Xoutpost.com - View Single Post - Speaker level output vs line level output are they the same thing or what?

Ken@BSW · #2 03-01-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolex Snob

I have to rant here, I can't seem to find any good information on this topic. As a car stereo novice I am trying my best to put some concerns to bed but what plagues the car stereo world is there is a wealth of conflicting and flat out incorrect information out there.

My amp is dead, I want a new one. I am trying to decide on a new one...

My #1 goal, I don't want any converters other than ones built into an amp.

My previous system had PAC-SNI-35 boxes, they are two channels each so I had two of them. They are advertised as LINE OUTPUT Converters; I was told these are for connecting directly to speaker level. An example of a proper installation I would assume is when I am splicing into factory speaker wire off the stock amp/head unit before the speaker itself. This is garbage, why anyone would do this is beyond me.

The reason I was told this was not the solution was because I removed my factory amp and needed to convert directly from the OUTPUTS of the factory head unit directly to the INPUTS of an amp instead of RCA ouputs I had 4 wires that needed to be coverted to RCA (not to be confused with the wires connected to my speakers).

I was told the SVEN4 was the proper device for this, application. The SVEN4 is advertised as a "sound interface device" and from what I understand is meant for converting the actual speaker wire outputs on factory head units to RCA. I am not splicing into the speaker wire that is already going to the speakers.

Now, what confuses the ever living shit out of me is how this is described. I know there is a difference between the two devices (SNI35 & SVEN4) because I have heard it. It is night and day, so I want to make sure this is done right. I will not tolerate gimped sound anymore and want to purchase the correct amp for my situation.

I want my factory speaker wires going to my speakers, I will not touch these. Since my factory head unit amp in my 2002 X5 is disconnected I have 4 output wires (I wont call them speaker wires because this is the main area of confusion for me, I will call them "outputs using wires that are not RCA's"

I know I sound like an idiot, it's because I am. I don't know the fine details needed to survive in the non-ghetto audio world but I have little trust in my local installers because they started out giving me speaker level crap. I hate it, I would rather support terrorism than give another penny for a product like the SNI-35.

Please enlighten me here? Is anything I am saying correct?

Is there is a difference between line level and speaker level?

What amp would you recommend? Please don't say anything that only has RCA inputs because that is not adequate.

The SVEN4 is a line-output conver, as well as the PAC SNI 35. They both perform the same function. In a BMW, the head unit is only a provider of a stereo signal source. In MOST BMW's, the factory head unit provides a 4 channel audio signal as a balanced input to the factory amp. This is where you would want to be connecting any LOC, if you will be using one.

I completely agree, however, in the quest for the best sound quality, with an appropriate budget, an aftermarket amplifer that can accept a balanced input is the way to go. Unfortunately, that is not in the budget for everybody. If you use an aftermarket amplifier that can accept a balanced signal input (remember, this is the type of source signal that the factory head unit is providing) then you can splice those speaker wires directly from the factory head unit, right into the aftermarket amplifiers inputs. You may or may not need to convert these wires to an RCA, depending on the amplifier used (some aftermarket amplifiers that can accept a balanced input will have speaker-level inputs, allowing you to input those wires directly, others only have RCA connections - the best way to do this is to cut a piece of RCA cable, and splice those wires directly to the speaker wires from the factory head unit).

As far as what amp to recommend, there are dozens of grat amps on the market that accept a balaned input. From JL, to Zapco, etc. What specifically are you looking for in an amplifier? 2 channel, 4 channel, a complete 5 channel amp for your interior speakers and a subwoofer?

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