Audio Tuning

[VexXx Dogg]

Hey guys,

This is just a request for info, as I've never really done this before.
The install is finished in my truck and I've done some very basic tweaking.
HU - Alpine 149BT
Amp JL Audio XD 700/5
Skar comps on the front, skar coax in the rear.
RF P3 10 Shallow in a 0.4 cuft encl sealed.

I realized that both the HU and the amp has HPF filters and currently both are on, am I shooting myself in the foot?

Should I only use one processing source, possibly the HU, since it has really good crossover and parametric EQ's and just turn off the filter on the amp?

Thanks!

[nervewrecker]

I not familiar with that deck and watching house so I too lazy to google.

What slopes it got on the xovers?

[VexXx Dogg]

Adjusting the Channel (Ch.)
Setting contents:
Front (HPF) / Rear (HPF) / SUBW (LPF)
Selecting the Cut-Off Frequency (Freq.)
Setting contents:
20 / 25 / 31.5 / 40 / 50 / 63 / 80 (Initial setting) / 100 / 125 /
160 / 200 (Hz)
Adjusting the Slope
Setting contents:
Flat (Initial setting) / 6 / 12 / 18 / 24 dB/oct.
Adjusting the Level (Lev.)
Setting contents:
−12 to 0 (dB) (Initial setting:

[VexXx Dogg]

Parametric EQ settings
Adjusting the Band
Setting contents:
Band1/Band2/Band3/Band4/Band5/Band6/Band7/Band8/
Band9
Adjusting the Frequency (Freq.)
Adjustable frequency bands: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Band1: 20 Hz ~ 100 Hz (63 Hz default)
Band2: 63 Hz ~ 315 Hz (125 Hz default)
Band3: 125 Hz ~ 500Hz (250 Hz)
Band4: 250 Hz ~ 1 kHz (500 Hz)
Band5: 500 Hz ~ 2 kHz (1 kHz)
Band6: 1 kHz ~ 4 kHz (2 kHz)
Band7: 2 kHz ~ 7.2 kHz (4 kHz)
Band8: 5.8 kHz ~ 12 kHz (8 kHz)
Band9: 9 kHz ~ 20 kHz (16 kHz)
Setting the Bandwidth (Q)
Setting contents:
3.0 (Initial setting) / 4.0 / 5

[nervewrecker]

Not bad.

Doors dampened?

I'd Start with something like a 100hz hpf on a shallow slope like -12db and keep dropping until it looses its authority. Hpf off on amp and sub disconnected.
Should you drop and find you not getting what you want a steeper slope could be used like -18 or -24, the second gives a sharp cutoff.

Do the same with the sub bringing up the lpf till it blends or you get the sound you want.

Not a problem if you have gaps in your xover freq.

Should you have a certain portion of frequencies too loud, obnoxious and unbearable but can't drop the hpf anymore try a higher hpf, gentle slope and activate that on the amp for a steep cutoff where they now both couple.

Do the same with the sub and tweak levels if you have that option till you get the sound you want.

[VexXx Dogg]

Thanks.
I guess I should take the speakers frequency ranges into account here as well.
The comps can go as low as 58hz, the coax as low as 80.

I guess I can take the opportunity to properly set the amp input sens using JL's voltmeter method - right now it's set low down just to break in the stuff.
I smell a weekend subproject.

[SR]

run the amp full range and use the settings on the deck alone(this should be more than sufficient)

[nervewrecker]

You have independent front and rear hpf?

If not just do like 100hz shallow slope on the deck and couple the amp hpf for approx 90hz for the coax and about 60 on the comps.

If you do then you can use sharp cut offs / sleep slopes

[kavaninho]

Real nice setup dude!

[VexXx Dogg]

@SR and nerve, thanks for the input (no pun intended) - I'll let you know how it goes. Hadda remove seat to make adjustments, so maybe over the weekend.

[SQ Audio]

lol @ no pun intended

[OffshoreMarketing]

link me if you need help over the weekend i should be free

[VexXx Dogg]

One more question.

Should I use an attenuated signal for the input sens voltage tuning?
I was told that a -3db may be better to use for everyday music than 0db.

[SR]

What signal are your planning to use

[VexXx Dogg]

http://www.realmofexcursion.com/downloads.htm

50 Hz Sine wave for Sub channel
1 khz sine wave for F/R

[SR]

I can do it by ear.....but recomend using a proper test disc with tones i can give you a copy of the iasca max db3 disc in mp3 format if you want just need a usb stick

[Aaron 2NR]

i cud get it too?

[VexXx Dogg]

Okay, so I barely got a chance to properly set the gain this weekend due to home renovation projects but I did get a chance to disable the processing on the amp and turn all the filters off.

All the processing is now done from the HU. I turned off the sub just to hear some decent midbass and it sounds a whole lot more balanced now. Still not where I want it, I guess I have to play around with the parametric EQ and xover a bit.

Long time I've been out of this, it's a lot of fun!

[nervewrecker]

That head unit keeps the setting if you remove the battery pole? Just asking

Tweak the xover frequencies and slopes a bit though, might get what you looking for. If you cant get it and what you have falls inbetween what you want activate the onboard xovers on the amp and couple them to suit.

Wont hurt to try and tweak some of the eq bands at first and see what results it gets you.

I usually like to do it in the night in the dark when its quiet, donno bout you lolz.

[VexXx Dogg]

Did some playing around and went aggressive on the xover slopes

Fronts 63Hz 24db/oct 0db
Rear 80Hz 24db/oct 0db
Sub 80hz 24db/oct 0db

Getting there, but my sub bass almost disappear lol. That's what I get for refusing to compromise on space and sticking with a 10" sealed @ 0.4 cuft.
Fronts sounding nice, getting a touch of bass in the right spots.

Parametric still barely touched. Tried to fill out the bottom end a bit by boosting 31.5 and 63 hz a bit.

[SR]

Why 24db slopes

[VexXx Dogg]

Still fiddling eh.... I went to extreme ends of the slope to see if I could hear any differences. 6 was kinda sloppy, so I went all the way to see how it sounds.

Will run the slopes at 12db to see how it swings. Think 24 is too sharp for my setup?

[SR]

Try 12db on the high pass 50 hz front 63 rear and 50 hz low pass at 24db

[VexXx Dogg]

Will do on my evening drive home and update tomorrow.

thank you kind sir

[SR]

What speakers on the front stage?

[VexXx Dogg]

https://www.skaraudio.com/products/spea ... ystem.html

hmmm, these come with 12db passives, should I run the front flat then?

[SR]

Ok usabke freq range is from 58hz so you shouldnt go loweer than the 63 hz high pass as any lower would probably shorten the lifespan the 12 db on the xover is for the high pass for the tweeter

[VexXx Dogg]

great thanks!

[pioneer]

Excellent choice on headunit, glad you took my advice.

As SR said, use the xover from the deck and set amp to full range

Deck can go flat/12/18/24 db per octave

[VexXx Dogg]

Yep, @pioneer - no regrets with the Alpine HU. As expected.

@SR, made the suggested tweaks. Got the sub to respond a whole lot differently (me gusta). Upfront bass from the comps not as expected, probably because I didnt soundproof the doors. Acoustics in the truck plenty different from the legacy.