RCA re-Q5 User Manual

V OL U ME SE N SI N G BA S S R ES T OR A T IO N D E VI C E

re-Q5, the 5-channel volume sensing bass restoration device, is designed to restore bass when

adding aftermarket amplifiers to a factory audio system. Most OEM systems “roll off” the bass to avoid damaging the speakers at higher volume levels. While this is acceptable when using stock speakers, it’s not desired when adding amplifiers as it limits the low frequency output of your system. Some try to fix this problem by maxing out the gains of an amplifier for added bass response at higher volumes, but when the volume is turned down, there is too much bass for the midrange and highs.

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re-Q5 solves these problems by sensing

the input from the head unit to add more bass at high volume levels, and balances the bass response at lower volume levels. You get the bass you want with added performance while keeping your factory

GAIN

radio and your steering wheel controls.

re-Q5 Features

1. Input Module Connector

2. Power Output Indicator

3. Left Front Gain

4. Front Sub Level Control

5. Right Front Gain

6. Rear Sub Level Control

7. Left Rear Gain

8. Right Rear Gain

9. Sub Gain

10. Low RCA Level Outputs

11. Bass Enhance Switch

12. LP Crossover

13. Sub Sonic Crossover

14. AC Turn on Sensitivity

15. AC Signal Present Indicator

16. Input Select Switch

Input Module Wiring

Blue - Remote Out Green/Black - Left Rear (–) Green - Left Rear (+) Green/Black - Left Rear (–) Green - Left Rear (+) White/Red - Left Front (–) w/ Smart Engage White - Left Front (+) w/ Smart Engage White/Black - Left Front (–) White - Left Front (+) Brown - Sub (+) Brown/Black - Sub (–) Purple/Black - Right Rear (–) Purple - Right Rear (+) Purple/Black - Right Rear (–) Purple - Right Rear (+) Grey/Black - Right Front (–) Grey - Right Front (+) Grey/Black - Right Front (–) Grey - Right Front (+) Red - Remote In Black - Chassis Ground Yellow - 12VDC (Constant)

Installation

re-Q recommends that you have your device installed by an authorized re-Q dealer, preferably MECP certified.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal from your vehicle’s battery.

2. Tap into the factory speaker and subwoofer (if applicable) wires. Connect signal in onto the re-Q NOTE: Phase is extremely important when summing! If reversed you will cause a cancellation in your system.

a. After connecting the factory speaker leads to the input of the re-Q

Left Front Mid

Left Front Tweeter

Sub

NOTE: When using the summing feature of the re-Q

colored pairs of wires. For example, use one grey and grey with black stripe for the front right tweeter and the other grey and grey with black stripe for the front right midrange.

NOTE: When not using midrange and tweeter summing, use the white speaker wire pair with the red stripe for

front left channel input.

White/Red - Left Front (-)

White - Left Front (+)

White/Black - Left Front (-)

White - Left Front (+)

Brown/Black - Left Front (-)

Brown - Left Front (+)

, be sure to connect the midrange and tweeter to the same

, disconnect all speakers that will be

harness. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1

NOTE: For best performance disconnect the factory sub when adding aftermarket amps and subs.

b. If an entire channel of the speaker inputs is not being used, twist the positive and negative wires of that input

together and insulate the connection. This is not necessary for the unused summing inputs, only if the entire LF, RF, RR, LF, or Sub input channels are not used at all.

3. The re-Q

4. Using the provided fuse, connect the Yellow (12VDC Constant) power wire from the the re-Q

5. Connect the black (Chassis Ground) wire from the re-Q

features three turn on settings for maximum installation flexibility. Deciding on which remote setting to use depends on w hich type of signal is created by your head unit, and whether your factory audio system creates any audible noise or pops when turning on or off. The three settings are as follows:

a. Remote Mode - Attach red wire to a switched 12V source that is on when the car’s head unit is on. Set the Input

Select switch to the Remote position, and the re-Q this wire.

b. High Level Mode using Smart Engage™ - Requires that DC voltage be present on the speaker input wires to allow

the re-Q

to turn on and off. Not all vehicles have DC voltage on the speaker wires. To test for DC voltage, attach the (+) end of a volt meter to one speaker lead and the (–) to chassis ground of the vehicle. If there is 6V or more of DC voltage at the speaker lead when the head unit is on, the re-Q head unit and turn on. Set the Input Select Switch to High Level and the re-Q

c. AC Mode using Smart Engage™ - This setting is intended for vehicles that do not have DC voltage on the speaker leads. This setting requires adjusting the sensitivity of the re-Q present on the speaker input wires. Set the Input Select Switch to AC and the re-Q with the sensitivity set to the maximum level. To ensure the sensitivity is not set too high for the application, confirm the re-Q

should turn on with signal from the head unit. The re-Q5 is shipped

to turn on when music signal is

approximately a 15 second delay for the re-Q The delay is to prevent the unit from shutting off when there are pauses in the music or when changing tracks or CDs. If the re-Q knob counter-clockwise in small increments until the re-Q

NOTE: When using High Level (DC) or AC signal sensing, the white input wire pair with the red stripe must be

used to accurately sense the voltage from the head unit.

does not turn off after 15 seconds, adjust the Turn On Sensitivity

NOTE: All three turn on settings will trigger the blue 12V remote output wire on the re-Q

by tapping off your amplifier’s power wire or by running a separate wire directly to a fused constant 12V source.

ground location to connect directly to the bare metal of the chassis. When the re-Q5 is grounded at the same location as the amplifier, it functions as a ground loop isolator (Fig. 3).

fuse

NEG

POS

Red - Remote In 12V Switched

will turn on/off only when voltage is applied/removed from

will be able to sense the signal from the

turns off with the head unit. Note there is

to turn off after the head unit is turned off.

turns off after the 15 second delay. (Fig.2)

to the chassis of the vehicle. Remove the paint at the

Yellow - 12VDC (Constant)

will turn on/off with the head unit.

harness.

to the power source

BATTERY

Black - Chassis Ground

Fig. 3

Fig. 2

6. Connect the blue remote output wire and RCA cables to amplifiers. (Fig. 4)

7. Plug the Input Module into the Input Module Connector on the re-Q

8. Connect amplifiers to desired speaker(s) and subwoofer(s) (Fig. 4).

9. Mount the re-Q

Bl ue -Re mo te

Ou t

and reconnect the negative battery terminal to your battery.

GAIN

SUBWOOFER AMP FULL RANGE AMP

Fig. 4

Auxiliary Input

12. Connecting and Surface Mounting the Auxiliary Input:

a. Connect the cable to the back of the Auxiliary Input box and mount the box in a location where the driver can

access the volume knob and input jack.

b. Run the wire to the re-Q

13. Flush Mounting the Auxiliary Input (optional)

a. Remove the volume knob by pulling it straight off of the splined shaft, and remove the nut and washer. (Fig. 5)

b. Remove two screws on the front of the box and one screw on the back of the box. (Fig. 5)

c. Remove the two screws on the top of the box and disassemble. (Fig. 5)

d. Re-attach the PCB assembly from the housing to the top panel using the two screws removed in the previous

step. (Fig. 6)

e. Mark the flush mount location using the included template below and drill mounting holes.

f. Use the front two mounting screws to attach the PCB assembly and bottom plate to the flush mount location.

g. Reinstall the nut and washer, and replace the volume knob on the shaft.

14. To play an auxiliary source connect your auxiliary source to the female plug on the auxiliary Input box using a male to male 3.5mm audio cable. Switch volume/power knob on by turning the knob clockwise until a click is heard. The red light on the Auxiliary Input box will illuminate to indicate the system is now playing the auxiliary source. To switch back to the head unit signal, turn the knob counter-clockwise until a click is heard and the light turns off.

NOTE: It may be necessary to adjust the volume level of your auxiliary source to achieve desired output level.

NOTE: If the re-Q

and plug the cable into the AUX IN connector.

is in AC or DC signal sensing mode, the head unit must be turned on to use the Auxiliary Input.

Settings & Adjustments

10. Adjust the re-Q5 settings to maximize the performance of your audio system.

a. Set all amplifier gains and bass controls to a minimum.

b. Turn all settings on re-Q

c. Set factory head unit to maximum desired listening level.

d. Adjust gain on full range amp to desired listening level.

e. Adjust gain on sub amp to desired listening level.

f. Adjust amplifier crossovers.

g. If applicable, adjust amplifier bass boost.

h. Fine tune audio system using re-Q

i. Listen to audio system at low and high volumes. If the bass compensation is not enough, move the Bass Enhance switch to “BFR AMP” setting and repeat adjustment steps c - h.

11. In some applications it may be necessary to reduce the low frequency output of the full range outputs on the re-Q when summing a factory subwoofer signal with full range signal. This is due to variances in the input signal which are inherent to some factory audio systems. After the re-Q speakers is too high regardless of gain settings, adjust the settings on the SUB LEVEL FRONT and SUB LEVEL REAR switches to -3dB or -6dB. This will reduce the low frequency output on the front and rear full range outputs.

©2008 re-Q. re-Q and Smart Engage are trademarks of Mitek. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. All specifications subject to change without notice. Made in China REQ002864 RevB 1/08 NDM575

to their middle positions and the Bass Enhance switch to “AFTR AMP.”

gain and set crossover controls.

is connected, if the low frequency output of the front or rear

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Template

If you have any problems using or installing your re-Q5,

please give us a call at 1-800-225-5689 or visit reQsound.com.