AudioControl D-5.1300

A full-system amp, plus digital signal processing

Two keys to unlocking great sound in a car stereo system are extensive control and serious power — and this amp's got them both. For control, AudioControl's D-5.1300 provides an expansive digital tuning workstation with a connection to your laptop. For power, this five-channel amplifier puts out 100 watts RMS to four channels and up to 500 watts RMS to a sub. If you're into mega-power, competition-type systems, you could bridge this amp to 3-channel mode and drive a couple of high-performance components with 400 watts RMS each while powering a sub with 500 watts RMS — that's 1300 watts in total.

Computer-controlled digital signal processing

You won't find any knobs on the D-5.1300 — you make adjustments and save settings via your laptop (PC or Mac). AudioControl's Smart-User DSP software package includes 12 or 24 dB/octave Linkwitz-Riley crossovers, 30-band equalizers, parametric filters, time delay/alignment for inputs and outputs, phase correction, AccuBass™ bass correction, and real-time analyzers (RTA) for the inputs and outputs so you can visually confirm the improvements in the sound.

It's made to work with a factory radio

Eight active speaker-level inputs allow you to connect this amp to almost any factory system, even ones that have separate pre-filtered, time-aligned, and amplified signals going to separate factory speakers and tweeters. The D-5.1300 sums them into one smooth, unified signal for you to balance, align, and tune for your high-performance speakers. AudioControl's Great Turn On (GTO™) signal-sensing circuitry turns the amp on automatically whenever it senses an incoming signal, so you won't have to run a separate turn-on lead back to the receiver.

Active controls for active systems

This amp will work well, for example, with a 3-way system that uses tweeters, midrange speakers, and a subwoofer. Highly adjustable crossover networks let you set high-pass, low-pass, and bandpass filters so each driver gets only the frequencies it was designed to play. AudioControl's AccuBASS® circuit ensures maximum bass performance, even if you're connected to a factory radio that normally turns down the lower frequencies as you turn the volume up

Convenient features

Onboard LEDs indicate optimized signal flow for inputs and outputs, plus give you a warning when a source is too loud and causing distortion. An optional wired remote can get assigned to each and every channel pair so you can control volume from the front seat.

Important Note: Some factory radios and amplifiers will not work without sensing that its speakers are connected to their outputs. If you don't have output from your factory system after installing this amplifier, you'll need an AudioControl load-sensing adapter (sold separately) to correct the issue.