Extreme Audio

Voted National Retailer of the Year
Contact UsMidlothian
804-302-4488
Mechanicsville
804-559-3589
2 Locations! 7451 Sujen Ct Mechanicsville, VA 23111 11507 Hull St. Rd Midlothian, VA 23112
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Work for Extreme Audio
  • Products
    • Remote Car Starters
      • Remote Start Models
      • Remote Starter FAQ
      • Remote Starter Estimate Request Form
    • Car Audio
    • Dash Cameras
    • Heated Seats
    • LED Lighting Upgrades
    • Marine Audio
    • Mobile Video
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • Powersports Audio
    • Radar Detectors
    • Smartphone Integration
    • Vehicle Security
  • Car & Truck Accessories
    • Bed Covers
    • Exterior Accessories
    • Floor Liners and Protection Products
    • Grill Guards And Bumpers
    • Jeep Parts
    • Lighting
    • Step Bars
    • Window Tint
      • Window Tint FAQ
      • Window Tint Estimate Request Form
  • Driving Safety
    • Backup Safety
    • Blind Spot Warning Systems
    • Emergency and Safety Lighting
  • Brands
    • 3M Window Film
    • Alpine
      • Alpine Restyle: We Can Do That!
    • ARC Audio
    • Audiofrog
    • Cicada Audio
    • Compustar
    • Fusion
    • JL Audio
    • Lucas Lighting
    • Rigid Industries LED Lighting
    • Sony
    • WeatherTech
    • Wet Sounds
  • Reviews
    • Mechanicsville Reviews
    • Midlothian Reviews
  • Facility Tour
  • Articles
    • Installations
    • Featured Installations
    • General Information
    • Backup Safety
    • Our Facility
    • Navigation
    • Remote Car Starters
    • Window Tint
  • Gallery
    • Alpine Restyle
    • Backup Safety
    • Car Audio
    • Custom Installs
    • Driver Safety
    • iPod Integration
    • Marine Audio
    • Mobile Video
    • Motorcycle Installs
    • Navigation
    • RV and Bus
    • Truck Accessories
    • UTV Installations
    • Window Tint
  • Financing/Leasing-To-Own

Written By Extreme Audio Expert BestCarAudio.com Leave a Comment

Car Audio System Setup

System SetupIt may seem as if they should be similar processes, but installing a new source unit, amplifiers and speakers in a car is unlike installing most home audio systems. It is not as simple as plugging things in and hoping they work. Proper integration of your new electronics into modern vehicles and their wiring is getting more and more complicated as complex factory sound systems become more involved. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the need to configure the equipment you have selected. Your installer will include this setup time in the cost to install your system. What does system setup and configuration involve? Read on to find out.

Signal-level Adjustments

System SetupWhen it comes to adding an amplifier to your vehicle, the most significant adjustment your installer will make is to adjust the amplifier’s sensitivity or gain control. Amplifiers have these controls so they can be compatible with a variety of different source units with different maximum output voltages.

Amplifiers are relatively simple devices in concept. They take an audio signal from your source unit and increase its voltage so it can drive a speaker. A 100 watt amplifier has to be able to increase a 1 volt signal more than a 4 volt signal to reach the 20 volts required to produce 100 watts into a 4 ohm speaker. The gain or sensitivity control lets us adjust for almost any source unit voltage.

Why Sensitivity Adjustments are Important

If the sensitivity of the amplifier is set too low, you will not be able to get the full power of your amplifier. If it is set too high, then you can drive the amplifier into distortion quite quickly. Too much “gain” can also add noise to the system in the form of hiss. A little extra is OK to allow quiet recordings to be played loudly, but too much is a surefire sign that whoever set up the system did not fully understand gain structure.

System Setup Tools

System Setup
The SMD DD1+ allows for precision gain structure setup.

Different shops use different techniques to set gains on amplifiers. Some use an oscilloscope along with a set of test tones. Others use distortion detection devices like the SMD DD-1 or DD-1+. Finally, some installers are quite adept at setting up systems by ear, but that comes with years and years of experience.

As long as the system plays loudly without significant noise or distortion, the settings can be considered correct. If the system runs out of power at half-volume, then it needs some more adjustments.

Crossover Adjustments

There are two main advantages of adding a subwoofer to an audio system. A subwoofer provides more bass output than a typical set of door speakers could ever hope to produce. The secondary benefit is to relieve the small speakers of their requirement to try to produce bass. This reduction in bass reduces the distance the speaker cones have to move and directly reduces the potential for distortion. Midrange frequencies can be reproduced with improved clarity and at higher levels.

Tying this back to system tuning, how we set the crossovers built into your amplifier is crucial to ensuring that the output of your system blends perfectly between the midrange speakers and the subwoofer. If the crossover points overlap, there can be too much midbass, and the system will sound boomy or “honky.” If the crossover points underlap, the system probably won’t have enough midbass and will sound very dry and flat; the subwoofer can also sound “separated” from the system, reducing the coherence and realism of your music.

Speaker Polarity Adjustments

System Setup
A dip in response at the crossover point can indicate a polarity problem.

Because each vehicle is different, sometimes the direction a speaker faces requires that we wire it in reverse polarity for the output to combine properly from an acoustical standpoint. This requirement is very common with subwoofers, since they are often pointed in the opposite direction from the smaller interior speakers. Properly trained and equipped installers know how to measure the frequency response of a system and correct for that. In most cases, an audio analyzer is the best choice for setting up a system. These can be stand-alone units from companies like AudioControl and NTI or software-based solutions that work with a laptop, netbook or tablet.

Left-to-right speaker polarity, and the polarity between midrange drivers and tweeters, depends on placement and crossover slopes. These regions deserve analysis before a car leaves the install bay.

Leave It to the Experts

A properly tuned sound system will play louder, last longer and be much more enjoyable to listen to. As you can see from even from this overview, the tools and training required to maximize the performance of even a simple mobile sound system can be expensive and complicated. The staff at your local mobile enhancement retailer should be familiar with these processes and employ them on each installation they perform. Confirming this is part of your process in selecting a retailer that is qualified to work on your vehicle.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

See more content filed under ARTICLES, Car Audio, Integration, RESOURCE LIBRARY


Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

About BestCarAudio.com

BestCarAudio.com is a showcase for the very best mobile electronics retailers in the world and a place to educate and inform interested consumers about existing and emerging technologies.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Our Installs and Articles

Featured Article

A confused looking woman sitting in the drivers seat of a car as it is driving down a road

Factory Sound vs. Aftermarket Upgrades: What You’re Really Missing

For most vehicle owners, the factory-installed sound system is just another checkbox on the feature list. It might include a recognizable brand name, … [Read More...]

Featured Product

Truck Accessories

Truck Accessories

Mechanicsville's Truck Accessories Headquarters At Extreme Audio, we are the truck accessories headquarters. Look no further for exciting accessories to enhance and customize your truck or SUV. We … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • The Anatomy of a Clean Car Audio Installation: What Sets the Pros Apart
  • Factory Sound vs. Aftermarket Upgrades: What You’re Really Missing
  • A Brief History of CAN Bus in Automotive Applications
  • Why Professional Installation Matters for Remote Car Starters
  • Product Spotlight: Alpine i407-WRA-JL

Subscribe to Our Posts via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this website and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Tags

3M 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Alpine Amplifiers Android Auto Apple CarPlay ARC Audio AudioControl AudioFrog Backup Cameras Bluetooth BMW Chevrolet Compustar DroneMobile Ford Harley Davidson Jeep JL Audio LED Lighting Nav-TV Pioneer Porsche Processors Radios Rockford Fosgate Rydeen SiriusXM Sony Sound Deadening SoundShield Speakers Stinger Street Glide Subwoofers Toyota Wet Sounds Wrangler

Where To Find Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Mechanicsville Location

Address:
7451 Sujen Ct, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Phone: 804-559-3589

 

Opening Hours:
Monday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday : Closed
Sunday : Closed

Midlothian Location

Address:
11507 Hull Street Road N, Midlothian, VA 23112
Phone: 804-302-4488

 

Opening Hours:
Monday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday : Closed
Sunday : Closed

Copyright © 2025 Extreme Audio · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media, inc. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...