posted
just wondering what everybodies thought on this unit are. i am looking into buying one for my girlfriends car the setup is geared towards sq and im looking to improve itwith the intent on working it into some comps so lets hear what you think
posted
I usually say focus your money and efforts into making stuff sound good with little or no processing first, then add it in after the fact to tweak it just a little more.
Posts: 986 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Nov 2004
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However, I currently own a AC DQX and it was a very good unit (no noise problems, good flexibility, etc). One comment that I would make is that I am now using the alpine H 701 and it is a far more capable unit (and I have argued this differently in the past). With the DQT and DQX approach things get a little hairy if you want to do time correction or any other additional processing. Also, the fewer pieces in the audio chain the less distortion and the greater the signal to noise ratio (all other things being equal).
A processor would be the last link in the system design puzzle for me. You have to have an idea of what is available and what you need a processor to do. I would focus on designing the system to the goals you set for your system, the speakers that you employ and the space constraints that you hae to work with(they are typically the weakest link in the chain). This is not the only way to do it but it has consistantly worked well for me (Having said that I am about to change every speaker in my car! - So much for careful planning - to be fair my goals have changed somewhat and in the midbass department I was unaware of some potential drivers).
Good luck
-------------------- 2004 Saturn Vue Red Line Edition Alpine DVA9860 Alpine H701 MB Quart QTD-25 B&C 6MD38 6.5" Mid B&C 8NDL51 8" Midbass IDMAX (3) MTX 81000D (3) MTX 8302 (2) MTX 6304 (2) Posts: 284 | From: Huntsville, AL (go to BFE and take a left) | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
If its possible, I would go with the H701 and a head unit that will run it, its more capable, easier to use, and just all around more efficient. If not, cross your fingers and hope you don't get a noisy DQT...I've seen 1 that caused noise in a straight swap situation, the owner was not pleased.
Posts: 2276 | From: East | Registered: Jan 2003
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i am still going to fiberglass the lower portion of the doors for the component woofer the factory location kind of has it behind the dorr panel and half behind th grill
and the guy i know that owns a shop has his own rta so we are going to go back through all the gains and settings on the amps and the jumpers in the alpine xover before i go for the DQT but check out the car thanks for you input
posted
the opinions(not mine because i've never used AC) of the more knowledgeable members on this thread are going to tell you to steer away from AC. Some are pretty adament about the lack of quality and difficulty of use.
posted
Seeing what I've seen with them, and talking to many people who have used them, I wouldn't buy one.
Posts: 2276 | From: East | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
You know I have heard a lot of people that say that they produce noise. I have never experienced that with any AC piece. I have on occasion had to change the internal jumpers so that the inputs weren't differential but that's it. As far as ease of use yes the H701 is much easier unless you have the DDC. Then I would say the AC piece wins in ease of use (because it lets you adjust the eq either in stereo or independant channels). However, as I stated before overall the H700 is a more capable piece.
-------------------- 2004 Saturn Vue Red Line Edition Alpine DVA9860 Alpine H701 MB Quart QTD-25 B&C 6MD38 6.5" Mid B&C 8NDL51 8" Midbass IDMAX (3) MTX 81000D (3) MTX 8302 (2) MTX 6304 (2) Posts: 284 | From: Huntsville, AL (go to BFE and take a left) | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I installed 4 AC DQT's in one truck and they all worked perfectly. No noise at all. I look forward to using more. Posts: 110 | From: GA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
The easiest way to sovle the AC noise problem without the need to change the jumpers inside is just to ground every stereo component in the signal path to a single point. My HU has a 12 gauge wire running from the deck to the same place the amp grounds. No noise whatsoever and that is using 2 AC pieces and I plan on buying another to add in as well.
Posts: 986 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Nov 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Cinco5: The easiest way to sovle the AC noise problem without the need to change the jumpers inside is just to ground every stereo component in the signal path to a single point. My HU has a 12 gauge wire running from the deck to the same place the amp grounds. No noise whatsoever and that is using 2 AC pieces and I plan on buying another to add in as well.
that's pretty common knowledge to ground everything together so I would think the noise people pick up wouldn't be caused by something so easily solved.
posted
Common knowledge but I've only seen a few people actually do it.
I've seriously never had an issue with noise and AC stuff whatsover. I run a balanced signal path but if this 'noise' is in the construction of the unit, would it still do it regardless?
Posts: 986 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Nov 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Cinco5: The easiest way to sovle the AC noise problem without the need to change the jumpers inside is just to ground every stereo component in the signal path to a single point. My HU has a 12 gauge wire running from the deck to the same place the amp grounds. No noise whatsoever and that is using 2 AC pieces and I plan on buying another to add in as well.
that's pretty common knowledge to ground everything together so I would think the noise people pick up wouldn't be caused by something so easily solved.
Its just a gamble. The last AC unit I saw was at SLAP finals. The guy just finished his install the day before which included swithing out a processor for a DQT. No wire changes, no equipment changes, everything grounded to the same place, and man that unit was noisy. He said he swapped back to the other unit and no noise. Unfortunately for the show, his install could not be reversed to use the non-noisy processor. At finals, a 5 point handicap for noise can be crippling.
Posts: 2276 | From: East | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Is it all audiocontrol unit or just specific types? I could understand if it's in the way they design an equalizer or something. I've never delt with their EQ's, I have a spacial image processor (which alters the signal greatly if you crank it) and a crossover which even no matter how high I crank the output of it is their noise.
Posts: 986 | From: Detroit, MI | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
While I agree with some of the comments made about the SQ issues of this string, in that processing is the last stage, I would also say that Audio Control and Phoenix Gold are the most common brands I've used/sold/installed . To date I haven't had any problems with either brands, tho I keep hearing about other's misfortuns, and about equipment updates from various manufacturer's reps. I recently installed 2 DQT's, one with, and one without the controller ( I heard of a potential problem with the chip, when used with the controller, both units worked great). Our installer spent approx. 30-45 minutes per EQ setting, to adjust the units. The DQT is a great way to keep a factory HU (if that's what the customer wants), and add just EQ, or add power amplification etc..
-------------------- E.C. Wuz here Posts: 1057 | From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 'eh | Registered: May 1999
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