Audio Control DQXS Owner's Manual

The Strength of

Digital

DQXS

Six Channel Digital Equalizer/Crossover

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

AudioControl

22410 70th Avenue West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA

Phone 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166

www.audiocontrol.com

AudioControl®

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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

The Strength of Digital

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Key Features and Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Quick Installation Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Placement and Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Power Wiring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Audio Wiring and System Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13

Level Matching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Navigating the DQXS Menu Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Equalization Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

™

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

AudioControl®

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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

The Strength of Digital

™

Introduction

Welcome to the world of AudioControl digital signal processing . A unique combination of AudioControl’s lengthy experience in performance signal processing design combined with state-of-the-art Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology. You now have in your possession the DQXS, an extremely powerful six-channel, dual-bandwidth graphic and parametric digital equalizer with a fully-programmable eightchannel 24 dB/octave Linkwitz-Riley alignment electronic crossover. If it sounds cool when you say it, that’s because it really is. The 142 equalization filters on your DQXS give you complete acoustical control over your system which makes it an ideal addition to any multi-channel system...even those using the factory-installed source unit! Whether you are a die-hard soundoff competitor or simply enjoy great music, you will definitely appreciate how the DQXS makes your performance autosound system sound even better.

Now before you start salivating too much just thinking about the benefits of the DQXS, take a few minutes to sit back, grab yourself a cold

one, and spend a few minutes reading through this manual. It contains lots of useful facts and information (and besides, we spent a lot of time writing it!)

KEY FEATURES OF THE DQXS

Here are some of the cool features that are

enclosed in this magical box:

• Selectable inputs - Two, Four, Or Six channels

• Eight output channels

• One third octave and one half octave equalization controls

• Two, fully-adjustable parametric equalizers per pair of channels

• 24dB/octave Linkwitz-Riley alignment crossover

• PFM Subsonic Filter

• Eight user-adjustable memories

• 24-bit digital signal processing

• Input for optional DDC Digital Dash Control (sold separately of course!)

Quite frankly your DQXS has a lot of features

so quit wasting your time and read on!!

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

AudioControl®

FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Six Channels Of Input and Eight

Channels Of Output: The DQXS has more

system-design flexibility than any other digital car audio equalizer that AudioControl has ever built making it ideal for a multitude of applications. Whether you are designing a system around a source unit with two, four, or six outputs and only a couple of amplifiers or you are maxing it out the DQXS is the processor for you.

Input and Output Level Controls: To help accurately level match your source units and amplifiers, the DQXS has individual inputand output-level controls. This will help you maximize the sound quality of your system and minimize any system noise. These controls will also help your DQXS work with factory-installed source units.

Dual Bandwidth Equalization Controls: Car interiors vary widely in size and

acoustic make-up. Doors, kick-panels, and rear decks don’t make the best location for speaker placement causing your high-performance speaker system to sound somewhat lackluster. The DQXS offers one-third octave equalization controls for your front channels and subs plus

one-half octave filters for your rear channels.

Parametric Equalization Controls: In addition to offering 130 graphic equalization controls the DQXS also packs twelve fully-adjustable parametric equalization controls, two for each pair of channels. With the DQXS’s parametric controls you can select a center frequency, dial in the ideal bandwidth and apply the appropriate amount of boost or cut. The precise filtering of the DQXS allows you to select bandwidths as narrow as 1/12 octave!

Eight Channel 24 dB/Octave Crossover: Not to be content with just state-of-the

art equalization, your DQXS is equipped with incredibly flexible and accurate 24 dB/octave Linkwitz-Riley alignment electronic crossovers. This allows your DQXS to provide you with precisely crossed over signals for your front, rear, and subwoofer speakers.

User Memories: The DQXS has the ability to set and store eight different system equalization settings in individual memory locations. In addition, these memories are non-volatile, which means they won’t go away when you leave your dome light on at night and kill your battery!

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

The Strength of Digital

™

24-bit Digital Signal Processing: AudioControl’s digital signal processors use a special 24-bit DSP (digital signal processor) that was specifically designed for equalization and other dynamics processing. Matching 24-bit A/D - D/A converters are also incorporated for maximum sound quality.

Bulletproof Warranty: The most important feature of all. Every AudioControl product is selflessly designed and manufactured by the occupants of our rainforest factory. We take every effort to ensure that you will have many years of enjoyment out of your DQXS. To ensure the performance of this new Digital product, we highly recommend that you allow your authorized AudioControl dealer to perform the installation. Not only do they have all the right knowledge and tools, but also in the unlikely chance your DQXS should stop working, we back it with a limited five years parts and labor warranty. Should you choose to install it yourself we will still give you a one-year parts and l ab o r warranty. To activate your warranty,

you need to FILL OUT AND SEND

IN YOUR WARRANTY

CARD!

We also recommend that you save your invoice or sales slip as proof of installation and ownership. Not only is it necessary for warranty purposes, but should your DQXS “disappear” one day while your car is parked at your local latte’ stand, you will find insurance companies very unforgiving without proof of purchase.

IF YOU LIKE THE DQXS, YOU’LL LOVE . . .

The AudioControl Digital Dash Control (or DDC as it is called by its closest friends) is an optional remote-mountable control for your DQXS. The DDC can be installed almost anywhere in your vehicle and then connected to your DQXS via cable. This allows you to make all of your equalization settings from the convenience of your front seat as well the chassis of your DQXS. In addition with the DDC, you can see “many colors” without any hallucinogenics

by changing the display colors and backlighting.

AudioControl DDC - Digital Dash Control

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

AudioControl®

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 DQXS:

1. The DQXS needs to be installed in the signal path between your source unit and your external amplifier(s). If this is not obvious to you, quickly pack up your DQXS and run to your nearest authorized AudioControl dealer to have them perform the installation. You will thank us later.

2. Physically mount the DQXS in a location that keeps it away from soda spills, food crumbs, and curious fingers. However, you will want to select a location that allows you to see the display and access the equalization controls during setup. If your are using our optional DDC (Digital Dash Control) then you can probably install the DQXS wherever you want, just as long as the cable from the DDC will reach it.

3. Hook up +12 volt power, ground, and remote turn-on. If you need to know more, then read on. Heck, if you don’t think you need to know more, you should still read on, because you can never know too much.

4. Adjust the “Input Level” control on your DQXS to match the source unit’s output and then adjust the “Output Level” controls to match your amplifier inputs.

Note: You will want to turn the gains on your amplifiers DOWN to maximize your systems performance.

5. Scroll through menu screens on your DQXS and select the proper Input Mode. Your choices are two, four, or six channel so this should not be too complicated.

6. Scroll through the menu’s again and select the proper crossover settings for your system, according to system design, speaker manufacturer specs, etc.

7. Now comes the fun part. Set your equalization controls to where your system sounds the most balanced yet dynamic. More about this in the section titled “Adjusting Your Equalizer”... and you thought you would not have to read the rest of the manual. Hah!

8. Last but not least, scroll through those menus again (see a common theme) and you will want to save your system settings in one of the eight memory locations.

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

The Strength of Digital

™

Figure 1: Basic DQXS System

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

AudioControl®

A GUIDED TOUR OF DQXS

1) Inputs: The DQXS has six RCA inputs that

will need to get their audio signals from your main source unit. If your source unit only has two or four outputs, fear not, just use the front and/or rear inputs. See the system diagrams beginning on page 10 for some cool system ideas.

2) Input Level: These knobs allow you to maximize the signal level that goes from your source unit into your DQXS to achieve maximum signal-to-noise ratio. Keep in mind that despite what the literature says, most aftermarket source units produce a relatively low voltage signal, especially when it comes to playing music at normal levels.

3) Input Maximized Indicators: These nifty LEDs (Light Emitting Diode if you are curious) indicate that you are supplying the DQXS its maximum amount of signal voltage. If the LED indicators never come on, don’t assume that it is not working (since LEDs rarely break) but you might consider adding a line driver to your system.

4) Output Level Controls: Although your DQXS has the ability to increase your signal voltage, your amplifiers may not necessarily accept that high of a signal. These controls allow you to regulate the proper amount of pre-amp signal from the DQXS to the amplifiers.

5) Equalization Overload Indicator:

This convenient LED indicates when the DSP (digital signal processor) of your DQXS is clipping or distorting. The usual cause of this is having the “Input Level” turned up too high or you have too much overall boost on the various frequencies of your equalizer.

6) Select: This button allows you to select one of the various equalization, crossover, display, or memory modes of your DQXS.

7) Navigation Arrows: These multi-function buttons perform a number of duties, depending upon which mode your DQXS is in. You can do anything from applying boost or cut to your equalization filters to changing the display brightness. However, if you get the high score, you cannot enter your initials!

Owner’s Enjoyment Manual

+ 22 hidden pages