A line out converter, or L.O.C., is a device that turns the speaker-level audio signal in a car audio system into a line-level signal that one can connect to an amplifier. This is necessary when one is adding an amplifier to a factory head unit, since factory head units do not have RCA outputs to get signals from. Typically, L.O.C.s come in two and four channel versions for a variety of installation options, and may be easily removed to return the vehicle to stock.
If you want to connect an amp to your car stereo which doesn’t have a speaker level inputs then it means you need a line output converter to have a preamp outputs. So you can connect your receiver to an amp by converting your receiver’s speaker output into preamp-level signals. It consists of a transformer and (10 to 20 watts) a high-voltage resistor and connects to amp by using RCA patch cable. The amplifier in the head unit is being loaded by the resistor. It has also an adjustable gain feature to pull output.
Most of the line output converters have wire to ground the transformer. When the head unit is “on” the voltage on the output speaker wires, is almost half of the DC battery and changes rapidly when it is “on”. Whereas, when the unit is “off”, the voltage is 0 volt DC. As we already said, that the head unit’s outputs has a large quick increase in DC voltage when the head unit is turned on. The transformer will provide the variation of voltage between the two input terminals. Since the DC voltage increases at the same time on both the input terminals, then the rhythm of the DC is irrecoverable. There are different types of Line Output Converters available in the market but Gizmo Peripheral is remained the industry leader in high quality LOC’s.
There are simple Instructions for the line output converters which need to take in consideration. So connect the audio cable speaker’s leads to the device from the car stereo. The line output converter then trims down all the inwards bound speakers’ level audio signals until the outgoing signals get adjusted to the preamp inputs on the amplifier. It accepts speaker level outputs and converts them to preamp level outputs. It has a fader control feature also that means; we can hook 2 channel amplifier or 4 channel amplifier easily and cannot lose any fader control.
Adjustable line output converters helps to convert the radio speaker level output to the lower amplifier RCA level input. Installers use to convert their speaker level stereo to RCA levels with the help of Hi/low adaptors which hooks to an external car stereo amplifier. Hi/low converter with 2 channels and 4 channels are also available with or without adjustments. It is important to note that the match between your car stereo and amplifiers are the same. Adjustable hi/low converters allow to fine tune the hi/low device to match levels in the car and are the most popular in adjustable output converters. There are many adjustable output converters in 2 channels and 4 channels available. For example, Soundgate “LOC A” adjustable high performance Hi/Low adaptor features full DC isolation and handles 40 watts and Sound gate “XR4”, this performs dual functions such as to add an aftermarket receiver to a factory amplifier system or to add four channel amplifiers to a factory receiver. This feature can make adjustments on all four channels.
