Maybe this is interesting for you guys...
A friend of mine has bought a Xetec USC-EVO for his new Mazda 3.
It's a small unit to mount behind or under the dash that gives you 3 RCA outputs (7v balanced) with a remote controller 2 Line-in connectors, all configurable.
I'm going to install it soon in his car, with the use of 2 iso connectors (1 female/male and 1 male/female) so we don't need to strip & solder the original wires. If you want more info you can always check their website: http://www.xetec.de

I'll tell you how it performs when it's mounted.

Picture:
http://www.xetec.de/_upload/usc-evo-1.jpg

I doubt this works with the BOSE hu

Actually, yes it probably will work.

The minimum level for the high-level inputs is 250mV. The Bose HU puts out way more than that even with volume set at 20. (At 30 you have at least 1 Volt for most recordings.)

It also lists its input impedance as 660 Ohms for the high-level which will not hurt anything. Should work great.

One word of caution: It looks like it auto detects for high-level inputs and switches to them when they are present. If it is looking for a DC level shift, it is going to get it as soon as the car is on. The HU of the RX-8 is in effect always on. It merely has the volume turned down when you turn it "off". The reason this is important is for the people who are trying to use an additional MP3 player on the RCA inputs. Those inputs might never get engaged because the LOC thinks the HU is on even when it is "off".

Looks like a good unit. Very nice specs.

-Mr. Wigggles

How will this device make my sound better? I'm a novice in the sound system game.

I couldn't find this thing for sale in the states at all.

But it looks like it is about $500. For that price you could just buy a Clean Sweep.

-Mr. Wigggles

Hi

The Xetec USC costs in Germany 175€ = 205 $.

Leo

That's a good price.

-Mr. Wigggles

I just talked to the US rep. They can ship them straight from Germany to the US for $289 (I don't know if that includes shipping or not)

That's better than I initially thought but it is still very close in price to the JL CleanSweep which can be had for $350 (or less).

Personally I would go CleanSweep or the SoundGate.

-Mr. Wigggles

Ps. CleanSweeps auto-eq function would not be necessary for the RX-8 since the signals coming out the Bose head unit are ruler flat from 20Hz to 20KHz. I have not tested the stock head unit.

i heard the cleansweep requires you to use their volume control nob and not the head units one. that alone makes it out of the question for me.

djseto,

That is only because many cars vary the equalization at the different volumes. Many cars pump up the bass when the volume is low for instance.

JL recommends you use their volume knob but it is not required for the RX-8 since it doesn't have any advanced eq'ing in the HU. At the minimum, the frequency response of the RX-8 BOSE HU is flat from volume 20 to volume 30 (more than likely it flat at all other volume levels as well.)

So you really don't need to calibrate anything.

-Mr. Wigggles