Audiophiles and tweak-geeks, Rockford Fosgate's 3Sixty.2 processor offers you the best of all possible worlds. You can keep your factory in-dash stereo, yet still enjoy the high-performance sound that only premium components and extensive sound-shaping features can provide.

While it's true that factory sound systems have gotten better, even the top-of-the-line options don't always deliver sound that satisfies discriminating listeners. And it's not always easy to replace a newer factory stereo — many automobile manufacturers tie the audio controls together with other critical system components, such as climate controls. The 3Sixty.2 lets you add external amplifiers to power premium speakers and subwoofers, and adjust your sound to an unprecedented degree.

Upgrading your factory system
No matter what kind of system you have, from a simple, four-speaker setup to a high-end factory 5.1 surround-sound system, the 3Sixty.2 lets you connect amplifiers to drive your speakers and subs without forcing you to tear apart your dash. You just make power and ground connections, then connect your vehicle's speaker wires to the high-level inputs, and you're ready to set up your new system.

The six preamp outputs supply signal to your front, rear, subwoofer, and centre channel amplifiers. You still control your sources with the factory in-dash stereo, and you can keep using steering-wheel stereo controls or any other special factory equipment in your vehicle.

To make sound adjustments, you'll need a Palm® device (5.0 or higher) with Bluetooth® capability (sold separately). The package includes the software you upload onto your Palm device, which lets you adjust the sound wirelessly from anywhere in the car. This lets you mount the 3Sixty.2 in any convenient, out-of-the-way spot.

Tweaking the sound
The 3Sixty.2 initially sets a flat equalization curve, which cancels any factory tone preset and compensates for deficiencies in your factory stereo's sound processing. After that, you get up to 153 bands of equalization to adjust — 31 bands each for the front left and right speakers, 27 bands each for the rear left and right speakers, 27 bands for a centre channel if you have one, and 10 bands for your subwoofer. You can fine-tune to the "nth" degree, getting the kind of sound that fits your vehicle's natural acoustics like a glove.

The time alignment feature lets you select a listening spot in the vehicle, and adjust the sound from each speaker so that it reaches that spot at the same time. The result? A perfect sonic "sweet spot." Comprehensive crossovers maximize efficiency and clarity by sending your speakers and subs the exact frequencies they were designed to handle. A subsonic filter prevents ultra-low, inaudible frequencies from reaching your subs and diminishing their performance.

When you're done adjusting your sound, you can save your settings to your Palm device. You can experiment with different sound settings comfortably, safe in the knowledge that you can return to your preferred settings anytime you like. And you'll be able to see a before-and-after comparison of your system's sound quality on your Palm device.

Bring along the extra sources
Bring your iPod® or any external source along — the 3Sixty.2 offers you an auxiliary input for easy connection. You also get a 31-band equalizer on the auxiliary input, too, which lets you get high-end performance out of your portables.

Works with your brand-name stereo
It's not just factory stereos that benefit from the 3Sixty.2 — you can use it with brand-name aftermarket stereos, too. You can connect more amps than your current stereo allows, and, more importantly, tweak the sound 'til it's note-perfect.