Bypassing headunit EQ?

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

I want to add a 15 band equalizer to my setup, however I'm not sure if its possible.

I have an older DEH-4700MP pioneer HU. Is there a way to bypass the internal EQ and output an untouched signal?

My HU has only a 3 band EQ, low mid and high. If I set everything to +/- 0 would that do what I'm looking for ?

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[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

sure, make sure your HU is set to Flat and it won't effect anything

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I guess I don't see why you want to bypass it ?

Use it if necessary. Heck, it's 3 "free" bands of EQ. IIRC the older Pioneers atleast had adjustable center frequency, don't recall if it was full parametric w/ adjustable Q aswell.

But no reason to intentionally not utilize it if the need arises.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

If I were going to add a 15 band for greater tuning ability, I would bypass the 3 band.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Why?

You'll have 18 bands instead of just 15.

If 15 bands (graphic, I'm assuming) are capable of correcting everything you need corrected, then sure there's no need to use the headunit's.

But I see no reason not to use them both if necessary is the point I'm getting at. Don't limit yourself to not using the headunit's EQ just because you are using an external EQ aswell.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

I see what you're saying... the 3 band on the HU would be a rough adjustment and the 15 band would allow for even greater fine tuning. Am I correct?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Kind of.

If you need to decrease 600hz by 2db but the 15 band only has center frequencies of 500hz and 750hz (pulling #'s out of the air) but the headunit EQ allows you to get a center frequency of 600hz....go ahead and use the headunit's EQ to fix the problem. No reason to exclude it just because you have an external EQ....it's just more tools in your toolbox.

 

[gijoe 10+ year member]

I would bypass the eq too. I honestly think you will get better sound out of just the external one. I think of it this way; if you are using the internal eq then you are sending an already "tampered" signal to the external eq. I think it's best to send the more capable eq a clean undisturbed signal.

I don't think it's as simple as 3 free bands. Your external eq is going to make adjustments to the same bands as the internal one, just much more defined. The hu eq isn't 3 extra bands, it just causes duplicates, I don't think you should be processing the signal with 2 different eqs.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I would bypass the eq too. I honestly think you will get better sound out of just the external one. I think of it this way; if you are using the internal eq then you are sending an already "tampered" signal to the external eq. I think it's best to send the more capable eq a clean undisturbed signal.
I don't think it's as simple as 3 free bands. Your external eq is going to make adjustments to the same bands as the internal one, just much more defined. The hu eq isn't 3 extra bands, it just causes duplicates, I don't think you should be processing the signal with 2 different eqs.

Sorry, but none of those are accurate statements.

 

[gijoe 10+ year member]

Have you ever used an mp3 player? Plug one into a stereo with the headphone jack and you get terrible sound out of the speakers unless you turn off all eq's on the mp3 player. If you use the line out on an mp3 player, the sound is better because the line out will bypass the internal eq on the mp3 player and solely use the stereos eq.

I don't claim to be an expert and I'm not doubting you squeak, but I know this is true with mp3 players and it seemed logical that the same would be true in this guys situation. I am curious how these two situations are different. Maybe there is something different going on between the mp3 situation and the hu eq situation that you could explain to me.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

You can't compare the acoustics of what is likely crappy MP3 "EQ" adjustments to that of a headunit.

Without seeing measurements, or even knowing what MP3 player you are referencing.......my guess would be that the "EQ" settings on the MP3 player are simply horrible settings, thus resulting in the horrible sound.

Completely different situation than deliberate, intelligent adjustments made to the EQ on the headunit. It's not going to "dirty" the signal.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Have you ever used an mp3 player? Plug one into a stereo with the headphone jack and you get terrible sound out of the speakers unless you turn off all eq's on the mp3 player. If you use the line out on an mp3 player, the sound is better because the line out will bypass the internal eq on the mp3 player and solely use the stereos eq.

You also have to remember the difference between a headphone jack and a line out. A headphone jack on an mp3 player has some sort of amplification to drive the headphones, while a line out does not.

 

[gijoe 10+ year member]

So is it the amplification and not the eq that makes the headphone jack **** while the line out is clean? I'm basing my experience on a very nice sq mp3 player, the Cowon X5 with very good quality files. All I know is that the only way to get it to sound decent through the headphone jack while attached to an aux in was to kill all eq's. The line out was always much better.