BestCarAudio.com

Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry

Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
  • Upgrades
    • Motorcycle Audio
  • Articles
    • Bluetooth
    • Car Audio
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • Navigation
    • Remote Starter
    • Satellite Radio
    • Smartphone Integration
    • Test Drive Product Reviews
    • Vehicle Insights
  • Profiles
    • Installation Profiles
    • Installer Profiles
    • Retailer Profiles
    • Vendor Profiles
  • Products
  • Dealer Locator
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • 0 items
Home » ARTICLES » Line Output Converter – Stand-Alone or Amp Built-In?
Arc Audio

Line Output Converter – Stand-Alone or Amp Built-In?

May 19, 2023 By 1sixty8 media

Line Output Converter

Adding an amplifier to your car stereo is a great way to improve its performance. If the amp is going to power speakers, you should be able to listen to your music at higher volume levels without worrying about clipping distortion. Of course, we all know that one of the best upgrades you can make to any car audio system is to add a subwoofer and a dedicated amplifier to drive it. Your installer will need a line output converter interface when connecting that amplifier to a factory-installed radio. Should you use a stand-alone unit, or is the converter built into a high-quality amplifier adequate?

What Does a Line Output Converter Do?

The audio signal from most car radios is designed to drive a speaker. There are two connections for each speaker, a positive and a negative. There are signals on both of these wires that we call a bridge-tied load configuration. Unfortunately, many low-quality amplifiers with single-ended input circuitry won’t work with this signal configuration and could damage the radio.

Most amplifiers are designed to produce their maximum output with signals ranging from a few hundred millivolts to 4 or 5 volts. The sensitivity or gain control on the amplifier adjusts how much signal it produces so it can work with various voltages. Bad things will happen if the radio produces more voltage than the amp input stage can handle.

To summarize, a line output converter reduces the radio signal to something the amp can handle. It also converts the signal from a bridge-tied load to a single-ended configuration that will work with any amplifier, even those low-quality units that don’t have differential or balanced inputs.

Line Output Converter
The ARC Audio ALD is a line driver and line output converter with a low-impedance output circuit design.

What Makes One LOC Better Than Another?

If you read our comparison of line output converters, you know that some do a good job of converting the signal from the radio and some add a lot of distortion while negatively affecting frequency response. Therefore, based on our research and testing, you’ll want to avoid transformer-based converters.

Beyond that, why would a person choose an external converter from ARC Audio, Wavtech or AudioControl over a converter built into an amplifier? There are two reasons.

The first reason you might need to use an external line output converter is to deal with high voltages. If you have an amplifier connected to the output of a high-power factory-installed amplifier, there may be as much as 40 volts on the speaker wires to contend with. Almost no analog-only amplifier can handle this much voltage. Your installer will need an audio frequency analyzer and an oscilloscope to determine the maximum voltage of the signal coming out of the factory-installed audio system.

Line Output Converter
The JL Audio LOC 22 will accept up to 40 volts of signal from a factory amp and includes an auto turn-on output.

Amplifier Activation Circuitry

Another reason you might need an external line output converter is if your chosen amplifier doesn’t have automatic turn-on circuitry. When an aftermarket amplifier is connected to an aftermarket source unit, a control wire on the radio tells the amp when to turn it on and off. Unfortunately, in 99% of upgrades that use a factory-installed radio, there is no wire available to tell the amp what to do.

Many high-quality line output converters include remote turn-on circuitry. These converters have a wire that can be connected to the remote turn-on terminal on your amp to activate it when you turn on the radio or start playing music.

Line Output Converter
The Link2 from Wavtech will accept 40 volts of signal and includes turn-on detection and integrated load-generating resistors.

Are Built-In Line Output Converters Good?

The last consideration in our discussion about line output converters is their performance. Is there a performance benefit to be had by using a premium external converter instead of one built into an amplifier? The answer depends on a few variables. If the LOC is connected to a simple radio with a built-in 18- to 20-watts-per-channel amplifier, using the converter built into an amplifier will be just fine. There are other considerations if the factory-installed audio system uses a Class D amplifier. Class D amplifiers MUST have a low-impedance load connected to their outputs to function correctly. You may have heard of load resistors or similar in discussions about connecting to a factory-installed audio system.

Line Output Converter
The AudioControl LC2i Pro will handle 40 volts of input and includes load-generating resistors and the AccuBASS bass restoration circuit.

If your vehicle comes with a Class D amplifier, it needs something like the AudioControl LGD wired to the speaker terminals. Which of the AC-LGD devices your vehicle needs depends on the amp design. Your installer will know which they should use. Once these are in place, you can use the LOC built into an amplifier. An alternative is to use a LOC that has load-generating resistors built in. The Wavtech and AudioControl solutions include this feature.

When it’s time to upgrade the factory-installed stereo in your vehicle, drop by a local specialty mobile enhancement retailer. They can suggest the best products to deliver the sound you want and will install them to maximize their performance. For example, if they suggest an amplifier with a built-in line output converter, it could save you some money.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, Resource Library Tagged With: Amplifiers, ARC Audio, AudioControl, Speakers, Wavtech

About 1sixty8 media

1sixty8 media is a content marketing, website development, and business solutions provider specializing in the mobile enhancement industry. The 1sixty8 media team includes many household names in the industry, from store owners and industry writers to award-winning installers and fabricators. To learn more about 1sixty8 media, visit www.1sixty8.com.

Audison Forza

Save Time and Money!

Our buying guides will help you make educated decisions when upgrading your vehicle. Click the image above to shop our affordable and informative buying guides.

Industry Profiles

Hilux Stereo

Mobile Enhancement Installation Profile: Xtreme Autosound & Marine Toyota Hilux

March 15, 2023 By Dave MacKinnon 

Matthew Crouch of Shelbyville, Kentucky, owns the ultra-clean 1991 Toyota Hilux you see above. Matthew is one of the … [Read More...]

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Mobile Enhancement Installation Profile: KarTele Jeep Grand Cherokee

February 13, 2023 By Dave MacKinnon 

A demo vehicle is one of the best tools available to demonstrate the audio and convenience upgrade options for a car or … [Read More...]

Press Releases

RDVFL Mighty Mount Press Release
RDV Becomes Exclusive US Distributor for Mighty Mount
New Heise Connect App Goes Live for Smart Devices
RDVFL CarPlay CP1
RDV Releases New CarPlay Hardware Platform
Maserati Radio
RDV Launches Tesla Style Radio for Maserati
Firstech Launches Momento M7 Three-Channel Car Dash Camera

Vehicle Insights

2023 Lexus ES300h F Sport

2023 Lexus ES300h F Sport. Smooth with a Touch of Sport.

2023 Mazda CX-9

2023 Mazda CX-9. Leaving Smoothly.

Find Facility Near You

Subscribe to BestCarAudio via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to BestCarAudio.com and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Popular Categories

  • Car Audio
  • Window Tint
  • Remote Car Starters
  • Vehicle Insights
  • Radar Detectors

Supporting Manufacturers

  • Arc Audio
  • Compustar
  • Hertz
  • Momento
  • Rockford Fosgate
  • Sony

Contact

  • Editorial
  • General
  • Advertise
  • Dealer Locator Guidelines

Forms

  • Profile Request

Sign up for our newsletter today. Opt out at any time with 1 click.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

BestCarAudio.com is a product of 1sixty8 media, inc. · Copyright © 2023 1sixty8 media, inc. · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media, inc. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    x
    x