bass boost non sense

[Beatin' 10+ year member]

I understand what you're saying ciaonzo. I just don't agree with the idea of boosting. I feel that it makes things more complicated and induces a higher likelihood of equipment damage.

By the way, I play up to 150hz on my subs because my door speakers and factory amp can't play that low worth a crap.

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Holy crap. You need to do something about that.

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

While I can't totally agree with Ciaonozo that subs playing to 100hz is retarded, his sentiments on bass boost are still more or less correct at least in terms of using it as an equalizer. However, the issue with bass boost, IMO, is that is only boosts, can't cut and is centered at 45hz. In my many years of car audio, I've never seen a car need help at 45hz, ever. 40-50 is where most cars have major peaks at so they are already too loud right there, in most of my installs I end up having to cut that region not boost it. So from a practicality standpoint, bass boost is stupid as it will hardly ever be used by anyone smart enough to know how to use it, as it's not necessary.

However, his points on EQ'ing are more than fair. Your first goal should be to get a balanced sound, then turn it up until your weakest link comes into play, usually wherever you had to boost, but not always, impedence plays a role here too. Lastly, even a split second of clipping at given frequency tends to sound better than having a major dip in frequency response. I'd rather clip my amp by a few db's and have a flat response at say 60hz than simply let it dip off and lose the punch on drums that I like. Granted, its' best to mess with other things first, box orientation, box design, etc, but last resort, a few db of boost in the right areas go a long way and sometimes cutting everything around it just isn't a good option.

 

[2010HHRUMADBRUH 10+ year member]

Bass boost and the associated knobs are garbage.

First, the knobs are usually ridiculous (sundown knobs I've seen into the $30's)

Second, they aren't adjustable. For the amplifiers that have adjustable bass boost frequencies, that might be ok.

I mean, if they had around 30-40 then sure. But it's always 45hz. That's when my roof starts to resonate, so it's useless for me.

I use a pac LC-1. It's $12 new, give or take, UNIVERSAL to ANY amplifier with RCA's (or any device really) and it adjusts the RCA input voltage.

Bass boost CAN be ok if you know how to use it. The key is knowing how the sub sounds, and knowing how it sounds when it's being clipped or distorted. I used a jl12w3v3-4 with a p500-2 and the PEQ knob. Never had an issue. You gotta be smart. When you get REAL smart, you ditch boost knobs altogether and go with a pac lc-1

 

[ciaonzo 5,000+ posts]

Good points, guys. Stuff I didn't allow for in my rant. Especially the fact that you can't cut with bass boost, and that they are in fact mosty in the 40Hz region. Useless for the reasons T3mpest clearly pointed out.

Another factor is that some boost functions allow you to choose a frequency (and possibly the Q) before applying boost. I have an amplifier that will allow me to apply 10dB at any frequency between 10-40Hz so something like that would be much more helpful.

 

[ciaonzo 5,000+ posts]

I understand what you're saying ciaonzo. I just don't agree with the idea of boosting. I feel that it makes things more complicated and induces a higher likelihood of equipment damage.



By the way' date=' I play up to 150hz on my subs because my door speakers and factory amp can't play that low worth a crap.[/quote']That's a pretty common factor, man. I hope you can get that squared away and make things more enjoyable for you.

 

[05fronty 5,000+ posts]

I like the smell if boost in the morning