CAR AUDIO SPOTLIGHT: Audio Control’s LCQ1

In the years since its inception, the pathway to integrating the factory radio with aftermarket components has been riddled with cheap methods, noisy adaptors and countless failures. The usual method if you wanted to add an amp to your car’s factory system involved the use of a high to low level adaptor, which worked “enough” at the time, although there was inherent noise and a huge lack of performance from this band-aid.

Several years ago, companies including JL Audio and Rockford Fosgate finally took us to a better place with their Clean Sweep and Three-Sixty OEM interfaces, which directly addressed the problems associated with OEM integration. Issues such as pre-amp levels, equalization, signal summing and noise reduction were now easily fixed and gave consumers a better way to upgrade their factory systems, regardless of what trickery the auto industry tried to pull.

What I liked about the advent of these processors was the fact that my clients could now keep their ergonomically correct radios and really do some serious upgrades when it came to the speakers and amplification, which was borderline “terrible” in most factory audio systems. This interface now meant that your new Ford Sync system radio or BMW I-Drive control center would remain and function just as before- BUT- would give you virtually no limit as to how much you could upgrade every other audio component around it!

Fast-forward to the present and take a look at the newest introduction from the folks at Audio Control. Based in Washington State, this little company has been churning out some of the best audio interfaces, equalizers and bass enhancement modules ever heard (Remember the famed Epicenter?)since its inception back in 1977.

I’m proud to introduce you to the LCQ-1 OEM Integration Processor!

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Unlike the Clean Sweep, the LCQ-1 incorporates an adjustable EQ and incorporates internal signal summing, which usually means purchasing a secondary module. In addition, the LCQ-1 provides Audio Control’s famed “AccuBASS” circuitry. This actually corrects for the bass roll-off that is common in many of today’s factory audio systems! This means when your factory system tries to “dumb down” your bass response, you are now able to adjust its level to what you want. Consumers can also add a separate subwoofer bass level knob (ACR2) to achieve even more custom system control with the LCQ-1.

At $299 retail, you simply can’t find a better OEM interface!