For years, I've worked on my own car audio systems, just usually upgrading components. I'm looking now at trying to maximize what I have. So, how do you go about fine-tuning your audio system?

For instance, I don't even know how to make sure your sub is in phase and if there is a time delay between amps.

I know I could hook up an o-scope, but that is one instrument I don't have and can't take home from work.

Any advice is appreciated!

Also, what about sound dampening in the doors? I'm thinking about putting a baffle in the doors behind the speakers. Has anyone done this and what were your results?

Thanks!!

 

what kind of EQs do you have at your disposal?
An RTA would be usefull, but i don't think you'll be able to get your hands on either.
You could start buy trying to set the freq response as flat as possible, but some people fine that dull. Then what a lot of people do from there is boost the lows and the highs a little bit.

 

For HU settings, that something you usually have to play around with yourself and see (or hear I guess) what you like best and you thing sounds best.

If you have your subs wired positives to positives, and negatives to negatives, they are in phase. Wire the positive to the negative, and the negative to the positive, and they are out of phase. Try it either way and see what you think sounds best.
Some amps even have a phase reverse switch that does pretty much the same thing, play around with it and see what you like best.

To set your gains you dont REALLY need an Oscope, but its probably the best way to do it. Second best is to use a DMM, some math, and a test tone CD. If you want more info on that say so and Ill go over it in depth for ya.

For the crossover your amps-a good place to start for the sub amp is around 80 Hz, and for the comp amp around 70-80 Hz. Again, just another thing youll want to play around with. Just make sure your comp amp's crossover is set equal to, or a little lower than your sub amp's crossover. If its set higher, there will be a "gap" so to say in your music where the music wont really sound "full" and if its way higher you might not even have some frequencies playing Youd probably know tho because it would sound like poo.

A few people have put baffles on thier speakers in the doors. To sum it up, they pretty much said it gave them a little louder, and a little tigher mids.

 

Hit you local sound shops and see if any have an RTA.It can show the curve and measure the sound levels.An RTA is how you can set eqs to try and get a flat responce and it will show if you are missing any thing.Most shops charge a small fee but it can be a great help.