my first eq

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lnhiv

Copper - Posts: 54

Joined: August 02, 2008

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 02, 2008 at 5:41 PM / IP Logged

Ok, so I'm looking at purchasing my first EQ so I can tune my system a little bit. The only thing is I've never messed with one and don't really know what I need.

Here's what I currently have: Type-R 10" in a sealed box, Type-R 6x9's in the rear, a set of 6.5" components in the doors shortly, Alpine CDA-9856 HU, RF Punch 500a2 for the sub, and a RF Punch P450.4 for the speakers.

I'm not really sure what would suit me best at this point, whether it be a 4-, 7-, 10-band or more. Does anyone have any suggestions for within $100 price range, or any advice on how I should set this up? I know that I'd LOVE to get the RF 3sixty.2, or run the full Alpine digital setup...but that's way beyond the current scope of my system at this time.

I have been looking at two that are within the current budget; the RCA RCEQ769 and the Clarion EQS746 (they both look exactly the same). The only thing I can't figure out about them is how I'd run the inputs...my HU has 6 rca outs, and both EQs have 2 rca ins and 6 rca outs...do I just use y-cables to patch my front and sub HU outs together and lose deck fader control (which doesn't matter cause it's on the EQ)?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

2003 Chevy Cavalier coupe

lnhiv

Copper - Posts: 54

Joined: August 02, 2008

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 02, 2008 at 6:16 PM / IP Logged

Also, any opinions on the MA Audio MA15EQX?

2003 Chevy Cavalier coupe

megaman

Copper - Posts: 385

Joined: June 24, 2008

Location: Montana, United States

Posted: August 02, 2008 at 6:45 PM / IP Logged

EQ's are great if you know how to use them properly. Most of the time it's just a "cool" factor for the average enthusiast. To get the most out of your eq, you really need to get your system tested with an RTA. The test will determine where your system is lacking and help you level it out.

For hook-up, you can do two things: One is forget the sub channel on the EQ and just use front and rear into the EQ, and keep your sub out on the deck hooked up to the sub-amp. The problem for this is of course it cuts out the entire EQ settings from your Bass channel. The other thing you can do, is run front and rear into the EQ and use the sub-out from the EQ. You won't have to use the Sub out from the deck at all. You just have to make sure that with this setup, your front and rear outputs are full range. Some decks when you turn on the sub-out, it puts a high-pass to the front and rear rca out's. Pioneer and Eclipse heads give you the option of turning on the high-pass to the front and rear outs.

All in all, if you need an EQ, stick with a solid unit, like the Clarion or the Eclipse EQ1000. If you need to get into the serious side of EQ's then check out the Audiosource and Eclipse EQ2102.

However, it all comes down to YOUR ride. If you want an EQ, by all means, throw one in, because it's you who is going to enjoy it everyday.

lnhiv

Copper - Posts: 54

Joined: August 02, 2008

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 02, 2008 at 7:09 PM / IP Logged

I definitely want an eq and I'm currently trying to find a local rta, or at least and spl mic with some pink noise tracks.

My deck does turn on a HP filter when the sub-out is on, and it doesn't have an option to turn it off. I most definitely want to eq my bass though, as that's one of the noticeable areas that need it. I'll probably grab the Clarion, as all of the rest of the ones I like are way above the budget (Audiocontrol EQS, Arc Audio EQX, and another one I forgot). I don't so much WANT an eq, as I hate hearing level differences in my bass and highs, so I feel that I NEED one.

Also, any suggestions on a 6.5 component set...I'm looking at the Infinty Perfects, Alpine Type-R, and Diamond D6's with the silk tweets. Nothing else has caught my eye (or ear) yet, though I haven't heard many of the more remote brands like Soundstream.

2003 Chevy Cavalier coupe

DYohn

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Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 03, 2008 at 11:13 AM / IP Logged

lnhiv wrote:

I I don't so much WANT an eq, as I hate hearing level differences in my bass and highs, so I feel that I NEED one.

Also, any suggestions on a 6.5 component set...I'm looking at the Infinity Perfects, Alpine Type-R, and Diamond D6's with the silk tweets. Nothing else has caught my eye (or ear) yet, though I haven't heard many of the more remote brands like Soundstream.

Level differences? An EQ may not be able to help you with that. Please describe what you think you are hearing.

As far as component speakers, the first three you mention are fine, buy the ones you like the most. I cannot recommend speakers from Soundstream.

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lnhiv

Copper - Posts: 54

Joined: August 02, 2008

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 03, 2008 at 12:45 PM / IP Logged

The lower end of the bass (around 45hz) tapers off dramatically, which I'd like to bring back up. I'm guessing this is most likely due to my box; it sounds great when I listen to rock, but when I switch to r&b, electronica, hip hop, and bass tracks, it's just not right.

And there's something else...guitar riffs when they're switching chords just doesn't sound like it's playing the same db level. I'm thinking this is just my door speakers I have now (Infinity Ref 6.5's) and will be corrected mostly by the addition of a component set.

Either way, I'm at the point where I'd like to start actually tuning my system and I can't afford to go the digital route.

2003 Chevy Cavalier coupe

DYohn

Moderator - Posts: 10,741

Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 03, 2008 at 1:13 PM / IP Logged

You really cannot recover the first octave of bass with an EQ. Trying to do this by artificially boosting those levels will most likely lead to clipping amplifiers and fried voice coils. This issue is most likely caused by the natural roll-off of a sealed enclosure or that your type-r's simply cannot produce output that low. If you need more output below 50Hz, you probably need a different subwoofer system.

The second issue may be related to phase cancellation or off-axis issues, it's hard to say, but again it does not sound like anything an EQ could address.

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lnhiv

Copper - Posts: 54

Joined: August 02, 2008

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 03, 2008 at 2:22 PM / IP Logged

Well, you just shot my plans all to hell, lol. It is a 10" sub, so that's what I was guessing too. I wasn't aware that adjusting those levels could potentially harm my system, thank you for that piece of knowledge.

As to the second part, well, we'll see what happens once I drop in the comps.

Thank you very much for all your help...looks like I'll just re-evaluate once I get the comps in, and maybe suck it up and grab a different sub, too.

2003 Chevy Cavalier coupe

DYohn

Moderator - Posts: 10,741

Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 03, 2008 at 4:45 PM / IP Logged

Yea, an EQ is never the answer for adding something that is missing. They are useful for cutting what is over-emphasized. I'd say you simply have your subwoofer in the wrong enclosure for what you want. According to the Alpine owner's manual for a 10" Type R, in a sealed enclosure of around 0.75 cuft you can expect an F3 of around 50Hz, which means the output is falling off and is 3db down from peak at 50Hz. If you change it into a vented enclosure of around 1.3 cuft net, you can port it for an Fb (tuning frequency) of 35Hz, which will get you nice output down to around 30Hz. Not bad at all and should get you a lot more of the ultra-low-end you seek.

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lnhiv

Copper - Posts: 54

Joined: August 02, 2008

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: August 03, 2008 at 9:30 PM / IP Logged

So, I played with it some more, and found a couple things...one good, one bad.

I turned the eq frequency on my deck to 60hz, 2 wide, and bumped the bass one notch, and it was almost exactly what I want. Before I did this I noticed something very odd...it wasn't the frequencies that I wasn't hearing, it was that my subs simply weren't playing at all after about 15 mins of heavy bass music. Turns out my amp can't actually handle pushing 500w rms at 2 ohms (even though it's literally written on the bottom of it that it does, damn rockford).

I'm just gonna grab a new amp, some components and call it good until I can find an rta, then I'll grab an eq and really start playing around (hopefully by then I can afford to go digital). Again, thank you for all your help.

2003 Chevy Cavalier coupe

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