JL Audio Fix86 worth replacing LC6I?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently running a stock HU in my 2019 Pro, and using an LC6I to feed Focal components and a couple shallow mount JL subs with 2 JL amps.
It sounds decent, but I know it could sound better with an aftermarket HU, but I want to keep the factory one if possible. I’ve been eying the Fix86, and have been reading about it and talking to several shops around my area, and everyone has different opinions and facts about it. All I’m looking to do is tighten up the sound and have a little more control to adjust it the way I want it.
Anyone have experience with this, and is the sound quality marginally better or is it night and day from a Lc6i.
I use Tidal from my phone or IPad to stream Hi-Res with an mqa dac into the aux for the best sound, and don’t bother with usb or Bluetooth, because the sound isn’t that great that way.
Any advice or recommendations are appreciated.

 

Id say go aftermarket head unit. I like my fix86, but it does impart some hiss that you probably wouldn't like. You can mostly eliminate it with the drc knob, but with how serious you are about sound quality....id go with a new head unit.

 

I’m really trying to not go with a new HU is the problem. Why is there a hiss on yours? Is that common in all of them?

 

Aftermarket with wireless phone connection of your choice, I'd suggest Kenwood..
You can put all the lipstick in the world on that Entune, but it will always be a pig..

You seem to be seeking detail in sound.
Aftermarket HU will have 13 band EQ, TA (and then some), crossovers, preamp outputs, retain your steering wheel controls, and give you the sound control you are seeking.

You will NEVER get the detailed sound you are looking for with the Entune.
Been there, done that, wasting hundreds of dollars; LC7i and JBL MS-8.

Stop wasting your money, and find a nice aftermarket HU, get a Maestro steering wheel harness, RCA input cables to your amps (instead of speaker level), and be done with it.

 

Like Danimal86 said go HU. I had one and only kept it due to the extremely good deal I had on my stereo. You can make it work but it’s a PITA. You need the drc knob because the fix automatically resets to 100% output after you disconnect the laptop if your messing with the software. The drc knob will lower the output level to the amp. Calibrate it on like volume 48. Then leave it there. That is the only volume level it will calibrated at. Use the drc knob off the fix as your new master volume control knob. Annoyed yet? You will be eventually. Go HU from the start.

 

Exactly what @Juanjoolio007 said. You are supposed to turn your head unit up to 75% volume and never touch it again, and use the drc knob as the master volume. I emailed JL about the hiss and wanting to use the head unit as the master volume not the drc knob.

"It can work the way you want, but we do note in the manual that you may experience a bit of a hiss, or white noise, when using the OEM volume instead of a DRC. The middle knob of the DRC-200 will always be a master volume so you would just leave it at Max and use the outside knob for the subwoofer. The reasoning behind the noise is that we are now using the OEM stereo as a source and not an amplifier as it was before. We calibrate the FiX device with the stereo at a specific level, when that level changes the FiX still wants to give you full output so there's a void created. In many cases this is barely audible and only heard when the OEM stereo is turned all the way down, but I did want to make you aware of why we make that recommendation.

I compare it to using a home theater receiver; once that is in the system you control the volume from there and not the TV or source unit itself. For example if you are watching a movie through a DVD player and pause it, but turn the volume on the receiver up, you create a slight hiss because it is trying to replicate a signal that is not there"

for me, its not a big deal at all. I end up using both the volume on the head unit, and the volume on the drc knob together. I usually just find that sweet spot on the drc that doesn't have any hiss, and then just use the head unit, but if i'm blasting a song, i'll use the drc.

With the quality of the music you are listening to and not going through bluetooth, i would look into getting a high quality head unit. I would be worried that you wouldn't be happy with the fix. If you were like me and just using spotify over bluetooth, i'd say the fix will work great, but thats not the case.
If you reaaaaalllly have to have to keep the factory head unit, i would talk with @Vector W8 about his setup. It sound like he's really got a tits setup and i believe he kept the factory jbl head unit.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/small-audio-storm-trooper-2015-crewmax-build.20913/

 

Well, so I just bit the bullet and made an appointment to get a new Alpine head unit and be done with it.
Nothing fancy, just wanted better audio quality and to retain the steering controls. Well see if it is worth it.
Thanks for all the info and suggestions!

 

what head unit did you go with?

 

I am sure you will be happier that way. The only reason I didn’t get rid of mine is because I had employee pricing. I was in the works twice to replace it with a new HU but it never happened. Then I traded that truck in.

I can’t for the life of me figure out why JL won’t Program that thing to use the factory HU volume as master. Who knows maybe that’s not possible. I just couldn’t stand having a bass knob, then another knob to control the volume.