JL Audio TwK88, TwK D8 Product Manual

INSTALLATION MANUAL

Thank you for purchasing a JL Audio TwK™ System

Tuning Processor for your automotive sound system.

This product has been designed and manufactured to exacting

standards in order to ensure years of musical enjoyment in your vehicle.

For maximum performance, we highly recommend that you have your

TwK™ DSP installed by an authorized JL Audio dealer. Your authorized

dealer has the training, expertise and installation equipment to ensure

optimum performance from this product without compromising your

vehicle’s functionality. Due to the complexity of modern vehicle systems,

we do not recommend self-installation unless you have extensive

experience in automotive electrical systems. Should you decide to install

this product yourself, please take the time to read this manual thoroughly

to familiarize yourself with its installation requirements

and setup procedures.

If you have any questions regarding the instructions in this manual or

any aspect of the product’s operation, please contact your authorized

JL Audio dealer for assistance. If you need further assistance, please contact

the JL Audio Technical Support Department at [e-mail]

or call (954) 443–1100 during business hours.

Protect Your Hearing!

We value you as a long-term customer. For that reason, we urge you to practice
restraint in the operation of this product so as to not damage your hearing and
that of others in your vehicle. Studies have shown that continuous exposure
to high sound pressure level can lead to permanent (irreparable) hearing loss.
Automotive sound systems are capable of producing such high sound pressure
levels. Please limit your continuous exposure at high volumes. While driving,
operate your audio system in a manner that still allows you to hear necessary
noises to operate your vehicle safely (horns, sirens, etc.).

Installation Applications

This product is designed for operation in vehicles with 12 volt, negative-ground
electrical systems. Using this product in systems with positive ground and/or
voltages other than 12 volts may result in damage to the product and will void
the warranty. This product is not certified or approved for use in aircraft.

Safety Considerations

• Install this product in a dry, well-ventilated location that does not interfere
with your vehicle’s safety equipment (air bags, brake/seat belt systems, etc.).

• Securely mount this product so that it does not come loose in the event of a
collision or sudden jolt to the vehicle.

• Check before drilling to make sure that you will not be drilling into a gas tank,
brake line, wiring harness or other vital vehicle system.

• Do not run system wiring outside or underneath the vehicle. This is an
extremely dangerous practice, which can result in severe damage/injury.

• Protect all system wires from sharp metal edges and wear by carefully routing
them, tying them down and using grommets and loom where appropriate.

Manual Application

This manual covers topics for the installation of TwK

™

88 or TwK™ D8 processor.
Functionality identical to the TwK™ 88, the TwK™ D8 is equipped with an optical
(Toslink) digital input only. This is intended for use with systems equipped with
an optical (Toslink) digital output, such as our FiX

™

82 OEM Integration DSP, and

preserves a pristine signal path in the digital domain.

What’s Included

™

(1) TwK

DSP processor (1) 5-pin Power Connector plug
(1) DRC-200 Digital Remote Controller (1) USB A/B cable
(4) Mounting screws (1) TwK™ Installation manual

Product Overview

The TwK
tuning capabilities, in an easy-to-use format. Armed with a state-of-the-art
24-bit DSP processor, the TwK

™

digital signal processor is engineered to deliver the ultimate in system

™

DSP includes flexible input/output options, 80
total bands of equalization and powerful mixing tools. Born to harness the full
tuning horsepower of your TwK™ DSP, the accompanying TüN™ Software Interface
connects to a PC via USB cable to unlock the full potential of your audio system.

TwK-88 & TwK-D8 Installation Manual

Specialty Software Requirement

The functionality of this product requires the use of TüN™ Software to set up.
Please visit jlaudio.com/tun to download the latest version of TüN

™

Software and

supporting documents.

™

The TwK

88 is equipped with the following features:

1. Flexible input design:

• 8 Dfferential-balanced, line-level input jacks (RCA) accept most line-level
signals up to 7.1V (RMS)

• Separate optical (Toslink) and coaxial digital inputs connect to any
2-channel digital (S/PDIF) output.

• Optical (Toslink) input connects directly to the FiX

™

82’s optical output to

maintain an all-digital input signal path. (sole input on TwK™ D8)

2. Flexible setup features:

• Individual level trim, linkable for tuning

• Individual polarity controls, linkable for tuning

• Powerful input mixing tools

3. 8 Powerful 10-band equalizers with flexible assignment capabilities:

• 10-band graphic full octave EQ

• 10-band parametric EQ

• Configurable EQ assignment delivers simple to complex tuning options:

• Individual EQs may be assigned to each output

• Multiple outputs may be combined and assigned to a single EQ

4. 8 Analog, line-level outputs jacks (RCA), each with a full-featured tuning set:

• Fully variable, high-pass and low-pass filters with selectable slopes from
6 dB/octave to 48 dB/octave (in 6 dB/octave increments)

• Configurable delay settings, with separate entries for speaker distance plus
offset control; expressed in time or distance units and fully linkable with
other channels

• Polarity control, fully linkable with other channels

• Comprehensive level controls, fully linkable with other channels

5. Optical (Toslink) jack provides a pass-through digital audio (S/PDIF) output,
with no signal processing applied.

6. Provides a dedicated remote turn-on voltage output for activating
aftermarket audio equipment.

™

7. JLid

Port allows connection of the included DRC-200 Digital Remote
Controller, adding dual configurable level controls and LED Status Reporting
capabilities from the driver’s seat.

8. USB port allows PC access to update firmware and connection of TüN

™

Software Interface.

Planning Your Installation

It is important that you take the time to read this manual and that you plan
your installation carefully. It is very easy to damage expensive vehicle systems
in modern automobiles. Never assume that you have found appropriate wires
without consulting a reliable wiring diagram or without performing signal testing
with proper test equipment. If you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with reading
diagrams or testing signals, please enlist the services of your authorized JL Audio
dealer to perform the installation.

Page 3

Installation Procedure/Making Connections

The TwK™ uses a removable plug for making power connections. Receptacles
in the plug accept up to 16 AWG wire. To attach wires to the plug, use a small
flathead screwdriver to back out the set screws. Strip 1/4 inch (6 mm) of
insulation from the end of each wire and insert the bare wire into the receptacle,
seating it firmly so that no wire is exposed. While holding each wire in place,
tighten the set screw firmly, taking care not to strip the head of the screw.

+12VDC (Battery)

Ground

+12VDC (Switched)

Remote Out

Valet In

Use caution to ensure correct polarity and wire placement of
power connections.

Make sure to observe proper orientation when inserting the Power
Connector plug. The plug is keyed to fit in one direction only. When inserted
correctly, the set screws should be facing down.

Use good quality crimp connectors (or solder with heat shrink tubing) when
making connections to a vehicle’s electrical system. Protect all wires from sharp
edges (metal dash frame, firewall, etc.) by carefully routing and securing them,
using grommets and loom where appropriate. Failure to do so may result in a
dangerous short circuit.

TwK-88 & TwK-D8 Installation Manual