5 replies to this topic

[KickerCat]

What is it, and how can it be avoided? Quite a few competitors in Am Street were told their system was doing this, and I heard a brief description of it. From what I heard, it would need seperate EQ's for left and right to fix... This comp was the first time I'd heard the term, and doing a search didn't help either...

Edited by KickerCat, 17 October 2005 - 07:10 AM.

[stazed]

I've heard of the term before in regards to Multichannel processing.

It concerns the ability of "psuedo" multi-channel systems to accurately create a surround sound effect out of a stereo signal. The processor system usually designates particular frequencies to particular "sides".... such that various frequency bands are "steered" towards the right surround speaker, for example.

To use it in a stereo environment lends me to believe that the judges are saying that your processors are sending particular frequencies to particular speakers.

Assuming that's so, the term is being mis-used... there are no discretionary processors in simple stereo and frequencies are not steered to either speaker. The audio signal off the album is simply split into Left and Right and sent to each speaker (at least hopefully!)

The term steering itself implies that there is some discretion involved as to where a particular frequency goes, and it sounds like rubbish to me! Maybe they're saying that your inbuilt processor isn't getting it right.... but I've never heard anyone mention that before, let alone be able to HEAR it.


HOWEVER, if you are NOT talking about left and right, but rather sub-bass/mid-bass/tweeter integration, then YES there is frequency steering based on crossover points, and thus it is fair to say that you may be steering too many high frequencies to your subwoofer, or the tweeters are playing too much mid-range.


I'm just working off my home audio knowledge here.... I'd hate to see a term being misused

Edited by stazed, 17 October 2005 - 08:20 AM.

[Marc ♫]

Frequency Steering in simple terms....

In car audio we have multiple points of source for audio (predominantly) through the use of 2, 3 or even 4 way splits (or a slight variation with ambient speakers).

The points of source are often not aligned with each other and can be spread out (kick panel mount, a pillar mount, doors etc).

The speakers will define a point source and combine to create stereo seperation and sound stage in front of the listener.

Frequency steering as the term used in CAASQ is when that sound stage will "shift" depending on the frequency being played.

Ie. a nice sound stage sitting atop of the dash board with image centrally located, and then some male vocals will be played and the sound stage will drop down and/or move over to the point source responsible for these frequencies (in the case of male vocals, often dropping the sound stage and moving left or right to the midbass/range speakers).

That's a general description of frequency steering as the term is being used in CAASQ to describe the problem.

[Marc ♫]

I've personally witnessed it in many CAASQ cars, especially with high mounted mid range and tweeters, when mid bass speakers are located down low.

[KickerCat]

Ok, the theory makes sense - but my tweeters are right next to my mids In the case of the stage shifting when male/female vocals come in, how would I go about preventing it?

[roughcactus]

KickerCat, on Oct 17 2005, 12:10 AM, said:

Ok, the theory makes sense - but my tweeters are right next to my mids   In the case of the stage shifting when male/female vocals come in, how would I go about preventing it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Experimentation!!!



Just kidding mate...some cars exhibit it...some cars don't ...it has to do with speaker locations, vehicle accoustics etc...it can be very noticeable on cars with lots of distance between mids and tweeters...or with mutiple mids in different locations etc...cars with kick panel mids and a pillar tweeters tend to have more issues with it...as for your car I can have a listen when i see you next and offer some suggestions if you like