Are you not happy with your car’s audio system? Hey there, don’t lose hope! Instead, try to tune the car subwoofer. Trust me; it can make a huge difference in sound quality. But, how to tune car subwoofers?
First, turn on your favorite song at a listening level. Now increase the woofer output eventually. Continue until you reach the perfect bass without overpowering the music. You can also try a subwoofer tuning app for further assistance.
Are you tuning the car subwoofer for the very first time? No worries, just follow our step-by-step guidelines. Our premium tips will guide you to produce the best audio quality right away!
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How To Tune Car Subwoofers?
Honestly, tuning car subwoofers is a bit tricky. It may vary from vehicle to vehicle as per their models. However, their overall basics will be the same. So let’s check out the basics first!
Car Subwoofer Gain Settings
First, set the subwoofer’s gain at a medium level.
In this case, just play one of your favorite songs which has a heavy bass. Keep increasing the volume until you hear the distortion. Mark the volume level where you heard the distortion. Now set the gain below that level.
Don’t use too high volumes. Otherwise, it will distort the overall sound quality. Again, a very low gain level might not give you the bass you desire.
Adjust the Crossover Frequency
Adjusting the crossover is also very crucial. After all, the crossover determines how many frequencies the subwoofers and the speakers will get.
First, from the head unit set a high pass filter for the front and rear speakers. However, the stock speakers on the JDM vehicle aren’t that great. So, we prefer to set high pass filters on a very high frequency preferably around 120 Hz to 150 Hz.
Initially, we keep the slope at -12 dB. If the music still feels distorted, you can turn the slopes up from -18 dB to -24 dB. Is your front or rear speakers overpowering? In that case, just decrease the gain significantly on that particular channel. Now The main speakers will indeed be good enough to handle the midrange and high bass levels.
In the case of the subwoofer, we selected a low pass filter. So, the subwoofer will play everything from the selected frequency level and below. For the woofers, our preferred crossover frequency is around 70 to 120 Hz. Around -12db slope will be fine for the subs. At this level, the subwoofer can easily handle mid as well as low bass sounds.
Phase Adjustment & Alignment
You might need to perform some phase adjustments to control when your subwoofer kicks in or out. Try to play it from 0 to 180 degrees for seamless integration between the subwoofers and speakers. Some subs also come with a phase control switch for proper alignment between the subs and speakers.
Adjust The Subwoofer
First, set the stereo equalizer at 0 with no EQ curve. Turn on a heavy bass of familiar music while keeping your subs off. Play the music at a medium level and start increasing the woofer output. Mark the level where you feel any distortion. Now set the subwoofer’s output below that level where the perfect bass comes out without distortion.
Does it feel like the sub is firing the bass at the rear? If yes, try to delocalize the bass by decreasing the woofer’s crossover point. You can reposition the subs for front and side firings as well. Once the sub is at its optimal position, don’t forget to check the phase alignment again.
Bass Boost:
Some people might think of using base boost to enrich the sound quality. Trust me, just spare it! If you need more bass, just get more subs. Don’t add an extra boost otherwise, it might distort the audio and overwhelm the whole car audio system. A moderate boost will be enough to reach the punchy bass you need.
Set Up The Equalizer
I would advise making minor adjustments to the equalizer if you need to. For instance, if you want a better bass quality, increase the bass slightly. In contrast, decrease the highs and mids as well. Excessive bass will not only distort sound but also will rob excess power from the system. Some equalizers feature tone-adjusting presets. You can try adjusting them to improve the sound quality significantly.
Listen And Adjust
Are you done making all the adjustments? I guess yes. Now it’s time to try different music on your fine-tuned sound system. Make initial adjustments while playing music of different genres. Be sure that the sub blends perfectly with the rest of the speakers. Our main aim is to balance out the entire car audio system without overpowering it.
What Are The Best Amp Settings For Car Subwoofers?
Setting up the amplifier at the low pass filter is necessary to play mid as well as low bass from the subs. This range might vary according to the woofer’s frequency response. We prefer to set it around 70 Hz to 100 Hz. Furthermore, look for any distortion or clipping sound. If there is, lower the gain slightly to decrease any unwanted damage.
How To Stop Vibration From A Subwoofer In A Car?
- First, determine the origin of the vibrations. Tap on different parts of the panel and look for any loose screws.
- Once you locate the vibrating panel, install some soundproof material like dynamite. With ‘Dynamite heat adhesives’, you don’t need to go through the extra hassle of installation.
- The subwoofer enclosure should be of the right size as well.
- Attaching a brace is also a great idea. It can easily absorb vibration from the sub-enclosure.
- A high pass crossover is great for reducing low-frequency sounds like rustles and catches.
FAQ
1. How To Choose A Subwoofer For Car?
– To pick the best subwoofer for the car stereo system, you have to consider multiple factors. First focus on the wattage of the subwoofer. There must be a wide wattage range between the RMS and dynamic power. Secondly, subwoofer size is very crucial. You must go for a subwoofer of 12 inches or above. You might also have to look for other factors like frequency, materials, sensitivity, etc.
2. How To Get Deep Bass From Car Subwoofers?
– To play deep bass from the car subwoofer, you need to cancel out any distortion. First set up the stereo system’s gain at the mid-level. Now set up a low pass filter for the subs with a frequency of 70 to 120Hz. Don’t go for an extra bass booster as it may cause additional distortion.
Final Words
Setting up the subwoofer for the car audio system is indeed tricky. If you are tuning it for the first time, you might have wondered how to tune car subwoofers. However, I bet our article has already given you a basic idea of it. You have to adjust the phase, crossover, subs, and bass boost while canceling out any distortion. So, are you ready to fine-tune your car audio system right now?
