VIBE Audio CLLOC-V7 Critical Link Line Level Converter, Black

Bought this device not knowing if I'd actually need it when installing a Kenwood underseat subwoofer (KSC-SW11). I bought them both at the same time and it was lucky I did really. I was going to be running the sub direct from the car's rear speakers due to my factory head unit not having RCA outputs, and I initially setup the sub in a test configuration (before final placement) without using the Vibe converter. I was really shocked at how poor the power output was, the sub could hardly be felt or heard, clearly not enough signal for the sub to pick up on. As I was using the rear speakers I'd have to fully fade the sound to the rear speakers to get it to work somewhat normally, but the quality was woeful. Obviously this was not acceptable as that would mean nothing (mid and treble) coming from the front speakers. At this point I was thinking that maybe this was not going to work at all, maybe my factory head unit (Ford Sync 3) was just not suitable to run a sub from the rear speakers, and I did not want to use the front speakers to run it from. So I decided I'd try the Vibe converter in the test setup... Wow, the difference was incredible, I couldn't believe good this this little device is, it transformed the power output from the sub. The small downside to this little unit is that it's another (albeit small) piece of kit to fit into the setup, so you have to find a suitable place to put it. I put it next to the sub, tucked away under the seat with all cables wrapped in neoprene. I'm really happy I decided to get one of these Vibe converters and now my car audio setup is the best it's ever been.

Super

Good

So this is actually better than expected usually there is massive background noise associated with these type of devices. No bg noise, sound quality is good. Make sure you power it up from an accessory like cigarette lighter not from battery straight on.

I recently decided I wanted to add a bit more bass to my car by installing a small active subwoofer in the boot. The problem was, like most modern cars, my factory head unit doesn't have any RCA outputs to send a signal to an amplifier. That's where this little black box from VIBE comes in. This line level converter is designed to tap into your existing speaker wires, take that high-level signal, and convert it into a low-level RCA signal that any aftermarket amp can use. Installation was pretty straightforward. The hardest part was just getting access to the back of the stereo and identifying the correct rear speaker wires. Once I'd done that, connecting them to the converter was simple enough. It also has a remote-out feature, which cleverly detects a signal on the speaker lines and then sends a 12v signal to turn your amplifier on and off with the stereo. This is a brilliant feature as it saves you having to run a separate remote wire from a fuse box. Once it was all hooked up, I was really impressed. There's no buzzing, no alternator whine, and no weird distortion. It just provides a clean, solid signal to my sub, and the sound quality is excellent. For such a small and inexpensive device, it performs brilliantly. The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is a minor niggle: the screw terminals for the speaker wires are very small and close together. It was a bit fiddly to get the wires in and secured properly, especially working in the tight space behind the dashboard. It's not a deal-breaker at all, but slightly larger terminals would make the installation process absolutely perfect. Verdict: An essential and high-quality piece of kit for anyone wanting to add an amplifier to a factory car stereo. It’s well-priced, the remote-out feature is a massive plus, and the sound quality is spot on. Just be prepared for some slightly fiddly connections!