The Strength of Digital DQL-8 tm Eight Channel Line Output Converter with Digital Signal Processing and Auxiliary Input Owner’s Enjoyment Manual AudioControl ® 22410 70th Avenue West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA Phone 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166 www.audiocontrol.
AudioControl ® This page was intentionally left blank Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
The Strength of Digital ™ TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Key Features and Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Quick Installation Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Guided Tour of the DQL-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AudioControl ® INTRODUCTION Greetings from the rainforest, the home of AudioControl, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of high performance signal processing for autosound systems. If you are reading this manual, you have most likely made a decision to maximize the performance of your factory installed system and wisely purchased the DQL-8, eight channel line output converter with digital signal processing.
The Strength of Digital FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS Eight Speaker-Level Inputs: If you are like many people who like the look and features of their factory-installed source unit but feel your system overall is lacking power and bass, we have good news. The DQL-8 has high-impedance speaker-level inputs that allow it to accept amplified signals from factory-installed source units (even Bose) and output a high-quality pre-amp signal via standard RCA connectors.
AudioControl ® Remote Subwoofer Level Control (included) allows you to add a dash-mounted control to your DQL-8 that will adjust the level of the subwoofer output or act as a master volume control. reason or another, the memories in your DQL-8 are non-volatile.
The Strength of Digital Bulletproof Warranty: The most important feature of all. Every AudioControl product is selflessly designed and manufactured in our factory located in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. We take every effort to ensure that you will have many years of enjoyment out of your DQL-8. To ensure optimal performance we highly recommend that you allow your authorized AudioControl dealer to perform the installation.
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 DQL-8: 4) Adjust the “Input Level” control on your DQL-8 to match the source unit’s output and then adjust the “Output Level” controls to match your amplifier inputs. 1) The DQL-8 needs to be installed in the signal path between your OEM source unit (or factory installed amplifier) and your aftermarket external amplifier(s).
The Strength of Digital ™ Figure 1: Basic DQL-8 System.
AudioControl ® A GUIDED TOUR OF DQL-8 ❶ Digital Dash Control (DDC) Input: This input allows you to connect the optional AudioControl Digital Dash Control (DDC) which will control your DQL-8 from the convenience of the driver’s seat, passengers seat, back seat or anywhere else the cable will stretch. See your authorized AudioControl dealer for more information about this option or check out www. audiocontrol.com.
The Strength of Digital ™ ❼ ❽ ❻ ❺ ❹ ❶ ❷ ❸ ❾ ❿ Figure 2: Top view of the DQL-8 Owner’s Enjoyment Manual 8
AudioControl ® ❽ Navigation Arrows: These multi-func- Output Mode: These cool blue lights indicate the input mode of your DQL-8, as this determines which outputs are active. For example, a two-channel signal will only route the signal to the “Front Highpass” and “Subwoofer” outputs whereas a four-channel input will route signals to all of your outputs. ❾ Output Voltage Indicators: Brightly Level Control: Connect this input to the remote level control knob.
The Strength of Digital INSTALLING THE DQL-8 Up to this point everything you have read has served to educate you on the operations of your DQL-8. We are sure that you are chomping at the bit to install your DQL-8 so we recommend you read the following sections very carefully. 1) Placement & Mounting of your DQL-8 Placement: The DQL-8 needs to be installed in the signal path after your factory OEM amplifiers.
AudioControl ® 3) DQL-8 Audio Wiring Planning: As you may already have guessed, there are numerous ways to configure the DQL-8 in your audio system. Spend a little quality time planning out your system and even sketching it out on paper. The diagrams on the following pages are just a few of the system options: Figure 3: Eight channel inputs with six channel out. Crossed over front inputs summed together.
The Strength of Digital ™ Figure 4: Four channel inputs with six output channels. Subwoofer output fed by crossed over main input.
AudioControl ® Figure 5: Four input channels with Auxiliary input with six output channels. Subwoofer output fed via automode from rear input.
The Strength of Digital Speaker-Level Inputs The DQL-8 is designed to accept an amplified, speaker-level signal from a factory source unit or amplifier. You will want to refer to a factory service manual or wiring-harness schematic to determine which wires are the speaker wires for your system. If you are unsure which wires are the speaker wires, it is recommended you look at the color of the speaker wire connected to the speakers and follow them back to the factory source or amplifier.
AudioControl ® 4) Adjust the DQL-8 input level controls for each input until your RTA is displaying a smooth or flat response curve. 5) If you need to make any additional frequency response adjustments you can use the equalizers built-in to the DQL-8.
The Strength of Digital Level Matching If you have ever listened to a friend’s “killer” car audio system and heard lots of hiss then you have experienced an improperly level-matched system.
AudioControl ® Dash Control Placement And Mounting The dash control may be mounted under the dash using its own bracket or through a custom hole in the dash. It should be within reach of the driver and in a spot where the LED is plainly visible. Figure 7: Dash Control Assembly 17 Dash Bracket Installation The dash control mounts with two screws, which attach to the underside of the dashboard.
The Strength of Digital Navigating Your DQL-8 Menus One of the major benefits of using an AudioControl digital processor is that digital technology provides the ability to use less knobs and buttons yet you can get more control. In the past, a processor that has all of the equalization and crossover characteristics of the DQL-8 would normally require almost 200 individual controls and occupy an area as large as your trunk.
AudioControl ® Figure 8: DQL-8 Menu Tree 19
The Strength of Digital 1) Digital Status Display: This cool blue screen will tell you which mode your DQL-8 is in. 2) Select: Every time you tap this button, you will scroll through the various modes in your DQL-8. 3) “+” and “-” Navigation Buttons: Depending upon where your cursor is flashing, these buttons will allow you to change the frequency, apply boost/cut and vary the bandwidth or “Q” of your equalization filters.
AudioControl ® put, Channel 3 / Rear inputs feed Rear Highpass outputs, and Channel 4 / Sub inputs feed the Subwoofer outputs. Independent Sub – Outputs to the Front, Rear, and Subwoofer outputs with the Subwoofer being fed from the Channel 4 Inputs. “1 + 2” Sums together the Main Inputs with the Channel 2 inputs. The “+” and “-“ buttons will allow you to select an “Output Mode” that matches up with the outputs of your source unit (i.e., 2 channel, 4 channel, or Independent Sub).
The Strength of Digital Auxiliary Input: Your DQL-8 is equipped with a 2-channel auxiliary input that allows you to add an external audio source like an iPod, Satellite Radio tuner, etc. To activate this input, you need to push the Master Level control volume knob. It will click once and a bright blue LED will come on your dash control indicating that the auxiliary input is now turned on. When using a second source you will want to use the Master Volume control to control this source’s loudness.
AudioControl ® individually or control both channels at the same time. Freq(uency): This corner of the screen indicates which frequency you are boosting or cutting. If you wish to select another frequency, tap the left or right arrow buttons until the cursor is flashing on the number next to “Freq=”. Then use the “+” and “-” controls to select the frequency to which you wish to apply boost or cut.
The Strength of Digital Sub PEQ1 Width=1/3 Freq=1.00k Lvl= 0dB Figure 15: Sub Parametric Equalizer screen Freq(uency): This corner of the screen indicates which frequency you are boosting or cutting. If you wish to select another frequency, tap the left or right arrow buttons until the cursor is flashing on the number next to “Freq=”. Then use the “+” and “-” controls to select the frequency to which you wish to apply boost or cut.
AudioControl ® Adjusting the Equalizer When it comes to music, everyone’s taste is different. Some people want pounding bass and crisp, blood curdling highs. Others may prefer a “flat” response (whatever the heck that is). At the end of the day, most people just want their system to sound balanced, “just like it did in the store” or their buddy’s car. The following equalization guidelines should help you achieve your own personal audio nirvana.
The Strength of Digital one of the most difficult to properly reproduce. Most people prefer their bass frequencies to be 6 to 9 dB louder than the rest of their system, although there are some crazy folks that prefer their bass substantially louder. The key in this area is to have enough speakers and power to produce the amount of bass you desire. But don’t use the controls on the DQL-8 to try and force your speakers to produce sounds they can’t.
AudioControl ® Troubleshooting No Power: If the blue display on your DQL-8 will not turn on, check to make sure that the power wire and remote turn-on wires are connected properly or a fuse has not blown. GTO circuit will turn the DQL-8 on automatically with signal from the OEM system. System Sounds Unbalanced: Check your graphic and parametric equalization settings to make sure that one channel is not dramatically different than another.
The Strength of Digital Under the Cover ™ And now a word from the legal department. 1) Input Grounding: For many systems you can leave this jumper in the UNBALANCED position. In other 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 (not the type that comes in a bottle) in your system. In that event, you should set the jumper to the BALANCED position.
AudioControl ® Here are the conditional conditions: 1. You have to fill out the warranty card and send it to us within 15 days after purchasing your DQL-8. 2. You must keep your sales receipt for proof of purchase showing when and from whom the unit was bought. We’re not the only ones who require this, so it’s a good habit to get into with any major purchase. 3. Your DQL-8 must have originally been purchased from an authorized AudioControl dealer.
The Strength of Digital ™ DQL-8 BLOCK DIAGRAM - Two Channel Mode Owner’s Enjoyment Manual 30
AudioControl ® DQL-8 BLOCK DIAGRAM - Four Channel Mode 31 Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
The Strength of Digital ™ DQL-8 BLOCK DIAGRAM - Six Channel / DQL-8 BLOCK DIAGRAM - Independent Sub Mode Owner’s Enjoyment Manual 32
AudioControl ® DQL-8 SPECIFICATIONS ©2006, AudioControl, a division of Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. All rights reserved. AudioControl, Making Good Stereo Sound Better, DQL8, DQX, DQT, DDC and DXS, 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 outside of Seattle, Washington.
