This subject is somewhat generic in that it could apply to any car. But in general I'm looking for advice on how to set the frequency responses on head units for a good full sound with bass.

My old stand by was turn up bass all the way, and treble up a few clicks, turn down mid a few clicks. But that seems crude.

Basic questions like, can a guy just use the treble/mid/bass settings or even loudness and bass boost, and get good sound?
Is there an advantage to getting into the freq/hz response + - "pro settings"?

Any audiophiles want to share something on how to set your head unit for basic good car audio?

I was digging around for recommendations on where to set them for an initial setting.

Found these:





Its probably important to know I usually listen to rock / blues.

The next question would be, does having a sub woofer change everything? lol.

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 05-16-2017).]

To each their own, but I love the ability to tune with Pontiac's 7-band equalizer monsoon head unit. Looks stock, plays CD's, sounds amazing. All 3 of my cars have the same head unit coupled with various pioneer speakers, some stock, some fiero store ABS speaker panels.

Same here. 7 band GM radio does the job with Pioneer speakers and factory sub with RD replacement speaker. All pretty much set as you did above, sounds great.

A-weighting simulates a human's perception of sound at low volume levels (see Fletcher-Munson curves). As long as you don't blast the music, this should be OK.

You could get an A-weighted SPL meter, place it near your head, set the volume knob (and no longer touch it), and then measure the decibels with a 1 kHz test tone.

Fiddle with the treble/bass knobs so that the indicated decibels at various frequencies have the same as the reading as at 1 kHz.

You should be able to download test tones (sine waves) in different frequencies. Maybe use a cassette adapter to get the sound from an mp3 player (with equalizer disabled) to the car audio system. Youtube might even have test tones.

Easiest answer would be, money. Money in equipment is what it will be the main factor in what you are trying to accomplish. What exactly you are going after is only going to dependent on how much you want to spend on the devices.

quote Originally posted by Spadesluck: Easiest answer would be, money. Money in equipment is what it will be the main factor in what you are trying to accomplish. What exactly you are going after is only going to dependent on how much you want to spend on the devices.

Such is life. But without going hog wild and buying more stuff...

Basically I'm asking how to make proper use of the settings on common aftermarket head units that are under 200 bucks. Poineer, Kenwood, JVC, etc.

The easiest way is to properly power speakers with a good amp using whatever decent headunit you want. Overpowering/Under-powering speakers is a common practice. Getting good clean power to the speakers will make all the difference in the world. I would recommend looking at the speakers and then match an amp to said speakers. RMS is what you are looking at here, constant power supplied by amp and constant power the speaker needs to run. Also good grounding on all your equipment is a must.

I am no expert but I do have some experience with this stuff. I do not compete by any means but I do like to have good tunes while driving.

[This message has been edited by Spadesluck (edited 05-19-2017).]

With only a 7-band equalizer head unit you are somewhat limited.

But you want to play 'test music' that covers the full range and set the EQ for a natural sound without over-driving the bass.
This can then be your 'standard' setting and you can bump or reduce frequencies to correct/optimize individual CDs or tracks.
http://www.carsdirect.com/a...gs-to-test-car-audio
http://www.bmwblog.com/2015...-test-cars-speakers/
https://www.cambridgeaudio....ridge-audio-engineer

If you are running amplifiers and processors you have a bit more to play with.
http://www.carstereo.com/help/tweak.cfm

Even if a system has been RTA'd using pink noise, test tones and oscilloscope,
the final tuning is always done by ear using Test CDs anyway and is somewhat subjective.
My Eclipse head unit has a microphone input and built-in RTA (Real Time Analyzer) and Digital Equalizer.
I still did minor final tweaking of the "auto-tune" manually using a Test CD.
https://www.discogs.com/IAS...e-CD/release/6539472
https://www.soundandvision....important-audio-tool

When I was competing with my GT, guys with 'boombox' cars would ask to play one of their CDs in my car
and they'd be amazed to hear a piano etc. in a particular piece of music that they could not hear in THEIR car!

THAT was the difference between Sound Quality and LOUD Bass...
(and I STILL had PLENTY of bass... )


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[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 05-19-2017).]