Car Audio Equalizer
to Get the Most Out of Your Stereo
A car audio equalizer is a system of audio filters or amplifiers which can be manually tweaked to provide precise audio control for your vehicle. Each audio filter corresponds with a specific frequency, which can then be adjusted according to your preference. If you'd like to get the most out of your stereo by having full control over your vehicle's audio, the steps below will assist you in setting up an audio equalizer.
Many different designs of car audio equalizers are available, so it's important to choose one that suits your tastes. The most popular equalizers are located in the vehicle's dash and have a graphic display, but others may be mounted in the trunk and have parametric or quasi-parametric processors. Pioneer, Boss, and Kenwood are three top-rated brands to consider when choosing your equalizer.
Step 2: Install Your Audio Equalizer
The installation process will vary depending on the type of equalizer you choose, so refer to the instructions which should be included with your purchase. In general, installing an equalizer is a difficult task which should be performed by professionals, as it's possible to severely damage your vehicle's sound system if done incorrectly. Unless you have in-depth knowledge of your vehicle and its audio system, it's a good idea to let someone professional install the equalizer.
Step 3: Listen and Adjust
Once you have your car audio equalizer installed, you'll need to turn on some music with vocals and adjust the frequency levels to your liking. The mechanics of adjusting your specific equalizer model vary, and should be covered in its instruction manual; usually it's a simple matter of turning knobs on the dash. Boosting treble may improve clarity, while a higher bass outputs deeper, richer sound. However, too much treble can make voices sound hollow and excessive bass makes them "boomy." Be very careful when adjusting audio levels and always make changes a little bit at a time because you can easily blow out your speakers by setting the amplifiers too high.
Step 4: Leave it Alone
After tweaking your audio equalizer to your liking, it's recommended to keep the same settings for all of your music; you shouldn't re-adjust the levels for different CDs. While you can continue playing with the levels if you must, over-adjusting your equalizer after the initial setup may result in a damaged speaker system.
Car audio equalizers greatly enhance the quality of a vehicle's stereo system by allowing precise adjustments to be made to various frequencies. These adjustments compensate for the acoustics of your vehicle's interior and for road noise to provide you with custom-balanced, high-quality sound. Although the process of installing and tweaking your equalizer may be lengthy and difficult, the end result is well worth it for anyone who desires superior sound quality.
