Does anyone have an external equalizer, or have any experience with them? I have a few questions on these, I'm kind of down to these three but would like more input. I know these are towards the cheaper end, but I don't need anything serious. Mainly I want something to control bass, as my bass **** quit working. I thought it would be cool to try fiddling with some EQ to just kind of see how it works.
So what do you all think of these? I like the clarion, it has tons of reviews and averages 4.7/5 and it's a 7 band where the others are 4. Not that I'd know the difference.

On these, the spec of output, where is anywhere from 1.5V to 8V max output to the speakers, how critical of a spec is that, and if it is, what is recommended minimum? I have amps for both speakers and sub.

Clarion EQS746 7-Band Rotary Equalizer/EQ (EQS-746)

Power Acoustik PWM-16 (pwm16) 4-Band Graphic Equalizer with Built

Boss EQ1208 4-Band Equalizer - Sonic Electronix

 

clarion

i have run it before, really liked it, now i running a Massive Audio EQ7, only reason i switched was cause im doing a full Massive Audio build.

of the 3 u listed, the clarion is the best quality

 

That's what I'm thinking. It just has SO many more reviews and they are all really good. What do you think of the Massive EQ?

I had one guy tell me I'd be losing sound quality by adding extra components, which, being an equalizer, doesn't make sense to me, but I understand the concept.

I did buy one of these, just cause I like gauges. It's an Interfire IF-4VU. I was thinking about if I wanted the audio to passthrough this, or if I would be better off getting a splitter, I'm thinking this should go after the equalizer, but then it would be the last thing sound signal goes through before going to the speakers. What's your opinion on it?

 

the massive eq looks the same, main diff that i have found is that u can switch the led color from blue to red/orange on the massive, the clarion is only blue.

for the Interfire IF-4VU i would run it maybe before the eq just cause it only has one input and one output, the eq has one input to 3 outputs, so maybe running it before the eq would work better.

but a eq will make a system sound better, if u run pro audio, u have to have a eq to get them to sound good.

im going to be running 16 massive M6M 6" mids on 2 massive NX4 amp.

 

well the reason I had thought of doing the VU after the EQ was because wouldn't that affect the actual VU meters? I mean, I know I don't really need em for anything other than cool factor, but still, wouldn't I have different values if I use the EQ as my volume ****?

... and this may turn into something bigger haha the gears are turning. It involves an android tablet, an explorer console, and my rear camera mirror. that's a story for another thread and another day though.

 

true good point, cause ur HU probably puts out 2-4volts, the eq goes to like 7-8volts.

and running a tablet is a awsome, i only have a ipod touch but it works the same, are u going to run a HU with the tablet? im running my ipod straight to my eq.

 

I want to replace my head unit. The problem right now, is my music. I can't get it all on a 16GB tablet, and I don't know if I can interface my ipod with a tablet. I'd need some other ipod interface, apart from the tablet. so I don't know how I could make that work. I'd have to pawn off the bezel/console modding to someone else though.

But once I have the audio out, I have figured out how I can still play CD/DVD, adjust sound levels EQ, etc. It's just still having easy access to my music. and I don're really want to control the music from my ipad. or make a special selection that will fit the tablet. I jsut want ALL my music availiable.

 

how much music do u have?

what HU are u looking to get?

 

I'm looking at the new Google Nexus 7. right now I have the pioneer AVH P4300DVD, it's a 2DIN 7" motorized touchscreen. DVD, but no GPS.

So I wouldn't really have a head unit. I want a tablet, then a 1/2 DIN DVD player, which would go to the aux input of the EQ. The video output I'm thinking of running to the display built into my rearview mirror. small, but I don't watch many movies anyway. I think it'd be sick. (plus where else can I put another screen?)

and my music library right now is 16.19 GB. I encode my music at 320 kbps now, but a lot of it is 192 or even less. 3046 songs.

 

anything can happen with fiberglass

u can put a tv almost anywhere u want. and thats alot of music!

the 1/2din dvd player is a good idea cause u can still play cds if u want.

i havent decided if im going to have any tvs in my truck, all i know is that it will be crazy loud.

 

I just started a thread for my tablet install. you'll see it. haha. I need an expo console first.

anyway, "tablet install" is a much more alluring thread title than this, so hopefully I'll get more people involved. haha. I want this to be badass.

 

what is the rest of your system?

 

MBQuart front 6x8, Alpine Type S rear 5x7, Alpine 4ch MRP F300.
Audioque AQ1200d, FI Q12.

Big 3 is done with 1/0, Singer Alternator is being built for me this week (230A)

 

SINGER ALTS FTW

i will be doing the 230amp also.

did u know that AQ changed their name?

my build will be
Massive
16 M6M mids
2 sets CT1 tweets
2 T44 supertweets
2 NX2 2chs
2 NX4 4chs
2 N4 monos
2 Hippo 15s 2500rms
4-5 XS power batts
all tsunami wire
stinger deadner

 

very nice. I also have an optima bluetop, I would like to get a second battery under the hood sometime though. The alternator should cover my electrical needs for now though.

yeah, pretty funny, "soundqubed: audioque to a higher power" haha i like that.

 

have u gotten yours metered?

 

Only 16.19gb of music?
I've got almost that much on a blackberry

My mp3's are all getting re-ripped at 256k. I can't tell much difference between 256 & 320, plus it makes the files a little smaller.
You could rip them using variable bit rates for even smaller files, but I've always liked to do mine constant bit rate.

 

Since your going to run a tablet you could buy a good EQ app or a music player app with one in it... you can probably find one that offers many more EQ bands and parametric adjustments. It would probably save you some money. I know there is a RTA app available also that will help with making eq adjustments too. there is a science to adjusting an eq properly.

Take measurements with the RTA using pink noise then adjust the peaks or dips in the response with the EQ. The sensitivity of the human ear at different frequencies also becomes a factor. google "equal loudness contour"

 

Nope.

Mine are set to rip at 320, i turned it up since i have a 120GB ipod... i may try it down at 256 though from now on. I doubt I'll notice a difference.

Well, partly the reason I want the EQ is for a nice tactile control for volume **** and sub level. I do need to learn how to actually set an EQ though, but I would like to learn, so I'll look into it. I already purchased the EQ and the tablet.