Please help me set up my system

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Turn them all off.

Set the lpf on the sub to *something* below 125. I have heard SQ cars with different points, but that is beyond the scope of this discussion. Generally speaking, I set the LPF to the sub channel between 50-80. I set the HPF for the componets somewhere around 65-125, depending on the set. Some tend to bottom out and sound nasty at lower settings. You have to spend a few minutes/hours playing with it trying to achieve proper blending. Ideally the LPF and HPF wouldn't overlap as you'd be playing the same notes from two different speakers in two different locations and you'd be able to hear it...but like I said, it's something you have to play with. Given your hearing, your ride, your equipment...it all varies. But the specs I posted above will keep you from damaging your equipment.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Keep in mind, the sound source (speaker, sub, tweeter, etc) doesn't stop/slam on the brakes at the crossover point, there is a slope. The higher the slope, the sharper the cutoff.

 

[solrighal 10+ year member]

I updated my last post with the options my HU gives me. Shoulda made another post but you guys are quick to help. This is a good thing.

 

[solrighal 10+ year member]

I have an upgrade route planned because the HU in particular is kinda old and I'm limited to two 2V pre-outs at the moment. I'm looking at the newer Alpine CDE-137BT as a replacement. This will allow me to buy a mono amp specifically for the sub and free up the F65 for cabin duties. Next will be Type-R's for the front and either move the Type-G's to the rear or sell them.

And having said all that it will be pointless if I can't get my head around the relatively limited options provided by my current HU, lol.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

What is wrong with 2V preouts?

 

[solrighal 10+ year member]

I have no idea but since there are now 4V & 5V HU's I'm guessing more volts will be easier on the amp?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

My HU allows me to set the "bass centre frequency" with choices ranging from 60Hz to 200Hz. I'm guessing this should be set to 60Hz?
The HU also allows me to adjust the "bass bandwidth", with settings ranging from 1 to 4. No idea what to do with this. Is this where people talk about "blending"?

For treble my HU allows me to adjust the "treble centre frequency" in steps between 10kHz and 17.5kHz. I have no idea where this should be set.

Finally, the HU gives me the option of an "LPF" with available options of OFF/60Hz/80Hz/100Hz. Again, clueless.

Weird. I am not familiar with this particular model. You may have to consult the instruction manual.

You should try the LPF at 60,80, and 100. None of those settings will damage the speaker. Try each for a while and see what you like best. This isn't math, it's more nuanced.

The bass center frequency sounds like a bass knob or something. I would leave that off. It may add a more boomy sound, but to heck with that.

As with the bass option, it sounds like the treble option is more of an EQ setting vs a filter. If the manual is available in .pdf, do a search to for the term high pass filter. Again, not an Alpine user but neither of what you suggested appear to be filters.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I have no idea but since there are now 4V & 5V HU's I'm guessing more volts will be easier on the amp?

And that right there is the problem with this forum.

I vote it doesn't matter, just set your gains according to what you have and go from there. Some argue that the higher voltage have a lower noise and that may be true, but when you are dealing with old men with budget equipment, I just don't see it making that big of a difference. I don't see how it would.

 

[Fi-brations 10+ year member]

all that center freq crap is the crossovers

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Is it?...sounds like he is dealing with a model I am not familiar with. Also makes me curious why this HU would offer a bandpass crossover...that is more rare these days.

 

[solrighal 10+ year member]

Weird. I am not familiar with this particular model. You may have to consult the instruction manual.
You should try the LPF at 60,80, and 100. None of those settings will damage the speaker. Try each for a while and see what you like best. This isn't math, it's more nuanced.

The bass center frequency sounds like a bass knob or something. I would leave that off. It may add a more boomy sound, but to heck with that.

As with the bass option, it sounds like the treble option is more of an EQ setting vs a filter. If the manual is available in .pdf, do a search to for the term high pass filter. Again, not an Alpine user but neither of what you suggested appear to be filters.

Thanks again. I ve set the amp crossovers to OFF and set the HU bass crossover to 60Hz. The band-pass function seems a bit like a Loudness button. not particularly nice, lol. My amp also has a Bass EQ knob. I have this zeroed. The bit I dont really understand is the treble adjustments.

 

[Fi-brations 10+ year member]

newer hu's tell you say stuff like adjust bass frequency, midbass freq, and treble freq, 3 band eq. It is just allowing you to set where you want the xover freq to be and the width(Q) is how large of a range of frequencies that the "bass" "treble" and "mid" adjust

 

[solrighal 10+ year member]

Perfect guys!

I've turned off both crossovers at the amp and enabled the HPF on the HU and set it to 80kHz. Bass centre is set to 60Hz with band-pass set to 1 (for now). I am immediately able to follow bass guitar better. It's also not so easy to "locate" the subwoofer in the overall sound. It all seems way tighter than it did before. I still need to find out exactly where to place the treble centre but to be honest my hearing probably isn't as good at the top end, given that I'm old n'all.

Many thanks for all the kind help and advice.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

Perfect guys!
I've turned off both crossovers at the amp and enabled the HPF on the HU and set it to 80kHz. Bass centre is set to 60Hz with band-pass set to 1 (for now). I am immediately able to follow bass guitar better. It's also not so easy to "locate" the subwoofer in the overall sound. It all seems way tighter than it did before. I still need to find out exactly where to place the treble centre but to be honest my hearing probably isn't as good at the top end, given that I'm old n'all.

Many thanks for all the kind help and advice.

This is a good thing, the purpose of the sub is to reproduce "sub-bass frequencies" the sub should give you a sense of more energy in the bass drum/guitar, etc.

 

[solrighal 10+ year member]

Aye, I see that. Before it was as though the sub was an instrument itself, so domineering was it. I've just had to nip to the shops (8 miles each way) and it sounded great. To be honest the mix of any particular album can vary so much that I feel the most important thing is to have it set up so that a small tweak here or there should be enough to cope with anything from Patricia Barber to Lady Gaga. Love Over Gold by Dire Straits sounds magnificent!