DSP tuning

[eduard4us]

What is everyone using to tune their aftermarket DSPs?

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[OddBall88]

I have my DSP going into a JL Audio Twk 88. Pretty happy with the set up.

 

[eduard4us]

I have my DSP going into a JL Audio Twk 88. Pretty happy with the set up.

That’s a cool set up, did you tune the DSP yourself?

 

[OddBall88]

That’s a cool set up, did you tune the DSP yourself?

Yeah I just tuned it to what sounds good to my ears. The JL program for tuning it is pretty easy to use.

 

[DJ1]

Audio Control DSP. I did the tuning myself using the electrical signal playing pink noise then an RTA playing pink noise.

Then playing various types of music at varying volumes. One interesting thing I have observed after going through a few rounds of DSP tuning is the difference between in the garage vs on the road. I started with getting everything flat and then tuning by ear to hear it the way I wanted to. In the garage. Once I got out on the road, I noticed that the wind and road noise were having an interference/cancelling effect on certain frequencies. So I would drive, listen and adjust. Took a few iterations to get my tune where I wanted.

 

[eduard4us]

Audio Control DSP. I did the tuning myself using the electrical signal playing pink noise then an RTA playing pink noise.

Then playing various types of music at varying volumes. One interesting thing I have observed after going through a few rounds of DSP tuning is the difference between in the garage vs on the road. I started with getting everything flat and then tuning by ear to hear it the way I wanted to. In the garage. Once I got out on the road, I noticed that the wind and road noise were having an interference/cancelling effect on certain frequencies. So I would drive, listen and adjust. Took a few iterations to get my tune where I wanted.

I agree, garage tuning is not always showing the results on the road. I’m m still learning and my setup is not that complex as the Audio Control or other big names DSPs. I’m getting there

 

[MKZoom]

use pink noise, RTA and a moving mic measurement with a calibrated mic to get the car close to a CAR TARGET curve. DO NOT use a in room curve as they are different.
an OEM system will slightly boost the bass as speed increases to compensate for road noise (id recommend a bass knob in place of this)
there are numerous how to's online but a critical part is time alignment. the car is a complex and confusing place to play back audio, so i recommend learning before you spend a lot of time turning dials lest you end up wasting a lot of your time

 

[kevin.gt]

If you are using the audiocontrol mobile tools app for RTA, I highly recommend the Dayton Audio imm-6. It’s the cheapest calibrated mic I could find at about $25 on amazon and it made a huge difference for me vs. using the built in iPhone mic. I was struggling try to compensate for huge spikes in the highs that weren’t really there. As @MKZoom suggested, I’m using the average mode and moving the mic around the driver area while playing pink noise

 

[eduard4us]

use pink noise, RTA and a moving mic measurement with a calibrated mic to get the car close to a CAR TARGET curve. DO NOT use a in room curve as they are different.
an OEM system will slightly boost the bass as speed increases to compensate for road noise (id recommend a bass knob in place of this)
there are numerous how to's online but a critical part is time alignment. the car is a complex and confusing place to play back audio, so i recommend learning before you spend a lot of time turning dials lest you end up wasting a lot of your time

I am using an Audiofrog target curve, the struggle I have is that everything sounds way too flat. I am running pink noise and measure everything with REW and the miniDSP UMK calibrated microphone but it does seem that the reflections are playing a huge role. I will try using an array of different microphones and see how that helps. I already wasted too much of my time on tuning the DSP.

 

[eduard4us]

If you are using the audiocontrol mobile tools app for RTA, I highly recommend the Dayton Audio imm-6. It’s the cheapest calibrated mic I could find at about $25 on amazon and it made a huge difference for me vs. using the built in iPhone mic. I was struggling try to compensate for huge spikes in the highs that weren’t really there. As @MKZoom suggested, I’m using the average mode and moving the mic around the driver area while playing pink noise

What RTA software did you use? I was looking at that mic initially but I did not know if REW will see it. Did you connect it to a laptop or mobile device?

 

[DJ1]

I am using an Audiofrog target curve, the struggle I have is that everything sounds way too flat. I am running pink noise and measure everything with REW and the miniDSP UMK calibrated microphone but it does seem that the reflections are playing a huge role. I will try using an array of different microphones and see how that helps. I already wasted too much of my time on tuning the DSP.

What are the other components in your system?

 

[eduard4us]

What are the other components in your system?

I’m using a mObridge amp with integrated DSP. It connects seamlessly to a B&O Ford system and replacing the OEM amp. This particular variant has been a Bronco kit with all cables and such.
Injecting mono pink noise through the OEM system, not into the DSP directly.

 

[DJ1]

I’m using a mObridge amp with integrated DSP. It connects seamlessly to a B&O Ford system and replacing the OEM amp. This particular variant has been a Bronco kit with all cables and such.
Injecting mono pink noise through the OEM system, not into the DSP directly.

Are you running stock speakers?

 

[kevin.gt]

What RTA software did you use? I was looking at that mic initially but I did not know if REW will see it. Did you connect it to a laptop or mobile device?

I’m just using AudioControl’s Mobile Tools app on my older iPad Pro with 3.5mm headphone/mic jack. I would expect your minidsp mic with REW would be better than what I’m using

 

[MKZoom]

I am using an Audiofrog target curve, the struggle I have is that everything sounds way too flat. I am running pink noise and measure everything with REW and the miniDSP UMK calibrated microphone but it does seem that the reflections are playing a huge role. I will try using an array of different microphones and see how that helps. I already wasted too much of my time on tuning the DSP.

assuming your time alignment is good, the other things you can check are #1 making sure you are using uncompressed files, and #2 tweaking the upper bass and the upper treble to see if its a matter of taste

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