Tunning

Hi,

This is my first post.

I have an alpine 9835 head unit installed in my car with factory speakers (toyota 4 runner). I am purchasing an amp (alpine V 12 series or a zappco) and alpine X speakers.

My  first question is: does any one recommend either of these amps (I enjoy all music types and depending on my mood at various "loudness")?

My 2nd question is: Theree is an installer than "tunes" the system in. And I really don't know what that means but its an extra 100 dollars.  He says that he is MECP certified.

The person that I have been going to for years doesn't do that, he says that with quality equipement it is not needed.

So is this "tunning" a real deal? Should I get it? Or it really doesn't matter?

Can I "tune" myself?

Thanks so much in advance. I really appreciate some response for this. If i did not post in teh correct section, please tell me in what section should I post. 

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Explorer154

Why don't you ask him some more questions, as far as his specific tuning techniques. For $100 he better be using an RTA, or be really good. MECP certification doesn't really go that far in this field as far as I am concerned, experience is better.

If you have no idea what you are doing then having someone help you might be a good idea, but your ears are excellent tools for this situation.

Once you get your system installed, you can always ask folks here on this site, we usually have pretty good answers for system setups and how to's as far as x-over points and the ever so important gain setting.

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$100 dollars sounds expensive, but if you are not buying product from him, understandable. If he is indeed using an RTA.

The value of it depends on you, and your ears. If you have a particular taste for SQ, then it may be worth your money. But for the average daily listener, it would probably not make much difference to them.

IMO, get your equipment installed, and your installer to adjust everything. If it sounds good, then you are set. If not, as dwarren has stated, maybe everyone on this site can give you a hand. And as a last resort, if you are not satisfied, then having the other guy use an RTA. If he is indeed using an RTA, if not, then no one's "tuning by ear" is worth $100 dollars, IMO. 

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Thanks,

Based on what you have mentioned, I think I will go to the guy that I have been going to for years. He has always done great neat clean jobs for me.  I didn't even know there was such a thing as "tuning" until I happened to go this other store.

I kinda would have felt bad going to this other guy, because I have built up a nice relationship with the store that I have been going to.

Guys what is an RTA and second of all I really appreciated you telling me I can come to this site for help in my own tuning. Do you recommend any books ( like a book for "dummies") so I can learn some of these things for myself.  I really enjoy listening to car audio. I travel 15 hours a week just to and from work. Thanks so much in advance,

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Explorer154

All the pages about crossovers, level setting, frequency response, and equalization at https://www.bcae1.com/

It is the best single resource I've found for learning about car audio on the internet.

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New Project: 2003 Pathfinder

Real Time Analyzer (RTA)

Audio Control ® SA-3052 or equivalent with Pink Noise Generator, 175 dB Microphone, SPL Meter, etc.

An RTA is used for many purposes, but we are refering to it to adjust your sound stage to a nominally "flat response". Though there is no way to truly get a flat response in a vehicle because of too many varying factors, you tend to get it as close as possible.

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I want to thank everybody for their help. And the website dealing with car audio has been great.

From my reading and from all of you, it sounds like audio is tuned in your car if you have a "flat" Eq.

But, if this is true, then, actually I don't want to spend extra money to have it tuned, because I am always fiddling with the head unit equalizer (fidgit a lot) and so if the tuning is this flat response, I gonna mess it up away.

Talk to you soon.

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Explorer154

well the tuning would be to compensate, either under or over a range of frequencies that may lack or be too strong, but yes the best way to set those preset eq's on your deck is by your ear. 

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