I graduated with my MECP advanced certification from Installer Institute in Daytona Beach FL a year out of high school way back in 2004 and of course it was 18 months of doing and learning more of my love for audio and a total blast being 3000 miles from my home in CA on my own and young and I got to experience FL spring break with all my buds from the school. Anyway what u said about the audible frequency range for humans especially the midrange and why NOT to boost them too high is one of the first things we learned at Installer institute and it's so true that it's the exact opposite of how most people would think of boosting the mids of dropping them. That brought back some great memories of one of the first things we learned at that school and the amazing instructors who were the coolest and so knowledgeable. I can say that audio components (or any type of technology for thar matter) was a hell of alot different back in 2004 compared to the stuff we got today class D was a new thing back then and meant only for subs now we got full range high power class D amps built into head units that can rock better than some external amps and these days we got super high power high efficiency amps that can power an entire system with just one and some are so small they can be mounted behind the dash totally out of sight. In 2004 that would be like science fiction. Anyway good video and great call on that advice on how to set midrange frequencies as soon as I heard that it brought me way back to Installer Institute and one of the best times in my young life 😊
DUDE! I have been binge watching car audio videos for a few weeks and this is probably the most helpful video to date. No one is really talking about this topic. Just saw the oscilloscope video also I'm about to tune my system with that. Thanks for the info!!!
@@NextLevelCarAudio , Amazing instructions and information on this video. Bro, do you happened to know a good iOS EQ app that you can recommend? Thanks so much !
Wow it changed my system completely! I’m just a super novice. Your videos are easy to understand. You do a great job at riding the line of explaining for noobys and also making it easy to understand the technical jargon. Great job
Bro, thank you for this explanation. I just had subs forever and recently put in amp'd door speakers. 3k watts on subs and 1.5k on 4way put 2 alternators in 2 batteries etc. Was getting static and popping and sound cutting out. Played around on my own and worked crossovers and that really helped but I wasn't sure about the EQ. I was playing some sinewaves to test but this 5 mins saved me probably hours of screwing around with the EQ. Having the understanding of the way our ears pick up sound makes the idea of tuning the EQ make so much sense now.
Got it working. And tuned with your directions.my amp and subs work amazing,great sound no clipping. Got it set to the max without distortion and it sounds great thank you so much for all of you help and videos. I'll record how it all looks and sounds when I can and I'll send the link.
I grew up installing Car audio stuff and setting up and running Concert /PA speaker systems and wanted to add some useful info. When a recording is mastered they do so using Reference Speaker systems that are as close to a flat frequency response as possible. That is to say a frequency sweep will have the same volume or SPL (Sound Pressure Level) across the entire frequency range. Every listening environment will affect specific frequencies differently (amplifying some and reducing others) and every speaker setup has it's own strengths and weaknesses. In order to hear the music the way it was mastered you either need a reference speaker system in an acoustically neutral environment or you need to adjust your EQ to simulate one! The way to do this is use a tone generator and SPL meter/microphone to test for those frequencies that are skewed by your speaker setup and/or the listening environment and then use the EQ to neutralize those irregularities. I mean, the function of an EQ is in the name; It "equalizes" all frequencies to produce a flat response. Fancy concert setups have motorized or digital equalizers that produce a frequency sweep and read the room from a microphone or multiple microphones and then automatically adjust to neutralize or flatten the high and low spots. In a vehicle you would test from your primary listening position for best results. You don't want your EQ to be flat, you want the frequency response to be flat. That said, you need a reference microphone to do this because a phone mic has it's own strong and weak frequencies. Best most people can do is use a tone generator and test each frequency on their EQ back to back and adjust them to what you perceive to be the same volume level (this will account for strengths and weaknesses in your hearing as well). Follow up with a frequency sweep (one that shows the frequency as it runs) and hopefully it will be pretty close. You may need to adjust a little more to try to account for in-between frequencies that are high or low. All that said, you will never get a totally flat frequency response, even with a 31+ band concert EQ. I watched this video hoping to find how to apply these principles specifically to car audio, but you came at it a little differently. Ultimately whatever sounds good to you is best but once you hear a well adjusted system nothing else sounds good.
This is information is exactly what I’ve been looking for! I’ve been struggling to understand how an EQ works can’t wait to play around with the settings now.
Thanks man, I thought I set my EQ good until I did the smile setting you taught and WOW what a difference. I’ve been listening to my music terribly these last few months lol
Thanks for this!! I’ve been trying to tune my head unit for almost 3 YEARS! It’s sounds great now! Even got rid of that static that use to be in the background
Don't do this method. You'll distort and harm your speaker more easily. Get a rta (sound analyzer) and then cut down the volume for the louder frequencies. You can get more volume and a better eq preset.
I think you did a good job overall. Even though I'm not quite a beginner I think that alot of bassheads only focus on spl vs sq. For us to understand this better we'd have to understand what gain and gain overlap is and how compression and music production affects our systems
Clutch dude. Put a new head unit in and the bass was super muddy and clipping all of a sudden but I couldn't seem to fix it. I used your U method and was able to work off that to get it back to normal. Sounds as good as it ever did.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, was into car audio decades ago, life took a detour but im getting back into it. I have never heard from anyone the info you just laid down, though I'm sure, i see, a lot has changed since the late 90's. Awesome video bro, I apreciate you!
Dude this video came in really hand I've had sound installed in my car for almost a year now, I watched ur video changed my setting yesterday and my car sounds like I just added another sounds system, dude it is LOUD it's ridiculous, thank u so much man🙏🏾
Just came across this video. And let me tell you. My shit sounds amazing and actually full now. Whenever I’d buy or try to do “research” nobody would really explain and say oh it’s just preference. But the smiley face way and then going off preference after is 👌🏽 I appreciate the help.
Crazy how much this just fixed my radio, i was having issues with crunchy noises on the high frequency but it went away if i turned them all the way down, but if i had the bass too high it would make a rattling noise, and i thought my new radio was just bad.
Update: I changed my settings as you suggested and it did make a huge difference sounding so much better then it did! My car has a center speaker in the back I’m assuming a subwoofer? But it had all 3 settings so I left the base and terrible alone and lowered the midrange and I’m now getting a great bass sound from the center speakers without raising the bass settings! So thanks again for your advice, made all the difference in the world on my vehicle’s system Like you mentioned, I been doing it backwards from what your suggesting since that’s how others have shown me to adjust my EQ! Looking forward to trying the setting as you suggested and see how that sounds now? I never raise my bass more than a couple ++, anything more then that really sounded like it wasn’t good for the speakers either? Even though I wanted more bass, trying to get it with the normal speakers just don’t work as I seen you agree too! Least I had something right! 😂 Did get a subwoofer for my truck for more bass, nothing too crazy cause I only wanted my car stereo to sound more like my home entertainment center stereo sounds like at normal bass levels. Never cared for those super high bass pounding that’s the only thing you hear for blocks everywhere! Think I’ll be very happy with all your suggestions! Thanks for your time and knowledge and sharing it will help me greatly I’m sure!
@@NextLevelCarAudio, I’m 49 years old… I remember back in the day, like early mid 90’s doing the smile face to almost everything I listen to:) Thanks so much brother !
The guy who sold me my unit obviously does not know is own merchandise. I complained about my driver door rattling and he adjusted the low freqs so low my gain controller does no good. I adjusted the EQ back up and I got my base back. Thanks for the tips on loudness.
Most times I start flat on my eq settings then work on lows and highs 1st. I always leave my mids last. Most ppl that I know do install tend to do the mids last
It makes sense to adjust your mids last since they're the frequencies we hear the most of its the frequency that can also cause the most hearing fatigue which can cause you to hear things that aren't there and as a result, make inaccurate adjustments to your system eq.
@@NextLevelCarAudio please tell me I haven't made a mistake, when I ordered 2 Rockville 12"k9d2 subwoofers? The videos on youtube are making me nervous. 😔
thank you brother. I recently had a detail job and lost my settings due to the power being removed for the engine clean. I tried to get into the shop but theyre booked until until late next week. So this helped tremendously.
Sorry for the late reply. You want to create a arch with all the frequencies, So just put them accordingly depending on where they fall on the spectrum. Weather it’s 0, +3, etc.
That’s crazy cause I did this to my car before watching this video and I didn’t even know about the smiley face my ears just loved the sound it was perfect and ended up just like how u showed in the video on my eq chart crazy ! Great video
good stuff. I tried this today and sounds much cleaner. Thanks! your channel desirve more credit. Also Like the fact that you didnt waste that 25 dollar sub :P no need to destroy stuff
GREAT INFORMATION! Thank you for putting this video up. This was a lot of help and I can hear the difference after making this adjustments. You got a new subscriber.
Sorry if this is too long. I appreciate your videos!! Keep up the great work helping us audio enthusiasts. I was wondering your thoughts on tuning the eq with Pink Noise and Sound Spectrum Analyzer. It almost looks like a sine wave instead of a smiley face. I have 13 band eq Pioneer AVH-210EX. Having a -3db slope higher at the low end and lower at the high end, I noticed everything is loud but not ear-piercing. I am running 4-6.5 Kicker CS with Kenwood KAC-8401. Also going to have a Kicker 8 in hideaway for the low end. Would I adjust the eq before the gains of each amp? If so, where should I have the gains at when tuning the eq or does it matter what volume it is for using Pink Noise? Thank you for your time!
Sorry for late eply, gains should be set to match preamp voltage coming from heading for cleanest signal to set your EQ. Definitely set all your EQ adjustments first then dial in your gain afterwards. Otherwise you will likely clip. Pink noise is great as long as it is quality pink noise. I’ve just never personally tuned with it, but know people that do swear by it.
@NextLevelCarAudio Thank you for your informative videos! My sub and amp are coming in today and I've been going through your content for adjusting my gain/EQ to get the most out of my new system. I've not had subs in my car for ~4 years, so I'm super pumped to get my car bumpin again! Got a subscribe outta me
This has changed my life I was keeping my eq on my deck flat and had to get my volume up to 23/30 with my gain maxed 😢out to get really kicking base! Now I get more base at 16/30 volume with my base know half way up!!!! blew my fucking mind!!!!! (30 is my stereos top volume)
I'm using the standard equalizer on Android. I already adjusted it before watching this video. I wanted to watch this video to see if I was on the right track and I clearly am. You said that it should have a 😃 pattern and that it sounds better with that pattern - I heavily agree on that. My eq settings are: 63+8db, 125+6db, 250+4db, 500+2db, 1k+0db, 2k+2db, 4k+4db, 8k+6db, 16k+8db I prefer doing this evenly because the sound does not sound off when I use even numbers. I'm also using the built in Dolby atmos and the UHQ upscaler.
Man I probably burned up my 1st systems due to heavy clipping and messing up eq settings. This really does help. Now I have to reset my gains get for clipping.
I just installed an Axxess integration DSP into my car with 31 bands of EQ powered by a JL Audio XD600/6v2. Going to try to use this advise to clear up the sound. That big EQ gives me anxiety 🫨
Thanks alot man i just upgrade my new sterio its a pioner and i wanted to know how to use my EQ correctly and yoi saved my life know i know even more about eq thanks for helping people how to configurate the eq to me was awesome and it sounds incredible wow.
Great video... I'm having some trouble with tuning my car audio equalizer. I have a clarion eqs 755 equalizer, an alpine iva d310 stereo which also has an eq. I'm using the poweramp app which also has an eq. Any recommendations ? Thanks for your time
Thx for that explanation bro! If I have a subwoofer tho, should I keep the bass bars (the ones on the left at their lowest) ? Someone told me that, he said no need to get bass from your speakers since the sub will provide it instead. I have a new radio, 2 subs and factory speakers. What do you think ?
Well it depends… I’d turn your system up to your max listening volume and turn the bass up to point before you hear your front stage speakers start distorting from the bass. Then go from there
BROTHER MAN!!!!! YOU HAD THAT REMEDY!!!!!!! THANKS ALOT!!!!! My interior infinity speakers no longer clip!! not EVENNNNNNN with LIL BOOSIE "SET IT OFF" PLAYING LMAO~~~~!!!!!! good deal man thanks for the video
Hey man , wished I lived near you . You'd be my personal audio go to man foreals . I love to have someone who's passionate about "sound " as I am work on my system ! To many shops lack the passion, vision & willingness to get your system "righteous" . I appreciate your channel ,just fixed my EQ MYSELF .💯 CHEERS 🥂
@@NextLevelCarAudio yes. ,one more thing ... I did the smiley face on the head unit So how should I adjust my external eq now ? (The knobs ) as I haven't yet but I feel some tuning on it is needed .
I have a question on stock speakers if my charger factory comes with 2ohm speakers and I use a higher end speaker infinity ref rated at 3 ohms. Will they should louder and better than my stock speakers. My eq is set to flat. But I plan on setting the bass at 2 , mids-1, treble at 3
The higher the ohm load the less power they will be getting. So they won’t be louder unless they have a higher sensitivity rating than the factory ones. meaning they are more efficient and can produce more output at the same power level.
So on my factory eq for my Charger scatpack 2018 I have the eq flat , the bass, mid and treble go to max 9 . It’s safe to say I can set the eq bass flat , mid +3 and treble +4
If you don’t want a lot of bass/bottom end then that’s fine. Or If you have a subwoofer to fill in the bottom end. Arc the end of the day there really is no right or wrong way and boils down to personal taste/preference
Well shit the bed I’ve been doing mine flat for many years with a external EQE kenwood rare Model with smile face and after watching yoir VID on bang on point 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Nice video! Having troubles with clipping. Im no expert but it sounds like it happens in the highs, so im turning them lower. Does that help? And also my 15’ subwoofer is way more powerful than my speakers so should i still turn up the left side, or just leave them flat then?
hey very helpful advice also how did you install a control level knob for high , mids, and lows because I was told u couldn’t do that? Also, could you point me to a video if it is one because I am kinda new to this as well.
i dont know about car audio..but if u using an headphone go adjust each channel yourself. Your ear is different from everybody..Trust me if you adjust each channel yourself you will find more beautiful sound to your ear. My setting is like an patient that has abnormal heart rate in heart monitor device. I use to take smile/u shaped eq, then i changed it tu M shaped eq...then i start to experiment to each channel to suit my ear. And to my surprised it sound much better. What type of sound i like to hear. The guitar sound, cymbal, voice and bass..every sound i try to balancing to suit my ear and it does sound different and to my liking. Each people eq will different, some of course will not like my eq
hi! hoping to get a respond, even tho this vid is 2 years old, my car is a mercedes benz e class and ive upgraded the sound system quite a bit, so my car comes standard with 1 inch tweeters that i managed to blow, so i replaced them with some bigger aftermarket ones, ive also installed 3x10 inch subwoofers wich i fine tuned to play sharp and not particulary deep. but now im wondering, im kind of a metalhead so i tried tuning the eq on my head unit to hear the guitar better, wich ended up having to boost the middle sound ranges (mostly 300 to 800hz) , while this helped a lot with the guitar sound it also raised the volume of all the vocals aswell wich can be extremely loud sometimes and ruin the flow of the music when i have to turn down the volume. my current headunit settings are: loudness = low, boost to middle ranges, significantly reduced the frequencies from 3400hz to 10 000hz due to the new tweeters are so loud that the ''S'' sound cuts into my ears. ive also cut off my speakers at 80hz.
When setting the gain, do i have to max my level settings? So for example, for the door speakers i can switch from -20 til +10. So when setting the gain, do i have to put in on +10? And from there setting the gain?
Hey boss definitely trying the smiley face eq out but also wanted to see how to set the crossover settings in the head unit as well? I have 4 6x9 and a 12 inch comp r kicker powered by a 2300 watt amp and the speakers hooked up to a 800 tsp amp im trying to get very good bass and clarity out of this set up any recommendations?, is it also worth it to get a clarion eq if the head unit has a built in eq?
I graduated with my MECP advanced certification from Installer Institute in Daytona Beach FL a year out of high school way back in 2004 and of course it was 18 months of doing and learning more of my love for audio and a total blast being 3000 miles from my home in CA on my own and young and I got to experience FL spring break with all my buds from the school. Anyway what u said about the audible frequency range for humans especially the midrange and why NOT to boost them too high is one of the first things we learned at Installer institute and it's so true that it's the exact opposite of how most people would think of boosting the mids of dropping them. That brought back some great memories of one of the first things we learned at that school and the amazing instructors who were the coolest and so knowledgeable. I can say that audio components (or any type of technology for thar matter) was a hell of alot different back in 2004 compared to the stuff we got today class D was a new thing back then and meant only for subs now we got full range high power class D amps built into head units that can rock better than some external amps and these days we got super high power high efficiency amps that can power an entire system with just one and some are so small they can be mounted behind the dash totally out of sight. In 2004 that would be like science fiction. Anyway good video and great call on that advice on how to set midrange frequencies as soon as I heard that it brought me way back to Installer Institute and one of the best times in my young life 😊
DUDE! I have been binge watching car audio videos for a few weeks and this is probably the most helpful video to date. No one is really talking about this topic. Just saw the oscilloscope video also I'm about to tune my system with that. Thanks for the info!!!
Sure thing man! Let me know if you have any questions. Take care ;)
Thank you for the info, my system now has life, it literally sounds like a perfect symphony!!
Awesome! Good to hear
@@NextLevelCarAudio , Amazing instructions and information on this video. Bro, do you happened to know a good iOS EQ app that you can recommend?
Thanks so much !
Thanks man. I don’t unfortunately... I don’t use them. Thanks for the support!
@@NextLevelCarAudio do my bass need to be all the way up on my head unit when tuning my amp?
If that’s where you intend on keeping it, yes. If not, put it at the max point you plan on adjusting it to
Wow it changed my system completely! I’m just a super novice. Your videos are easy to understand. You do a great job at riding the line of explaining for noobys and also making it easy to understand the technical jargon. Great job
Thanks :)
Bro, thank you for this explanation. I just had subs forever and recently put in amp'd door speakers. 3k watts on subs and 1.5k on 4way put 2 alternators in 2 batteries etc. Was getting static and popping and sound cutting out. Played around on my own and worked crossovers and that really helped but I wasn't sure about the EQ. I was playing some sinewaves to test but this 5 mins saved me probably hours of screwing around with the EQ. Having the understanding of the way our ears pick up sound makes the idea of tuning the EQ make so much sense now.
Awesome! Glad it helped
Got it working.
And tuned with your directions.my amp and subs work amazing,great sound no clipping. Got it set to the max without distortion and it sounds great thank you so much for all of you help and videos.
I'll record how it all looks and sounds when I can and I'll send the link.
Cool man. Awesome! 😎
Thanks bro 10 years hooking up and tuning my own car audio. Best thing I ever heard so far. Keep it up 👍
Thanks man 😎
I grew up installing Car audio stuff and setting up and running Concert /PA speaker systems and wanted to add some useful info.
When a recording is mastered they do so using Reference Speaker systems that are as close to a flat frequency response as possible. That is to say a frequency sweep will have the same volume or SPL (Sound Pressure Level) across the entire frequency range. Every listening environment will affect specific frequencies differently (amplifying some and reducing others) and every speaker setup has it's own strengths and weaknesses. In order to hear the music the way it was mastered you either need a reference speaker system in an acoustically neutral environment or you need to adjust your EQ to simulate one! The way to do this is use a tone generator and SPL meter/microphone to test for those frequencies that are skewed by your speaker setup and/or the listening environment and then use the EQ to neutralize those irregularities. I mean, the function of an EQ is in the name; It "equalizes" all frequencies to produce a flat response.
Fancy concert setups have motorized or digital equalizers that produce a frequency sweep and read the room from a microphone or multiple microphones and then automatically adjust to neutralize or flatten the high and low spots. In a vehicle you would test from your primary listening position for best results. You don't want your EQ to be flat, you want the frequency response to be flat. That said, you need a reference microphone to do this because a phone mic has it's own strong and weak frequencies. Best most people can do is use a tone generator and test each frequency on their EQ back to back and adjust them to what you perceive to be the same volume level (this will account for strengths and weaknesses in your hearing as well). Follow up with a frequency sweep (one that shows the frequency as it runs) and hopefully it will be pretty close. You may need to adjust a little more to try to account for in-between frequencies that are high or low. All that said, you will never get a totally flat frequency response, even with a 31+ band concert EQ.
I watched this video hoping to find how to apply these principles specifically to car audio, but you came at it a little differently. Ultimately whatever sounds good to you is best but once you hear a well adjusted system nothing else sounds good.
This helped alot man. I was looking at my radio equalizer like "uuuuhhhh". It looks very similar to yours too. 👍👌
This is information is exactly what I’ve been looking for! I’ve been struggling to understand how an EQ works can’t wait to play around with the settings now.
Thanks man, I thought I set my EQ good until I did the smile setting you taught and WOW what a difference. I’ve been listening to my music terribly these last few months lol
Thanks for the feedback! Awesome!
Me too lol
Thanks for this!! I’ve been trying to tune my head unit for almost 3 YEARS! It’s sounds great now! Even got rid of that static that use to be in the background
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback. Glad it worked out!
The smile for me is too much treble so I lower the high Hz range down a bit and make a smirk.
Same but opposite
I cant tell if this is a joke or not lol
Don't do this method. You'll distort and harm your speaker more easily. Get a rta (sound analyzer) and then cut down the volume for the louder frequencies. You can get more volume and a better eq preset.
😏 like that?
@@krypto95🤦🏼
I like that you showed us in the video that you have treble and mid knobs along with your bass knob
I think you did a good job overall. Even though I'm not quite a beginner I think that alot of bassheads only focus on spl vs sq. For us to understand this better we'd have to understand what gain and gain overlap is and how compression and music production affects our systems
Yes! Thanks for the feedback!
Clutch dude. Put a new head unit in and the bass was super muddy and clipping all of a sudden but I couldn't seem to fix it. I used your U method and was able to work off that to get it back to normal. Sounds as good as it ever did.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, was into car audio decades ago, life took a detour but im getting back into it. I have never heard from anyone the info you just laid down, though I'm sure, i see, a lot has changed since the late 90's. Awesome video bro, I apreciate you!
Thanks for the Feedback! Welcome back to The car Audio world!
Dude this video came in really hand I've had sound installed in my car for almost a year now, I watched ur video changed my setting yesterday and my car sounds like I just added another sounds system, dude it is LOUD it's ridiculous, thank u so much man🙏🏾
Thanks for the Feedback! Your welcome 😎
Man this video literally answered all the questions I had. I don’t comment much but this helped me out a ton
Thanks for the feedback :)
Wow! I bumped into your video not knowing that I had been doing the right EQ setting all my life. Thanks for this.
Just came across this video. And let me tell you. My shit sounds amazing and actually full now. Whenever I’d buy or try to do “research” nobody would really explain and say oh it’s just preference. But the smiley face way and then going off preference after is 👌🏽
I appreciate the help.
Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated
Crazy how much this just fixed my radio, i was having issues with crunchy noises on the high frequency but it went away if i turned them all the way down, but if i had the bass too high it would make a rattling noise, and i thought my new radio was just bad.
The best benefit of loudness is for when you have people in the car and can't turn up the volume. It gives you a nice boost for the lower bass .
i call it the STFU setting
Update: I changed my settings as you suggested and it did make a huge difference sounding so much better then it did! My car has a center speaker in the back I’m assuming a subwoofer? But it had all 3 settings so I left the base and terrible alone and lowered the midrange and I’m now getting a great bass sound from the center speakers without raising the bass settings! So thanks again for your advice, made all the difference in the world on my vehicle’s system
Like you mentioned, I been doing it backwards from what your suggesting since that’s how others have shown me to adjust my EQ! Looking forward to trying the setting as you suggested and see how that sounds now? I never raise my bass more than a couple ++, anything more then that really sounded like it wasn’t good for the speakers either? Even though I wanted more bass, trying to get it with the normal speakers just don’t work as I seen you agree too! Least I had something right! 😂 Did get a subwoofer for my truck for more bass, nothing too crazy cause I only wanted my car stereo to sound more like my home entertainment center stereo sounds like at normal bass levels. Never cared for those super high bass pounding that’s the only thing you hear for blocks everywhere!
Think I’ll be very happy with all your suggestions! Thanks for your time and knowledge and sharing it will help me greatly I’m sure!
Awesome. Thanks for all the feedback
Thank you sir this really helped me man I've been trying to adjust my system too many times now this has helped my sound thank you.
Awesome!
@@NextLevelCarAudio, I’m 49 years old… I remember back in the day, like early mid 90’s doing the smile face to almost everything I listen to:) Thanks so much brother !
Hell yeah
The guy who sold me my unit obviously does not know is own merchandise. I complained about my driver door rattling and he adjusted the low freqs so low my gain controller does no good. I adjusted the EQ back up and I got my base back. Thanks for the tips on loudness.
Most times I start flat on my eq settings then work on lows and highs 1st. I always leave my mids last. Most ppl that I know do install tend to do the mids last
It makes sense to adjust your mids last since they're the frequencies we hear the most of its the frequency that can also cause the most hearing fatigue which can cause you to hear things that aren't there and as a result, make inaccurate adjustments to your system eq.
I knew there had to be videos on EQ Settings! Thank you! I now have a “starting point” to work with. Great information!
Your videos have helped me out so much! I can’t thank you enough! Very much appreciated!
Anytime! Thanks for the support!
Man you know how to explain things so that the average guy can understand. A whole lot better than that mark guy at car audio fabrication.
Thanks man 😎
@@NextLevelCarAudio please tell me I haven't made a mistake, when I ordered 2 Rockville 12"k9d2 subwoofers? The videos on youtube are making me nervous. 😔
Well it depends on what your price range is. If that is what is in your budget. Then you did good. 😎
This channel is underrated. Excellent video man. Very straightfwd!!
Thanks!
Yes it is this guy is awesome
thank you brother. I recently had a detail job and lost my settings due to the power being removed for the engine clean. I tried to get into the shop but theyre booked until until late next week. So this helped tremendously.
the freqs not listed here do i set flat 0?
Sorry for the late reply. You want to create a arch with all the frequencies, So just put them accordingly depending on where they fall on the spectrum. Weather it’s 0, +3, etc.
@@NextLevelCarAudio ty so much. i did just that.
Thank you so much you help me a lot with how to adjusted for gaming Thank you ❤️
Sure thing! Glad it helped :)
That’s crazy cause I did this to my car before watching this video and I didn’t even know about the smiley face my ears just loved the sound it was perfect and ended up just like how u showed in the video on my eq chart crazy ! Great video
Awesome! Thanks
This is the explanation I've been looking for. Thanks brother.
You bet
I had my pioneer hu eq on flat.. the smiley face made a huge difference in sound quality.. thanks dude
Hell yeah
good stuff. I tried this today and sounds much cleaner. Thanks! your channel desirve more credit. Also Like the fact that you didnt waste that 25 dollar sub :P no need to destroy stuff
Thanks. Appreciate the feedback!
Thank you so much! My sound system sounds so much louder and cleaner now 👌🏽 best eq settings!
Thanks for the feedback!
GREAT INFORMATION!
Thank you for putting this video up. This was a lot of help and I can hear the difference after making this adjustments. You got a new subscriber.
Thanks! Appreciate the support!
The one you are showing sounds amazing, but ive seen alot of ppl do the v shaped equalizer
Sorry if this is too long. I appreciate your videos!! Keep up the great work helping us audio enthusiasts. I was wondering your thoughts on tuning the eq with Pink Noise and Sound Spectrum Analyzer. It almost looks like a sine wave instead of a smiley face. I have 13 band eq Pioneer AVH-210EX. Having a -3db slope higher at the low end and lower at the high end, I noticed everything is loud but not ear-piercing. I am running 4-6.5 Kicker CS with Kenwood KAC-8401. Also going to have a Kicker 8 in hideaway for the low end. Would I adjust the eq before the gains of each amp? If so, where should I have the gains at when tuning the eq or does it matter what volume it is for using Pink Noise? Thank you for your time!
Sorry for late eply, gains should be set to match preamp voltage coming from heading for cleanest signal to set your EQ. Definitely set all your EQ adjustments first then dial in your gain afterwards. Otherwise you will likely clip. Pink noise is great as long as it is quality pink noise. I’ve just never personally tuned with it, but know people that do swear by it.
smiley worked wtf and the explanation makes sense. i should have searched this last year🤣been listening to crappy music until i watched this vid lmao
Great information. You explained everything clearly and made it understandable. Great job.
Thanks!
NIGHT and DAY DIFFERENCE with my JVC even with my stock speakers in my Crown Vic p71. Thank you!✌️💯
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback :)
@NextLevelCarAudio Thank you for your informative videos! My sub and amp are coming in today and I've been going through your content for adjusting my gain/EQ to get the most out of my new system. I've not had subs in my car for ~4 years, so I'm super pumped to get my car bumpin again! Got a subscribe outta me
Awesome man! Thank you for the support! Welcome back into the car Audio game!
thanks for the smiley face tip, car is sounding great now!
Hell yeah! Awesome!
“Let’s get loud “ ,put that on a shirt and sell it to me for 15 dollars
😆 good idea!
This has changed my life I was keeping my eq on my deck flat and had to get my volume up to 23/30 with my gain maxed 😢out to get really kicking base! Now I get more base at 16/30 volume with my base know half way up!!!! blew my fucking mind!!!!!
(30 is my stereos top volume)
I'm using the standard equalizer on Android. I already adjusted it before watching this video. I wanted to watch this video to see if I was on the right track and I clearly am. You said that it should have a 😃 pattern and that it sounds better with that pattern - I heavily agree on that. My eq settings are:
63+8db, 125+6db, 250+4db, 500+2db, 1k+0db, 2k+2db, 4k+4db, 8k+6db, 16k+8db
I prefer doing this evenly because the sound does not sound off when I use even numbers. I'm also using the built in Dolby atmos and the UHQ upscaler.
Nice man! Thanks for the feedback
did you only set those settings? and leave the freqs before and in between 0?
Jus got a new unit and the sound was terrible this video helped a lot 😂👍🏾
This is Brilliant 👏. You know a thing or 2 about the human ear and frequencies. Made this so much more simple for me.
Thanks!
Dude you’re awesome I love this video. It helped out a whole lot. Thanks kid
Got a shaker factory setup and you brought life to my sub and speakers.
Hell yeah, that’s awesome!
Thank you...wow my system sounds so much better now. The old-school songs come alive
Hell yeah!
The only video on you tube that makes sense to a firstimer. THANK YOU FOR THE INFO. Keep up the good work.👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks man.
@@NextLevelCarAudio I agree. This made it very easy for a first timer. All I need to know for now is smiley face curve.
Heck yeah :)
Going to give this a shot! Never thought of it the way that you talked about it in your video but it definitely makes more sense
Awesome!
Man, thank you. I never had a clue about how it ever worked and now my system is on point. Thank you again!!!!
Bro this video just flipped decades of reality for me
lol.
Thanks this helped a lot! Now my system dosnt sound like it’s echoing through a can 😂
Man I probably burned up my 1st systems due to heavy clipping and messing up eq settings. This really does help. Now I have to reset my gains get for clipping.
I just installed an Axxess integration DSP into my car with 31 bands of EQ powered by a JL Audio XD600/6v2. Going to try to use this advise to clear up the sound. That big EQ gives me anxiety 🫨
I did the smily face adjustment and people around me started smiling😜 lol But seriously nice short to the point INFORMATIVE video 👍🏽
Thanks man 😎
LoL.. that's funny..
Thank you. You did a very good job explaining EQ.
Wow I did the smiley thing and people around me gave me compliments thanks bro
Thanks for the feedback man!
ONG this us probably the most useful guide I've seem on this! Thank u so much man!
You bet :)
Luckily this is one of the first videos i watched. Thank you!!!
That intro gave my car all the bass I needed
Great video brother. I love your hard work and stereo system. I hope you have a great life. 👍🙏
Thanks alot man i just upgrade my new sterio its a pioner and i wanted to know how to use my EQ correctly and yoi saved my life know i know even more about eq thanks for helping people how to configurate the eq to me was awesome and it sounds incredible wow.
Awesome!
Great video... I'm having some trouble with tuning my car audio equalizer. I have a clarion eqs 755 equalizer, an alpine iva d310 stereo which also has an eq. I'm using the poweramp app which also has an eq. Any recommendations ? Thanks for your time
BRO I JUST BOUGHT A V6 CAMARO AND THIS IS FUCKING BEAUTIFUL !!!! GOT RID OF THE STATIC AND THIS IS AMAZING !!!! ❤️
Thx for that explanation bro! If I have a subwoofer tho, should I keep the bass bars (the ones on the left at their lowest) ? Someone told me that, he said no need to get bass from your speakers since the sub will provide it instead. I have a new radio, 2 subs and factory speakers. What do you think ?
Well it depends… I’d turn your system up to your max listening volume and turn the bass up to point before you hear your front stage speakers start distorting from the bass. Then go from there
BROTHER MAN!!!!! YOU HAD THAT REMEDY!!!!!!! THANKS ALOT!!!!! My interior infinity speakers no longer clip!! not EVENNNNNNN with LIL BOOSIE "SET IT OFF" PLAYING LMAO~~~~!!!!!! good deal man thanks for the video
Awesome!
Best video in the world, thank you so much. My new Sony stereo with stock speakers sounds amazing.
Hell yeah! Thanks for the feedback :)
I have always used the smiley face method. My cousin taught me that back in the 90's.
Nice video keep up the good work
Awesome!
Super helpful and informative content. Keep it up brother, thank you.
Thanks Bro! Great Video! I have been wondering how to do this. Finally I understand. 👌
Absolutely Grateful for your tips. I am struggling to tune my dsp by myself now I know little. My dsp pattern looks like Himalayas! 😂
😝 😆 that’s funny
Hey man , wished I lived near you .
You'd be my personal audio go to man foreals .
I love to have someone who's passionate about "sound " as I am work on my system !
To many shops lack the passion, vision & willingness to get your system "righteous" .
I appreciate your channel ,just fixed my EQ MYSELF .💯 CHEERS 🥂
Thanks man! Appreciate the feedback
@@NextLevelCarAudio yes. ,one more thing ...
I did the smiley face on the head unit
So how should I adjust my external eq now ? (The knobs ) as I haven't yet but I feel some tuning on it is needed .
You can set to same, or leave them open/off. Whichever you prefer. 😎
If you're playing music through your phone, should you use the same eq setting in the phone or just leave them flat?
Set the phones EQ to flat
Great advice I never knew the loudness was on, just thought the app was up too high 🤣
Lol
Thanks for your help. I will use your advise for my stock eq
Sure thing man! Awesome
I have a question on stock speakers if my charger factory comes with 2ohm speakers and I use a higher end speaker infinity ref rated at 3 ohms. Will they should louder and better than my stock speakers. My eq is set to flat. But I plan on setting the bass at 2 , mids-1, treble at 3
The higher the ohm load the less power they will be getting. So they won’t be louder unless they have a higher sensitivity rating than the factory ones. meaning they are more efficient and can produce more output at the same power level.
So on my factory eq for my Charger scatpack 2018 I have the eq flat , the bass, mid and treble go to max 9 . It’s safe to say I can set the eq bass flat , mid +3 and treble +4
If you don’t want a lot of bass/bottom end then that’s fine. Or If you have a subwoofer to fill in the bottom end. Arc the end of the day there really is no right or wrong way and boils down to personal taste/preference
Thank you man really lightend up my mids and highs on my single 15💯🔊
This is what I was always told be the guy's that taught me how to do car stereo installation, nice to see i haven't been wrong all these years lol
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback ;)
Well shit the bed I’ve been doing mine flat for many years with a external EQE kenwood rare
Model with smile face and after watching yoir VID on bang on point 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hell yeah!
Nice video! Having troubles with clipping. Im no expert but it sounds like it happens in the highs, so im turning them lower. Does that help? And also my 15’ subwoofer is way more powerful than my speakers so should i still turn up the left side, or just leave them flat then?
Flatten it out to create more balance between front/ sub stage
Reading the comments and mine is pretty much the same lol this helped a lot, THANK YOU!!!
You bet
Fr bro I'm really diggin your channel it's good I think you're gonna blow up! It'll be you Parker dachille and budget bust or gems
Thanks man! Appreciate it
I just bought a clarion crossover should i use that instead of the crossover on the headunit or use them both?
hey very helpful advice also how did you install a control level knob for high , mids, and lows because I was told u couldn’t do that? Also, could you point me to a video if it is one because I am kinda new to this as well.
Just run it inline with your RCA’s. You can add a level knob to any amp that uses rca inputs. Look into the PAC-LC1 for cheapest most reliable option
Very well explained. Very technical and to the point. Thanks !
Thanks!
i dont know about car audio..but if u using an headphone go adjust each channel yourself. Your ear is different from everybody..Trust me if you adjust each channel yourself you will find more beautiful sound to your ear. My setting is like an patient that has abnormal heart rate in heart monitor device. I use to take smile/u shaped eq, then i changed it tu M shaped eq...then i start to experiment to each channel to suit my ear. And to my surprised it sound much better. What type of sound i like to hear. The guitar sound, cymbal, voice and bass..every sound i try to balancing to suit my ear and it does sound different and to my liking. Each people eq will different, some of course will not like my eq
Yes, it is a matter of taste. Everyone is different
I just realized I got the same kenwood deck...how do you adjust the clock?
My man! Way to explain it in such a simple way! It all makes sense now! Great video!
Thanks!
I tried this for the heck of it and this actually works !!!!! Thanks
You bet!
hi! hoping to get a respond, even tho this vid is 2 years old, my car is a mercedes benz e class and ive upgraded the sound system quite a bit, so my car comes standard with 1 inch tweeters that i managed to blow, so i replaced them with some bigger aftermarket ones, ive also installed 3x10 inch subwoofers wich i fine tuned to play sharp and not particulary deep. but now im wondering, im kind of a metalhead so i tried tuning the eq on my head unit to hear the guitar better, wich ended up having to boost the middle sound ranges (mostly 300 to 800hz) , while this helped a lot with the guitar sound it also raised the volume of all the vocals aswell wich can be extremely loud sometimes and ruin the flow of the music when i have to turn down the volume. my current headunit settings are: loudness = low, boost to middle ranges, significantly reduced the frequencies from 3400hz to 10 000hz due to the new tweeters are so loud that the ''S'' sound cuts into my ears. ive also cut off my speakers at 80hz.
When setting the gain, do i have to max my level settings? So for example, for the door speakers i can switch from -20 til +10. So when setting the gain, do i have to put in on +10? And from there setting the gain?
Works well! Sounds great now on my radio. Thank you!!
Thank U Thank U!!! The smiley face change the sound on my radio
Hell yeah! Awesome!
Hey boss definitely trying the smiley face eq out but also wanted to see how to set the crossover settings in the head unit as well? I have 4 6x9 and a 12 inch comp r kicker powered by a 2300 watt amp and the speakers hooked up to a 800 tsp amp im trying to get very good bass and clarity out of this set up any recommendations?, is it also worth it to get a clarion eq if the head unit has a built in eq?