Equalizer settings aftermarket speakers

[JonB2]

Hi All. Recently installed Kicker Key 200.4 along with Alpine dash and Kicker speakers in kick panels and 4" rear pods. I find the sound sort of "compressed" and not very good in the mid bass area with DSP on. DSP off sounds high and tinny but with more distinct and clear vocals and mids. Reran DSP multiple times with different switches on/off and didn't really change the overall sound. I know I'm likely in the minority here.

So I'm experimenting running with DSP off and using an equalizer app for streaming music mostly. If anyone else is using a similar setup, what equalizer settings are you using--trying to get a rough idea where I should be.

Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[Brian_B]

I don't have a Kicker, so I can only be of a bit of help here

But you should be running the DSP Learn thing on the Kicker with everything on Sync at Default/Normal settings. Basically hit reset on fade/balance/EQ and let everything sit in the middle while the DSP thing is running

 

[Area51BS]

You can fool the tuning I believe by turning bass down for example. Run setup. Return sync settings to neutral. Causes DSP to increase bass because it heard less. Make sense? Can do that with mid, high left or right and front or back levels. Personally I think the louder the rear pods the worse the front stage sounds. There are some great videos about the Key put out by 5 star car audio on YouTube.

 

[JonB2]

Ok thanks makes sense--I can try to "fool" the DSP learning this weekend and see what happens. I just don't know what to increase or decrease if the sound appears to be "compressed" especially low and midrange instruments and the vocals are not clear kind of muddy.

 

[DavesNotHere]

Ok thanks makes sense--I can try to "fool" the DSP learning this weekend and see what happens. I just don't know what to increase or decrease if the sound appears to be "compressed" especially low and midrange instruments and the vocals are not clear kind of muddy.

I ran set up a few different times as well. I found switching to biamp mode afterwards and adjusting the gains helped find a sweet spot.

 

[JonB2]

I ran set up a few different times as well. I found switching to biamp mode afterwards and adjusting the gains helped find a sweet spot.

Thanks for the info. So I switched Kicker HPF from 80 to 120 and that helped a lot on the kick speakers to clear up the sound. Problem is now I have very little midrange in most songs because of the new setting. So stuck again.

Current setup is coax speakers in dash and in kick panels. Will that work to biamp or do you need components up front?

 

[DavesNotHere]

Thanks for the info. So I switched Kicker HPF from 80 to 120 and that helped a lot on the kick speakers to clear up the sound. Problem is now I have very little midrange in most songs because of the new setting. So stuck again.

Current setup is coax speakers in dash and in kick panels. Will that work to biamp or do you need components up front?

That's what I have too. I also have the Kicker 6.5" rear pods and the 8" sub.

 

[JonB2]

That's what I have too. I also have the Kicker 6.5" rear pods and the 8" sub.

OK so if you have coaxials all around as well, did you need to rewire for Bi Amp mode on the front speakers and what's the best way to do that. I have plugnplay harness currently--can that be redone? Thanks.

 

[DavesNotHere]

OK so if you have coaxials all around as well, did you need to rewire for Bi Amp mode on the front speakers and what's the best way to do that. I have plugnplay harness currently--can that be redone? Thanks.

I didn't rewire anything. Just played around with the amp until I was good with the sound.

 

[JonB2]

I didn't rewire anything. Just played around with the amp until I was good with the sound.

Ha! Ok I'll give that I shot. Thought it was a long technical project! Thank you.

Sponsored