Hi All

Just purchased an Alpine CDA9853 which i am quite impressed with compared to my old Clarion head unit.

Im after Sound Quality so i decided to go the Alpine Head unit.

Have a few questions to those out there with this head unit or experience with it.

My old Clarion had Bass and Treble controls which i dont seem to have on the new Alpine. Is this correct? Or am i missing them somewhere in the menu?

Im currently running:
CDA9853 Head unit
Alpine Type R Splits (Cant remember the model number but they are last years range) (Front)
Orion SC200.4 Amp
Pioneer coax speakers (Rear - Soon to be changed to Alpine)
JL W0 12" Sub

I have the Splits running off the amp and the rears running off the head unit.
I havent touched any of the settings on the head unit so the sound is poor but does anyone have any ideas on how to set up the head unit?

I would like the sub to do most of the bass work so im after clarity out of the speakers

Thanks

Leigh

from memory, i think if u hold down the "menu" button at the bottom left of the unit for about 3-5secs, it should bring up the "pro" menu, which has time allignment, cross-over settings, and eq settings.
also, read the manual...its covered in there

the 9853 includes alpine's 'bass engine pro' tuning features. these are fairly complex and very comprehensive, and require expert level tuning ability to set right. you want to learn about what they do first, then go about experimenting with using them.

*xovers: you can use the inbuilt xovers in the 9853 instead of the ones in the amps; this is more convenient and accurate, so disable the amp ones; start with a HP setting of ~80Hz with a steepish slope, say 18dB/oct, for the splits; then try a LP filter a bit lower, say ~70Hz, and steeper slope, say 24dB/oct
*parametric EQ: you can try and tune by ear, say using an SQ disc, one that you know is very well recorded and displays all spectrums of music, including quality subbass, midbass, vocals and accurate treble; better still, get access to an RTA (realtime analyser) to measure the system's frequency response; this will help you set the xover and EQ for a nice flat frequency response, so all frequencies are nice and even
*time correction: measure the distance from your ears to the speakers and sub; this will help you set the TC; aim to create 'upfront bass' where it sounds like the sub is right infront of you (ie: delay the front speakers relative to the sub, say by 5~6ms); you can tailor L-R setting to centre the vocals right in the centre of the dash; this typically requires delaying the R speakers more than the L

read, learn, experiment. enter SQ comps for feedback. attend CAA Meets and have SQ nutters audition your system for advice. find a retailer with an RTA.

it's otherwise impossible to advise over forums on how to tune things. we have to hear the stereo. regardless, don't expect to tune it perfectly first time. i've been fine tuning my system for 2 years or so, tweaking here and there, based upon feedback received in competitions.

note too, if the system sounds poor, then your installation probably isn't up to scratch. tuning properly will help, but it won't make a poor system sound fantastic.

good luck.

I'll agree with that i entered my first CAASQ comp in Novice grade just to learn, as i want to compete next yr, and it was great learning experience, wasnt intimidating at all plus i came home with a trophy 2nd out of a field of ten and as you'll see from my sig i"m not running anything special (stock speakers). So I'm definitely going to say go enter a comp as its a great way to learn and you never know you might win something.

Ah Luke! Was great to meet you. I didnt count the sheets, was a surprise to see you came out second! well done!

wow you came out 2nd with only stock speakers...very interesting....
What car is it?

Thanks For your help guys i will have to give it a go!

05 model Barina last of the Opel Built models, yeah i was surprised how good it actually sounded when I bought it. SDing the doors and running of the Eclipse Deck helps a bit aswell. Mind you in Amateur I dont think it would stand a chance. Hmm now for those Dyns.

Luke


P.S. Bodyjar Ive played a bit more with the time allignment sounds much better now.