Stereo settings usually consist of three major components, bass, mid and treble. And to depict the worth of these three components more clearly, we are writing a blog post. Also, most importantly, to let you know about the best bass, mid and treble settings for your car stereo are?
There is a famous saying by Top Gear Jeremy Clarkson; during one of his shows,” Driving is a pleasure.” Today, with many innovations in the car world, cars are getting bright, comfier, and fun to drive—anybody who loves cars and loves to go can’t deny the importance of a good car stereo. Car stereo adds to the beauty and pleasure driving experience.
It doesn’t matter from which generation you belong, whenever you are in a car you always look and want to listen to good music of your choice, but that can be possible only when your stereo system is up to the mark. Its setting is balanced and correctly calibrated. But before we jump into how and what our best settings are, let’s have a little overview of sound quality.
Sound quality depends on multiple factors, from the make and builds quality of your sound system to speakers, tweeters, and subwoofers. If they are of average quality, your stereo settings are the most significant thing that can change the excellent quality, and you’re listening to pleasure.
Moreover, we are writing this post to give you a better idea about your car’s stereo system, its components, and the way to choose the right bass mid and treble settings for a car stereo. So, keep on reading!
Table of Contents
Understanding Sound Frequencies and Range:
To set your stereo equalizer to its correct settings, let first understand the sound frequency and their range and how they can impact on quality of sound—the natural ability to comprehend and process the sound frequencies ranging between 20 hertz to 20000 hertz.
If any sound is below and above this range, the human ear can’t listen without external aid. It’s all about adjusting frequencies that bring out a pleasurable listening experience.
- Bass: Equalizer is used to set and adjust different frequencies for pleasurable sound output. You can set your bass, mid, and treble with this tool. If your bass is high, you can adjust it by using an equalizer; usually, the bass frequency ranges from 16 hertz to 256 hertz; within this range, the sound output is good, and you can configure it manually using equalizer controls.
- Treble: Treble is the most upside frequency that an average human can comprehend. Usually, our ears can listen to up to 20khz of sound waves; beyond listening, this range can be harmful to the ears.
- Mid: Mid comes at the middle of both bass and treble. It provides a middle ground for both of them to adjust and calibrate.
What Is Equalizer, And How Does It Work?
The equalizer acts as a moderator that eliminates unnecessary noise. Let’s put it in terms of waves; it cuts the peaks or upper end of the waves and brings out desired results. Noise is the unwanted or higher frequency that disturbs the output sound; Equalizers use cutting and removing techniques to smooth the sound.
How to tune your Stereo using an Equalizer?
Many stereo units come with advanced technologies, where they auto-tune and adjust their frequencies according to different pre-defined scenarios. You can go with any mode that you like and match your mood. Equalizer will automatically do the settings; however, if you find it challenging to auto-tune, you can see the user manual and calibrate it yourself.
If you don’t find your required audio setting, you can also change it manually. Quite a place, parked car, and good sound instincts are helpful. It’s a fun process where you hit and trail different settings and stop when you find your required one.
Methods and Techniques to set Equalizer:
Let’s breakdown the whole process and learn how we can adjust our car stereo manually:
- Switch on Stereo:
The first task is to find a quiet place to park your car; it’s either your garage or some parking lot; don’t do it while driving. It is dangerous as it diverts your attention to the head unit from the road. Open your Equalizer by browsing through your stereo system.
Points to consider:
Now play any song of your choice; avoid playing radio because radio audios are already mixed, and their frequencies are often tuned to a specific genre. Take into account a few points before your play any song of your choice.
- Your selected song has a range of sounds, from high notes to mid and lower notes; it will make you differentiate between different settings and ease your stereo settings process.
- Please select a song you like to play often; as you are familiar with every beat, it will be easy to set your high and low note settings.
- Tune each side speaker separately:
It’s a tried and tested method to tune each side of speakers separately; fade control is used. Fade control can switch on a specific speaker; the sound comes out from the selected speaker. At first, you can turn on the front speakers and adjust their sound according to your like, then turn off the front speakers and hear sound from the rear speakers.
If both are equally balanced, then you will have a pleasing sound. If you still want to tweak them more, then while adjusting rear speakers, keep sure to use less treble; it will affect sound output coming from the front speakers.
- Adjust overall tone:
After setting up speakers separately, now check and listen overall sound. If it sounds suitable as you like, it’s okay, but if it needs more adjustments, open the Equalizer and check high, mid, and low note settings. The already installed stereo performs this function in the best way. So, choose any one of them!
You can also adjust low and high notes in preset settings manually. Tweak them as you like. Keep in mind that high notes treble should be clear, mid-range frequencies should be linear, and low frequency (bass) set to complete.
- Speaker’s adjustment and noise elimination:
After the stereo head unit, speakers are the second most crucial component If you want clear and crisp sound. If your speaker’s arrangement is not proper, then there is a chance that at higher notes, you will hear the noise. A few adjustments can make your speakers sound loud and clear.
- Tweeters:
Tweeters are small speakers usually present on the dashboard or at the side of doors. They typically process the high frequencies; their adjustment directs them to produce a pleasant sound. If placed in opposite or different directions, they make a more effective sound.
- Rear Speakers:
Most of the time, you listen to front row speakers more than the rear one, check your rear speakers, align them and adjust them if needed. They produce the depth in output sound; check the fade control feature by turning on only the rear speakers.
- Subwoofers:
Subwoofers handle the frequencies which need a boost up; placing suitable subwoofers will bring more precise and desired output sound.
Usually, advanced stereo systems and amps are already equipped with features like a built-in cross-over. Cross-over points filter out the high frequency and pass the low frequency that your speakers handle. As a result, you hear bass audio.
- Noise Reduction:
Outside noise or car cabin noise can also be reduced using dampening sheets. You can use them on doors and places where there is a need for sound dampening; quite a cabin adds more feel and effect to the overall sound quality.
Other materials like dampening mats are also available; these are used alongside the speakers, which reduce the vibrations and help produce bass effectively.
- Use of RTA ( real-time analyzer):
A real-time analyzer is also used to adjust and tune your stereo settings. They are readily available in apps, but the more accurate tools are costly. They use it to tune and get the most desirable results if one can afford it.
- Amplifiers:
Amplifiers, mainly called amps, are also used to get loud and clear sounds. Amps amplify specific frequencies and cut down the noise. As a result, you listen to a more precise sound. They are smoothing the overall sound frequencies that enable each speaker to give the best overall outputs.
Conclusion:
Adjusting the car stereo system is a fun experience; one can enjoy listening to their favorite songs while setting the Equalizer.
Listen to good music elevates your mood and brings calmness to your mind, but if the music is not coming out correctly and things are not adding up, then setting your car stereo settings right is more than necessary.
You can adjust your car sounds and listen to your desired music by making several adjustments, and you can replace and install new speakers, tweeters, subwoofers, and amps for more loud and clear music. Noise dampening sheets and mats are used to reduce the cabin noise and vibrations produced by the bass.
RTA (real-time analyzer) is also an effective and efficient way to increase sound quality, but actual RTA’s are costly due to their expensive nature. Therefore, smartphone apps are used instead, which are also effective. This article covers all the possible tweaks and methods. I hope they will help make your car stereo settings up to the mark!