top of the line radios top of the line EQ's?

[buick203]

so when people are doing builds why do they want to get the radio with the most eq bands? and then they install EQ's. now the eq on the radio cant be used cause you cant use both or you will overlap crossover points right? can someone explain this to me. ive been installing for about 2 years now and ive noticed that when I do a 4 channel amp I always seem to like more how it sounds when the eq on the radio is set to flat and everything is equalized on the amp even though the radio has more bands and is more precise. am I doing right by just using one or the other? can someone explain these things to me please

thanks !

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[Staynlean 10+ year member]

One of the mysteries I've always wondered too. Sometimes playing with my head unit and my active amp makes it sound better.

I'm lost at this game sometimes...

 

[CSCStang]

Not too many on this site use external eq's. Most decent 4 channel amps have hi pass filters now that you can adjust the crossovers at certain cut off points, so you can run active through the amp.The eq on the Hu is then used to fine tune the way you like it.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

so when people are doing builds why do they want to get the radio with the most eq bands? and then they install EQ's. now the eq on the radio cant be used cause you cant use both or you will overlap crossover points right? can someone explain this to me. ive been installing for about 2 years now and ive noticed that when I do a 4 channel amp I always seem to like more how it sounds when the eq on the radio is set to flat and everything is equalized on the amp even though the radio has more bands and is more precise. am I doing right by just using one or the other? can someone explain these things to me please

thanks !

I think you are a bit confused. Amps don't have EQs, they have a boost to a set frequency only. EQs and crossovers are not the same thing.

 

[buick203]

I see but wouldn't you be overlapping the xover points then? if you are using both EQ's? the reason I ask is because I just got a kenwood kdc-bt958hd 4v pre amp with 7 band eq. but I wanted to to buy the pioneer deh-80prs because it is 5v pre amp and has 16 band eq but idk if the 1 volt and the 9 more bands is worth it

 

[CSCStang]

I see but wouldn't you be overlapping the xover points then? if you are using both EQ's? the reason I ask is because I just got a kenwood kdc-bt958hd 4v pre amp with 7 band eq. but I wanted to to buy the pioneer deh-80prs because it is 5v pre amp and has 16 band eq but idk if the 1 volt and the 9 more bands is worth it

If you get the 80, you don't need anything else.

 

[buick203]

I see I get it now. so you can still use your eq on your radio, eq is useful to boost certain frequencies and drown out others. you cant use the xover on amp and radio. got it boss thanks

I think you are a bit confused. Amps don't have EQs, they have a boost to a set frequency only. EQs and crossovers are not the same thing.

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

so when people are doing builds why do they want to get the radio with the most eq bands? and then they install EQ's. now the eq on the radio cant be used cause you cant use both or you will overlap crossover points right? can someone explain this to me. ive been installing for about 2 years now and ive noticed that when I do a 4 channel amp I always seem to like more how it sounds when the eq on the radio is set to flat and everything is equalized on the amp even though the radio has more bands and is more precise. am I doing right by just using one or the other? can someone explain these things to me please

thanks !

you are mistaken on whatever you're trying to ask. how does equalization on a head unit effect the crossover point on an amp? by installing for 2 years, I really hope you mean your own stuff and not for a shop. you really should just google things before starting a new thread.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I see I get it now. so you can still use your eq on your radio, eq is useful to boost certain frequencies and drown out others. you cant use the xover on amp and radio. got it boss thanks

EQ are designed to cut or a very minimal boost. If you use two crossovers and they are to close to each other you will add the slope.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Not too many on this site use external eq's. Most decent 4 channel amps have hi pass filters now that you can adjust the crossovers at certain cut off points, so you can run active through the amp.The eq on the Hu is then used to fine tune the way you like it.

Just because an amp has a high pass filter doesnt mean its active capable. In order for an amp to be active capable it has to have a bandpass filter in addition to what it would normally have.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

I see I get it now. so you can still use your eq on your radio, eq is useful to boost certain frequencies and drown out others. you cant use the xover on amp and radio. got it boss thanks

EQ are designed to cut or a very minimal boost. If you use two crossovers and they are to close to each other you will add the slope.

You never boost. You always cut. If you add boost your introducing distortion and doing it wrong.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I see but wouldn't you be overlapping the xover points then? if you are using both EQ's? the reason I ask is because I just got a kenwood kdc-bt958hd 4v pre amp with 7 band eq. but I wanted to to buy the pioneer deh-80prs because it is 5v pre amp and has 16 band eq but idk if the 1 volt and the 9 more bands is worth it

doesnt work that way man. EQs are not crossovers. When you go active with your setup is when you use crossover points and you can set your amp to full range and use the head unit to cross things over. Or cross things over on the amp and do nothing with the head unit. EQ is just to tweek the sound and reduce any peaks in the sound spectrum, its not a crossover.

Most likely not worth the upgrade since your head unit is decent already.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

You never boost. You always cut. If you add boost your introducing distortion and doing it wrong.

Actually +1 or 2 is fine. +3 is when you start to clip normally if the track is good. At least that's what I learnt after chatting with Mark Eldridge.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Actually +1 or 2 is fine. +3 is when you start to clip normally if the track is good. At least that's what I learnt after chatting with Mark Eldridge.

thats true for the midrange and higher frequencies but at the 100hz and under, better leave it flat.

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

Just because an amp has a high pass filter doesnt mean its active capable. In order for an amp to be active capable it has to have a bandpass filter in addition to what it would normally have.

actually it does. active just means that the crossover network is powered. if it has a bandpass feature than it's 2 way active capable. also if your amp doesn't have a bandpass function but your head unit has a HPF where you would bandpass does it now become active capable than?

passive means it's not powered to control

active means its powered to control