Good lookin out SPI. I read an article in the latest CA&E Mag that said something that I have always held true. If you have 1000 bucks to spend on a system, spend 900 on speakers. I hold this true to a point. I agree that good speakers DEFFINITELY make the difference. You also need good amplification.

Now back to what you said, when you buy an equalizer, make sure you don't pick a cheap one and also that the EQ has more RMS output voltage than you Preouts do. I have an Alpine deck and it has 4 Volt preouts. I am planning on buying an Audio Control DEQ later on this summer.

 

I have 2 1/2 octave eclipse eq's. Cost a pretty penny, and sucks to try and hide em, but the system can be absolutely fine tuned.

 

some day I would love to put a system in the focus. I had a nice set up in my escort. I had 2 15" kicker comps. Took up all of my trunk. I didn't use an EQ. I think a good digital cross over works just as well. Plus it very true you need to get a good EQ if your going to get one. I've seen nice systems with crummy eq's and I think it actully made it sound worse.

 

i disagree slighty, for amateurs the last thing you want to get in your system is an eq like audio control. most amateurs won't know how to set it and will actualy make it worse. amateurs don't know what to look for, they're just beginning this stuff. most amateurs will boost everything because they think it sounds good but it doesn't. a hu with some eq options if all you need for an amateur, get to know how to use it and it can help your system alot. a pioneer or alpine hu (preferebly pioneer because they have more eq features), an amp with a good amount of power, quality componets, and a good install is important. if the install is done right you shouldn't need an eq as much compared to if you are trying to get it louder and clearer when i's simply that you don't have enough power. if you have enough power a couple adjustments on your hu should be al you need unless your going for a high level expensive system. and voltage of preouts/eq outs doesn't matter if your gains are set right and your not running your rca's by a high current drawing device. your amp will work harder if you have your gains set higher to the point where it can get hot and turn off (my RF punch 360a2 did this on a 1v signal), higher voltage will let you set the gains lower on the amp and therefore let the amp work less but sound quality is the same. there is no difference between (assuming the gains are set correctly) a 500mv (.5 volt) signal and a 4 volt signal. my eq had a 500mv signal and it was sounding the same signal quality as when i had the p750mp (claimed to be a 4 or 6 volt signal) hooked straight up to the amp. lower voltage makes noise get induced alot easier when running by a high current drawing source but that can be avoided by simply not running the wires by the fuel pump or any other item. if you do get an eq though, definately don't get a cheapy pyramid one or something, they will just add noise and disortion to your system.

- Scott

 

EQs may add more precise tuning, but they ALL do so at the expense of added distortion. You will never find an equalizer in a "High End" home system.
Match the right QUALITY components and an EQ shouldn't be necessary.

 

EQs may add more precise tuning, but they ALL do so at the expense of added distortion. You will never find an equalizer in a "High End" home system.
Match the right QUALITY components and an EQ shouldn't be necessary.

It's extremely difficult to do this in the small space of a car, easier in a home system.

As for adding distortion I agree, a cheap eq will add distortion but there are MANY EQ's on the market that do not add significant THD to the system, and more than make up for what they add by enabling the system to provide exceptional sound quality over the entire harmonic spectrum.

 

i agree, if your going to get an eq make sure it's a good one, my suggestions are arc audio or audio control.

- Scott

 

Phoenix Gold makes some good ones too. One of the best was the Rockford Fosgate Symmetry

 

I have been supremely impressed with my eclipse 1/2 octave eq.

 

RPI what do you use for highs?

 

I had the Yellow Pioneer 6x8s but blew them out and bought another set but sold them- they maxed out at 300 watts- i want somthing loud and clear but what some opions first!

 

My highs could never match my sub- Thats what sucked! I had a Audiobahn aw1508t which was 4000 watts max- I got rid of that now im just interested in highs! Any input would be appreciated!

 

For ten years I was a sound engineer for live bands and equalizers were mission critical.

On the hobby side of sound engineering I worked on wiring car audios for friends. Most of the ones that I've tinkered with didn't have an EQ, they say, "I don't need it." I finally convince some of them and once we put it in, they never went back...all they said was, "Holy Crap!"

Yes, we are control freaks and this is just another device to prove that . . . [}]

 

I've got blaupunkt components in front with a 3/4" tweeter, but that doesn't do much. Most of the highs come from the secretly stashed 3 1/2" Macintosh speakers [] However, without the eq the Macintoshes are WAY WAY WAY too bright and you can barely stand to listen to the car. The EQ has made it so that everything is in really good balance, and helped even out some of my gaps in sound quality in the mid range.

 

Ok , as an older maybe too old =P, audiophile. I have my 2 bits to throw in here. Step 1 - if your crossovers and speakers are selected properly and your amps (IE more than 1) and head unit are of decent quality then there will be no need for an EQ - as a matter of my own optinion I would hate to think that every time the song changes I would have to fiddle with an EQ to get my system to sound good on that song. Most modern EQ's will only add another link bettween your head unit and the speakers - every link (ie Connection) provides a potential loss. Step 2 - I do agree however if your on a low end budget and dont have the experiance or means to install a top quality system then an EQ will work wonders on your Rockford, Kenwood, JVC, Sony systems. If you want to see my system install check my gallery or look on my site "www.focusmods.com" we are just starting a focus LX project car for show use. Currently the installed sound/video system hosts 3 12W6V2's - 3 JL 300x2 (crossed one for each sub) - 1 JL 300x4 (front 4 speaker amp) - rear doors is 5x7 DB Drive Platium Coaxials - front doors 5x7 DB Drive Component (seperate crossover and tweeter) - ALPINE head unit - AI Net XM Radio - Alpine 6 disk DVD/CD changer (AI Net). Bear in mind this is a competition car - I would not expect the average every day driver to install a $12,000.00 sound system. Last word on Sound Systems for me today (DYNAMAT) if you dont have it installed your missing the point of installing a system upgrade.

 

I agree with everything except adjusting the EQ for each song. My EQ's are set and stashed hidden. I don't have to adjust, all the EQ did was clean up the gaps in my system, allowing it to be fine tuned for the closest balance. I agree with selecting components to match each other, but that can in the end run get really really expensive since I'd have a hell of a time matching anything with the Macintosh speakers I've got...they are so bright it hurts the hell out of your ears without the EQ.

 

by dynamat i think it's better to say sound deadener, there is cheaper stuff for the price that has the same quality. unless your getting sponsored by dynamat and get it for free go with something else. my two favorites are fatmat ( www.fatmat.com ) and raamat ( http://www.raamaudio.com/ ). the raamat is the best out of the two probably, it's 60 mils thick.

- Scott