You’re using DSP wrong! Top 5 DSP Misconceptions

A DSP, or Digital Signal Processor, allows us to control time alignment, crossovers, and Equalizers for each speaker in a car audio system. This allows us to fully tune a car audio system to optimize performance, but there are some common misconceptions about DSP that people don't really understand. Let's clear them up!

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Car Audio Fabrication – Master Car Audio – Design, Build, Install

[firstlast]

Being able to set crossovers digitally and with exact slopes vs analog potentiometers was well worth it to me. Even if I'm not going in and doing much EQ or time delay stuff. The accuracy and the ability to choose my slope strength and type, and the fact that I didn't have to deal with buying passive crossovers/bass blockers/etc, yeah. Cheap $120 DSP made it worth it even if I'm not going full audio tune. I could immediately hear the difference once I installed it and had it take over for handling crossovers.

The 80/20 rule definitely applies to car audio. Where we can get about 80% of the best quality by spending about 20% of total possible cost and time, whereas to get that final 20% of quality it'll require an additional 80% of not just money, but time/effort.

[AndersonZemis]

Nice video!
I've been using active crossovers for 5 years
To protect the tweeters I use capacitors bigger than the designed freguency cut, something about 8 ir 10 micro farad, is more than enough to cut low frequencies and noises from amps and system.
Never had problems

[coisasnatv]

A huge misconception in car audio is not to use loudness and take the *Fletcher–Munson curves / Equal-loudness contour* into consideration (acoustically) because, we need those curves to listem to all the frequencies at the same levels so *it sound "flat"* to our ears. Once your sound it's properly adjusted and with loudness on, you use the EQ to cut (no to boost) the excess frequencies.

[bmuenter]

One of the biggest downfalls of the audio control product is that the crossovers are global...meaning all the "different tunes" you create have to share the same crossover slopes and values. So if you have multiple tunes for different reasons like top and top down on a convertible, or a Jeep top on and no top, the crossovers have to remain the same. LITERALLY NO OTHER COMPANY IN THE INDUSTRY DOES THAT, THAT'S STUPID. If you want more volume with the top off or down, you are going to have to readjust your gains, crossover points, and even make some EQ adjustments. You know that to go louder and to get less distortion you have to set your crossover points higher.
They need to change that...and catch up with the industry, or make a running change in their products or software.
Great videos by the way! 🤘🇺🇲

[eblkheart]

I have the Twk-88 DSP (along with my RD900/5) and I love it. I wasn't introduced to AudioControl until after my install in my car was done months later. That said, DSP makes a world of difference and with the right setup... it can almost sound like a studio, but in your car. I said almost. My Challenger sings so wonderfully now. Later when I am going to check on upgrading I will definitely check out AudioControl (though JL Audio is treating me well so far).

[bartowflorida]

Audiocontrol needs to do some tweaking to their dsp. The 25hz lowpass filter needs to be removed, more crossover options for fine tuning, Bluetooth auto reconnect, to name a few. Mine has been driving me nuts since I bought it last year

[xTimx]

Audiocontrol really needs to implement a Parametric EQ. You get that in there and these DSP's are gonna be worth their money.

[sonodrome]

This video is great, a really straightforward and no nonsense look at DSPs, nicely done 👍 I love using the Thomann 4x4 mini DSP for my portable sound system builds, it’s a good solution for a compact setup

[Silentroller]

I’ve been using the JL fix86 for awhile now, It basically makes your stock radio adjustable and tunable like aftermarket radio

[Technotranceism]

I'm a little confused, as quite a few Pioneer receivers have not only a custom EQ setting, but also crossover adjustments for subwoofer and full range. I get that this example DSP is far more advanced, but for beginners on a budget, the receiver controller isn't completely horrible.

[jamlzak]

Very good explanation!!! Couple of issues I'm having though with DSPs and Epicenters/bass processors. I have a Stetson Bluetooth processor that I'm considering installing before my preamps to clean up the sound from the head unit before any further amplification. I'll have 4 channels of selectable A, B and AB outputs (or combined as 2 since 1 output has to be split to connect an amp from one output. Meaning 1&2 would be a left and right if used straight). Using it this way I could tune channel 1 however I like and run it to the preamp let's say on the right input, #2 however would be on the left input both controlled by the preamp fader as a mids and highs preamp. Channels 3 and 4 would go to the inputs of the second preamp for midbass/midrange and bass. I think this would increase my tuning capabilities. I also think DSPs have the same features as Epicenters. Select the frequency in the parametric EQ (sweep), adjust it's Q (wide), boost or cut, adjust gain, etc. with tons of more tuning options. The preamps I use have subsonic filters from 30-300hz.

[bigk]

For the budget build its possible to use an aftermarket radio DSPs like the pioneer in this video but you'd have to run in network mode and only run a front stage. So you'll have full control over the front tweeters, front mids speakers and sub individually for time alignment. crossovers for each pair. Only real negative is the EQ still will effect everything together and not individually. In a single cab or extended cab truck it would work out pretty good not perfect but on a budget it'll get it done great.

[JustinKirby]

I swore off DSPs for the longest time until my car audio guy talked me into the Rockford DSR1. I'll never have another car system without a DSP.

[TheWright]

OMG, I'm going to get in so much trouble from this video. Great stuff. I really want to use one combined with an amplifier. Awesome video. Thanks.

[xuv]

I have never seen a factory radio that has separate outputs for high, mid and low speaker-level output. All the ones i have seen have just one speaker level output for front right, front left, etc.

[carguytamizhan]

Good Explanation ! My fav channel!
From Malaysia.

[ryanjohnson]

Questions:
how are you ensuring the output signal from amplifier is the signal, from, that you set at the dsp ? How do you know the gains, and frequency buttons on the amp, are not over riding the dsp, and sending out a freq, signal that I'd not what you set with the dsp ? I'm assuming the reason behind using a rta ? is to check for and adjust the dsp, but not the amp settings? Or both ? is the rta, the factor, for output from amp, frequency check and confirm?

[garys]

Just got a audison 12.14 dsp, it goes in next week in my edge st, with Hertz mille pro 6.5, components and two low profile subs from Hertz 12"

[cjfords]

Just received a JL fix86 and can't wait to get up and running. I'm a dsp virgin.

[Bill_CBR]

Nice job on explaining Mark. Loving my D-5.1300.