signal, or it's busted. Basically if I turn the headunit up 3/4 of the way, the lc8i will flash maximized on and off, occasionally turn off, and only barely turn the amp on, if I get noise its loud half second bursts of radio and or pops and crackles. Luke any advice?


Should I be running the wires post factory fader (which I deleted) to the lc8i? or does it sound like it's no good? It's hard to test the system when I can't get reliable audio. I tried the aux inputs too but I couldn't get the lc8i to turn on from the aux signal.

OK..sorry, am here again, missed your post.

Any progress since you wrote this?

[robo_trigger]

okay so here is a basic diagram. Was it a mistake to use the two channels coming from the deck as opposed to the four coming from the fader/ground splices? Also, does anyone know if the audiocontrol can make 3 line level outputs from just 2 speaker level inputs?

[robo_trigger]

So I went ahead and installed my audiocontrol lc8i based system with the rest of luke's $500 setup and the stock deck. I seem to be having major issues, My e30 headunit only seemed to have front stage wires coming from the deck and then they got split at the fader, so I ran the left and right wires directly from the headunit to the lc8i, and its definitely not getting a clean signal, or it's busted. Basically if I turn the headunit up 3/4 of the way, the lc8i will flash maximized on and off, occasionally turn off, and only barely turn the amp on, if I get noise its loud half second bursts of radio and or pops and crackles. Luke any advice?


Should I be running the wires post factory fader (which I deleted) to the lc8i? or does it sound like it's no good? It's hard to test the system when I can't get reliable audio. I tried the aux inputs too but I couldn't get the lc8i to turn on from the aux signal.

[bubbajan21]

update?

I just got the amp in today and I'm just waiting on my amp rack to get started. Everything should be up and running soon, Stay Tuned!

[Victell]

update?

[StereoInstaller1]

What do you want to use to turn on your radio?

[brian52555]

Help... Working on the car on Sunday night now. Can't find a 12v switch in the trunk since the head unit is gone. Any recommendations?

[brian52555]

Hopefully installing mine this weekend :)

[StereoInstaller1]

Hey, how is progress, guys? Anyone actually install anything yet? I am doing an LC8i tomorrow in a 2011 Mazda 3. The stock deck has every feature you can think of, but I am going to hijack the AUX input for the LC8i, he generally uses BT for audio.

I will try to snap some pics, show some process.

I don't even know for sure if it has an amp in it or not yet, but I am doing a big Kicker 5 channel and an enormous Soundstream 12" in a "custom one-off" with the stock speakers.

Dude threw a $20 at a Keno machine 5 weeks ago, 3 days after he lost his job. He won $54K, almost exactly a years income for him. He has begged me to do something for years, now he can afford it, so I am doing a Mazda...at German Audio Specialties.

Luke

[MrGeekFreak]

I really like the idea of this.

I am excited to see how this goes!

[bubbajan21]

Any opinions on the cache coe8 vs the audiocontrol lc8i? it's about 60% the price so I was curious. Unless the OP can share his lc8i hookup ;].

Hahaha funny story actually, I found the LC8i on ebay at a pawn shop in California brand new sealed in the original packaging, we went back and forth on price and he finally agreed to sell it for $95 shipped.

if you could write up a diy after all the bugs are figured out i would be most greatful!

I will definitely be documenting this when I do get around to installing it. It will be going in in April so check back then!

[oliver.r]

if you could write up a diy after all the bugs are figured out i would be most greatful!