Audio Control 6XS User manual
tm
Six
Channel
Eledronic
Crossover
Owners
Enioymenl
Manual
C
ongratulations on your purchase
of
the 6XS, the world's
first six channel, 24 dB/octave crossover with subwoofer
level control. Whether this
is
your first product from the
rainforest dwellers
of
AudioControl or you are already afirm
believer, you will definitely enjoy the 6XS, as it quite honestly may
be the last electronic crossover you will ever need to buy. All
of
this comes from AudioControl, the experts at designing and manu-
facturing performance autosound crossovers, equalizers and mea-
surement tools.
Now before you start salivating too muchjust thinking about
what the 6XS can do for your system, take afew minutes to sit
back, have acold beverage, and read through this manual.
It
contains lots
of
useful facts and information (and besides, we spent
alot
of
time writing it)!
AUdioContPOi
®
22410 70th Avenue
West·
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
Phone 425-775-8461 •Fax 425-778-3166 •www.audiocontrol.com
FEATURES
AND
HIGHLIGHTS
OF
61S
Here are some
of
the cool features that make your 6XS cross-
over so special:
AutoModetm Inputs: Whether your source unit has two, four,
or six outputs, the 6XS will automatically switch the inputs to
match.
24
dB/Octave Linkwitz-
Riley
Alignment Crossover: The
programmable 24 dB/Octave audiophile caliber crossover in the
6XS is the same topology as in many other award winning Audio-
Control components. Needless to say, it is afar cry from the
wimpy crossovers that find their way into many amplifiers these
days. What
is
the benefit
of
fine tuning your system
if
you cannot
accurately route the proper frequencies to the proper amplifier
channels?
Remote Mounted Subwoofer Level Control: Need alittle
more bass to impress your buddies? Or maybe you want to tone it
down to not scare
off
your date. Whatever the case, the 6XS has a
subwoofer output level control that allows you
to
control the
amount
of
signal that goes to your subwoofer outputs. In addition,
you have the ability to mount the chassis
of
the 6XS in the rear
of
the car (we recommend staying away from the bumper), and mount
the dash control in some easily accessible location. The dashboard
of
your car comes to mind.
13
Volt Pre-Amp Line Driver: The 6XS offers ahigh quality
line driver that takes the low output voltage
of
asource unit and
increases it up to
13
volts peak. This allows you to maximize the
signal-to-noise
of
your system and drive your amplifiers to their
maximum output without clipping. No hiss, clicks, or pops
plus
maximum sound quality.
PFM Subsonic Filter: This unique feature is legendary with
many AudioControl fanatics for
it's
ability to fine-tune the bass
response
of
any system. No need to waste power on nasty subsonic
information when your Programmable Frequency Match (PFM)
filter will help you clean things up.
BulletproofWarranty: The most important feature
of
all.
Every AudioControl product is thoughfully designed and manufac-
tured by the occupants
of
our rainforest factory. We make every
page 2
effort to insure that you will have many years
of
enjoyment out
of
your 6XS. We also
~
highly recommend that you allow your
Yea
P
authorized AudioControl dealer to rarralJt
perform the installation
of
your 6XS
J'"
to maximize the performance
of
this nifty device. Not only
do they have all the right knowledge and tools, but in the
unlikely chance your 6XS should stop working, we will back it
with alimited five years parts and labor warranty. Should you
choose to install it yourself, we will still give you one-year parts
and labor warranty. To activate your warranty, you need to
FILL
__ OUTAND SEND
IN
YOUR
WARRANTY CARD!
,::J We also recommend that you save your invoice or
~~
only
is
it necessary for warranty purposes, but should
,,~
your 6XS "disappear" one day while your car is
~
t
~
parked at your locallatte' stand, you will find
..
~
insurance companies very unforgiving without
l
-!',
proof
of
purchase.
QUICK
INSTALL
INFORMATION
We interrupt your reading
of
this manual to provide the
impatient people with "Quick Install" information and
guidelines:
1)
Using the following system drawings as reference, decide
where in the signal path to place the 6XS.
It
needs to be
before your amplifiers, but afteryour source unit, equaliz-
ers, CD player, VCRor blender.
2) Connect the input RCA connectors on your 6XS to your
source unit.
3) Connect the output RCA connectors from your 6XS to your
amplifier(s). You will want the "Highpass" outputs to go to
your midrange and/or tweeter amplifier(s) while your
"Subwoofer" output connects to the subwoofer amplifier.
If
you value your speakers, you will want to be careful here.
4) Connect the +
12
volt power, ground, and remote tum-on
to the appropriate connections and tum the system on.
page 3
Important
Note:
If
any
of
theprevious QUICK
INST
ALLA-
TION
information does
not
make
sense, than immediately
STOP
what you
are
doing andread the rest
of
this manual.
Ifit
still does
not
make
sense,
you
will want
to
run to
your
nearest authorized
AudioControl dealer to have them install
your
6XS. Heck,
if
you
don't
think
you
need
to
know
more,
you
should stillread on, be-
cause
you
can never
know
too much.
Front
'------<:1=
Rear
Highpass
Amplifier
Amplifier
0'0'.f'1i'
-=i
t>--...
Rear
eo
d
Ca
'''pl.
.;..
i
~~----<:::::l_
'.'_._-_~-=:J"---
I
Ii',~
:>--...
.-.-.f'.:;;.
,
Ii'~
~.
Amplifier
Front
Figure
1:
Six channel
6XS
System
Amplifier
Highpass
A~Ii'ier
:~
Band pass
Ampll'ier
1_
c..
r:r"
Amplifier
~
I
-
'-_.
._._-
.-----~_
...
_--_._._--
b-rl'
-~------~----::"l
/~o
0'E:.==.
!
~--_
.....
---
,
at"Ii\"";
'------c-
Figure 2: Two Channe13-Way system
page 4
GUIDED
TOUR
OF
61S
The
Top
View
Figure 3: Top View
Of
The
6XS
1)
Inputs: The 6XS has three pairs
of
inputs; FRONT, REAR,
AND SUBWOOFER. These inputs should get their signals from
the main source unit/head unit.
If
your source unit has front, rear,
and subwoofer outputs (aka "six channel"), connect them to the
identical inputs on your 6XS. However,
if
you are only using front
and rear signals (four channel) orjust two channels, the Auto Mode
circuitry in your 6XS will automatically feed your subwoofer
channel with signal from your front inputs.
page
5
2) Outputs: These RCA connectors should be connected to the
amplifier(s) that are in your system. Depending upon your system
configuration, you
mayor
may not need to use all
of
the outputs.
3) Power Connectors: This nifty connector is agodsend to
anyone who has tried to wire up their gear with their head crammed
in atrunk. You can wire up the power, ground, and remote
tum
-on
while conveniently standing outside your car and then casually plug
it in the back
of
your 6XS.
4) Remote Level Control: This output connects, via acable
that looks strangely like it came from your phone, to aknob assem-
bly that should be mounted in alocation that is easily accessible
while you are operating your system.
UNDER
THE
COVER
0<
)0
1000
01 D
Ground
Subwoofer
Isolation
Selector
pPFM
Subsonic
DRear
Highpass
p
Front
Lowpass
D
Front
Highpass
0<
Figure 4: Under the
6XS
cover
>0
Ground Isolation Selector: Occasionally alternator whine may
appear in asystem because the source unit and amplifier(s) are
using different grounding schemes. To help inthis situation, we
have provided alternative grounding connections. Make sure your
system is turned OFF before
you
move
thesejumpers.
page 6
WIRING
THE
AUDIO
(without
coHee)
As you may already have guessed, there are numerous ways to
configure the 6XS in your audio system. Spend alittle quality time
planning out your system and even sketching it out on paper
if
you
can. The following diagrams are justafew
of
the system options:
"':"e
Figure 5:
6XS
with
EQS
Subwoofer,
Front Highpass
~
.""IIf1e,
~
at;"'e
Front
1=
L.-.~_.
__
• .
__
.
._,
••
'
Figure 6:
6XS
with FOUR.]i
Amplifier
Rear
Highpass
1
'._
i,
,
i :
J
Subwoofer
Front
Highpass,.
.""II';e,
il4l
! I I
10
c==:::::J
--
-.-.
5l!fPiilOOtl\
I
=--~_._.
at;"'e
Figure
7:
6XS
with The Epicenter
page 7
SEmNG
THE
CROSSOVER
MODULES
Selecting
the
Crossover
Frequencies: Your 6XS comes
"preloaded" with crossover modules that will allow it to work
in
a
number
of
system configurations. Here are the factory settings:
Should your system require different frequencies than what
comes with the 6XS, fear not, as you can change the crossover
modules to accommodatejust about any system configuration.
Most importantly, we recommend that you select crossover
frequencies according to the characteristics
of
your speakers. We
suggest the following ranges:
==
D
Ground
Subwoofer
Isolation
Selector
=PFM Subsonic
D
Rear
Highpass
=
Front
Lowpass
D
Front
Highpass
~
I:
3500 Hz and higher
250 Hz to 3500 Hz
80 Hz to 250 Hz
150 Hz and lower
Tweeters:
Midrange:
Midbass:
Subwoofers:
The
Legacy
Of
Crossover
Modules
To change the crossover
frequency on your 6XS, AudioControl products use anifty plug-in
module. Crossover modules are more accurate and reliable than
most knobs
or
simple switches that are offered by other manufactures
and come on many amplifiers. Your authorized AudioControl dealer
will generally stock awide selection
of
crossover modules for your
6XS should you wish to change the crossover frequencies.
If
your system design calls out for crossover frequencies that
your dealers does not stock, you can create custom modules by using
the following formula:
_7200_
=Resistor Value In Kilohms
Frequency (Hz)
USING
THE
PFM
(PROGRAMMABLE
FREQUENCY
MATCH)
FILTER
Many car audio systems truly push the limits
of
their subwoofer
...
without really knowing
it.
Tuned enclosures affect the roll-off
of
many speakers, yet lots
of
source material forces the speakers to play
lower than expected. The net result
is
wasted amplifier power and
damaged speakers. The AudioControl PFM (Programmable Fre-
quency Match) filter
is
aprogrammable subsonic filter.
It
allows you
to only let the speaker(s)
playas
low as they should be playing.
Because every system is different, we allow you to change the PFM
roll-offfrequency to whatever you choose.
On most systems, the factory installed module (33Hz) is fine.
However,
if
you know the tuning frequency
of
your speaker enclo-
sure (porting frequency
or
3dB down point), you might try setting
your PFM module to that frequency.
If
you want to protect your
speaker system even more, you might even try ahigher frequency.
page 9
As there is probably agood chance
that you are not using AudioControl
speakers (because we
don't
make
speakers), we suggest you contact the
manufacturers
of
your speakers for their
recommendation.
Example:
For a2500Hz module -7200/2500=2.88K
ohms
The 24 dB crossover module re-
quires eight resistors
of
this value.
Note: Use Y4wattcarbon
or
metal
film resistors
of
a5% tolerance
or
better.
Four/Six Two
Outputs Channel Input Channel Input
Front Highpass 250 Hz and up 250Hz and up
Front Lowpass 90 Hz to 250Hz 90 Hz to 250 Hz
Rear Highpass 250 Hz and up
Subwoofer 30 Hz to 90 Hz 30 Hz to 90Hz
Figure
8:
Dash mount remote
Remote
In: Connect a22 to
18
gauge wire from the head-
unit's remote tum-on to the "Remote In" connector on the 6XS.
Positive (+12V) Connection: Insert an
18
gauge or larger wire
into the connector labeled "Power" on the nifty connector
of
your
6XS. Connect
it
to agood constant source
of
12
volts (we suggest
the battery), fused at Iamp.
Ground
Connection: Use the same gauge wire
as
you did for
the positive connector and run
it
from the "Ground" connector on
the 6XS to the negative terminal
of
the battery, aground bus, or a
verified ground location. The factory
head
unit
ground
is
not
a
good
ground!
When the electrical connections are complete, you may recon-
nect the negative terminal to your battery.
AutoMode
Inputs:
If
your source unit has front, rear, and
subwoofer outputs (aka "six channel"), connect them to the identi-
cal inputs on your 6XS. However,
if
you are only using front and
rear signals (four channel) or just two channels, the Auto Mode
circuitry
in
your 6XS will automatically feed your subwoofer
channel with signal from your front inputs.
ELECTRICAL
CONNECTIONS
&:
WARNTNG.·
F,;I=
'"
d;~~~'
"'",,"""
Iterminal
of
your
battery prior
to
the installation
of
your
6XS
can result in awann tingly feeling.
•
DASH
CONTROL
INSTALLATION
Placement
and Mounting: The dash control may be mounted
under the dash using its own bracket or through acustom hole in
the dash.
It
should be mounted within reach
of
the driver and in a
spot where the LED
is
plainly visible. The dash control mounts with
two screws, which attach to the underside
of
the dashboard. Slide
under the dash and place the dash control
in
its mounting position.
Mark the mounting holes, drill pilot holes, and secure with two
screws.
Custom
Installation: For that custom look, the dash control
can be flush mounted in the dashboard or center console. Disas-
semble the 6XS dash control from the mounting bracket. Start by
pushing the LED back out
of
its holder followed by removing the
circuit board and rotary control from the bracket. Drill a
0/
)2"
hole
in
the dashboard for the control along with aY
8"
hole for the lock
tab and a
'ji
64"
hole for the LED holder. Reassemble the dash
control components on the dashboard and apply the new label over
the openings.
Dual-Color
LED: The LED on your dash control
is
rain forest
green and should brighten or dim when you turn the knob
either clockwise or counter clockwise. Should you
wish to change the color to amber, remove
the plug connected to the LED
and turn it 180 degrees
and plus
it
back
in.
page 8
INSTALLING
THE
CHASSIS
Up to this point everything you have read has served to educate
you on the operations
of
6XS. We are sure that you are chomping
at the bit
to
install 6XS so we recommend you read the following
sections very carefully.
Placement: The 6XS needs to be installed
in
the signal path
between your source unit and before any amplifiers. Since you
should not be changing the crossover modules while you are driv-
ing, the physical chassis
of
your 6XS can be mounted anywhere
within the vehicle.
Mounting: Once you have selected apermanent mounting
location for the chassis, position the unit and mark the appropriate
mounting holes with afelt-tip pin or scratch awl. Before doing
anything else, make sure you are not about to drill ahole
in
agas
tank or pierce any existing wiring. Nothing ruins your day more
than an expensive repair bill. Drill asmall pilot hole and secure the
chassis
of
the 6XS with self-tapping screws.
••
Unwarranted abuse
is:
(A) physical damage (don't use the 6XS
for
ajack
stand); (B) improper connections (120 volts into the
powerjack can fry the poor thing); (C) sadistic things. This
is
the best mobile product we know how
to
build, but
if
you
mount it to the front bumper
of
your car, something will go
wrong.
6.
If
an
authorized United States AudioControl dealer installs the
6XS, the warranty is five years.
Assuming you conform
to
Ithrough
6,
and it really isn't all
that hard
to
do, we get the option
of
fixing your old unit or
replacing
it
with anew one.
LEGALESE
SEalOM
This
is
the only warranty given by AudioControl. This warranty
gives you specific legal rights that vary from state
to
state. Prom-
ises
of
how well the 6XS will perform are not implied
by
this
warranty. Other than what we have covered
in
this warranty, we
have
no
obligation, express or implied. Also, we will not be obli-
gated for direct or indirect consequential damage
to
your system
caused by hooking
up
your 6XS.
Failure
to
send
in
aproperly completed warranty card negates
any service claims.
OUTPUTS
Subwoofer
Rear
Highpass
Front
Highpass
Front Lowpass
PFM
AutoMode
1\1
1/'
Gain&
,I I I I
4"
,
1/1
Gain<"
I I PFM
4"
1/'
Gain>,
I 1
Gai~
..
"
IAI
~f
Subwoofe
INPUTS
Rea
Front/Mai
BLOCK
DIAGRAM
IF
YOU
LIKE
615,
YOU'LL
LOVE_
The EQS six channel trunk mount equalizer. Thirteen full
octave, II2-octave,
and
1/3
octave
spaced bands help
tame even the most
wicked acoustical
environment, your
car. In addition it
will almost plug
directly into your
-------'
6XS.
If
more signal voltage is necessary
in
your system, don't feel
alone. Many customers have added
our
Matrix
six channel line
driver and felt like
they had new amplifi-
ers
in
their systems.
Do you want
to
make your home
audio system sound
just as good
as
your
car audio system?
Good news! AudioControl makes acomplete line
of
products
signal processors that do the same amazing things for your home
audio or theater system. Unfortunately there
is
just not enough
space
in
this manual
to
mention every product we build,
so
we
recommend you visit our web site at www.audiocontrol.com.
TROUBLESHOOTING
No
Power:
If
the Power LED on your 6XS will not tum on,
check
to
make sure that the power wire and remote tum on wires
are connected or afuse has not blown.
Sounds Distorted: Should your system sound distorted or your
speakers are moving way too much, you should first decrease the
remote level control and output levels on your 6XS.
If
your
speaker's are still moving way too much or don't sound good,
check your crossover modules
to
make sure they are plugged
in
correctly and that you have selected the proper frequencies for your
speaker system.
Remote
Level
Control: The top three things that cause the
remote level control
to
not operate properly are the cable, the
cable, and the cable.
If
these check out fine, than go back and
check the cable.
Note:
If
you
unplug the cable from the chassis, you will
get
maximum outputfrom the subwoofer.
61S
SPECIFICATIONS
And now aword from the legal department...
THE
WARRANTY
People are scared
of
warranties. Lots
of
fine print. Months
of
waiting around. Well fear no more
as
this warranty is designed
to
allow you to fully enjoy your 6XS while raving about
us
to
your
friends.
It's
awarranty that looks out for you and helps you resist
the temptation
to
have your friend, "
...
who's good with electron-
ics", try
to
repair your AudioControl product. So go ahead, read
this warranty, and then take afew days
to
enjoy the 6XS before
sending
in
the warranty card and comments.
"Conditional" doesn't mean anything ominous. The Federal
Trade Commission tells all manufacturers to use the term
to
indi-
cate that certain conditions have to be met before they'll honor the
warranty.
If
you meet all
of
these conditions, we will warrant all
materials and workmanship on the 6XS for one year from the date
you bought
it
(five years
ifit
is
installed by
an
authorized United
States AudioControl dealer). We will
fix
or replace it, at our option,
during that time.
Here are the conditional conditions:
I.
You have to fill out the warranty card and send it
to
us within
15
days after purchasing your 6XS.
2.
You must keep your sales receipt for proof
of
purchase show-
ing when and from whom the unit was bought. We're not the
only ones who require this, so it's agood habit
to
get into with
any major purchase.
3.
Your 6XS must have originally been purchased from
an
autho-
rized AudioControl dealer. You do not have to be the original
owner, but you do need acopy
of
the original sales slip.
4. You cannot let anybody who isn't (A) the AudioControl
factory; (B) somebody authorized in writing by
AudioControl
to
service your 6XS.
If
anyone other than (A)
or (B) messes with your 6XS, that voids your warranty.
5.
The warranty
is
also void
if
the serial number is altered
or
removed, or
if
the 6XS has been used improperly. Now that
All
specifications are measured
at
14.4
VDC
(standard automotive voltage).
As
technology advances, AudioControJ reserves the right to continuously
change our specifications, like our weather, although
we
are working on
it.
Maximum output level 9.5 V
=/13.5
V
re,k
Input/output channels Selectable: 2, 4or 6channels
Signal gain 0
to
+
12
dB
front/rear
oto +
18
subwoofer
Frequency response 10Hz-100kHz;
±ldB
Total harmonic distortion 0.005%
Crossover slope 24 dB/Octave Linkwitz-Riley
Crossover frequency Programmable
15
to
3500 Hz
PFM subsonic filter slope
18
dB/Octave Chebyshev
PFM frequency Programmable
15
to
100
Hz
Signal
to
Noise ratio -
II0dB
Input Impedance 20 Kohms
Output Impedance 150 Ohms
Power supply High headroom PWM
Power draw 400
mA
Recommended fuse rating 2amps
Size 7.25" W x 7.7" D x 1.25" H
Weight 2.5 lbs.
Warranty in U.S Iyear parts and labor
5years when installed by dealer
©2002, AudioControl, adivision
of
Electronic Engineering and Manufac-
turing, Inc. All rights reserved
AudioControi, Making Good Stereo Sound Belter, 6XS, EQS, and The
Epicenter are all trademarks
of
Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing,
Inc.
This manual was conceived, designed, and written during awindy, and
dreary rain-drenched period (which is all
of
the time) at
our
home in the Pacific
Northwest Rainforest. The wheat beer was cold and so was the weather.
--------------------page
10
--------------------page
11
AudioContPOi
®
makinggood stereo sound
bette~
22410 70thAvenue West
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
Phone 425-775-8461 •Fax 425-778-3166
www.audiocontrol.com
PIN
913-065-0
AC 04/08 PIN 794-040
A
MESSACE
FROM
THE
PEOPLE
WHO
BUILT
THIS
UNIT
Time
was,
American-mad~
meant
the
highest-tech,
finest-engi-
neered,
ever-wearing,
never
burst,
break
or
burn-out
you
could
buy
..
We
all
know
what
corner
of
the
world
holds
t~at
title
now.
Well,
we're
trying
to
win
it
back.
By
making
every
AudioControl
product
the
best
we
know
how.
Good
enough
to
sign
our
names
to.
If
this
product
ever
goes
wrong,
we
want
to
hear-about
it.
Because
our
reputation,
AudioControl's
reputation
and
a
little
bit
of
America1s
reputation
rests
on
how
well
we
can
get
it
together
to
produce
fine
electronics
right
here
in
the
Northwest
Rain
Forest.
.
We
have
thoroughly
tested
this
unit
as
if
we
were
going
to
buy
it.
Enjoy
your
new
AudioControl
American-made
product.
ResponseAccuracy
Test
0-:::::::::::
~"
".
Noise
&
Distortion
Test~
~~
Final
Assemply
qL
.
Listening
Test~:2o
J'.....
AudiOContllOl®
making
good
sound
better®
Electronic
Engineering
&
Manufacturing,
Inc.
22410
70th
Avenue
West
.
Mountlake
Terrace,
WA
98043
425-775-8461
•
Fax
425-778-3166
•
www.audiocontrol.com
~
Printed on Green Seal
lil
certified paper containing 30% recycled post-consumer waste.
TICket
eo
..
Idelll
Purchase Date
_1_1_1
Serial Number .
---------
Model
of
Unit _
Dealer Name _
Dealer Installed? Yes DNo D
Vehicle make and model _
Name _
Address _
City State
Zip Phone _
E-mail _
Other equipment in your system
Source Unit _
Equalizers _
Amplifier(s) _
Speakers _
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DCar Stereo Review DAutosound &Security
oOther _
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