Need help with tuning, where do I start?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,907
Likes: 207
From: Kern County CA
Need help with tuning, where do I start?
Finally done with the audio install. MANY thanks to Dennis for answering my noobish PMs, what a great guy. Thank you Dennis. 
Also want to thank all the help I got here on Audio forum, never would've been able to get through this before the internet age. Love that backup camera. I've read through the manual of the amplifier, and the head unit, so I've an idea of what I need to accomplish, just not sure on HOW to achieve it.
Do I start from within the head unit's crossover menu or from the amp?
Head unit: Kenwood 6980
Speakers: Focal 165 tweeters and woofers.
Subwoofer: Arc Audio D10
Amplifier: Arc Audio XDi 805 5 channels, bridged to 3 channels
On the crossovers, they have a switch for dB: 0, -3, -6.
I put this at -3
They also have another switch: High or Flat.
I left this at Flat
In the HU's menu:
The Frequency line is not adjustable.
The Level line is: it goes from 0 to10.
Subwoofer level: from 0 to 10, I left it at 5.
Here are photos of the amp adjustment *****, I'm not sure what to do here:
Thanks!
Also want to thank all the help I got here on Audio forum, never would've been able to get through this before the internet age. Love that backup camera. I've read through the manual of the amplifier, and the head unit, so I've an idea of what I need to accomplish, just not sure on HOW to achieve it. Do I start from within the head unit's crossover menu or from the amp?
Head unit: Kenwood 6980
Speakers: Focal 165 tweeters and woofers.
Subwoofer: Arc Audio D10
Amplifier: Arc Audio XDi 805 5 channels, bridged to 3 channels
On the crossovers, they have a switch for dB: 0, -3, -6.
I put this at -3
They also have another switch: High or Flat.
I left this at Flat
In the HU's menu:
The Frequency line is not adjustable.
The Level line is: it goes from 0 to10.
Subwoofer level: from 0 to 10, I left it at 5.
Here are photos of the amp adjustment *****, I'm not sure what to do here:
Thanks!
Last edited by 427Z0SX; Nov 28, 2011 at 11:20 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
Just to get you close....
On amp, put front & rear HI/Full switches on HIGH and set HIGH filter pot just a bit under 100. Set sub LOW filter pot just a bit above 100.
At the HU, set high pass for fronts and low pass for sub both at 100 Hz, leave equalizer on flat for now. Turn volume down to 0.
At amp, start with all GAIN ***** at 0. Adjust radio volume to 75% of max. SLOWLY turn front & rear amp gain pots up evenly until you start to hear distortion from front speakers (it will be obvious if you go too far).
I'd start will all 'bass boost' on both amp and HU at 0 or off, then turn up sub gain to blend it in with fronts (do it first at 75% volume, then verify the setting at your most common listening level). If you hit distortion and still want more boom, then adjust boost settings up to where you like it.
That will get 'volume' levels set properly so you can crank it up without having to worry about blowing anything up. Once that's set go back to HU and adjust EQ and DSP to what you think is best.
On amp, put front & rear HI/Full switches on HIGH and set HIGH filter pot just a bit under 100. Set sub LOW filter pot just a bit above 100.
At the HU, set high pass for fronts and low pass for sub both at 100 Hz, leave equalizer on flat for now. Turn volume down to 0.
At amp, start with all GAIN ***** at 0. Adjust radio volume to 75% of max. SLOWLY turn front & rear amp gain pots up evenly until you start to hear distortion from front speakers (it will be obvious if you go too far).
I'd start will all 'bass boost' on both amp and HU at 0 or off, then turn up sub gain to blend it in with fronts (do it first at 75% volume, then verify the setting at your most common listening level). If you hit distortion and still want more boom, then adjust boost settings up to where you like it.
That will get 'volume' levels set properly so you can crank it up without having to worry about blowing anything up. Once that's set go back to HU and adjust EQ and DSP to what you think is best.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 373
Likes: 75
From: Iron Station, NC
Finally done with the audio install. MANY thanks to Dennis for answering my noobish PMs, what a great guy. Thank you Dennis. Also want to thank all the help I got here on Audio forum, never would've been able to get through this before the internet age. Love that backup camera. I've read through the manual of the amplifier, and the head unit, so I've an idea of what I need to accomplish, just not sure on HOW to achieve it.
Do I start from within the head unit's crossover menu or from the amp?
Head unit: Kenwood 6980
Speakers: Focal 165 tweeters and woofers.
Subwoofer: Arc Audio D10
Amplifier: Arc Audio XDi 805 5 channels, bridged to 3 channels
On the crossovers, they have a switch for dB: 0, -3, -6.
I put this at -3
They also have another switch: High or Flat.
I left this at Flat
In the HU's menu:
The Frequency line is not adjustable.
The Level line is: it goes from 0 to10.
Subwoofer level: from 0 to 10, I left it at 5.
Here are photos of the amp adjustment *****, I'm not sure what to do here:
Thanks!
Also want to thank all the help I got here on Audio forum, never would've been able to get through this before the internet age. Love that backup camera. I've read through the manual of the amplifier, and the head unit, so I've an idea of what I need to accomplish, just not sure on HOW to achieve it. Do I start from within the head unit's crossover menu or from the amp?
Head unit: Kenwood 6980
Speakers: Focal 165 tweeters and woofers.
Subwoofer: Arc Audio D10
Amplifier: Arc Audio XDi 805 5 channels, bridged to 3 channels
On the crossovers, they have a switch for dB: 0, -3, -6.
I put this at -3
They also have another switch: High or Flat.
I left this at Flat
In the HU's menu:
The Frequency line is not adjustable.
The Level line is: it goes from 0 to10.
Subwoofer level: from 0 to 10, I left it at 5.
Here are photos of the amp adjustment *****, I'm not sure what to do here:
Thanks!
There are 6 dials for the sub which are:
Gain
Phase
Base boost
Boost frequency
Low
I have two 8" CDT hooked to the back channel at 2 ohms, what would be a good baseline setting. I dont care much for the deep muddy bass just a tight popping bass if that makes sense. My H/U is an x930bt
I have the gain **** that is connected with the RJ-11 mounted to the front of my bins so I can adjust on the fly.
Last edited by Rbohno; Dec 9, 2011 at 09:30 AM. Reason: spelling correction
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
All others should be set first
Gain - start at 0, turn up to blend with fronts, or do the 75%/distortion thing then fine tune from there
Phase - try 0, switch to 180, keep on louder setting (should be 0 if connected properly)
Base boost - start at 0, turn up slowly if you think it needs more thump
Boost frequency - about half way
Low - 100Hz (or same as what your HPF are for fronts)
Gain - start at 0, turn up to blend with fronts, or do the 75%/distortion thing then fine tune from there
Phase - try 0, switch to 180, keep on louder setting (should be 0 if connected properly)
Base boost - start at 0, turn up slowly if you think it needs more thump
Boost frequency - about half way
Low - 100Hz (or same as what your HPF are for fronts)
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 373
Likes: 75
From: Iron Station, NC
All others should be set first
Gain - start at 0, turn up to blend with fronts, or do the 75%/distortion thing then fine tune from there
Phase - try 0, switch to 180, keep on louder setting (should be 0 if connected properly)
Base boost - start at 0, turn up slowly if you think it needs more thump
Boost frequency - about half way
Low - 100Hz (or same as what your HPF are for fronts)
Gain - start at 0, turn up to blend with fronts, or do the 75%/distortion thing then fine tune from there
Phase - try 0, switch to 180, keep on louder setting (should be 0 if connected properly)
Base boost - start at 0, turn up slowly if you think it needs more thump
Boost frequency - about half way
Low - 100Hz (or same as what your HPF are for fronts)
Thanks again will try this tomorrow.
My wife and I are only a couple of hours from Columbia, I would love the chance to meet somewhere in Columbia area and buy you a beer at some point. You are such a sport when it comes time to answer questions would like to do a real
instead of one with emoticons.Thanks
Richard
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
Hey Mark,
Thanks again will try this tomorrow.
My wife and I are only a couple of hours from Columbia, I would love the chance to meet somewhere in Columbia area and buy you a beer at some point. You are such a sport when it comes time to answer questions would like to do a real instead of one with emoticons.
Thanks
Richard
Thanks again will try this tomorrow.
My wife and I are only a couple of hours from Columbia, I would love the chance to meet somewhere in Columbia area and buy you a beer at some point. You are such a sport when it comes time to answer questions would like to do a real
instead of one with emoticons.Thanks
Richard
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 373
Likes: 75
From: Iron Station, NC
The sound of some songs is incredible WHEN turned up but not as "rich" or full sounding when at a normal level with cabin closed. I mean I hear detail in songs I have never heard before but I think my tuning is still off.
I am taking our daughter who is in town visiting for a week(college student in Texas) on a father/daughter trip to Myrtle beach(shes never been there) for one night.
She arrives tomorrow
So we will be doing quite a bit of cruising and jamming so I will know better what I need to do with the system adjustments after that.
