How to tune your audio system, write-up.

[Checkered-Member]

Before I begin, this write-up is for people with equalizer (or built in EQ in to the HU, 7 band or more) and subs.

It has been a real struggle for me for the last 10 weeks to tune my system, so that every song sounds perfect, every note is hit without too much disturbance, vibrations, and without putting stress on my amps. By trial and error I came up with this write-up.

I’ll try to keep this as generic as possible.

The very first thing you want to do, is pick 2-3 songs that you think sound good, that have a wide verity of notes and tunes (voices, wide base, highs, not too fast not too slow) that once I picked (just to give you an idea) were Nelly – Dilemma (for its good mix of highs and lows), Jessica Simpson - Irresistible Remix (for its wide base) and Matchbox 20 – I’m not crazy (for its vocals)

1. Turn off your subs, then decided what crossover frequency you want your speakers to be (mid-high) or (low-mid-high) I recommend keeping your speakers at mid-high, unless you have some really bad a** JL’s or Infinities.

2. Unplug the amp bass controller, or set it at 0 gain (if so equipped) make your HU as neutral as possible (most HU have a small EQ so set everything to 0, no “loudness” or whatever you have.)

3. Put volume at 80-90%, set your EQ to 0 gain on all the bands (flat line) then work from the highs down.

4. Select the highest band; put it all the way up then all the way down, listen carefully where does it sound best all the way up or down, let’s say its up, then work from 0 all the way up, try to find a middle ground. Tips: the ban should not be just set at highest or lowest unless you are absolutely sure it needs to be there.

5. As you work your way down, each neighboring band should not be higher/lower then 2 bars (so lets say one band is at 4 the next one should be between 6 to 2) listen to all 2-3 songs and adjust accordingly, pay attention to excessive vibrations/distortions listen that the songs don’t sound spotty.

In the end, your EQ curve should look like a valley or a hill, without too many zigzags.

6. Find where your subs sound best, don’t just make them face the trunk, move the box around see what works.

7. Turn on your subs, adjust the low bands according to what makes the subs hit hard without distorting, this step will take you a while listen to many different songs, after you are satisfied with how your overall system sound. There isn’t much more I can say about this step, it will require some time with trial and error.

8. Plug in your bass controller (if so equipped) and adjust it. I adjust it with every song, that’s the whole point of a remote bass controller (or use the one in your HU/EQ)

9. Turn on your car and have someone drive while you make the changes, this step is necessary because at 14.0-14.6V (while engine is on) your system will sound different then at a standing 12.0-12.4V, you want to find a middle ground, adjust only slightly in areas you feel necessary.

Good Luck

[Simmsled]

Im not deleting this, but I am locking it.

I do not think that this is a good generic guide for system setup.