Surround sound is quickly becoming the norm in audio circles. You wouldn't dare buy a receiver for your home that didn't have it, and soon it may be the same for cars, as artists are already beginning to release CDs in multi-channel format. DVDs and DSS satellite currently have Dolby Digital 5.1 on their systems.
Car audio has already taken notice, as evidenced by mobile DVD players from all the big head unit manufacturers. A car is the perfect place for surround sound, since they all seem to come with front and rear speakers, but until those new multi-channel CDs come out what are you going to do for a solid sound stage anchored on the top of your hood?
Working in conjunction with the man who originally started the company and continues to be a pioneer in sound, Rockford Fosgate recently introduced an updated RFQ5000 surround sound processor with Jim Fosgate's newest Dolby Pro Logic II on board. The original RFQ5000 debuted at the 2000 CES, and the updated version is shipping now. We went to Rockford Fosgate's headquarters in Tempe, Arizona to listen to what Dolby calls: "The most important event in analog surround sound processing in 15 years."
Installed in a 1999 Dodge Durango, the RFQ has everything you need for an awesome system: left, center and right front speakers, a pair of high mounted surrounds and, of course, awesome bass. According to Rockford Fosgate, the RFQ5000 will correctly decode any surround sound format: 5.1, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic, etc. An important thing to note is that the RFQ does all its work through analog processing. Dolby Digital and DTS use separate tracks for each channel. What that means for the user is that it works on anything - radio, CD, DVD, games, all of it.
The RFQ5000 is a fairly small box that is supposed to be mounted in the back next to the amplifiers. A remote control of sorts, consisting of five LEDs and a push button, allows you to "see" the sound channeling around and defeat it entirely. Setup can be simple or complex, depending on how much of a tweeker you are. The system allows you to adjust all the channels independently and even allows you to "steer" the center channel.
Without getting too technical, the newest version of Dolby Pro Logic is quite an improvement over the original. Using a technique that is deceptively simple but very effective, there is a great deal more to this processor. Some enhancements include a bass management function that allows bass to pass through the main speakers, and full range stereo surround (the original was mono).
As for listening, the effect of the RFQ5000 is nothing short of dramatic. The sound stage changes entirely with a great deal of sound being sent to the center channel, so both people in the front seat get a balanced sound. This has the effect of making the sound quieter, but the total effect more than compensates.