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Arc Audio

Car Audio System Setup

August 23, 2017 By 1sixty8 5 Comments

System SetupIt may seem as if they should be similar processes, but installing a new source unit, amplifiers and speakers in a car is unlike installing most home audio systems. It is not as simple as plugging things in and hoping they work. Proper integration of your new electronics into modern vehicles and their wiring is getting more and more complicated as complex factory sound systems become more involved. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the need to configure the equipment you have selected. Your installer will include this setup time in the cost to install your system. What does system setup and configuration involve? Read on to find out.

Signal-level Adjustments

System SetupWhen it comes to adding an amplifier to your vehicle, the most significant adjustment your installer will make is to adjust the amplifier’s sensitivity or gain control. Amplifiers have these controls so they can be compatible with a variety of different source units with different maximum output voltages.

Amplifiers are relatively simple devices in concept. They take an audio signal from your source unit and increase its voltage so it can drive a speaker. A 100 watt amplifier has to be able to increase a 1 volt signal more than a 4 volt signal to reach the 20 volts required to produce 100 watts into a 4 ohm speaker. The gain or sensitivity control lets us adjust for almost any source unit voltage.

Why Sensitivity Adjustments are Important

If the sensitivity of the amplifier is set too low, you will not be able to get the full power of your amplifier. If it is set too high, then you can drive the amplifier into distortion quite quickly. Too much “gain” can also add noise to the system in the form of hiss. A little extra is OK to allow quiet recordings to be played loudly, but too much is a surefire sign that whoever set up the system did not fully understand gain structure.

System Setup Tools

System Setup
The SMD DD1+ allows for precision gain structure setup.

Different shops use different techniques to set gains on amplifiers. Some use an oscilloscope along with a set of test tones. Others use distortion detection devices like the SMD DD-1 or DD-1+. Finally, some installers are quite adept at setting up systems by ear, but that comes with years and years of experience.

As long as the system plays loudly without significant noise or distortion, the settings can be considered correct. If the system runs out of power at half-volume, then it needs some more adjustments.

Crossover Adjustments

There are two main advantages of adding a subwoofer to an audio system. A subwoofer provides more bass output than a typical set of door speakers could ever hope to produce. The secondary benefit is to relieve the small speakers of their requirement to try to produce bass. This reduction in bass reduces the distance the speaker cones have to move and directly reduces the potential for distortion. Midrange frequencies can be reproduced with improved clarity and at higher levels.

Tying this back to system tuning, how we set the crossovers built into your amplifier is crucial to ensuring that the output of your system blends perfectly between the midrange speakers and the subwoofer. If the crossover points overlap, there can be too much midbass, and the system will sound boomy or “honky.” If the crossover points underlap, the system probably won’t have enough midbass and will sound very dry and flat; the subwoofer can also sound “separated” from the system, reducing the coherence and realism of your music.

Speaker Polarity Adjustments

System Setup
A dip in response at the crossover point can indicate a polarity problem.

Before a vehicle leaves the shop, it should be tested to ensure that the output of all the speakers sums acoustically across the entire frequency range. Properly trained and equipped installers know how to measure the frequency response of a system and correct for any anomalies. In most cases, an audio analyzer is the best choice for setting up a system. These can be stand-alone units from companies like AudioControl and NTI or software-based solutions that work with a laptop, netbook or tablet.

Leave It to the Experts

A properly tuned sound system will play louder, last longer and be much more enjoyable to listen to. As you can see from even from this overview, the tools and training required to maximize the performance of even a simple mobile sound system can be expensive and complicated. The staff at your local mobile enhancement retailer should be familiar with these processes and employ them on each installation they perform. Confirming this is part of your process in selecting a retailer that is qualified to work on your vehicle.

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Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, Resource Library Tagged With: Amplifiers, Processors, Radios, Speakers, Subwoofers, Tuning

About 1sixty8

1sixty8 media is a content marketing, website development, and business solutions provider specializing in the mobile enhancement industry. The 1sixty8 media team includes many household names in the industry, from store owners and industry writers to award-winning installers and fabricators. To learn more about 1sixty8 media, visit www.1sixty8.com.

Comments

  1. Maria Costello says

    July 18, 2018 at 11:54 pm

    Interesting information, great job!

  2. Apple TV Support says

    August 11, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    This post is very important to the car audio system set-up. which is very helpful for us. I have an Apple Tv and if I have any problem go to the technical support and it provide the best support. it is very helpful to me.

  3. clairedivas says

    June 10, 2020 at 1:20 am

    Thanks a lot for sharing your incredible ideas. It is an appreciated and pretty tip for all those music lovers. What a Fatal post for those who want to upgrade an existing subwoofer with a new one.

  4. Mtx Bass Package says

    December 9, 2020 at 12:50 am

    What a great article to share. A great contribution especially for someone looking forward to buying a car subwoofer, amplifier and enclosure. If anybody wants to install a new one, this is the most effective share, that will be very helpful for the best choice. Thanks a lot for the post.

  5. Michelle Catapang says

    February 5, 2021 at 12:14 am

    Thank you for the well-detailed information you have written in this guide. Looking forward to more content similar to this article.

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