Installation manual

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making good stereo sound better

Concert Series

Spatial Restoration

Owners Installation Manual

Congratulations on buying a truly unique enhancement to any

quality car stereo system. If you’re super-impatient to hear the incred-

ible improvement in stereo imaging, ambience and sound stage width

possible with the ESP-2, skip to the next section (COMPRESSED

POWER-USERS’ HOOK-UP INFO). Otherwise, we suggest you read

the whole manual before proceeding.

What you can expect from your AudioControl ESP-2:

•The sensation of a larger space and wider sound field —

wider than the physical dimensions of your vehicle.

•Better imaging and defined placement of individual

instruments.

• An increased “sensation of stereo.”

•Ease of control with a single unobtrusive dashboard

adjustment (while the rest of the ESP-2 is mounted out of

sight).

• Highest quality because the ESP-2 is designed and built in

the U.S.A. by an award-winning manufacturer.

•Jealous friends, after they hear your car stereo system.

22410 70th Ave. West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Phone 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166

www.audiocontrol.com

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Summary of content (9 pages)

PAGE 1
Concert Series Spatial Restoration Owners Installation Manual Congratulations on buying a truly unique enhancement to any quality car stereo system. If you’re super-impatient to hear the incredible improvement in stereo imaging, ambience and sound stage width possible with the ESP-2, skip to the next section (COMPRESSED POWER-USERS’ HOOK-UP INFO). Otherwise, we suggest you read the whole manual before proceeding.
PAGE 2
COMPRESSED POWER-USERS HOOK-UP INFO If you’re a professional installer — or just hate manuals and have some experience with hooking up car stereos — simply hook the ESP-2 between your head unit’s pre-amp outputs and the power amplifier. Period. If you have an AudioControl Epicenter, it goes BEFORE the ESP-2. If you have an equalizer, it should go AFTER the ESP-2. If you’re using the ESP-2 with an electronic crossover such as the 2XS, 4XS or the built-in one in the EQX, they go AFTER the ESP2.
PAGE 3
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ESP-2 HOW TO INSTALL THE AUDIOCONTROL ESP-2 Before we dig into this, we want to give Professional Installers a plug. They can do a great job of installing the ESP-2. That’s not to say it’s not well within the abilities of a skilled do-it-yourselfer. We’re just pointing out that installers have a lot of experience, exactly the right tools and the ability to deal with those unpredictable noise bugs which slither into a lot of systems.
PAGE 4
Mounting. The ESP-2 installs just like a power amplifier, secured by four screws and lock washers through the four slots in the unit’s base. You will need a screwdriver, pencil or other marking device, power drill and bits, one of which should be just less than the diameter of the mounting screws. Clear the area of impressionable children and maiden aunts who may react to colorful language. First place the ESP-2 in its mounting position and mark the four screw holes.
PAGE 5
System with The Epicenter If you’re also installing The Epicenter, it should come BEFORE the ESP-2 in the signal path. Any equalizer or crossover should be AFTER the ESP-2. Three-way System A simple bi-amp system splits the full-range output of your deck into high and low frequency bands and then routes them to separate amps. Because the ESP-2 works across the whole sound spectrum, it should be connected BEFORE the inputs of the electronic crossover. The ESP-2’s THRU connections.
PAGE 6
E. ESP-2 POWER WIRING IMPORTANT: Disconnect the negative terminal of your car’s battery before working on any electrical connections. Unless you want a little extra tingle in your life and/or a search for the fuse compartment under the dash. Type of wire. Both +12 and ground (-) connections to the ESP-2 should be made with multi-stranded wire no smaller than 16 gauge. The remote turn-on connection between the head unit and the ESP-2 can be made with thinner wire. Positive (+12V) connection.
PAGE 7
This concludes the installation part of this manual. Stick around if possible for some explanations about how the ESP-2 does what it does, some of its superior technical features and other general topics. Regrettably, refreshments will not be served, even if you DO stick around. ing power supply like those used in computers and electronic test instrumentation. This power supply is optically isolated to keep this trash away from your audio signal.
PAGE 8
Ground option switch. All of the above would suggest that we want total isolation between signal ground and power ground. In most cases you do. But occasionally (and with certain brands of head units and amps who will remain mentionless here), it is necessary to actually reduce the amount of isolation which we worked and slaved and strived to achieve with our optically isolated power supply. Inside the ESP-2 (see why this is in the installers-only section) is a 3position slide switch.
PAGE 9
AudioControl ESP-2 Limited Warranty People are scared of warranties. Lots of fine print, lots of non-cooperation, months of waiting around. . . Well don’t be scared of this warranty. It’s designed to make you rave about us to your friends. It’s a warranty that looks out for you and helps you resist the temptation to have your friend who is “good with electronics” try to repair your AudioControl ESP-2.