For anyone considering a LOC for factory head unit retention

This is not an advertisement, I just know how hard it was for me to complete my system and how much mis-info floats around on the interwebs.

Thought I might share this with everyone since I recently came across it. Pioneer now has an amp/DSP combo that adds power similar to adding one of their head units. Their new DEQ-S1000A adds a 14Wx4 amp so you basically get the same power youd get with one of their head units, which is a nice bump from stock. The real perks though are that this unit allows for time alignment, removes the factory EQ tune (big deal for bass, especially after you hear it), adds either a 13 or 31 channel EQ, allows for their network mode and some other neat features for sound.

Its basically like adding a head unit only it has more tuneability and you can keep your factory unit. The only units Ive come across that do anything similar to this cost quite a bit more or are more difficult to integrate. This thing cost $199 but can be found for a little less, thats cheap.

You can run it as a LOC and hook up amps to it. It can be ran in Pioneer network mode which means you can run signal to it from the headunit and then run it out to amps for your fronts allowing for a woofer, mid, and tweet setup. For anyone looking for a truly sound efficient stage this is essential. Time alignment is also nice for setting staging for a driver only sound, something that is wonderful for those that have experienced it.

I'll be picking one of these up for my new 4Runner project. It'll only be a typical component/tweeter front stage with some 6.5s for rear fill. It wont be a high end sound, but 31 freq. EQ should allow me to really achieve something great out of what I've got. Ill update this as I build it.


https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Amplifiers/Sound+Processors/DEQ-S1000A#manuals

 

Probably would've gone with this over the LC7i a couple months ago. I found the AudioControl LOC just made all the bad/muddy sound of the OE radio that much worse - especially the bass. Went with a pioneer head unit this past week and the difference is stunning.

 

Yeah a flat EQ without any roll off makes a world of difference. I didn't have any issues with the LC7i, other than a bad ground at first. I have heard mixed results with them though.

 

I'm interested in this for future (my kids cars lol) builds...

 

The Pioneer DEQ-S1000A was just what I needed!

Problem #1) Some source material is recorded too low to play loud enough on the factory head-unit.

Although the Pioneer DSP's built-in amp isn't any more powerful than the head-unit, it has its own volume control that provides enough gain to compensate for weak recordings.

Problem#2) Muddy bass.

The Pioneer has the means to counteract the factory EQ curve, but I didn't mess with that. I did adjust the on-board EQ a little by ear, but the biggest improvement was provided by using the high-pass filter. I set the front channels to 63Hz, and the rears to 125 Hz, both at 6db/oct. The bass from the crappy little factory speakers is now nice and CRISP!

With these adjustments, along with the time alignment and tweaking the individual channel levels, the system is now dialed-in where I feel good enough about adding a modest sub (using the DSP's provided sub-out).

I ditched the XM unit and installed the Pioneer in its place. I mounted it upside down and backwards, with the cooling vents just aft of the head-unit to allow heat to escape.





I was able to mount it to the factory brackets with these aluminum strips I fab'd up.



Overall, I'm pretty happy with it, although the Android interface was buggy until I went with an OTG connection. It's nice that the unit provides flexibility with having its own amp, as well as having pre-outs for future expansion. $200 well spent IMHO.