Proper procedure for system tuning

[CloudKat]

Let me start by explaining my system:

Head Unit: Pioneer DEH-P5900IB

AudioPipe EQ-4X (4 band EQ w/13v line driver & 2 way crossover)

1800 wt Pyle Elite Amp pushing two 12” Audiobahns (subs) backed by a Pyle 1 Farad Cap

800 wt Pyle Elite pushing two 10” MTX Thumps (mids)

200 wt (?) amp pushing my two 5” door speakers and two 5” back dash speakers (highs)

Now, both the head unit and EQ are new (I haven’t even installed them yet). I know how to adjust the gain inputs and tune my amps when directly hooked to a head unit. I pretty much follow this guide:

http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Tutorial:Amplifier_Tuning

But, what happens when you add in an EQ/X-over into the mix?

As for tuning the EQ itself:

Since the EQ has its OWN gain input adjustments, when tuning the system should I first tune the EQ to the Head Unit then tune in the gain of the amps? Or should I tune the system without the EQ in line, then plug it in and tune it to the already tuned setup?

As for tuning the Amps:

Should I tune the system without the EQ inline first, then just plug it in and go from there?

If the EQ should be in line when I start tuning, should the EQ be set to flat, or should it be set to the way I will normally listen to music?

What I am trying to ask here is this; what is the best procedure for tuning a multiple component system for best sound?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

um throw away the eq, the amps, the audiobahns, the cap and go from there //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[patrick1202 10+ year member]

lol i would think you would set the eq flat so you can make adjustments after you get everything set

oh and DID autozone have a sale or something??

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

I would get one solid pair of subs and one good amp (pyle is shit). For speakers, I would get a single 4-channel. Hell, even look into a 5-channel amp. The equalizer is unnecessary... 4 bands isn't going to provide much control. I'd either get a 9 band eq, or just do it all through the headunit. The preout voltage on the Pioneer is fine. You don't need a line driver.

 

[patrick1202 10+ year member]

and why are you running 2 10's and 2' 12's lol for your high bass and low bass:yumyum:

 

[Tonyguy 10+ year member]

Wow.HOLY FLEAMARKET BATMAN!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/omg.gif.05aa02c3095d6ce9338996654eca0863.gif

 

[ARSkemp 10+ year member]

I think the equalizer should be set the first, the way you normally would listen to music. If you set the gain first, when the equalizer is changed, the place at which distortion/clipping occurs also changes, which ruins the point of why you set the gains.