EQS tm Six Channel Pre-Amp Equalizer Owner’s Enjoyment Manual making good stereo sound better® ® ® 22410 70th Avenue West Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 Phone 425-775-8461 Fax 425-778-3166
® This page intentionally left blank.
EQS tm Table Of Contents Introduction Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Congratulations on your purchase of the EQS, the Features and Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 worlds first six channel pre-amp equalizer from AudioControl, the leading manufacturer of performance signal proces- Quick Installation Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 A Guided Tour of the EQS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
® KEY FEATURES OF THE EQS FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS Dual-bandwidth Equalization: Car interiors vary Here are some of the cool features that are enclosed in this magical box: · Dual-bandwidth equalization · 13 volt pre-amp line driver · Auto Selecttm Inputs · Voltage indicator LED’s · Speaker level inputs · PFM subsonic filter · Balanced differential inputs widely in size and acoustic make-up.
EQS tm Speaker Level Inputs: If you are like many people and like the look and features of your factory installed source rainforest factory. We take every effort to ensure that you will have many years of enjoyment out of your EQS. To unit but feel it’s lacking power and bass, we have good news.
® QUICK INSTALLATION INFORMATION For those of you short on time but high on ambition we offer the following section to speed up your installation of the EQS: 1. The EQS needs to be installed in the signal path between your source unit and an external amplifier(s). If this is not obvious to you, quickly pack up your EQS and run to your nearest authorized AudioControl dealer to have them perform the installation. You will thank us later. 2.
EQS tm FACTORY SETTINGS Shipped A GUIDED TOUR OF EQS Options Page # PFM Subsonic Filter 33Hz 15Hz-63Hz 7 Input Grounding Balanced Unbalanced 7 Ground Isolation Isolated Choice of beverage Micro-brew 200ohm or Ground 7 Latté 19 1. Inputs: The EQS has two types of inputs, PRE-AMP and SPEAKER LEVEL. These inputs should get their signals from the main source unit/head unit and should attach to either RCA jacks or speaker leads that are coming out of your source unit.
® 2 4. Output Level Controls: Although your EQS has the ability to increase your signal voltage to 13 volts peak, 3 7 6 1 your amplifiers may not necessarily accept that much signal. These controls allow you to regulate the proper amount of pre-amp signal from the EQS to the amplifiers. 5. Output Voltage Indicators: These brightly colored LED’s indicate the level of signal voltage that is coming out of the various outputs of your EQS. 6.
EQS tm UNDER THE COVERS 3 2 1. Input Grounding: For most systems you can leave this jumper set in the BALANCED position. In some systems, the source unit may look for a ground through the RCA connection to the amplifier and create a ground loop, which in turn can cause a whine (we are not talking about Merlot) in your system. In that event, you should go ahead and change the four jumpers to the UNBALANCED position. 2.
® INSTALLING THE EQS B. EQS Power Wiring Up to this point everything you have read has served to educate you on the operations of EQS. We are sure that you are chomping at the bit to install EQS so we recommend you read the following sections very carefully. A. Placement & Mounting Of EQS Placement: The EQS needs to be installed in the signal path after your source unit but definitely before your amplifiers and or any active crossovers.
EQS tm C. EQS Audio Wiring Planning: As you may already have guessed, there are numerous ways to configure the EQS in your audio system. Spend a little quality time planning out your system and even sketching it out on paper.
® Figure 6: EQS with THREE.
EQS tm D. Level Matching 4. Starting with the EQS “Front Input” gain control, If you have ever listened to a friend’s “killer” car audio system and heard lots of hiss, clicks or pops, then you have experienced an improperly level matched system.
® 9. Now increase the volume on your source unit to your normal listening level. For some of you, this may be louder than others! 10. At this point you may find yourself going back and adjusting the “Output Level” controls on your EQS to balance the front, rear, and subwoofer sections of your system to accommodate for the speaker placement and efficiency. Speakers on the rear deck of your car will probably sound louder that the ones in your doors! E. Equalization Adjustment makes a really good one.
EQS tm There is no one curve that will satisfy every person, as we all have different tastes. How else can you explain Liberace or rice cakes? The key is to use your EQS to help balance your system from one frequency to the next and give your speakers the sparkle, sizzle, detail or punch that the acoustics of the car have compromised. 3. You will want to start equalizing by removing or cutting any large bumps, peaks, or areas with too much energy at a particular frequency.
® width. For that reason you will want to keep this area as smooth On most systems, the factory-installed module (33Hz) is and balanced as possible. Too much boosting can make you feel like your listening to your system in a tile bathroom. Not enough fine. However, if you know the tuning frequency of your speaker enclosure (porting frequency or 3dB down point), energy midrange sounds empty and dry. you might try setting your PFM module to that frequency.
EQS tm Output Voltage LED’s Don’t Light Up: If your system is playing music but none of the output LED’s are on, there is a good chance that the output voltage of your source unit is not that high. Now before you call us say, “The guy at the store said my radio has high-voltage outputs”, you might want to face the fact that there is “Engineering Voltage” and there is “Marketing Voltage”. Without picking on any particular source unit, remember that you do get what you pay for.
® And now a word from the legal department... THE WARRANTY People are scared of warranties. Lots of fine print. Months of waiting around. Well, fear no more, this warranty is designed to make you rave about us to your friends. It’s a warranty that looks out for you and helps you resist the temptation to have your friend, “...who’s good with electronics”, try to repair your AudioControl product.
EQS tm This is the best mobile product we know how to build, but if EQS SPECIFICATIONS you mount it to the front bumper of your car, something will go wrong. All specifications are measured at 14.4 VDC (standard automo- 6. If an authorized United States AudioControl dealer installs your EQS, the warranty is five years, otherwise the warranty is one year.
AudioControl, Making Good Stereo Sound Better, EQS, The Epicenter, EQL, AutoMode and EQX are all trademarks of Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. This manual was conceived, designed, and written on several bleak, windy, and dreary rain-drenched days at our home in the Pacific Northwest Rainforest. The latte’s were hot and the Heffeweizen’s were cold...like our weather. ® making good stereo sound better® 22410 70th Avenue West Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA 425-775-8461 Fax 425-778-3166 www.
