Are there any websites that explain how to set an eq? Or any books you guys know off, i know a bit about setting EQ's, but this ALpine gives you so much control over the signal that I would like to learn how to set it properly and what each setting means. Any suggestions where I can look?

 

you have two options
1. just sit in the car and play with the eq unitl you like the way it sounds.
read up on the 9835 manual. lots of info in there (I have the same radio
2. take the car to a car audio place that has an RTA, and let them help you set it. they will charge for this. Make sure youy write down all the setting so if the battery is discontec you can set it back up


Mitch

 

The way that I use it is like this:
- Get a frequency sweep CD, like the Rives Audio Test 2 CD URL=http://www.rivesaudio.com]Rives Audio[/URL]. This should cost about $20.
- The Rives Audio CD has a set of tracks calibrated for the Radio Shack Analog SPL meter. Make sure that Radio Shack SPL meter is set to C-weighting and to 80db range.
- Then use the CD+SPL meter to scan the frequencies to find were you have spikes (either up/down), and then use the parametric EQ to try to flatten these spikes.
- After you get to a reasonably flat curve, then you can do some further adjusting to your preferences (e.g. extra bass, and so on...)
Cheers,
Marcelo

 

Setting the EQ on the 9835 can vary greatly..............

Are you running a sub?.....What size?

What size are your door speakers?

Do you have rear speakers behind the seats / headrest?

All of these items are a factors in tuning the EQ.

The x-over & slope on the 9835 can be one of the trickiest items to get set correctly.....you should do this first.....setting the slope to "0" will give you the greatest amount of volume out of your subwoofer for example..........a good X-over point would / might be about 50Hz........

As far as the Front / Door speakers you should play with the slope / x-over to get the desired bass responce first..........set it so you can turn the volume up but not get distortion.........example 12db Slope / 80 Hz X-oxer.

If that is to much......try changing the slope to 18db but leave the X-over at 80Hz..............you can also try the opposite:

Leave the slope at 12db..........but change the X-over to 100 Hz

Make sure that you are aware that the 9835 has a customizable Media Expander (MX Button).....it's like a loud button. you can set it to "OFF, 1, 2, or 3" 3 being the highest setting...........in my opinion 3 pushes the speakers too hard and you get distortion at higher volume levels.............I prefer a MX setting of "2"

The fine tuning with the EQ actually comes as the last step in getting the sound right.......play with the Slope / X-over first. You should only need to use the EQ to filter out unwanted highs or to fill a void in mid-bass..........set the Slope & X-over with the parametric EQ set flat across the board first. Go from there see what happens.

 

I am running a sub, its not in the vehicle yet but its a Alphasonik PSW 608. The doors are Focal Utopia's. No rear speakers.

I have my fronts right now at 125 hz,but these are just the stocks, the Utopias have not gone in yet. I know the utopias can get way lower than that. I just did not know what the slope was about. What do the different decibels settings mean and what do they adjust?

I really dont use the MX yet, it does not work good with the stocks. I heard its pretty much garbage, but I will see for myself once the Utopia's go in.

I kind of figured the eq would be last to smoothen out everything. I will go into tuning now armed with this new info. Thanks.

 

If your still running your stock speakers:

Leave the db setting at "0".....that's all the way up.....easiest way to explain it is 0 db is kinda like a referance point..........like a point on a volume knob......you can only go down from there......example....0db, -1, -2, -3...etc as you go down the volume decreases....when you have front / rear / subs all hooked up this is a way to fine tune the fade / volume levels between these different spoeakers.

For now leave the db level at "0"....which is all the way up. Make sure you understand the the db level & the db slope are two different settings.

Play with your X-over from 100 - 125Hz

Set your slope to 18

Hold down the MX (Media Expander) button for 3-4 seconds..........this will bring up the customizable settings.......Off, 1, 2, or 3.

With the stock speakers try 1 or 2 see how it sounds.......change the setting by moving the volume knob left / right confirm the new setting by pushing the MX button once the desired setting is highlighted.

**ALSO** Make sure that when you are setting the EQ / Slope / X-over that once you have selected the desired settings that you like........you have to push the volume knob in to SAVE THE SETTINGS.......