Flat line tuning....
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,702
Likes: 1,206
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
Flat line tuning....
Just had my system "flat lined tested & tuned".
Not sure what that means exactly, but one thing is certain, my system sounds better than it EVER has!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you have an aftermarket system, its definitely worth it to have it fine tuned in this manner.. For 8 yrs, I "thought" I had a killer system...
I essentially did, I just needed a true knowledgable audiophile technician to bring out the best in it..!
The difference is amazing!
I can't believe how good I "thought" it sounded all these years...
To hear it now, its like being in a recording studio!
The sound is clean & crisp, precise & sharp, 100% crystal clear, 100% flawless...!!
If you have an aftermarket system, this is something that NEEDS to be done! I don't care how good you think your system sounds now, once your get it flatlined & tuned, its going to sound 1000% better!
I know guys will ask, so this is my set up..
Everything is 8 yrs old..
Kenwood Excelon KDCx911 CD Receiver
Dynaudio 360 Series Component speakers
Zapco C2K 3.0x amps (2)
Zapco SX-SL Signal Sound Processor
JL Stealthbox sub
Not sure what that means exactly, but one thing is certain, my system sounds better than it EVER has!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you have an aftermarket system, its definitely worth it to have it fine tuned in this manner.. For 8 yrs, I "thought" I had a killer system...
I essentially did, I just needed a true knowledgable audiophile technician to bring out the best in it..!
The difference is amazing!
I can't believe how good I "thought" it sounded all these years...
To hear it now, its like being in a recording studio!
The sound is clean & crisp, precise & sharp, 100% crystal clear, 100% flawless...!!
If you have an aftermarket system, this is something that NEEDS to be done! I don't care how good you think your system sounds now, once your get it flatlined & tuned, its going to sound 1000% better!
I know guys will ask, so this is my set up..
Everything is 8 yrs old..
Kenwood Excelon KDCx911 CD Receiver
Dynaudio 360 Series Component speakers
Zapco C2K 3.0x amps (2)
Zapco SX-SL Signal Sound Processor
JL Stealthbox sub
Last edited by YO-EL; Jan 10, 2008 at 03:06 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
Glad to hear you are happy with it el. Tuning is extremely important especially in the car environment IMO. By flat lined do you mean tuned to RTA flat, or eq'd to eliminate large peaks and valleys in the response and tuned to your ear? Generally truly "flat" systems sound somewhat blah, but everyone's ear is different.
Fej
Fej
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,702
Likes: 1,206
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
I'm not sure what flat line means, but he plugged in (115v to an outlet) some box with all kinds of controls on it & a screen & some meters, and had some microphone device on the dash..
Was in my car for 1-2 hrs..
Came back in the store, brought me out & said the system was way off, and now there is a dramatic difference...
I swear, if I closed my eyes, I would have thought I was in someone elses car listening to some mega system..
I just can't believe for 8 yrs I listened to a system I "thought" was really good..
Now, I have something that is truly quite impressive!!!
Was in my car for 1-2 hrs..
Came back in the store, brought me out & said the system was way off, and now there is a dramatic difference...
I swear, if I closed my eyes, I would have thought I was in someone elses car listening to some mega system..
I just can't believe for 8 yrs I listened to a system I "thought" was really good..
Now, I have something that is truly quite impressive!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 13
From: east norriton pa
probably used a test CD with a osciliscope,(sp?) and a meter
btw, if anyone is intrested, I have a nice CD of test tones thoughout the spectrum. It is funny, putting on a 10hz test tone, and hearing nothing, but see the sub moving around like a rapid dog
btw, if anyone is intrested, I have a nice CD of test tones thoughout the spectrum. It is funny, putting on a 10hz test tone, and hearing nothing, but see the sub moving around like a rapid dog
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Im glad you're happy with it.
I put together an RTA system and used it to flatten obvious peaks in my system. The downfall is it only measures noise... so if you are getting a panel vibration, it picks that up too. can't use it to find and address distortion...
I put together an RTA system and used it to flatten obvious peaks in my system. The downfall is it only measures noise... so if you are getting a panel vibration, it picks that up too. can't use it to find and address distortion...
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Flat line is not exactly an accurate description. Any vehicle getting an exactly flat response will sound pretty close to an AM radio (lacking any musical characteristic). What they were really doing was looking for any deviations (probably 3dB or more) between any given frequency and blending them more closely.
I agree it is a great benefit to have this done to any higher end system to get the full potential of the money spent.
I agree it is a great benefit to have this done to any higher end system to get the full potential of the money spent.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Flat line is not exactly an accurate description. Any vehicle getting an exactly flat response will sound pretty close to an AM radio (lacking any musical characteristic). What they were really doing was looking for any deviations (probably 3dB or more) between any given frequency and blending them more closely.
I agree it is a great benefit to have this done to any higher end system to get the full potential of the money spent.
I agree it is a great benefit to have this done to any higher end system to get the full potential of the money spent.
just because a speaker system has a flat response doesn't mean it will sound "like an AM radio." Otherwise high end headphones would suck.
This happens in cars because of environmental factors...
Last edited by Kale; Jan 10, 2008 at 04:32 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Correct. Transfer function, glass and plastics cause all sorts of nasty reflections making a car a pretty undesirable environment. The "AM radio" was a general description. A flat curve in a square room totally deadened would not have the same affect.
All in all , still agree tuning after installation gets the most benefit of the equipment.
All in all , still agree tuning after installation gets the most benefit of the equipment.
Last edited by Team DCA; Jan 10, 2008 at 05:41 PM.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,702
Likes: 1,206
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
This is an explanation of what was done!
Ellis:
When I say we "flat line tested" the system - this refers to using what is called in the industry as an RTA or Real Time Analyzer. Its basically a very sensitive & sophisticated digital ear. using this device, we "listen" to all the sound frequencies in the car, and adjust those that are too powerful, and those that are too soft. This brings all frequencies to an equal level which is what we mean when we say "flat line". this levels the playing field so to speak and allows us to now make adjustments to increase the quality of the sound. After flat lining a system, we then test the output of the system with various tones & frequencies to see how well it performs. we continue to make adjustments however now we listen to the system with our actual ears & make adjustments to better improve the overall sound. after that - then its time for a good set of ears to make the final adjustments to the system.
Ellis:
When I say we "flat line tested" the system - this refers to using what is called in the industry as an RTA or Real Time Analyzer. Its basically a very sensitive & sophisticated digital ear. using this device, we "listen" to all the sound frequencies in the car, and adjust those that are too powerful, and those that are too soft. This brings all frequencies to an equal level which is what we mean when we say "flat line". this levels the playing field so to speak and allows us to now make adjustments to increase the quality of the sound. After flat lining a system, we then test the output of the system with various tones & frequencies to see how well it performs. we continue to make adjustments however now we listen to the system with our actual ears & make adjustments to better improve the overall sound. after that - then its time for a good set of ears to make the final adjustments to the system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: WayTooCloseToNY Northeast PA
Yes, and ideally you want to start with speakers that have flat response on their own so that you don't have to overcome the limitations of the environment AND the speakers.
Flat response is a GOOD thing. Don't confuse it with a lack of dynamic range (this is what AM suffers from). The two are unrelated.
Flat response is a GOOD thing. Don't confuse it with a lack of dynamic range (this is what AM suffers from). The two are unrelated.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,702
Likes: 1,206
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
All I know is this system sounds 1000% incredibly better than ever!
When I came back, I asked my wife to listen, and her EXACT words were:
"How much did you spend for this new system"?
She then said "this system sounds sooo much better than the junk you had in there before..." "Why do you even NEED a stereo system when all you do is race this thing anyway"!
Hahahahahhahaha!
When I came back, I asked my wife to listen, and her EXACT words were:
"How much did you spend for this new system"?
She then said "this system sounds sooo much better than the junk you had in there before..." "Why do you even NEED a stereo system when all you do is race this thing anyway"!
Hahahahahhahaha!
