read the pasmag review!

TEST REPORT
BY GARRY SPRINGGAY
AudioControl.com
CANADA’S SOURCE FOR MODIFIED CAR CULTURE
!
D:
TE
TES
80
0A
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ONLY
$4.99
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DI
OCO ROL LC
NT
SHOW TURNED TRACK
MITSUBISHI EVO X
E55 SWAPPED
MERCEDES CLS
BOOST&SWAP
ROTARY
FRANKENSTEIN
RX-7
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EVENT
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WINNERS
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JUNE/JULY 2016 - $4.99
AUDIOCONTROL’S
GAME CHANGING
NEW AMPLIFIER
PAS_2016_137_June-July_Cover.indd 1
2016-05-25 4:11 PM
@AudioControlInc
AudioControl
AudioControl
4 OHM POWER VS THD+N @ 1000 HZ 14.4V BATT
AudioControl
LC-4.800
Cogent Audio Labs
4 OHM POWER vs THD+N @ 1000 Hz 14.4V Batt
10
5
2
1
0.5
0.2
0.1
%
0.05
LC-4.800
REVIEWED
AS SEEN IN THE
PASMAG JUNE/JULY
BOOST AND SWAP
ISSUE
@AudioControlInc
0.02
0.01
Amplifier
Review
0.005
0.002
0.001
100m
200m
500m
1
2
5
10
20
50
100
200
500
1k
W
AUDIO CONTROL LC-4.800
4 OHM POWER vs THD+N
1000 Hz
14.4V Batt
2 OHM POWER VS THD+N @ 1000 HZ 14.4V BATT
Cogent Audio Labs
2 OHM POWER vs THD+N @ 1000 Hz 14.4V Batt
10
5
2
1
0.5
0.2
You asked and
Audiocontrol
delivered.
Simplifying
OEM integration
with the newest
multi-channel
amplifier.
0.1
%
0.05
0.02
0.01
0.005
0.002
0.001
2
5
10
20
50
100
200
500
1k
W
AUDIO CONTROL LC-4.800
2 OHM POWER vs THD+N
1000 Hz
14.4V Batt
BRIDGED 4 OHM POWER VS THD+N
Cogent Audio Labs
BRIDGED 4 OHM POWER vs THD+N @ 1000 Hz 14.4V Batt
10
5
2
1
TECHNICAL
DATA
0.5
AMPLIFIER MEASURED PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS
The following power
measurements
were obtained using
industry standard
methods. (100 HZ
@ 1.0% THD+N Battery voltages
shown +/- 0.2 V)
Manufacturers
Rated Power
Actual Measured Power
@ 1.0% THD+N
@ 12.6 V Battery
0.2
0.1
%
Actual Measured Power
@ 1.0% THD+N
@ 14.4 V Battery
0.05
0.02
0.01
125 x 4 @ 4 Ω
94 x 1 @ 4 Ω
126 x 4 @ 4 Ω
0.005
0.002
200 x 4 @ 2 Ω
159 x 1 @ 2 Ω
206 x 4 @ 2 Ω
0.001
1
2
5
10
400 x 2 @ 4 Ω
325 x 2 @ 4 Ω
20
50
100
200
500
1k
W
AUDIO CONTROL LC-4.800
424 x 2 @ 4 Ω
BRIDGED 4 OHM POWER vs THD+N
1000 Hz
14.4V Batt
MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Cogent Audio Labs
MAX FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE
+6
+5
+4
+3
+2
+1
-0
-1
I
n response to an overwhelming amount of
requests from their dealers,
AudioControl has introduced a new
line of multi-channel amplifiers
designed to make OEM integration
simple and easy, as well as bringing
proven AudioControl technologies
like AccuBASS® and GTO signal
sensing directly to the amplifiers.
We wanted to have a look
for ourselves, so they were kind
enough to send one of the new
LC-4.800 multi-channel amps for
us to mess around with.
“THE
AUDIOCONTROL
LC-4.800 IS A
FOUR CHANNEL
CLASS D
AMPLIFER
WITH SOME
INNOVATIVE
AND UNIQUE
Features and Construction
FEATURES.”
The AudioControl LC-4.800 is
PAS_2016_JuneJuly_137_TR_AudioControl_LC-4.800_REPRINT.indd 3-4
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a four channel Class D amplifier
with some innovative and unique
features. It is rated at 125 watts
per channel into four ohms, and
200 watts per channel into two
ohms. Capable of operating in 4,
3, or 2 channel mode makes the
LC-4.800 a flexible platform for
many system designs.
Connections are all made on
the front edge of the amplifier, and
the controls and adjustments are
made from the top by removing the aluminum top cover. This
overall design promotes ease of
installation and tuning, since the
wires are easier to hide and there
is no need to do a lip stand on the
floor mat to find the controls. One
of the features that immediately
caught my attention was the connections for six high level input
channels instead of the usual four.
To make OEM integration simpler,
the LC-4.800 has an additional pair
of high level, high frequency inputs
that are already internally summed
to the front outputs. These are
designed to be driven with the
cars tweeter outputs, while the
“normal” front inputs obtain signal
from the front midrange channels
of the OEM system. A separate level
control is provided for the high frequency front inputs so getting the
balance of high to mid frequencies
d
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r
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10
20
50
100
200
500
1k
2k
5k
10k
20k
40k
20k
40k
Hz
AUDIO CONTROL LC-4.800
MAXIMALLY FLAT - FREQUENCY RESPONSE
ref - 2.0V @ 4 Ohms
CROSSOVER RANGE - FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Cogent Audio Labs
CROSSOVER RANGE - FREQUENCY RESPONSE
+6
+4
+2
-0
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is a piece of cake. Also internally
connected to the high level inputs
is the GTO signal sensing turn on
circuitry, which can be used to turn
the amp on and off in the absence
of a dedicated remote-on wire.
The amp has two pairs of RCA
inputs and a pair of RCA outputs to
feed a second amplifier.
The amplifier is equipped with
an adjustable 30-300Hz LinkwitzRiley high pass crossover for the
front channels, while the rear
channels have the same frequencies and alignment, but can be set
for either high or low pass. Both
sets of channels can be individually
set for stereo or mono operation
as well, which is handy when using
the amp in bridged mode. When
it comes time to set the gains,
AudioControl has come up with
a clever assistant in the form of
their MILC™ or “Maximum Input
Level Control” circuit. This patentpending circuit is designed to warn
the tuner of unwanted clipping or
distortion. Three LED’s provide information on the maximum levels
for clean input signal and amp gain
settings. Also part of the tuning
process is the setup of AudioControl’s patented AccuBASS® circuit,
which provides compensation for
the bass roll-off in many factory
systems, and restores the full rich
sound of your music.
An optional ACR-1 remote control can be used as a master level
control or to provide level control
of the low level outputs.
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Listening
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10
20
50
100
200
500
1k
2k
Hz
AUDIO CONTROL LC-4.800
CROSSOVER RANGE - FREQUENCY RESPONSE
ref - 2.0V @ 4 Ohms
5k
10k
Always my favorite part of the
review process, I connected the
TECHNICAL DATA
AMPLIFIER
Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to 2V output.
(CEA-2006A) (1 watt @ 4 ohms)
-73.0dBA
Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to full output.
-93.9dBA
THD+N at rated power
<1.0%
Maximum Efficiency at full 2 ohm power per ch.
75.0%
Idle Current
1.2A
Input Sensitivity
260mV - >20V
Maximum Current @ full power, lowest rated impedance
76.3A
Frequency Response (-3dB)
27Hz – 34.0Hz
High Pass Crossover
30Hz – 300Hz
-12dB/oct
Low Pass Crossover
30Hz – 300Hz
-12dB/oct
Bass EQ boost (Max)
+22dB @ 58Hz
LC-4.800 to a twelve inch woofer
and a pair of ultra high end 6.5”
component speakers in custom
cabinets. The internal crossovers
were used to set the sub to about
80Hz, and the stereo speakers
at around 50Hz. From the outset
the LC-4.800 sounded transparent and offered no obvious sonic
signature of its own. To quote the
famous Stewart Hegeman line,
it’s like “a straight wire with gain”.
This is precisely what a good amplifier should do; simply amplify
the signal, without adding any
noise or alteration of the music.
I listened to a few favorite tracks
including the complex and detailed
“A Day in Tunisia” by Spies, and
“Ride of the Valkyries” by The Cincinnati Pops. Both of these tracks
sounded very realistic and lifelike,
with all of the apparent energy
and airiness in these amazing old
Telarc recordings. And it was with
these tracks I noted the level of detail and sense of space the AudioControl amp managed to produce.
Don Dorsey’s synthesizer work
and a Neil Peart drum solo proved
that the LC-4.800 amp had good
control of the loudspeakers. Even
at high volumes there was no sign
of ringing or overhang in Peart's
always amazing drum work and the
sound was tight and accurate, with
the dry decay of Don’s synth being
reproduced realistically. The stereo
image was also excellent and the
previously mentioned sense of
space made things almost three
dimensional.
2016-05-26 2:39 PM
TEST REPORT AudioControl LC-4.800
AudioControl.com
AudioControl
AudioControl
CANADA’S SOURCE FOR MODIFIED CAR CULTURE
$4.9
Conclusion
The AudioControl LC-4.800
is a solidly built and well
engineered product. It’s an
ideal choice if you are looking
to upgrade your OEM system,
or as the beginnings of a full
blown aftermarket system.
Thanks to the added flexibility
provided by the additional
summable high-level inputs,
the GTO signal sensing, and
the AccuBASS processing,
this is an amp that solves
virtually all the installation
issues. And just to top it off,
with the MILC indicators, the
always critical gain adjustment becomes simple and
straightforward. It looks good
and sounds good, because,
well, it is good!
D:
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Moving to the test bench,
I went through the normal
battery of tests, pushing the
amp to its absolute performance limits, and recording
the data. Throughout my
testing it measured favorably in all respects. The amp
turned on and off without
pops or thumps, and when
I did nasty things to it, like
dead shorting the outputs
at high power it simply
protected and then worked
properly again when reset. No
fuss, no drama, and best of
all, no failures.
@AudioControlInc
80
0A
MP
Performance/Bench
Measurements
@AudioControlInc
ONLY 9!
AU
.
-4
DI
OCO ROL LC
NT
SHOW TURNED TRACK
MITSUBISHI EVO X
E55 SWAPPED
MERCEDES CLS
BOOST&SWAP
ROTARY
FRANKENSTEIN
PREMIUM DSP MATRIX PROCESSORS
TAKE CONTROL WITH INCLUDED SMART USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE
RX-7
FEATURED
EVENT
#TBGLIVE
WINNERS
ARMANDO
VILLARREAL’S
WRX STI
+
GIOVANNY
AYALA’S
EVO X
SPRING BREAK
NATIONALS’ 30TH
ANNIVERSARY
LEVEL AND LINE LEVEL INPUTS | DIGITAL COAX AND OPTICAL INPUTS | ASSIGNABLE REMOTE LEVEL CONTROL
PASMAG.COM
MULTI-CHANNEL DSP MATRIX PROCESSORS | PREMIUM OEM INTEGRATION | ACCUBASS® PROCESSING | SPEAKER
PM40069655
R10760
Display Until 07/15/16
JUNE/JULY 2016 - $4.99
Learn more at audiocontrol.com
PAS_2016_137_June-July_Cover.indd 1
www.audiocontrol.com
425.775.8461
PAS_2016_JuneJuly_137_TR_AudioControl_LC-4.800_REPRINT_v2.indd 1-2
AUDIOCONTROL’S
GAME CHANGING
NEW AMPLIFIER
LC-4.800
REVIEWED
LC-4.800
2016-05-25 4:11 PM
Amplifier Test Report
2016-06-01 11:08 AM