Line Driver

[argenis69 10+ year member]

Hi CACo,

1- I want to know what's a line driver specifically for?

2- Also is it worth having?

3- I've heard that the higher the voltage the better, but I don't really know what is meant by that. Please explain.

I have an Audiocontrol Eql concert series, does this have a line driver?

My hu is a Jvc KD-R730BT*.

Thank you.

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[maylar 10+ year member]

Hi CACo,1- I want to know what's a line driver specifically for?

2- Also is it worth having?

3- I've heard that the higher the voltage the better, but I don't really know what is meant by that. Please explain.

I have an Audiocontrol Eql concert series, does this have a line driver?

My hu is a Jvc KD-R730BT*.

Thank you.

1 - They boost the output of your head unit preouts to a higher voltage with low source impedance. This allows running long cables or multiple cables with minimal noise pickup.

2 - Very rarely required. I've never used one.

3 - Noise is relative to the signal level. Just for the sake of explanation, lets say your cables pick up 1/1000th of a volt of noise. If your preouts are 2 volts then the signal to noise ratio is 2000:1. If the line voltage is 8 volts then the s/n ratio is 8000:1 - you hear less noise.

4 - Yes the EQL has a line driver. However - to get any benefit it has to be mounted close to the HU before the RCA cables. If you mount it in the trunk close to the amp the cable noise is already there and higher line voltage loses its advantage.

 

[argenis69 10+ year member]

Thanks maylar, so in other words the line driver isn't necessary at all? Even if my hu is only a 2.5v?

Reason I ask all this is because recently I set up all my gains correctly with the dso nano oscilloscope and I feel the bass I has less output, and I want to make sure before raising the gain on the amp.

 

[argenis69 10+ year member]

Bump

 

[argenis69 10+ year member]

Bb

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

As long as the amp can make full power with the input signal you have, boosting it won't make any difference. If you have the amp gain up all the way and can't get the desired output then you might need a preamp (line driver). But most amps can accept down to a couple tenths of a volt on the gain control, and even a 2.5 volt preout can supply that.

 

[argenis69 10+ year member]

Ok, sounds good, thanks. Another question, I have an Kicker Impulse x3i 3-way Active Electronic Crossover, I installed after I removed the Eql because it some how was making a cracking noise when it was at high volume. Well, I connected the rcas (the mids and sub) correctly from my hu to that crossover and I've noticed that even if I completely turn off the volume of the subwoofer on the hu, the subwoofer still keeps playing, a little lower, but not completely off. Why is this? It's this normal? What should I do?