This is a copy/paste from another board and not first hand info from me. But the guy I got it from is a rep for Tweeter and this sounds very promising. Retail is going to probably end up around $500, but in my opinion, if you wanted to keep the factory HU, and still have a very nice sounding system with expansion capability for other audio input, this would be a must have...

JL Audio comes up with a great solution integrating..

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any OEM headunit to aftermarket sound systems...


JL Audio Introduces a Solution to
“Aftermarket-Unfriendly” OEM Auto Sound Systems

Revolutionary, DSP-based “smart” interface makes almost any vehicle a candidate for high-end, aftermarket autosound.
Miramar, FL—January 7, 2005 — As automakers continue to abandon the stand-alone DIN and Double-DIN head-unit in favor of “aftermarket-unfriendly” integrated designs, JL Audio's product development team felt that a need existed for a high-quality, OEM integration solution. This product would need to deliver world-class audio results while not interfering with vehicle functionality, safety or reliability. To this end, the company embarked on a two-year project to develop CleanSweep™ —an innovative, patent-pending solution which permits almost any factory supplied integrated OEM audio system to serve as the source for a high-performance aftermarket sound system.

A particularly difficult challenge was dealing with the reality that a huge number of OEM head units now incorporate non-defeatable equalization curves aimed at correcting the response of factory speakers, as well as protecting relatively weak factory speaker systems from overload. Examples of these include bass roll-off at increasing volume settings, or severe midrange EQ to tame the response of OEM speakers. With previous integration solutions, even if an auto sound installer was able to find suitable analog audio coming out of the OEM head unit (or amplifier), the consumer could end up with severely compromised aftermarket audio due to OEM equalization (garbage in, garbage out).

With CleanSweep™, installers can take the audio outputs from almost any OEM head unit or amplifier, level-match and correct the frequency response, and deliver high-quality signals for aftermarket audio equipment. This makes virtually any vehicle a candidate for high-end sound (without costly fabrication, integration or radical surgery to the dashboard).

Manville Smith, Vice President of Marketing for JL Audio says: “The unfortunate reality is that automakers are showing no signs of making new vehicles that are aftermarket-friendly and, because of this trend, the traditional "head unit swap" is becoming obsolete. CleanSweep™, quite simply, enables high-end, aftermarket audio to work with modern vehicle systems, without causing problems and without accepting compromised audio quality… It really is a powerful solution."



What exactly does CleanSweep™ do?

1) About the size of a paperback book, CleanSweep™ accepts virtually any audio signal, from low-voltage line-level to high-power amplified speaker-level, via its four differential-balanced inputs, precisely integrating stereo or stereo-front/rear signals with totally automatic level compensation.

2) CleanSweep™ internally converts the two or four connected analog signals to digital audio with 24 bit effective resolution.

4) CleanSweep™ applies the power of its on-board, state-of-the-art 32-bit SHARC® DSP processor to automatically equalize each of the four channels with 30 bands of equalization (that's 120 bands total), effectively correcting the response of almost any OEM-equalized full-range signal. The effect of these digital-domain corrections will range from subtle to dramatic, depending on the degree of equalization engineered into the OEM system. To accomplish this complex feat, the installer simply loads the supplied CleanSweep™ calibration CD into the OEM CD player, sets the OEM volume between half and 2/3 volume, plays the designated calibration track and then presses the "Calibrate" button on the top of the hideaway CleanSweep™ component. Approximately 20 seconds later, the CleanSweep™ is finished analyzing and equalizing the OEM source's response.

5) CleanSweep™ then converts the digitally corrected signals back to analog audio and sends them out through two pairs of low-distortion 8 volt (RMS) line level outputs.

6) CleanSweep™ also integrates a stereo auxiliary input circuit for adding an additional stereo source such as a satellite radio tuner, MP3 player, aftermarket source unit, or any other audio source to the system.

7) CleanSweep™ includes a good-old-fashioned **** with stops at both ends to control the master system volume (at the outputs of the processor unit) for both the OEM and auxiliary sources. The master volume eliminates the effects of any OEM equalization that is dependent on the OEM volume control position and allows a high signal-to-noise ratio to be maintained in the system. When pressed, the master volume **** also selects between the OEM and Auxiliary source.
A dash-mountable status LED changes color to indicate OEM or AUX input modes. These small controls can be easily mounted in the cockpit within reach of the driver, wherever the installer and owner select.

8) CleanSweep™ can be deployed in signal-sensing mode, powering up and providing a 12-volt turn-on signal for aftermarket equipment whenever signal is detected; or it can be activated by a conventional 12-volt trigger if the OEM system provides one.

With CleanSweep™ installed, the vehicle owner can enjoy clean, high-end sound and an additional, aftermarket audio source, while avoiding messy OEM diagnostic problems. CleanSweep™ allows for quick and simple restoration of the original OEM system setup, allowing it to be moved to another vehicle when a lease expires or the vehicle is sold. Most importantly, it gives newer vehicle owners the freedom to upgrade their audio systems with high-quality aftermarket gear, without fear of damaging complex automotive systems.

 

sounds promising...let's see how the actual product fares in terms of sound quality and cost.

 

I wonder if it'll really let WRX's have an aux line in to the OEM head unit. Seems impossible...but if it does allow it, that's pretty sweet, I'd get it for sure. Keep my 6 disc changer, add my iPod, AND get better sound.

 

i'm just glad we can switch our head units at will.

 

Cost is going to be around $500US

Chris

 

It will allow the WRX have a true aux line into any amplifiers downstream of the box. It will not have the ability to run signal back into the factory HU. This product would not be of consideration if you only wanted to keep the factory HU/Speakers and run an iPod. For that you'd just use an FM modulator(not the cheesy FM transmitters like Itrip and the like).

This device would become the hub and normalization point for an aftermarket amp and speaker system behind the WRX HU. In our cars its not as big of a plus as it would be in say the newer GM and Euro stuff where the door chime, lights, etc work through the stereo. We can easily swap out to an aftermarket HU, but for stealth, retainment of the 6 disc in dash, and dsp "scubbing" of the signal going to your amps, this would be a good option.

Chris

 

Thanks for the info. After thinking about it, and seeing that this thing'll cost $500, I think I'm gonna get either a Alpine, Pioneer, or Clarion deck with their iPod integrator (all three are making them now).

 

One draw back to this peice is that you have to use their volume ****. The volume and other tone controls on the factory headunit are rendered useless.

Oh-yeah It's $500 plus installation.
I would rather a new headunit in place of this.

But as stated above it does have it's uses with newer vehicles like BMW, Mec-Benz, etc.....
Any factory audio system that has a large amount of EQ built into the factory audio system. Oh yeah, if your audio system has crossovers built in like GM and other vehicles this unit can not fix or undo that.

The nice thing about Subies - there is no EQ or processing built in to the system. Full range to all of the speakers.
A simple line convertor will work great for adding aftermarket amplifiers.

As for inputs to the factory system our main option is FM modulators at this time. Cheaper to - $25 vs. $500 hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I can live with the lower sound quality personally.

 

You'll want to do your homework on these "integrated" decks. I have only seen/used the Alpine unit, but it merely looks at the iPod as the cd changer. You can only have 5 playlists on your ipod if you want to be able to control all your tunes through the HU. Hopefully the Clarion and Pioneer units are a more elegant solution, cause the Alpine one was a major let down. Alpine has been my favorite HU manufacturer for many years, but this alledged functionality certainly didn't live up to my expectations.

Chris