dsp questions

[cocoleveo7686 10+ year member]

My factory headunit has built in dsp that sets crossovers as i turn the volume up. Not looking for crazy sound quality but my question is can you retain factory headunit volume controls using a aftermarket dsp or do you have to use a controller that you buy with the dsp?

I was told as long as you get the signal after the factory amp that I can retain the volume controls on my factory headunit and steering wheel controls is that true?

I like the sound of the factory stereo now with the 4 upgraded speakers and im adding 2 12s and a 4 channel amp. Is a dsp worth it if im happy with the sound quality now?

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[blazian87 10+ year member]

I believe you can still use the volume knob from the factory headunit but for the steering wheel control, I think you may have to buy an adapter for it. I think if you're happy with the sound now, there is no need for an aftermarket DSP. In many cases, a DSP actually complicates things and could possibly sound worse than before because you'll have so much more tuning options over your speakers. If you're a set it and forget it type a guy, then an aftermarket DSP is not for you. If you install a DSP after the amp, then there's not much benefit. They are meant for before the amp so you can control everything before amplification. And there is almost no point if you're not gonna go fully active with the DSP either. DSP's are expensive so it's not worth it unless you're gonna go all out with it. Which DSP were you looking at anyway?

 

[cocoleveo7686 10+ year member]

I believe you can still use the volume knob from the factory headunit but for the steering wheel control, I think you may have to buy an adapter for it. I think if you're happy with the sound now, there is no need for an aftermarket DSP. In many cases, a DSP actually complicates things and could possibly sound worse than before because you'll have so much more tuning options over your speakers. If you're a set it and forget it type a guy, then an aftermarket DSP is not for you. If you install a DSP after the amp, then there's not much benefit. They are meant for before the amp so you can control everything before amplification. And there is almost no point if you're not gonna go fully active with the DSP either. DSP's are expensive so it's not worth it unless you're gonna go all out with it. Which DSP were you looking at anyway?

Thanks for that info. Ive looked at the ms8 , bit one, bit 10, arc ps8

But i am a set it and forget it. On all previous stereos i only set crossover at hu and amp and was happy

 

[big scott]

if your a set it type of guy, dont get a dsp.

i pick up one and looking forward to screwing with it...lol

 

[bump465 10+ year member]

Just a warning. I did the exact thing. My vehicle has stock faders and preset crossovers. Its fighting with my 3sixty alot on high level input. It sounds 90% distorted. Im still trying to figure it out but im working around it using bluetooth input and bypassing the head unit entirely.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Just a warning. I did the exact thing. My vehicle has stock faders and preset crossovers. Its fighting with my 3sixty alot on high level input. It sounds 90% distorted. Im still trying to figure it out but im working around it using bluetooth input and bypassing the head unit entirely.

Check your gain on the software man.

You want everything on your head unit completely flat or off. no crossovers, no EQ no sound retriever, Nothing.

Check your wiring and ground as well.

Afterwards you need a proper tune with the software.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for that info. Ive looked at the ms8 , bit one, bit 10, arc ps8
But i am a set it and forget it. On all previous stereos i only set crossover at hu and amp and was happy

yeah... DSPs are for guys that like to tune over and over. You'll be in over your head with the tuning for one. Out of all of them, the ms8 would be the one that matches your needs best since it autotunes and you can leave it alone afterwards.

 

[bump465 10+ year member]

Check your gain on the software man.
You want everything on your head unit completely flat or off. no crossovers, no EQ no sound retriever, Nothing.

Check your wiring and ground as well.

Afterwards you need a proper tune with the software.

the gain is down. Like i said bluetooth works great but when i start using the head unit the dsp shits itself. My ground wire is a little long maybe thats doing something. Eq is flat. I talked to a local installer and he said the factory setting are set for the stock speakers only.

It may be - and likely is something im doing wrong. But my dsp is turning into a headache.

I consider myself mildly/moderately savy at installing and identifing problems. I guess im just chiming in to say it isnt the most user friendly thing to do and your head unit might cause problems if its as fancy as mine.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

the gain is down. Like i said bluetooth works great but when i start using the head unit the dsp shits itself. My ground wire is a little long maybe thats doing something. Eq is flat. I talked to a local installer and he said the factory setting are set for the stock speakers only. It may be - and likely is something im doing wrong. But my dsp is turning into a headache.

I consider myself mildly/moderately savy at installing and identifing problems. I guess im just chiming in to say it isnt the most user friendly thing to do and your head unit might cause problems if its as fancy as mine.

what do you mean when you start using the head unit? Like playing sources through it? Or using any other option?

Whats the whole setup looking like?

 

[bump465 10+ year member]

@Jeffdachef
My setup is
Factory head unit> factory amp> high level outputs> rf360.3 >aftermarket amps> aftermarket speakers.

When ever i play anything through the head unit it sounds like mud, complete garbage - that goes for the radio, cds, bluetooth streaming and aux input (all controlled by head unit). But when i connect directly to the rockford dsp via bluetooth the scratchy distortion immediately disappears.

"Edit" after the rockford connects to my phone it starts switching between inputs (high level and bluetooth) back and forth every 10 seconds... i think the bluetooth of the rockford is trying to link to my transit blu hf or my bluetooth calling chip in my car.
Idk what is going on, i havent done alot of diagionosis yet and im not trying to hijack this thread im just saying be careful with fancy oem stereos and dsp's.
Im gonna be making a help me thread after i remove some of possible error sources.

 

[bump465 10+ year member]

More on topic.

I can confirm the steering wheel controls will work as long as you are not bypassing the factory head unit. For what you described your steering controls will work.

 

[cocoleveo7686 10+ year member]

[quote name='bump465']@Jeffdachef
My setup is
Factory head unit> factory amp> high level outputs> rf360.3 >aftermarket amps> aftermarket speakers.

When ever i play anything through the head unit it sounds like mud, complete garbage - that goes for the radio, cds, bluetooth streaming and aux input (all controlled by head unit). But when i connect directly to the rockford dsp via bluetooth the scratchy distortion immediately disappears.

"Edit" after the rockford connects to my phone it starts switching between inputs (high level and bluetooth) back and forth every 10 seconds... i think the bluetooth of the rockford is trying to link to my transit blu hf or my bluetooth calling chip in my car.
Idk what is going on, i havent done alot of diagionosis yet and im not trying to hijack this thread im just saying be careful with fancy oem stereos and dsp's.
Im gonna be making a help me thread after i remove some of possible error sources.[/QUOTE]


Dont quote me on this but im almost positive you have to wire it BEFORE your factory amp for it to work correctly. Thats probably why yours shits the bed and sounds like crap. The stock amp is doing the processing still or sounds like it but ill let the other guys tell you for sure

 

[cocoleveo7686 10+ year member]

yeah... DSPs are for guys that like to tune over and over. You'll be in over your head with the tuning for one. Out of all of them, the ms8 would be the one that matches your needs best since it autotunes and you can leave it alone afterwards.

Ok thanks. Just wasnt sure what to really do. Eventually i may pick up a ms8 and see if i wanna mess around but for now i will prob use a lc6i and set crossovers at amp.

 

[bump465 10+ year member]

^the stock tweeters had resistors so i thought it was passive setup. The rockford takes 28volts rms and the highest iv seen coming out of factory amp is 6v. After my rockford switched between my phone bluetooth and high levels for 5-10 mins it stayed connected to my bluetooth and the distortion on my high levels was gone.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

[quote name='bump465']@Jeffdachef
My setup is
Factory head unit> factory amp> high level outputs> rf360.3 >aftermarket amps> aftermarket speakers.

When ever i play anything through the head unit it sounds like mud, complete garbage - that goes for the radio, cds, bluetooth streaming and aux input (all controlled by head unit). But when i connect directly to the rockford dsp via bluetooth the scratchy distortion immediately disappears.

"Edit" after the rockford connects to my phone it starts switching between inputs (high level and bluetooth) back and forth every 10 seconds... i think the bluetooth of the rockford is trying to link to my transit blu hf or my bluetooth calling chip in my car.
Idk what is going on, i havent done alot of diagionosis yet and im not trying to hijack this thread im just saying be careful with fancy oem stereos and dsp's.
Im gonna be making a help me thread after i remove some of possible error sources.[/QUOTE]


You have waaaaaaaaaaay too many things in the signal line. Do not get signal from your factory amp. Thats the root of all your bad sound issues is from that. Very sure. You ALWAYS bypass factory amps. They are noise and distortion machines