Does our MyLink convert 2 channel input into 4?

[rc330]

So, I have a 2013 Camaro with MyLink and the Boston Acoustic audio system. I already replaced the factory amp and installed a Rockford 4 channel and a Rockford mono. Now, I am trying to add an EQ because the 3 channel EQ in the MyLink system just isn't enough.

The issues I'm running into is that I used the adapter to convert the factory amp harness into a 4 channel RCA, but the EQ I bought only takes a 2 channel input. Obviously, there are EQs out there that will take 4 channel input but they cost significantly more.

So my question is, can I simply use the front left and right RCAs and just connect those to the EQ and then to the amp and not have any lose of data? Are those rear channel RCAs nothing more than an exact duplicate of the front RCAs?

The reason I'm doubting the front and rear channels are just duplicates is because the factory system came with a center channel. So I don't know if the head unit is what did the audio processing to convert the 2 channel input signal into a 5 channel (or 3 channel) signal before going to factory amp. Or does the head unit just output 2 channels to the factory amp and the itself amp did the processing afterwards.

Basically, I don't want to use only the 2 front channels and find out that the headunit split some of the audio into 4 channels and now there's some sound that's only the rear channels and not the fronts, which I would completely missing out on if I use only the fronts.

[jeffa]

Originally Posted by rc330

So, I have a 2013 Camaro with MyLink and the Boston Acoustic audio system. I already replaced the factory amp and installed a Rockford 4 channel and a Rockford mono. Now, I am trying to add an EQ because the 3 channel EQ in the MyLink system just isn't enough.

The issues I'm running into is that I used the adapter to convert the factory amp harness into a 4 channel RCA, but the EQ I bought only takes a 2 channel input. Obviously, there are EQs out there that will take 4 channel input but they cost significantly more.

So my question is, can I simply use the front left and right RCAs and just connect those to the EQ and then to the amp and not have any lose of data? Are those rear channel RCAs nothing more than an exact duplicate of the front RCAs?


The reason I'm doubting the front and rear channels are just duplicates is because the factory system came with a center channel. So I don't know if the head unit is what did the audio processing to convert the 2 channel input signal into a 5 channel (or 3 channel) signal before going to factory amp. Or does the head unit just output 2 channels to the factory amp and the itself amp did the processing afterwards.

Basically, I don't want to use only the 2 front channels and find out that the headunit split some of the audio into 4 channels and now there's some sound that's only the rear channels and not the fronts, which I would completely missing out on if I use only the fronts.

The front and rear audio outputs have the same audio content in the MyLink. All of the processing occurs in the factory amp which receives a 4 channel signal from the MyLink. The factory amp actually has 7 channels of output (front components, rear midbass, rear tweeter and center channel) and also does all the signal proessing.The MyLink fader controls the audio level between the front components and the rear midbass and tweeters in the factory 6x9 speakers

Most EQ's that only have a 2 channel input have summing circuits in them that split the 2 channel input to front rear, and most of the time subwoofer outputs. The EQ most of the time has an internal fader control. The EQ should have at least 4 channels of output, plus a subwoofer. If it does not, I would advise you not to use this EQ, not enough flexibility.

What EQ are you planning to use?

[rc330]

Originally Posted by jeffa

The front and rear audio outputs have the same audio content in the MyLink. All of the processing occurs in the factory amp which receives a 4 channel signal from the MyLink. The factory amp actually has 7 channels of output (front components, rear midbass, rear tweeter and center channel) and also does all the signal proessing.The MyLink fader controls the audio level between the front components and the rear midbass and tweeters in the factory 6x9 speakers

Most EQ's that only have a 2 channel input have summing circuits in them that split the 2 channel input to front rear, and most of the time subwoofer outputs. The EQ most of the time has an internal fader control. The EQ should have at least 4 channels of output, plus a subwoofer. If it does not, I would advise you not to use this EQ, not enough flexibility.

What EQ are you planning to use?

Thank you for the detailed response. So I guess I should be fine just using the front left and right channels as the input for the EQ, which is awesome because I don't feel like paying $300+ on an EQ that will accept a 4 channel input and that I can't even control from the front of the car.

I am trying to use the Audiopipe EQ-908X. It does in fact have a 4 channel out plus a subwoofer out. I went for this one because I wanted an EQ that was at least 9 bands and like I said, I want to be able to control it on the fly from the front of the car.

[2012LS3VERT]

You will be fine, you will just lose fader control from the mylink, but the EQ has one. Be aware that the Signal to Noise ratio is kinda high on that EQ. A typical quality EQ/Signal Processor has a >105dB S/N ratio, vs the 94dB this one has.

[Snoman]

The factory myLink has 7 channels out because all 7 channels have been factory tuned to marry the OEM speakers to the Camaro sound stage. Most will not tell the difference until you replace the head unit. Using the factory head unit with an aftermarket processor is essentially having two equalizers negating each other.

Buying an aftermarket processor / EQ without replacing the speakers & head unit is, well.....arguable. Any reputable audio installer worth his salt will tell you that a Sound Processor is the last thing to purchase, after your Amps, Speakers and Head Unit.