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AudioControl LC6i

6-channel line output converter for adding outboard amps to your factory audio system

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Item# 161LC6IG offer details

Item# 161LC6IG

Review Sumary

 
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AudioControl

Our take on the AudioControl LC6i

Build a system around your factory radio

AudioControl's LC6i processor allows you to add aftermarket amps, speakers, and subs to your factory radio, so you can enjoy better sound without losing factory features. It accepts speaker-level signals from your factory radio or amplifier, so you can use it with any system.

LC6i system diagram

Inputs and outputs

The LC6i features six speaker-level inputs that let you connect amplified signals, including multi-wire cables from Bose® and other premium factory systems up to 400 watts. The LC6i sums all the signals you send it, even if they're actively crossed over by your factory system, so you get a strong, full-range signal for your processors and amps. The LC6i features six RCA preamp outputs that'll handle the traditional front/rear/sub setup.


Level matching is a breeze

AudioControl couldn't make it much easier to set up your system. Just set your factory stereo to about 3/4 of its maximum volume, and turn the output level control of the LC6i until the "Maximized" light begins to flicker. Adjust the gain controls on your amps and you're done. You've just matched your levels, so you can count on getting maximum performance and minimum noise from your amp setup.


Convenience

The optional dash-mount subwoofer controller allows you to adjust the level of your sub channel on the go. The speaker-level inputs sense incoming signals and turn on the LC6i, while a built-in 12-volt trigger tells your amps or other gear to turn on.


Information provided by AudioControl

Features
Get more info on this product

Highlights:

  • gray 6-channel line output converter
  • designed to work with any factory stereo
  • Inputs and outputs
  • 6 speaker-level inputs with 400 watts RMS power handling
  • 6-channel preamp level outputs
  • level matching controls
  • subwoofer level control output (for optional wired remote)
  • Other features
  • signal-sensing turn on
  • 12-volt turn-on lead output
  • internal signal summing
  • recommended fuse rating: 1 amp
  • 8"W x 1-1/4"H x 6"D
  • 3.5 pounds
  • warranty: 5 years
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
 
Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • 6-Channel line output converter
  • Owner's manual
  • QC checklist
  • Product registration card
Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features

Speaker Input: The speaker level inputs are compatible with nearly any factory stereo system, even most Bose systems. There are 3 pair of inputs that will accommodate up to 400 watts.

Channel Summing: The LC6i has the ability to sum together multiple input channels (4 or 6) from the factory source unit into 2 channels. This is handy when the factory system has multiple, actively crossed-over signals sent from the OEM source unit or amplifier(s). For example, in some vehicles there is an actively crossed-over tweeter, midrange, and woofer all in the front of the vehicle. The LC6i lets you take all of those signals and sum them together to get a high-quality, full-range, pre-amp signal without the use of any additional cables or hardware.

AutoMode Inputs: When there is no signal present at the channel 3 input, the channel 2 input automatically feeds the channel 2 and channel 3 outputs.

Output Level: The +/- 12 dB output level allows you to adjust the head unit's voltage to the top of your amp's input range; up to 9.5 volts RMS. Each of the three pair of  RCA outputs has its own level adjustment.

Auto Turn-on: The main speaker level input has a signal sensing circuit; the unit turns on when there's a speaker level input signal and turns off when the signal disappears.

Remote Output: The +12 volt DC remote output will trigger an amp to turn on whenever the LC6i is on. The remote's maximum current output is 1 amp.

Optional Sub Level Control: With the addition of an optional wired remote (161ACR1, sold separately), you can easily adjust the output level of channel 3, often used for a subwoofer.

Ground Isolation: The power supply ground is switchable, in case of ground loop noise. The factory position is fully isolated (typically the best choice), but can be changed to Ground or 200Ω.

Terminal Blocks: The power/ground/remote in/remote out terminal and the speaker level input terminals are removable; the wiring is attached to the block, then the block is plugged into the LC6i. The terminal blocks will accommodate wire up to 12 gauge.

Specifications:

  • Maximum Speaker Level Input: 400 watts
  • Maximum Output Voltage: 9.5 volts RMS
  • Frequency response: 10Hz-22kHz
  • THD: 0.01%
  • Input Impedance: 20 kΩ

 

Product Reviews

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1-8 of 8 items Sort Results By: Date Reviewed | Rating | Helpfulness
 
5 out of 5

Perfect for Factory Stereo Integration

Written By Trent, Austin TX on Monday, August 22, 2011
 
I purchased this after making the mistake of buying the MTX re-Q5 for my 2011 F-150 with the premium stereo (no Nav or Sony). My goal was to keep the stock deck while still having a good sounding stereo and not sacrificing quality or features of the stock systems and Sync.

I have it in the truck along with two Rockford Fosagte Prime amps, Boston SR60 components, Infinity Kappa coaxials, and one Kicker CVT 12 for bass.

The LC6i handles this flawlessly and has very good (and kinda corny) instructions. It walks you through everything and is very easy to wire up. Adjustments and features are just enough for what I needed.

All in all a fantastic product and I wish I would have bought it the first time around!
2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

WOW!

Written By Andrew O., Davenport, IA on Sunday, May 08, 2011
 
I'm not sure why this product hasn't gotten all 5 star reviews, because I couldn't be happier. I had installed my 2 Alpine Type R's in my 2003 Chevy Impala with the factory head unit by themselves first and they sounded good, but they kind of drained out the music so I had to turn them down so they weren't really reaching their potential, until I purchased the LC6i. This thing is an absolute necessity if you plan on upgrading your sound system while keeping your factory head unit. It has got to be the most important component in my system. Highly recommended.
7 out of 7 people found this helpful
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1 out of 5

I Give Up with my Altima 2009

Written By House, Texas on Saturday, October 09, 2010
 

I give up This was my last try ,,,, this thing did not work with my factory radio, it sound better with the oem speakers,,, i am sad for this product that offer a lot and still the same decrease of bass or to much bass
1 out of 13 people found this helpful
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3 out of 5

Good Value, Okay performance

Written By Rob P, Mount Joy, PA on Wednesday, August 25, 2010
 
I have a 2006 Audi A4 with the base stereo but I wanted to retain a stock look so this was naturally the place to start. The produce does what it advertises. It takes your signals from you stock speaker lines, sums them together, and gives you a full signal through 6 channels of preamp outputs. It also allows you to retain all of your stock functions such as steering wheel controls and Sat radio.

The problem I find with this unit is that it creates noise in your system. You really have to fine tune your system to minimize noise and maximize output. Even when you set up as advertised and set your gains on the LC6i to the "maximized" setting there is still significant system noise and the gains had to be backed off. I was able to tune the system to eventually get minimal noise at an acceptable level. This, however, created a situation where I do not have as much output as I would like.

I looked everywhere for the noise issue and all signs point to the LC6i as the culprit. I tried at least 3 different grounding locations for both my amp and my LC6i to no avail. The LC6i also has a built in Ground Loop Isolator so there should not be a ground loop causing this noise.

If you want to retain the functionality and look of your stock head unit but upgrade the rest of your system this is a good product.

I, however, am seriously considering now upgrading my head unit for better sound.
7 out of 8 people found this helpful
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4 out of 5

AudioControl LC6i

Written By K.W., Northwest Indiana on Sunday, March 28, 2010
 
Purchased this product for 2009 Nissan that has a factory Bose system. The factory radio is connected to a factory amp which is located under the rear deck. The factory amp actively crossed over all the factory speakers. Ex: lows only for rear deck speakers, highs only for dash, and full range for door speakers. With the lc6i my installer took a signal from all of these (three in all) and sent them to the lc6i. The voltage the lc6i sends to my Alpine PDX is so high that I am able to turn the gains down very low and still get a very strong signal to my Type R components. If you absolutey need to or want to keep your factory radio on a newer vehicle and want to add after market amps/equalizers to acheive quality sound start with this product.
6 out of 6 people found this helpful
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4 out of 5

Great product but a small defect

Written By Than, Woodbridge, VA on Thursday, July 23, 2009
 
I bought this to use as a line output converter for my M3 because the car system's sub outputs were rated around 150W. LC6i was highly recommended so I tried it out thinking I could use the GTO to tun on my JL 500/1v2 amp. Wrong. It did not sense enough input I guess and would not turn on so I had to run a single wire from the front of the car for the remote in. Otherwise, all of my wires would have been in the back and would have made it easier to dismount.

Once it is turned on though, the sound is amazing. I have my amp turned down pretty low and just used the output level on the LC6i and still hits pretty hard on my JL 12w6v2. I have the exact same setup in my IS350 without LC6i (using the Scosche LOC) and I could tell a huge difference that the LC6i made to the sound.

Despite the GTO not working for me, I still rate it pretty high because it is an amazing product. I'll try it out again with another LC6i I am going to order for the Lexus to figure out if my first one is defective.
6 out of 7 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Cleansweep? Meh. LC6i? Yeah!

Written By Kris, Seattle, WA on Wednesday, May 13, 2009
 
I know that the Cleansweep and LC6i serve different functions, but it wasn't until I removed the LC6i from my system to install a Cleansweep that I realized how solid the LC6i is. I couldn't have been more disappointed by the Cleansweep's performance, and I kept thinking to myself, "Can a line-output-converter make THAT much difference?" In short, yes.

It sends very high quality signals to my two amplifiers, such that I can keep their gains dialed low, and get great great sounding audio from my stock head unit. I have, in fact, become so convinced in the quality of the AudioControl equipment that I returned the Cleansweep and I'm looking to the EQ6 and the 6XS as my next purchases. Skip the line-output-converter sold on this site and others. Save for the LC6, and you'll save yourself time, money and frustration in the long run.

I also got the separate subwoofer control and am quite pleased with it as well. With all of my music being digital, it helps dial in appropriate subwoofer levels when switching albums.
11 out of 11 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

AudioControl LC6i

Written By Brian, Shrewsbury, MA on Thursday, March 19, 2009
 
Great product! I had tried 2 other loc's and got alternator whine. I tried
moving the ground, creating a new common ground with and without hu,
nothing worked. Since I planned on eventually getting something like the
Lc6i for channel summing anyway, I went ahead and ordered it, received it,
installed it...silence! Nothing but the music. I had so much whine before
that I was shocked at the total absence of noise. I'm summing 2 channels,
driving 2 amplifiers, and using it to trigger those amps. Everthing is
completely adjustable. I've been using it for 6 months now and am
completely satisfied. Like I said, a great product.
25 out of 26 people found this helpful
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1-8 of 8 items
Learn more about Factory Sound Processors

Learn more about Factory Sound Processors

What are Factory Sound Processors?

What are Factory Sound Processors?

Zak Billmeier
3/17/2008
based on 54 ratings (4 comments)
 
Factory sound processors take your factory stereo's signal, clean it up, and send a corrected audio signal to your aftermarket amps and subwoofers.
 
Jeff's Tips for Getting Maximum Sound Quality in Your Car

Jeff's Tips for Getting Maximum Sound Quality in Your Car

Jeff Fay
12/28/2010
based on 503 ratings (29 comments)
 
Your car can be a great place for music listening. Many commuters suffer for hours each day with inferior sound quality that they'd never tolerate from their systems at home. Others assemble...
 
Video: Upgrading Your Factory Stereo, part 2

Video: Upgrading Your Factory Stereo, part 2

Robert Ferency-Viars, Ken Nail
7/25/2008
based on 12 ratings
 
Just because you can't replace your vehicle's factory stereo doesn't mean you have to live with a poor sound system. In this short video, Crutchfield experts take a look at how a fellow employee...
 

Accessories

Accessories we recommend
Remotes
Control the sound from the driver's seat.
AudioControl ACR-1
Wired remote for select AudioControl processors

Also available in:
Open Box: $34.99
$39.99
In Stock
 
 
Audio Cables
Connect your new integration unit to your aftermarket amplifiers.
StreetWires ZeroNoise 3 Stereo Patch Cables
Available in two different lengths (19.7 feet)

Also available in:
Open Box: $24.99
$29.99
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StreetWires Zero Noise 5 4-channel Patch Cables
Available in 3 different lengths (16.4 feet)
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StreetWires Zero Noise 5 Stereo Patch Cables
High-performance cables with superior noise rejection (16.4-foot)
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StreetWires Zero Noise 7 4-Channel Patch Cable
Available in different lengths (16.4 feet)
$79.99
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StreetWires Zero Noise 7 Stereo Patch Cables
Available in 5 different lengths (16.4 feet)
$54.99
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StreetWires ZeroNoise® 9 Series 4-channel Patch Cables
High-performance cables with superior noise rejection (16.4-foot)
$129.99
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StreetWires ZeroNoise® 9 Series 2-channel Patch Cables
High-performance cables with superior noise rejection (16.4 feet)
$109.99
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Speaker Wire
Connect your factory stereo system to your new integration unit.
StreetWires 12-gauge Ultra Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue/copper jacket — priced per foot
$1.00
In Stock
 
 
StreetWires 16-gauge Super Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue jacket — priced per foot
$0.40
In Stock
 
 
StreetWires 14-gauge Ultra Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue/copper jacket — priced per foot
$0.75
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StreetWires 14-gauge Super Cable™ Speaker Wire
Translucent blue jacket — priced per foot (Clear)
$0.99
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StreetWires iCS920C
20' multi-conductor cable (eight speaker leads, one turn-on lead)
$39.99
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Installation Tools
The right tools will simplify the installation.
S&G Wire Cutter/Stripper Tool
Cuts and strips 12- to 22-gauge stranded wire
$24.99
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S&G Wire Cutter/Stripper Tool
Cuts and strips 12- to 22-gauge wire
$29.99
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Pro.Fit Wire Worm
Installation tool helps route wiring through tight spaces
$12.99
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Multi Wedge Trim Panel Tools
Set of six (flexible and rigid) tools — helps remove trim and door panels
$19.99
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Posi-Products™ Wire Connector Kit
6 tap connectors for 10- to 22-gauge wires — tap into wires without cutting or stripping
$7.99
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Recommended Accessories See more accessories
Your featured item
AudioControl LC6i
AudioControl LC6i
6-channel line output converter for adding outboard amps to your factory audio system
$149.99
In Stock
 
 
Remotes
AudioControl ACR-1
Wired remote for select AudioControl processors

Also available in:
Open Box: $34.99
$39.99
In Stock
 
 
Audio Cables
StreetWires ZeroNoise 3 Stereo Patch Cables
Available in two different lengths (19.7 feet)

Also available in:
Open Box: $24.99
$29.99
In Stock
 
 
Speaker Wire
StreetWires 12-gauge Ultra Cable™ Speaker Wire
Blue/copper jacket — priced per foot
$1.00
In Stock
 
 
Installation Tools
S&G Wire Cutter/Stripper Tool
Cuts and strips 12- to 22-gauge stranded wire
$24.99
In Stock
 
 
 
Add selected to cart
 
AudioControl LC6i