Afraid to even ask this stupid question ...

kenstewart

Ok, you guys have been a great help with my setup. My question is on the quality of the sound as you listen "directly" to the sub. Should the sound coming from the sub be clean (see my setup) or sound a bit distorted with you listening directly to the sub and not away from it as when you're sitting in the front seat? Hope this doesn't sound too confusing.

When I'm sitting in the front, the overall sound in my cabin sounds good, just want to make sure I'm not short-changing myself on even better sound. Yes, I've used the gain tutorial but plan on fine tuning it more today so just want to know if I'm expecting too much clarity from a sub.

Ok, after you finish laughing please pass on your advice ... Ken

MacLeod

There shouldnt be any distortion of any kind coming out of any speaker.

If youre getting distortion out of your sub only try turning either the gain down some or the bass on the head unit. If you have a subwoofer control on your head unit turn it down some. If the distortion persists then youre most likely pushing the sub too hard.

neomagus00

clarification - you're probably going to hear harmonics from the sub, but you have to distinguish harmonics from distortion... harmonics are normal, to a degree, but distortion is not.

you won't be able to hear much of either form the driver's seat; distortion is still bad.

kenstewart

Ok, fiddled w/the gains some more and seem to have found a decent blend. I guess I'm primarily unhappy with the clarity from my MP3 player (connected via aux input on backside of HU), but think that may just be from it being an aux source and varying differences in the recordings. Most of the recordings are FLAC; however, many are just regular MP3. Otherwise, radio is as good as can be expected and CD sound is flat out awesome. Just have to work with the different EQs depending on what source I'm listening to. Thanks guys ...

MacLeod

MP3 is a horrible source for SQ. Dont tune your system to MP3's.

If you want 32,000 songs at your fingertips then MP3's are the way to go however if you want the best SQ stick to CD's.

neomagus00

yeah, mp3s are AWFUL for resonance... try encoding coldplay's 'clocks' at 128, then listen to it in your car... the piano strikes are supposed to be crisp and clean, instead the harmonics drown out the fundamental...

translation - mp3 bad...

1996blackmax

These guys are right. Try listening to a good CD when adjusting your gains. I mainly listen to CD's. MP3's come in handy when I'm taking long trips and do not want to change out the CD at 70mph.

I will give WMA's a shot as my CD player is able to play them. I've read that they are supposed to be better than MP3's. My HU also plays ATRAC3 through a memory stick. I am still going to go for a CD changer though.

kenstewart

For clarification ... I did adjust my gains using CD and have a decent soundstage I think for my tastes (and inexperience). On my MP3 player, I also have several songs encoded in the FLAC format which is much higher quality than MP3. I am considering a CD changer; however, that means unhooking my MP3 from the aux input and connecting a changer. Hmmm, any way to hook both up I wonder? All my preouts are taken for the two amps.

AustinKP

Originally posted by 1996blackmax
I will give WMA's a shot as my CD player is able to play them. I've read that they are supposed to be better than MP3's.

At lower bitrates, yes. At higher bitrates (read, 128Kbps) and above, there isn't really any advantage.

As far as distortion from the sub, you also want to make sure that your source file is clean. If the bass is distorted to start with, of course it will sound like that coming from the sub.

-Austin