line driver

Line drivers are a required element in any system that I design that uses RCA type (single ended) signal transfer. It constantly amazes me how little is known in the car audio industry about Line drivers, and how often they are not used. Line drivers are like superchargers for your deck. Deck manufactures don’t put 13 volt outputs on their decks because they don’t have to and it cost money. Not to mention the adjustments though not so complex do exceed the capabilities of 999 out of 1000 end users. If you are interested in a huge leap in dynamic headroom, I strongly suggest a line driver. It should be noted that due to the fact that so little information is circulating about line drivers many manufactures are producing bogus devices that will do you no good. I suggest an Audiocontrol Line driver. Also be sure to check out the support section of Audiocontrols web site and download the tech papers on setting up a line driver (even if you don’t get an Audiocontrol). If you don’t set up a line driver correctly it will do you more harm than good. It’s not that hard so just do it, and enjoy!

Thanks, looked at a memphis line driver it cost's round 100 bucks. I'll try to find and authorized auidocontrol dealer in my area.

speakermakers wrote:

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Line drivers are a required element in any system that I design that uses RCA type (single ended) signal transfer. It constantly amazes me how little is known in the car audio industry about Line drivers, and how often they are not used. Line drivers are like superchargers for your deck. Deck manufactures don’t put 13 volt outputs on their decks because they don’t have to and it cost money. Not to mention the adjustments though not so complex do exceed the capabilities of 999 out of 1000 end users. If you are interested in a huge leap in dynamic headroom, I strongly suggest a line driver. It should be noted that due to the fact that so little information is circulating about line drivers many manufactures are producing bogus devices that will do you no good. I suggest an Audiocontrol Line driver. Also be sure to check out the support section of Audiocontrols web site and download the tech papers on setting up a line driver (even if you don’t get an Audiocontrol). If you don’t set up a line driver correctly it will do you more harm than good. It’s not that hard so just do it, and enjoy!

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I hate to rain on your parade here, but just how exactly do line drivers make a system sound better?? Oh wait, they don't.

Line drivers are a band aid for lousy equipment that is installed improperly. There will not be a noticeable increase in volume and chances are they will add noise.

Your post sounds like spam, either that you are getting paid to sell line drivers.

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Sick 'im, Dan!

I agree completely. Line drivers have NEVER beeen installed in any system I have ever installed, and I have never needed one. 13V? WHY? Please... There are VERY few amplifiers that can even come close to USING a signal like that, let alone NEEDING a signal that strong.

If you "require them" for single ended, why not balanced, too? If 13V is better for single-ended, wouldn't 26V be better for balanced too? Your arguments are salesman's arguments! NO system needs a line driver if properly installed.

In addition to Dan's input above, the signal strength is nowhere NEAR as important as is the output impedance on the devces, lower is better, ALWAYS. The lower the output impedance, the less chance there is of having noise introduced into the system.

Travis, speakermakers owns a shop, and while he might not be trying to sell directly to you, he does use this very method to sell to unsuspecting, less than knowledgable customers in his store. His used-car-salesman-tactics are influencing your decisions. Install your equipment properly, and you won't need that additional 100 dollar, distortion and noise introducing device. Throw that 100 dollars somewhere that will TRULY do your system some good... An alternator. FAR more important than a line driver.

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Yes, David that note you mention there about impedance is crucial. In fact I would imagine that having a significantly lower impedance would be more desirable than high voltage output if the impedance is too high.

And although I like Audiocontrol pieces, they are notorious for adding or introducing noise in systems.

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alot of the big class d amps blow up if u put more than 6v input. i recomend a linedriver IF ur headunit dont have 3-4v output. some amps like higher inputs and will actually produce more power...

splaudio wrote:

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some amps like higher inputs and will actually produce more power...

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How is that possible. Can you prove this?

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I have a Kenwood KDC MP-5028 It has a 4volt pre-out I thought that was pretty decent.