Tuning up your hifi in your boat can include many things but the most often question I get is “Where do I set my crossover point for my sub amp and sub”. Most people set a couple things and run. That can work but I am going to try to address more fine tuning for best speaker, subwoofer and amp performance.
Here is the simple answer and assumes that you have a dedicated amp(s) for sub along with a dedicated amp(s) for main speakers. Your amps will have HP and LP filters built in. You have already set your gain controls on the amps CORRECTLY. Hopefully they are set fairly low now, especially on your main speaker amps.
This is a “listen by ear” and no testing or analyzing equipment needed. You need a good sound track to perform this tuning. I usually stay away from hip-hop, hard rock music. I pick something well recorded with a lot of dynamic range and detail. Tone controls flat for this tune.
Most people have already figured out that turning the volume control all the way around is nearly never necessary. A volume control on a head unit is a gain control and maximum volume on many systems is somewhere around ¾ up range.
To start you will want to disconnect your sub by unplugging the RCA’s or pull the fuse. Some of you have a separate sub level control that can be turned completely silent. Step 2 will be to set your high pass filter on the amp for main speakers to somewhere around 150hz. Start your selected music track and dial up to what will be your full volume. This is roughly ¾ level on the head units volume control. You are now listening to a high volume yet clean sounding track. Now you want to sneak the HP filter on your amp down a little. Slowly lower the HP filter until your speakers break up and then back off to clean sound again. Your goal is to get as much full range sound out of your main speakers as possible. Component speakers will likely sound well down to around 80hz. Coax speakers will be slightly higher. You simply want to get the most you can out of these speakers. Step three will match your sub(s) to your main speakers. You will want to set the low pass filter on your sub amp to a frequency that is equal to or lower than the high pass filter selection on your speaker mains amp. For example . . . If you are high passed for main speakers at 120hz you would want to set the LP filter on sub amp at 120hz or lower. My suggestion would be somewhere around 100hz. This little cross-over difference allows the sub bass and full range speakers to meet WELL together in the sound theatre. Step four is reconnect your sub, play same track and bring up gain with your external level control or using gain control on sub amp. Your goal here is simple . . . By ear you match volume for good balance between sub and main speakers.
Hope you enjoyed!
Here is the simple answer and assumes that you have a dedicated amp(s) for sub along with a dedicated amp(s) for main speakers. Your amps will have HP and LP filters built in. You have already set your gain controls on the amps CORRECTLY. Hopefully they are set fairly low now, especially on your main speaker amps.
This is a “listen by ear” and no testing or analyzing equipment needed. You need a good sound track to perform this tuning. I usually stay away from hip-hop, hard rock music. I pick something well recorded with a lot of dynamic range and detail. Tone controls flat for this tune.
Most people have already figured out that turning the volume control all the way around is nearly never necessary. A volume control on a head unit is a gain control and maximum volume on many systems is somewhere around ¾ up range.
To start you will want to disconnect your sub by unplugging the RCA’s or pull the fuse. Some of you have a separate sub level control that can be turned completely silent. Step 2 will be to set your high pass filter on the amp for main speakers to somewhere around 150hz. Start your selected music track and dial up to what will be your full volume. This is roughly ¾ level on the head units volume control. You are now listening to a high volume yet clean sounding track. Now you want to sneak the HP filter on your amp down a little. Slowly lower the HP filter until your speakers break up and then back off to clean sound again. Your goal is to get as much full range sound out of your main speakers as possible. Component speakers will likely sound well down to around 80hz. Coax speakers will be slightly higher. You simply want to get the most you can out of these speakers. Step three will match your sub(s) to your main speakers. You will want to set the low pass filter on your sub amp to a frequency that is equal to or lower than the high pass filter selection on your speaker mains amp. For example . . . If you are high passed for main speakers at 120hz you would want to set the LP filter on sub amp at 120hz or lower. My suggestion would be somewhere around 100hz. This little cross-over difference allows the sub bass and full range speakers to meet WELL together in the sound theatre. Step four is reconnect your sub, play same track and bring up gain with your external level control or using gain control on sub amp. Your goal here is simple . . . By ear you match volume for good balance between sub and main speakers.
Hope you enjoyed!
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