Need Help Tuning my System
 

Hello All! I'm new to car audio, I used to install systems 20+ yrs ago bit haven't kept up.
I have a 2007 Hyundai Tucson with the following equipment:
Alpine CDA-9887 HU
Alpine MRP-F600 Amplifier
Alpine SPR-17S Speakers Front Doors
Alpine SPR-17C Speakers Back Doors
I had my system installed in a low tech shop, & I'm not happy with the sound. There is TOO MUCH Mids. I've been trying to setup the HU, but get frustrated. I've been trying to learn about TA, XOVER, & EQ.
Any suggestion / recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not to familiar with the 9887's features/functions.

From your description of the sound i have found that generaly too much mid will be in the range of 250 to 500 hz, that is the frequency range that will generally tire your ears out and give the sound too much mid range weight.

As for TA, this feature delays sound going to each speaker to give the impression that you are sitting at an equal distance from either speaker, thus, replicating a home audio setup where you can move your seat. Generally it isset in MS (milliseconds), you would delay sound to the left side of the car, so that the wave from the left and right side arrive at your ears at the same time.

X-Over, since you are not running any sub, you could cross the speakers you have now over at 60Hz, they will most likely not be responsive under that frequency and this will allow you to play music at a higher volume without wasting power that is used to produce frequencies that are below the Fs (roll off frequency) off your speakers.

I had a 9887 for awhile, if you're near Kitchener (not sure where maple is) I'd be more than happy to have a listen and tweak it some?

He's not close to kitchener, Maple is east of Woodbridge and west of Richmond Hill, north/west GTA. Anyway, I'd try 12 volt electronics on steeles ave at weston rd, or Auto sound design at steeles and bathurst. Both are big Alpine dealers and should have the equipment and know how to set the imprint feature up properly.

Thanx for the advice!
MTT, Maple is right next to Canada's Wonderland, so its quit the drive to Kitchener, but thanx for the offer.
Juggy, the X-over feature on 9887 is confusing, but thanx for advice.

Alpine component speakers up front? Where are the tweeters mounted - in the sail panels? Is the excessive midrange coming from that location?

Need Help Tuning my System
 

Hi Brian, yes the components are up front, the tweeters are installed where the factory tweeters were installed midway of the door. there is a small triangular panel. I think the mids are coming from the mid bass speakers located lower down. I've been doing alot of reading on the subject, & I may have set the attenuation on the X-overs maybe to low.
Brian would using dynamat help in creating a better stage?

If the attenuation is set too low on the x-over, your system will likely sound a bit dull (treble too low).

I asked the question about the tweeter as I think the stock tweeter is filtered at 18kHz 6dB/octave, and if you go much below that with any replacement tweeter you put in its place, you're likely to end up with too much upper midrange and treble coming from that location.

Of course, if the excess midrange appears to be coming from the mid bass unit, then you can ignore all I've said about the tweeters above :-).

Easy way to confirm where the excessive midrange is coming from:

1. Set the fader all the way to front, so the rear speakers are not playing. Does the excessive midrange problem go away? If it does, then it's being caused by your rear speakers. Set the fader control for the best compromise between good rear fill and excessive midrange response.

2. If the problem did not go away in (1), try taping some heavy cardboard or felt over the tweeters to block their output - does the excess midrange problem go away? If it does not, then it's the front midbass units that are at fault, and the solution is EQ or replacement, unless you want to get into the nitty-gritty of designing and implementing new passive filters for your front speakers. If the problem does go away, then it could be that the sail panels are not the best locations for the new tweeters, and you may have to adjust their output a bit .

Remember to do all of your listening tests at the driver's seat, with the doors closed, i.e. how you will normally be listening to your car audio system.

Finally, I don't think Dynamat will help with the problem you're experiencing now.


BTW - I've just started my own install in a car just like yours - A Hyundai Tucson. You can read more about it at my web page, www.diysubwoofers.org, under the "Projects" section.

If you dont get the car to sound the way you want it to by April 27th. Come on out to the IASCA show at Mobile Dynamics. I would be surprised if you couldn't get a person to help you there.

Whow!, just checked out your your Tucson project, I will definitely be following your progress. It's too bad your not nearby I'd love to hear this system once completed:)
I always felt the mid issue is due to the lack of a sealed compartment & shape of the door, hence the question about dynamat.
Will you be replacing the factory tweeters or using them to accompany your Aurasound NT1-204-8D?
I just noticed the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle, are you in Europe?