Dre2216

I just finished installing my subwoofer and amp and I want to match the frequency that the stock head unit puts out with the frequency setting on the amp. Does anyone know what the stock head units frequency rating is?

Dre

AvatarQAZ

...? You mean match the pre-out level? Not quite grasping what you are saying. But this is an easy way to tune a stereo system (given it is below 130 db).

Sit inside it. Turn off every speaker besides the one(s) that are hooked up to the stock head unit, or that handle the least power. Turn the gain on ALL of your amps down besides the one powering that speaker. If that is your head unit, cool.

Turn it up until you begin to hear distortion from the speaker. At this point, either the speaker can not handle the power, or the THD (total harmonic distortion) is above 0.1%. Turn it down 1 (one notch) or 2...that is your optimal sound level.

Now, goto your amps. With the current volume level, begin to increase your gain slowly. DO NOT GO ABOVE 70%!!!! You will surely get distortion then. And just listen until that speaker begins to distort. Then, kick the gain back down. Do this for all the speakers. Dont forget about your ALC though!!! You may want to turn that off.

That is the easy way to do it by ear to get the LOUDEST setup possible w/o distortion. If you are looking to get a flat eq curve, goto an auto sound shop. No other way. Oh, and dont forget your bass setting. You may want to turn that down to 0, or +1. Mid and Treble can remain the same as I assume the amp has a built in crossover.

Dre2216

thanks for the help QAZ. I went outside and turned the sub off and listened to the interior speakers. It sounds better than before. I think i have to get used to having the sub in an enclosed trunk as opposed to an open hatch as i had in my firebird. It seems that the bass isnt hitting with the rap music that i listen too but it seems to be hitting with rock songs. I guess ill just have to keep playing with it until i get it how i like it.

Dre

AvatarQAZ

What kind of box do you have... is it a sealed or ported enclosure? If it is sealed, it should LOVE those rap songs. Ported is a different story... Did you build the box yourself... have the box built around the specs of the sub... or just buy the box?

Also, if you want good bass response from a sub in the low range (ie rap music) then you need AT LEAST a 10". I would highly recommend a 12" to really feel that type of music. How big is your sub?

Dre2216

I have the fiberglass enclosure that 4080 is making. It is a sealed box for a 10" woofer. I am using a kicker CVR which i have had good experience with in the past. thanks again

AvatarQAZ

From a 10" sub in a sealed enclosure, you will get good response-enough to make you happy.

Try turning up the bass to +2 or +3 on the HU. Experiment a little bit to get that bass response. Remember though... when you start messing with that pre-out signal, unless it is a high volt signal (4v+) you are going to start hearing distortion at lower volume levels... especially in your stock speakers which I am assuming you are still running (if you have the Touring Model, you should be!). Once you turn up that bass setting, dont forget to repeat the whole tuning process again as your gain level will now be affected by the preout signal as well as the % of THD entering the system from a modified signal. I would say +3 or 4 on the bass (from the HU) is the MAX you would want to go if you still want to hear the words on songs. Otherwise, the bass from the stock speakers and the bass from the sub would completely drown out the music and you would just seem ghetto-fabulous in such a nice car. Dont be that guy .