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Topic: Measure car stereo and fix sound? (Read 1791 times) previous topic - next topic
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Measure car stereo and fix sound?

I've got a car audio system which sounds very bright. There is some bass mostly in the lower regions, but overal it sounds very weak without any impact. The bass is noticable when not driving but when driving it gets easily drowned by external noise. Together with very bright highs it just sounds awful.
It has a 5 band EQ and I've fiddled with it a lot but i just cannot get it to sound right. I feel like there are very high but narrow peaks and cuts. So the simple 5 band EQ is not enough to fix the sound.

I would like to do some measurements, to find what is really wrong here, but i'm not sure how to do that. I guess i can do that with my phone. At the moment i have the Spectroid app.
I have no sound to play for a measurement. Should i use white noise for that?

Any advice or guides how to do this?

Re: Measure car stereo and fix sound?

Reply #1 –
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I've got a car audio system which sounds very bright. There is some bass mostly in the lower regions, but overal it sounds very weak without any impact. The bass is noticable when not driving but when driving it gets easily drowned by external noise.
You MIGHT need to add an amplifier and/or upgrade your speakers, or possibly add a subwoofer.   Maybe visit a car stereo shop to see what they recommend.

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I feel like there are very high but narrow peaks and cuts. So the simple 5 band EQ is not enough to fix the sound.
That can be a problem.    A 5-band equalizer is usually OK for making everyday "normal" adjustments but resonances and standing wave problems tend to be more narrow.    A DSP unit (miniDSP, etc.) can give you more precise control.     The 5-band EQ should do a reasonable job of knocking-down the "brightness" but if you don't have enough bass, you can just end-up boosting distortion.

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I would like to do some measurements, to find what is really wrong here, but i'm not sure how to do that. I guess i can do that with my phone.
REW is very popular and free, but you need a measurement mic (about $100).

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At the moment i have the Spectroid app.
Maybe "useful" but the microphone in your cell phone doesn't have calibrated frequency response.

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I have no sound to play for a measurement. Should i use white noise for that?
Usually pink noise or a frequency-sweep.   Audacity can generate nose (white, pink, etc.) or tones or a sweep (that they call a "chirp"), or let REW do it.

Re: Measure car stereo and fix sound?

Reply #2 –
Thank you for your advice! I don't have a calibrated microphone. So i don't think i can fix or even find the issue myself. I might go to the car stereo shop.

Re: Measure car stereo and fix sound?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Mark7 on
I might go to the car stereo shop.
That's a laugh!  I'd be surprised if they know any more than banging in a 1000W amp and huge drivers where your boot/trunk should be!  On the other hand, audio systems being installed as standard by the car manufacturers themselves are now properly researched and superb.
It's your privilege to disagree, but that doesn't make you right and me wrong.

Re: Measure car stereo and fix sound?

Reply #5 –
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On the other hand, audio systems being installed as standard by the car manufacturers themselves are now properly researched and superb.
Apparently, his is NOT "superb".    The stereo in my 2004 Honda isn't terrible, but it's also far from superb...   It could stand more power in the bass.

Re: Measure car stereo and fix sound?

Reply #6 –
It depends on the car of course; I wasn't thinking that old either.  And it depends what the user wants – but the times I've been able to hear every detail from another car makes me wonder about their hearing loss...
It's your privilege to disagree, but that doesn't make you right and me wrong.