Will adding an AudioControl EQS improve my SQ?

[Chrisvwgli]

hey everyone, i am posting this question bc although i like how my system sounds, i am not completely satisfied. i believe it could sound better. Its just missing depth, i dont know how to describe it. i blame it in part to listeting to compressed mp3's. Ive been thinking about adding a audiocontrol eqs.

My setup consists of a pionner avh-p6800dvd deck that has 3 band parametric eq. Focals 165k2p in front powered by jl 300/4 bridged.
2 10"w6v2s with 500/1.

Do you guys think the audiocontrol eqs will add what i'm missing? or is there something else lacking in my system??

thanks for anyone's input in advance

[nauc]

play some original cds and see if that solves the problem

a high quality jazz cd would be a great place to start

[greybush]

they could make or break your system depending on your experience and ear. They could tailor the sound to your liking, or if you don't know what you are doing when you are setting them can completely destroy how your system sounds. Consider other options first regarding install. Where are your speakers installed and how are they installed? A well thought out installation will provide more then any EQing ever could.

[Chrisvwgli]

im going to put in some original cd's and check how it sounds.

i have the speakers mounted in the original locations, i have a 04 jetta. i have the speakers on mdf rings. the tweeters are basicaly where the side mirrors are. i dont know if they are optimal locations, but i want to keep the interior looking stock. what crossover settings would you guys suggest? i have the fronts crossover at 80hz 24db slope, and the subs also at 80hz 24db slope.

i would like to somehow make my compressed music sound better, i have about 50gb worth of mp3's. and i only have about 2-3 original cd's. so i have to keep my mp3s. so could a eqs help at all?

[Mr. Bentwrench]

Nothing will help a 128k Mp3. That rate is fine for you ipod earbuds for very poorly produced/recorded pop/rap music today but I suspect your system is making that painfully obvious to you now.

[basicxj]

Originally Posted by Chrisvwgli im going to put in some original cd's and check how it sounds. i have the speakers mounted in the original locations, i have a 04 jetta. i have the speakers on mdf rings. the tweeters are basicaly where the side mirrors are. i dont know if they are optimal locations, but i want to keep the interior looking stock. what crossover settings would you guys suggest? i have the fronts crossover at 80hz 24db slope, and the subs also at 80hz 24db slope. i would like to somehow make my compressed music sound better, i have about 50gb worth of mp3's. and i only have about 2-3 original cd's. so i have to keep my mp3s. so could a eqs help at all?

X2 on what Mr. B had to say- garbage in= garbage out, regardless of what processing you apply to "fix" compromised .mp3 files.

What source are you using to play in your car stereo- burnt CDs filled with .mp3 tracks, or an iPod or other mp3 player?

I've re-ripped most of my collection from CD to Apple Lossless format ( accomplished through settings in iTunes) and have been impressed with the fidelity of those files played back through my car system. This won't help with files you already own (but don't have the original source CD for), but if you'll be using store-bought CDs as the original file for your new higher resolution files you'll notice an improvement.

[Chrisvwgli]

ok, so i played some original cd's in my car today. WOW!!! i'm completely speechless at the difference it made. Its like night and day, the sound is clear, crisp, loud, detailed, just awesome!. i cant believe it lol. i think it was the first time i have listened to my focals sound so amazing, they can go really loud and still be so clean. i even got goosbumps when listening to them, all the settings on the HU's eq are flat. the only thing i have to do depending on the song, is turn the subs level 1-2db down. i kind of forgot about the idea of the EQS.

now i'm actually looking all over my house for any cd's so i can rip them in the apple lossless, so i can put them in my ipod.

anyone think the EQS is still a good investment? or should i forget about it?

thanks again everyone for cooperating.

[basicxj]

Originally Posted by Chrisvwgli ok, so i played some original cd's in my car today. WOW!!! i'm completely speechless at the difference it made. Its like night and day, the sound is clear, crisp, loud, detailed, just awesome!. i cant believe it lol. i think it was the first time i have listened to my focals sound so amazing, they can go really loud and still be so clean. i even got goosbumps when listening to them, all the settings on the HU's eq are flat. the only thing i have to do depending on the song, is turn the subs level 1-2db down. i kind of forgot about the idea of the EQS. now i'm actually looking all over my house for any cd's so i can rip them in the apple lossless, so i can put them in my ipod. anyone think the EQS is still a good investment? or should i forget about it? thanks again everyone for cooperating.

If the sound is as good as you say using proper source material, I wouldn't spend more money to insert something else into the signal path. You'd be better served concentrating on improving your library of source material rather than upgrading the hardware .

[Chrisvwgli]

yeah thats true lol, its going to take awhile to get all my music in high quality. i guess im only going to get what i like the most.

on the other hand you cant over improve sound quality. i just wondered if it would sound even better. haha but nah i wont go that route anymore.

[Jimi77]

Depending on how powerful/flexible your PEQ is, that's probably enough to get you pretty close. The most important thing is driver location/aiming, then proper install (ie sealed and deadened doors, properly constructed baffles, mounting the speaker flush, making sure the speaker isn't buried behind a restrictive stock grill, etc). Next is phase and intensity relationships. EQ is #4 on the list with time alignment coming in a distant 5th.

Here's a write up on how to do an phase and intensity alignment.

http://www.caraudioforum.com/vbb3/sh...89#post2162489

[Chrisvwgli]

thanks for that info that was very informative.

one question regarding the door deadening, will adding about 2 square ft. be sufficient to eliminate the vibration of the outside of the door? when i listen standing outside the car i hear a lot of vibration. also is it a must to put it on the inside of the door( where the speaker mounts) i have a 04 jetta and that panel seem really solid. for one i dont have the money to buy so much dynamat or the like, to cover both the outside and inside of the doors. also i dont want to add so much weight to my car.

i also heard about putting like eqq crate behind the speaker.

thanks to all

[Jimi77]

You put it on the inside to prevent the backwave from cancelling the front wave. It's cheap and relatively easy to do - lots of bang for your buck.