8 replies to this topic

[asylum_83]

i've been thinking about getting a dB meter so i can do some more accurate tuning on my car stereo myself, just wondering if anyone else has done much theirselves, and what methods/tools they used to do it.

i was thinking something like this to measure the level of certain frequencies and tune it reasonably flat (apparently slightly higher treble and bass sounds a bit better?)

[Bodyjar]

It's not very accurate... Plus you would have to have a test tone CD with frequencies from say 30hz to 20hz at 1/3 oct intervals... and then test each tone individually...

It's a cheap way of doing it, but I'm not sure how accurate (thus useful) it would be...

[SCorpion]

just use ur ears. the longer u sit there the better it will sound. everyones ears are different, a violin will sound different to one person than it will to another. it just takes time thats all u can do really (yes i have heard of RTA's but after using one i ended up tuning it some more!!)

[joey_kev]

IMO, your own ears is the best tool to tune your system

have a listen other people system with the same test CD you use on your system, so u know what you need to improve in your system

[asylum_83]

unfortunately i'm in SA.... not many people i know have a very high-end audio system in their car (let alone one at all!)

i thought about getting it done on a RTA somewhere, but i'm always one for giving it a go myself... would it be too innacurate to be useful?

[shiny_car]

a digital read-out dB metre is actually a decent way of doing things if you don't have access to an RTA. as mentioned, you'll want a test-tone disc to work with, from 20Hz-20kHz in 1/3-octave steps. doesn't have to be of that resolution - can make it 1-octave steps. depends how sophisticated your EQ is; if it's a 30/31-band EQ then you'll want 1/3-octave readings.

position the metre on a stand/tripod in the car; or at least position it in the same spot for each reading (could do a set of readings in different positions though, like driver's ear position, passenger side and in the centre).

plot the readings on a graph: dB vs frequency.

ultimately, an RTA is the way to go. this can be very useful for tuning. i use an RTA for my 31-band EQ settings. then i listen to some familiar tracks to ensure it sounds good, and make minor adjustments from there.

what sort of EQ - bands, parametrics vs graphic - does your HU have?

[asylum_83]

i'll just be using the 7-band EQ on the headunit (adjustable for front/rear seperatly) and the settings on the sub amp for tuning, i guess it doesn't have to be perfect for now, just want to make sure there are no real peaks anywhere

[shiny_car]

probably just need to check each octave:
20Hz/40/80/160/320/640/1.2kHz/2.5/5/10/20kHz

if the EQ can be adjusted for difference frequencies, then you could check the dB in more resolution than just octaves. i guess if you can be bothered, do the full 1/3-octave dB graph then go from there.

[asylum_83]

well i ended up buying the meter today anyway... hey whats $49 for a bit of fun?

got it over 126dB pretty easy

once its all run in a bit more i'll have to put together a test CD and see how its goes!

cheers for the help, any other advice my ears are still open