CD vs iphone as source for gain setting tones

[AudiOn19s]

Everything I've read says to burn test tones to a CD for gain setting. I understand the concept but is that a realistic way of doing it if I never listen to CD's as the source of my daily listening?

Further, I listen primarily to music / podcasts on my phone, when not doing that I listen to XM radio. The difference between these two signals creates tuning issues of its own. The XM signal on the channels I listen to seems to be overly bass boosted (BPM / Electric Area / utopia).

I have no subwoofer output level control. Using line out converter on the OEM bose / nav unit in my truck.

EQ on the head unit is all set to 0 except treble.

Current strategy for tuning. I set my gains using my iphone for tones. I tuned with the bass boost turned about half way up. I did this so that when I switch to the XM signal I can turn the bass boost off to pull bass levels back into check.

I've theorized this was the best compromise based on what I've got to work with. Curious if there are opinions on how I should otherwise be doing it.

I thought about going negative on the head unit EQ instead of using bass boost to turn down the bass when listening to XM but then the front stage sounds like crap.

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[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

You need to get an amplifier for the speakers to cut the bass out of the speakers. You could try an inline level knob for the subwoofer amplifier.

Your gain setting procedure sounds fine.