Audio Control FOUR.1i User manual

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In-Dash Equalizer and Pre-Amp Line Dri"er
Owner's Enjoyment Man al
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makinggoodstereo soundbetter®

®making good stereo sound better®
22410 70th Avenue West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 • Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
In-Dash Equalizer and Pre-Amp Line Driver
In-Dash
FOUR.1Etm

In-Dash
tm
FOUR.1E
Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Features and Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
A Guided Tour of the FOUR.1i. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Placement and Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Power Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Audio Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Level Matching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Adjusting The Equalizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of a truly unique
and versatile product, the AudioControl FOUR.1i(pro-
nounced Four Point One Eye) in-dash equalizer/line driver.
This product improves the sound quality and performance of
any amplified car stereo system. Our world famous, award-
winning trunk mount equalizers are adjusted and then
stashed away, while the FOUR.1iis for the car audio enthusi-
ast and the perpetual tweaker.
Ever wonder who would buy that lime green Plymouth
station wagon you saw sitting in the car lot? It was built
with somebody in mind. Music is the same way. People have
different tastes and opinions about the music they listen to.
(i.e., Barry Manilow and The Beasty Boys). The
FOUR.1iwill let you tune your system to what
you like, similar to what a recording engineer
does in the studio.
Now sit back and grab a double tall
latté and peruse this Enjoyment Manual
for the FOUR.1I in-dash equalizer.

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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
Features of the FOUR.1E:
• Stereo graphic equalization
• Para-BASS low frequency controls
• Pre-amp gain of 20dB
• Line driver: 13 volts peak output
• Balanced differential inputs and outputs
• High-headroom PWM switching power supply
• Main and auxiliary switchable inputs
• Switchable backlighting color (amber/green)
• Master volume and fader control
• Selectable ground isolation
• Optimum voltage LED
QUICK INSTALLATION INFO
For those of you who are short on time and brimming
with confidence, or caffeine for that matter, refer to pages 10
and 11 (Figures 6, 7, & 8). As a matter of reference the FOUR.1i
is shipped in the following configuration:
Shipped Option Page #
Illumination Green Amber 7
Inputs Balanced Unbalanced 6
Outputs Unbalanced Balanced 7
Ground Isolation Isolated 200ohm or
Ground 7
Input Gain 0dB 0dB to +20dB 11
It is important to know that we recommend that you
allow your authorized AudioControl dealer to install your
FOUR.1i. When they install your FOUR.1i, we will warranty
your FOUR.1ifor an unbelievable 5 years parts and labor.
Should you opt to install the FOUR.1ion your own, the
warranty is for 1 year.
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FOUR.1E
Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
Pre-Amp Line Driver: Talk about your ironies. To
operate with maximum dynamic range and the best signal-
to-noise ratio amplifiers require a high voltage input signal
(generally 2 to 5 volts) . On the other hand, typical source
units only put out 1 to 2 volts, (if you’re lucky!) In a system
where the source unit is located in the front of the car and
the amplifiers are located in the rear, the length of the
connecting cables will also cut the strength of the signal.
The FOUR.1iincludes a line driver that takes the weak
output voltage of a head unit and increases it up to 20dB (up
to 13 volts peak) and then delivers it downstream to the
amplifier inputs.
Auxiliary Input: The FOUR.1ihas an “AUX” switch
on the front to allow you to switch back and forth between
sources.
If you are thinking about adding a video system, or even
that extra compact disc player or DVD player, the FOUR.1i
makes hook-up a snap!
FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS
This section will tell you about all of the nifty features of
your FOUR.1i. Knowing these features will help you maxi-
mize the performance of your FOUR.1iin-dash equalizer as
well as making you the “Big Cheese” with your autosound
buddies.
Graphic Stereo Equalization: The FOUR.1iturns the
dashboard of your car into a mini-mixing board, just like
those in a recording studio. The FOUR.1ihas four frequency
controls set at 8000Hz, 2000Hz, 500Hz, and 125Hz. These
controls will make dramatic improvements in any system.
Para-BASS: You want bass, we’ve got bass. This spe-
cially designed parametric control lets you adapt the bass
response of any system to your listening desire. Given all of
the various types of music combined with numerous
possible bass response anomalies in every vehicle, a single
equalization control for bass just doesn’t cut it. It’s like
painting a picture with only one color . . . BORING!
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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
Master Volume:
The FOUR.1ihas its own master volume KNOB (no
annoying up & down switches for us) to control the signal
output to the amplifiers. Raise the volume level on your
source units to their maximum and you will never need to
touch them again.
Fader Control:
For easy balancing between the front and rear speakers the
FOUR.1ihas four output channels and a fader control.
Balanced Inputs & Outputs: The FOUR.1iuses a
unique balanced differential input circuit that helps cancel
any noise that radiates into the signal path between the
source unit and your FOUR.1i. The FOUR.1ithen sends this
balanced signal downstream to another processor or ampli-
fier that has balanced inputs (blatant plug for AudioControl
products) which will keep it noise-free.
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Figure 1: Balanced Inputs
The Most Important Feature Of All:
Reliability. That’s right, your AudioControl FOUR.1icomes
with a full 5 year parts and labor warranty when it is in-
stalled by an authorized United States AudioControl dealer.
These seasoned pros have the training and the equipment to
take care of the job quickly and not leave your dashboard
looking like swiss cheese. Keep in mind that if you or your
friends who are “good with electronics” choose to install it,
your FOUR.1istill has a 1 year parts and labor warranty.
To activate your warranty, you need to FILL OUT AND
SEND IN YOUR WARRANTY CARD! Also, save your invoice
or sales slip as proof of purchase. Not only are these neces-
sary for warranty purposes, they are also important if the
unforeseen disappearance of your FOUR.1ishould happen
while you are socializing at the local espresso and
salmon bar. Insurance companies have
very little imagination.

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FOUR.1E
Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
4. Volume: Because the FOUR.1iis a pre-amp unit, it
serves as the main control unit in the audio system. It has a
master volume control that controls the output to all of the
amplifiers. Turn the volume control of your source unit all
the way up and deliver maximum voltage to the FOUR.1i.
Better signal-to-noise ratio and maximum SPL !
5. Fader: The fader control will allow you to fade the
signal level back and forth between front and rear amplifier
channels. This means you can have front and rear fading
even though your source unit only has two-channel outputs.
A GUIDED TOUR OF THE FOUR.1E
1. Graphic Equalization Bands: Four stereo con-
trols centered at 125Hz, 500Hz, 2KHz, and 8KHz with 12dB of
cut or boost. These controls should be used to tweak your
system, depending upon your mood.
2. Para-BASS Controls: Two simple controls allow for
killer bass tweaking. The sweep knob selects the center
frequency, between 40 and 80Hz. The gain knob provides
12dB of boost or cut, centered at the sweep frequency.
3. Auxiliary Inputs: The FOUR.1ihas an auxiliary
input to hook up a second source unit, like an outboard
video system or even a factory radio. The input is activated
by the left most switch located on the front faceplate.
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Figure 2: Front View of FOUR.1i

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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
6. Power Connections: This nifty connector is a god-
send to anyone who has tried to wire up their gear with their
head crammed under the dash. You can wire up the power,
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ground, remote turn-on, and illumination from the conve-
nience of the driver’s seat and then casually plug it in the back
of your FOUR.1i.
7. Input Jacks: The FOUR.1ihas two sets of inputs,
MAIN and AUX. The main inputs should get their
signals from the main source unit/head unit. The
auxiliary inputs should get their signals from a second-
ary source such as a video player, a DVD player, or a
kitchen appliance.
8. Balanced Input Selector: Located under
the cover and behind the Main and Aux input RCA
connectors are jumpers that allow you to utilize or
bypass the balanced input circuitry. Although it is
shipped in the balanced mode, which is best, it may be
necessary to change this depending upon the configura-
tion of the components you use. To change this, move
the appropriate jumper on the 3-pin header.
Figure 3: Top View of FOUR.1i
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FOUR.1E
Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
9. Input Gain Control: These potentiometers are
used to increase the amount of signal voltage to your power
amplifiers. With these controls you can provide up to 13
volts (peak) to your amplifier’s inputs. Check with your
amplifier manufacturer’s specs to determine exactly how
much voltage they can really handle. If you are using
AudioControl components after your FOUR.1i, they can
handle the maximum output of the FOUR.1i. More info on
this in the section on “Level Matching” - page 11.
10. Output Jacks: Next to the inputs are the outputs
which should be connected to the front and rear amplifiers,
if applicable. A pair of EQLs and a 3XS would work wonder-
fully here.
11. Balanced Output Selector: This control allows
you to send either a balanced or an unbalanced signal
downstream to the next component in line. If the next
component in line has balanced inputs (like most AudioCon-
trol products) the signal will be protected from radiated
noise (up to 55db).
12. Illumination Selection: These jumpers let you
change the backlight illumination to green or amber. Given
our devotion to protect the rainforest, we have shipped the
FOUR.1iin the green mode.
13. Ground Isolation Selector: This feature allows
you to change the power supply ground for different sys-
tems. When the FOUR.1iis shipped from the factory, the
selector is in the fully isolated position (which is generally
the best). Alas, not every manufacturer (or installer) devotes
so much time into getting their grounds right. Therefore, we
have provided other ground isolation options to help if you
have ground loop noise (alternator whine) in your system.
Experiment with different settings if you run into this type
of problem. To change the settings, turn the system off,
carefully move the black jumper from the center two pins
(Isolated) and move it to either the top two pins (Ground) or
the bottom two pins (200ohm).
If you don’t feel comfortable with everything you have
read up to this point, run, don’t walk, to your nearest autho-
rized AudioControl dealer and have them install it. Life is
too short to be tearing your hair out over your car audio
system.
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Owner’s Enjoyment Manual
INSTALLING YOUR
FOUR.1EIN-DASH EQUALIZER
Having absorbed everything in the manual up to this
point, you probably know we endorse having a professional
install your FOUR.1i. Above and beyond having all of the
appropriate technical know-how and experience, they have
lots of cool tools.
If you are still with us and are feeling confident, then
read on. . .
A. Placement and Mounting the FOUR.1E
A. In-Dash Equalizer
Placement: By definition, the FOUR.1iin-dash equal-
izer was designed to be installed in or near the dashboard of
most cars. However, if you are a building a real trick system,
like with a separate audio system in the front and rear of a
vehicle, the FOUR.1iis an ideal pre-amp control that can be
mounted in the front and/or the rear of the vehicle.
Mounting: The FOUR.1iis flexible enough to mount
almost anywhere, although somewhere on the dash or in a
center console is the most logical. You will want to be able to
access it while you are sitting in the driver’s seat of your
vehicle. The FOUR.1ican be physically mounted almost
anywhere in a vehicle, although we recommend that you
avoid hot spots like the firewall, engine compartment, or tail
pipe. The mounting location must also be safe from water
seepage or areas with bad seals (rubber gaskets, not sleek
furry mammals who eat salmon). If there are old water
stains, stay away.
We have also provided brackets to allow you to mount
the FOUR.1ichassis under the dashboard or glovebox. The
screw holes on the FOUR.1ichassis also allow for easy
installation underneath a radio or with a dash kit. It is of
utmost importance to mount the FOUR.1isecurely to avoid
any undue stress or breakage from acceleration, braking or
crashing.
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Figure 4: FOUR.1i with mounting brackets