AudioControl OVERDRIVE Concert Series Owner's Manual

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OVERDRIVE

SPECIFICATIONS

All specifications are measured at 14.4 VDC (standard automotive voltage) As

technology advances, AudioControl reserves the right to continuously change our

specifications, like our weather.

Maximum input/output level ........................................... 9Vrms/13V peak

Frequency response ..................................................... 10Hz-100kHz;±1dB

Total harmonic distortion ................................................................ 0.005%

Signal to Noise ratio ........................................................................ >110dB

Input Impedance ........................................................................... 20Kohms

Output Impedance ........................................................................... 45ohms

Input gain .......................................................................................... 0-24dB

Power supply ....................... transformer isolated PWM DC/DC converter

Power draw ....................................................................................... 150mA

Recommended fuse rating ................................................................. 1 Amp

Size ........................................................................... 5.00" x 4.25" x 1.25"

Weight ................................................................................................... 2 lbs

Balanced Differential Inputs .................................................................. Yes

Input Ground Isolation Jumpers ............................................................. Yes

Output Ground Isolation Jumpers .......................................................... Yes

Country of origin .................................................................................. USA

AudioControl, Making Good Stereo Sound Better, Performance Match, and

OVERDRIVE are all trademarks of Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc.

This literature was conceived, designed, and written under the protective canopy of

the lush, green, misty rain forest on a drizzly, gray overcast day at our home in the

Pacific Northwest.

22410 70th Avenue West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166 • www.audiocontrol.com

A GUIDED TOUR OF THE OVERDRIVE

The Outside

Inputs: The OVERDRIVE's balanced inputs get their signals

directly from the main source unit/head unit. You'll get noise rejection and

fewer ground loops from these guys. Don't worry if your source is not

balanced. The OVERDRIVE will still reject the noise. We designed it that way.

Input Gain Control: Used to increase the amount of signal to your

downstream signal processors or amplifiers. With this control you can get up

to 24dB of gain or 13 volts peak (9 volts RMS) to your signal processors or

amplifiers inputs. If your head unit's maximum output is only 500mV, the

OVERDRIVE will be able to squirt out 8 volts RMS into the rest of your

system. Even if your head unit's output is as little as 250mV, you can still get

4 volts RMS out of the OVERDRIVE Line Driver. However, be careful about

overdriving your average crossover or amplifier. Many can't handle more than

about 2 volts input without clipping (AudioControl units can take much more).

If in doubt, check with the manufacturer.

Outputs: Next to the inputs are the balanced outputs which should

be connected to the next component in your system. This could be an

equalizer, crossover, amplifier, or virtually any other electronic gadget you

may have in your system. If you connect the outputs to any AudioControl

component , you can rest assured it can handle the hot signal voltage from

the OVERDRIVE, up to 7.5 volts RMS.

Output status LEDs

Power: If you see this one lighted, pat yourself on the back for

properly connecting the power terminal.

Maximized: When this light flickers while music is playing, you're

pushing the limit — nearing the redline — entering the danger zone. Try

backing off on the Gain Control until it stops flickering.

2, 5, 7.5 Volt: These lights will tell you when the signal level is at 2 volts,

5 volts or 7.5 volts RMS. You'll most likely want at least the 2 volt light to

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Concert Series

Owner's Enjoyment

Manual

Congratulations!

You have just purchased a high-performance autosound product, the

AudioControl OVERDRIVE Line Driver. The OVERDRIVE will allow

you to utilize every last bit of performance and sound quality that you've

always strived for from your vehicle's sound system. So find a nice dry

spot well away from the rainforest drizzle, and take in the clean air along

with this Enjoyment Manual for the OVERDRIVE Line Driver.

Features of the Concert Series OVERDRIVE:

• High signal voltage capability: 13 volts peak output

• 24 dB of gain

• Balanced differential inputs

• Low-impedance balanced differential outputs

• Ultra-low distortion, ultra-quiet operation

• Anti-oscillating, high-current output circuitry

• High-headroom PWM switching power supply

• Selectable ground isolation

• Optimum voltage indicator LEDs

making good stereo sound better

P/N 9130380

flicker, more if the rest of your components can handle it. Any AudioControl

component that you connect after the OVERDRIVE Line Driver won't mind the

7.5 volt RMS light flickering. Go ahead. Light it up!

Power Connector: This convenient little connector allows you to hook

up all the power and turn-on wires for your OVERDRIVE Line Driver in the

convenience of a well-lighted area and then plug them in by feel all at once in

your trunk's cavernous darkness. Screws on top of the connector should face

up. But if you put the plug in upside down, nothing will be damaged, the

Overdrive just will not power up!

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FEATURES

High-Voltage Line Driver

The OVERDRIVE is a line driver that takes the input voltage of a

source unit and increases it (up to 13 volts peak) and then delivers it

downstream. No more feeble output voltage to send or allow noise into

the rest of your system.

Balanced Inputs & Outputs

The OVERDRIVE uses balanced differential input circuitry that

rejects any noise that radiates into the signal path between the source

unit and your OVERDRIVE. The OVERDRIVE can then send a

balanced signal downstream to another processor or amplifier that has

balanced inputs, (or not) i.e., AudioControl signal processors and

System90 powered signal processors. The balanced output will ensure

that the signal will remain noise free.

Anti-Oscillating Output Circuitry

Driving long lengths of cable can present a nasty capacitive load to the

source that has to drive them. This capacitance can cause instabilties

which can lead to oscillations, radio interference and excessive system

hiss. The OVERDRIVE's low-impedance, high-current output circuitry

can easily handle long cable runs without their associated problems.

Four Output Voltage Indicators

Setting voltage levels for best signal-to-noise performance can be a

real pain — especially when you have to get out the old digital voltmeter

and find a way to make those probes stay put while you try to read the

dancing LCD display. With the OVERDRIVE's voltage indicator LEDs,

you can say good-bye to that headache. Just turn the OVERDRIVE gain

control until your favorite light flickers and you're done!

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The Inside

Input Grounding Jumpers

Leave this one set to BALANCED for most applications. Occasionally a

head unit may require that its output RCA shield be connected to ground. In

that event, go ahead and change the jumper position to UNbalanced.

Output Grounding Jumpers

We ship the OVERDRIVE with these in the BALANCED position. We

know you prefer balanced-input AudioControl components downstream, so we

set this one for you. If, however, you have an unbalanced input after the

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Selectable Ground Isolation

Avoiding ground loops and grounding-related noises are of paramount

importance in any installation. For this reason we have provided a

flexible scheme of isolating signal grounds and power grounds.

The Most Important Feature Of All: Reliability.

That's right, your AudioControl OVERDRIVE comes with a full 5

year parts and labor warranty when it is installed 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 installa-

tion looking like some of those things in the back of the refrigerator.

Keep in mind that if you or your friends are "good with electronics" and

you choose to install it yourselves, your OVERDRIVE still 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 necessary for warranty purposes,

they are also important if the unforeseen disappearance of your OVER-

DRIVE should happen while you are socializing at

the local espresso and salmon bar. Insurance

companies have very little imagination.

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OVERDRIVE like The Epicenter or ESP-2, it is important that you change

these two jumpers to their Unbalanced position. The OVERDRIVE will

thank you.

Ground Isolation Jumpers

Should alternator whine rear its ugly head during the installation, we have

provided some alternate power supply grounding choices. Experiment with

different settings if you run into this problem. To change the settings, turn

system power OFF, move the black jumpers from the center two pins (fully

isolated) to either the top two pins (ground) or the bottom two pins (200Ω).

Short course in Signal-to-Noise

Ratio and Level Matching

Signal-to-noise ratio is simply the difference between the signal level

and the noise floor of an electronic component. The higher the signal, the

better. Since you really can't reduce the noise floor, signal-to-noise ratio can

be readily improved by raising the signal level. It's best to get the signal

level up at the beginning of the signal path. The signal-to-noise ratio will

only be as good as the noisiest component. Which is why it's important to

have a quiet head unit. This "weakest link" theory is the basic idea behind

setting levels in your car's system. And that's why AudioControl provides

gain in all of its signal processors.

Level Matching is about making sure you run just the right amount of

signal into an electronic component. If you send too much, you'll experience

the not so joyous sound of clipping. At the same time, you want the highest

possible signal levels for best signal-to-noise ratio. Since all AudioControl

products are capable of high-voltage input and output, it is important that

you MATCH the input voltage of your components. Most crossovers and

amplifiers can handle up to about 2 volts before they clip. AudioControl

signal processors can all put out at least 7.5 volts RMS, and can take in

anywhere from 5 to 9 volts RMS. LED voltage indicators on many of our

products make it a snap to set levels! Request Tech Note 1006 for more

information on level matching.

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