FAI-3 vs SLC-4?

[doyle]

Hey, I'm new here and there is something that I just can't seem to figure out.

Is there a difference between Scosche FAI-3 and SLC-4? or any Canadian alternatives to these.

It seems like I can only get SLC-4 here in Canada, FAI-3 is nowhere to be found. I want to hook up after market subs and amp to a stock Bose system not changing anything HU-wise.

Help would greatly be appreciated, thanks

[AppleBonker]

Hey, I'm new here and there is something that I just can't seem to figure out.

Is there a difference between Scosche FAI-3 and SLC-4? or any Canadian alternatives to these.

It seems like I can only get SLC-4 here in Canada, FAI-3 is nowhere to be found. I want to hook up after market subs and amp to a stock Bose system not changing anything HU-wise.

Help would greatly be appreciated, thanks

I have never used either (I always replace my head unit), but I'm fairly certain they are essentially the same thing. For what you're looking to do, the SLC4 will be more than acceptable. Just make sure you know which wires to tap into for the converter (check the stickies for your stereo - either Bose or non-Bose).

[rjdmmfl1]

I have never used either (I always replace my head unit), but I'm fairly certain they are essentially the same thing. For what you're looking to do, the SLC4 will be more than acceptable. Just make sure you know which wires to tap into for the converter (check the stickies for your stereo - either Bose or non-Bose).

The SLC-4 is the EXACT same things as the FAI-3... its just that one is almost exclusively sold in Wal-Mart, while the other is available to all retailers... don't ask me why, its just the way it is!

[AppleBonker]

The SLC-4 is the EXACT same things as the FAI-3... its just that one is almost exclusively sold in Wal-Mart, while the other is available to all retailers... don't ask me why, its just the way it is!

Thanks for clearing that up Doc. That's what it looked like to me, but I didn't have enough information to claim it as truth. But you did!

[rjdmmfl1]

yeah, I got that from tech supprt at Scosche

[doyle]

very handy information to clear up, thanks guys.

[xXxCrumpsCoupexXx]

these 2 scosche pieces are crap...they are cheap and finnicky....i'd look for a more well made LOC

[rjdmmfl1]

these 2 scosche pieces are crap...they are cheap and finnicky....i'd look for a more well made LOC

what exactly do you think the purpose of a line out converter is? Why pay alot more for something that'll do the job you need it to do...

if you only need a high low converter for purposes of adding on a sub, then you don't even need this, you can get a smaller cheaper one

if you are ading an aftermarket deck to an OEM amplifier and need to dial down the signal leaving the deck, then this piece works fine

if you are looking for a sound processor to add to an OEM system , then you need something like a Rockford 3sixty.2, or Audio control EQ, etc.

in the future, please try to include facts and actual information rather than "these are crap"... offer alternatives, explain why the alternatives are better... that's how folks on the forum learn from each other!
Modified by rjdmmfl1 at 11:59 AM 9/17/2008

[xXxCrumpsCoupexXx]

as far as the scosche piece being "crap" its kind of hit or miss, i have had issues where sometimes the speaker inputs/outputs are out of phase, one channel of the rca's being bad(or even just bad connectivity due to poor unit design/construction)...i just know that if i had to have some sort of signal converter, i would rather use a PL2 or a pac audio piece...and there are probably more fairly inexpensive alternatives out there

[rjdmmfl1]

OK, I gotcha, so if you're using these as high low converters, then yes, there is the potential for issues... however, I usually recommend this piece for the reason that I stated earlier, in between an aftermarket deck and an OEM amplifier, simply to dial down the signal leaving the aftermarket deck

[xXxCrumpsCoupexXx]

yeah...and as another alternative, i think scoshe makes a radio wiring harness that also has a piece similar to the slc4(but without rca outputs...i don't know if its available for the new nissans, i'll have to check) that steps the signal down and offers individual gain control...but once again, beware of the poor connections in their crimp connectors...also the pac audio oem2 does the same thing(better quality...i think, but slightly higher price)

[rjdmmfl1]

yeah...and as another alternative, i think scoshe makes a radio wiring harness that also has a piece similar to the slc4(but without rca outputs...i don't know if its available for the new nissans, i'll have to check) that steps the signal down and offers individual gain control...but once again, beware of the poor connections in their crimp connectors...also the pac audio oem2 does the same thing(better quality...i think, but slightly higher price)

agreed on both points, but both the SLC-4 and FAI-3A allow individual gain controls for each speaker as well. This is what I meant by dialing down the signal leaving the headunit. This is all done through high level speaker wire connections, not the RCA's.

And yes, PAC audio quality is higher than that of scosche, no question about it!

[Electric Magma]

The reason stores like walmart have products that are same as other products minus the model name, is for price matching. You can't price match a model if no other store carries that particular model...

I know a few places that do that.

[xXxCrumpsCoupexXx]

agreed on both points, but both the SLC-4 and FAI-3A allow individual gain controls for each speaker as well. This is what I meant by dialing down the signal leaving the headunit. This is all done through high level speaker wire connections, not the RCA's.

And yes, PAC audio quality is higher than that of scosche, no question about it!

i know what you mean by individual gain control and both pieces i mentioned allow the same control(but the pl2 is rca only while i think the pac audio piece has both)...and yeah magma, a lot of stores play that game