Audio Control EQX Owner's Manual
Concert Series
EQUALIZER/CROSSOVER/LEVEL MATCHER
OWNER’S MANUAL
®
making good stereo sound better
®
®
22410 70th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
Phone 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166
www.audiocontrol.com
Concert Series Owner’s Manual
Quick Installation Info
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T able of Contents
Refer to Figures 3 through 5 (pages 9 to 11) when
installing the EQX Equalizer/Crossover.
The unit is shipped from our factory with a 90
Hz crossover module already installed, and the
Programmable Frequency Match filter module
set at 33 Hz (see page 18 to change these).
For information on other system applications or
related topics, please read further.
Introduction .............................1
Description ...............................4
Installation................................8
Amplifier Bridging ..................16
Making Your Own Crossover
and Programmable Frequency
Match Modules .......................18
Troubleshooting .....................21
Warranty ................................23
Specifications .........................25
Congratulations!
You have purchased one of the most exciting
and innovative audio products available for
your car stereo system – the AudioControl EQX
Equalizer/Crossover/Level Matcher.
The EQX can make any system sound better.
Even if you have followed the true path of
enlightenment and are having your new EQX
professionally installed, it doesn’t hurt to read
this manual. There’s nothing but reruns on the
tube anyway!
The EQX carries on a great tradition started back
in 1985, when we introduced the original EQX.
It was the first serious stereo component for
mobile audio. Since then, AudioControl has
gone on to win numerous awards and collect
many glowing reviews for its innovative
autosound products. We have learned a great
deal about cars, stereos, and acoustics over the
years. All of this has been poured into the new
EQX to give you the tools to make your car
stereo the envy of all your pals.
Introduction
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We design, test, and build each EQX Equalizer/
1
Crossover right here in the misty rain forests
of
the Pacific Northwest. When you look inside
the rugged two-piece steel chassis, you’ll find we
use only premium electronic parts and goldplated RCA jacks.
It all adds up to a product that will provide you
with many years of listening enjoyment and
will literally outlast your vehicle.
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At last count, we see the sun only
129 days each year, so we use the
abundant indoor hours doing what
we do best – improving and inventing
audio products – besides, it keeps us
from going insane.
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Concert Series Owner’s Manual
äDual Bandwidth Equalizer – 13 bands
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ä Level Matching
The dual bandwidth design of the EQX
concentrates more control in the lower bass
frequencies where the interior of an automobile causes problems. The higher frequency controls are spaced on octave
centers to give you complete control up to
16,000 Hz. No simple dash-mount equalizer
gives you this kind of flexibility.
ä Programmable 24 dB/Octave 2-way Crossover
With module programmability, the electronic crossover in the EQX can be matched
up to any stereo system. The 24 dB/Octave
Linkwitz-Riley
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(who!?) design was previously available in the finest home and
professional crossovers. Now this state-ofthe-art crossover is yours also.
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Linkwitz-Riley aren‘t our attorneys – Linkwitz and Riley are a
couple of smart guys who designed a very effective fourth-order
filter for bi-amplified systems. You hear it each time you see a
movie at your local THX theater – we like it! If you want to
know more about this exotic filter, check out our Technical
Paper #102, appropriately titled Crossover Networks from A
to Linkwitz-Riley.
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True standards in car stereo are hard to find.
Every manufacturer has a slightly different
interpretation of things. The input and
output level controls on the EQX Series II
bring everything together. Now any head
unit can be connected to any amplifier and
make the system sound great.
ä Balanced Input
The EQX takes noise rejection a step further
than the average by incorporating balanced
differential input circuitry. By looking at the
output from your source unit in a different
way the EQX can reject up to 60 dB of radiated noise.
Introduction
äBridging Adaptor
Bridging an amplifier gives you more power.
The EQX can combine the two channels of
almost any amplifier into one, for really
powerful bass. The result is up to four times
the power for your woofers. Where else can
you get that good of a deal and still be legal?
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IMPORTANT
For maximum product performance, nothing is
better than a professional system installation.
Your AudioControl dealer has the training and
tools to take care of the job quickly and without
the anxiety of drilling holes in your car. If you
are a dyed-in-the-wool do-it-yourselfer, this
manual should provide all the info you need to
successfully make music with the EQX.
The Most Important
Instruction Of All
FILL OUT AND SEND IN THE WARRANTY
CARD! Also, save the invoice or sales slip as
proof of purchase. These actions will protect
your investment and allow us to better help
you with any service-related questions.
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Concert Series Owner’s Manual
Figure 1.Top panel
layout for EQX
Equalizer/Crossover/
Level Matcher.
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Description
We’ve created the EQX Equalizer/Crossover/
Level Matcher to make any system sound
better. This Performance Match™ Component
features straightforward connections and easyto-adjust equalizer and level controls. To learn
more, read on.
Equalizer and Input/Output Level
Controls and Indicators
The top panel contains all equalizer controls,
input/output controls, and system indicators.
The equalizer controls are grouped by channels
in ascending frequencies from left to right, as
shown in Figure 1 on the opposite page.
Each equalizer control provides 12 dB of boost
and cut for each channel. The Input Gain controls allow you to adjust the Left or Right input
gain over a range of ± 18 dB. Output attenuators
provide up to 30 dB of gain trim for each of the
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Our line of Performance Match Components takes the guess-work
out of creating the best-sounding system by “matching” autosound
components to your vehicle. For more information, see page 22.
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Description
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Full Range, High Pass, or Low Pass outputs. The top
panel also includes several indicators to confirm
power and help set output levels.
ä HALF OCTAVE BASS EQUALIZER – six half-
octave bass equalizer controls for each
channel with frequency centers at 31.5, 45,
63, 90, 125, and 180 Hz.
ä OCTAVE EQUALIZER – seven full octave
equalizer controls with frequency centers at
250 and 500 Hz; and 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 kHz.
ä INPUT GAIN – variable gain controls to
adjust Left and Right input levels.
ä OUTPUT LEVEL – three output attenuators
for each channel to lower the gain of the
Full Range and the crossover High Pass and
Low Pass Outputs.
ä INPUT MAXIMIZED – indicator for monitor-
ing the Input level to detect and set an
optimum level.
ä 2 VOLT OUTPUT – indicator for monitoring
the output level when it reaches 2 volts.
ä POWER – indicator confirms power is
reaching the EQX.
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Concert Series Owner’s Manual
L R L R L R L R Normal Invert
++
--
Out
+12
Figure 2. Front panel layout for EQX
Equalizer/Crossover/Level Matcher.
High Level
Input
L R
+ – – +
Equalize
In
Out
Line Level
Input
L R
Full Range
Output
L R
Connections and Equalizer Bypass
The front panel contains power and input/
output connections, as well as an equalizer
bypass button, as shown in Figure 2 (above).
ä HIGH LEVEL INPUT – Our handy 4 pin plug
for connection of speaker outputs from a
deck or factory stereo.
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High Pass
Output
L R
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Low Pass
Output
L R
Low Pass
Mono
Normal Invert
Remote Ground
+12
äEQUALIZE IN/OUT – Press in to engage the
equalizer settings on your EQX Series II.
ä LINE LEVEL INPUT – RCA jacks for connec-
tion of low-level stereo signals from a head
unit.
ä FULL RANGE OUTPUT – RCA jacks for
connection of all frequencies to inputs of an
amplifier.
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Description
äHIGH PASS OUTPUT – RCA jacks for connec-
tion of high frequencies above the crossover
point to the inputs of the mid/high frequency amplifier.
ä LOW PASS OUTPUT – RCA jacks for connec-
tion of low frequencies below the crossover
point to the inputs of the low frequency
amplifier.
ä LOW PASS MONO NORMAL/INVERT – RCA
jacks for connection of mono low
pass signals below the crossover point for
mono or bridged amplifier configurations.
ä REMOTE/+12/GROUND - Our handy 3 pin
plug for power connection of vehicle’s
Remote Turn-On, +12 Volts, and Power
Ground.
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Crossover/Programmable F requency
Match Modules and Ground Isolation
Selector (Inside)
The crossover and PFM filter modules, as well as
the ground isolation selector, are internal and
can be accessed by removing the four top screws
and lifting the top panel off the base (refer to
Figure 8 on page 20). Be sure to turn off the
power before you open the EQX.
We ship each EQX with the crossover installed
at 90 Hz and the Programmable Frequency
Match filter set at 33 Hz. Refer to page 18 for
information on how to create your own custom
crossover and PFM modules.
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