Alberts Car Stereo | Custom Car Audio Installation | Car Alarms & Security | Multimedia

EQUALISERS - An Overview

Equalisers are an often-misunderstood piece of car audio equipment. Too often they are simply used to make the bass and treble response of a system louder, which may or may not be the best solution. Equalisers are meant as a tool to compensate for the changes to the audio signal, which may happen in a mobile environment. Using a real time analyser (RTA) can reveal that there are certain frequencies that may need to be cut rather than boosted to achieve good spectral balance, this is an often-unused function of equalisers.

Both graphic and parametric equalisers are addressed in this tech bulletin to show the
differences in the technologies. In addition “Q” is also covered to show how this may benefit
the tuning of a vehicle in some situations.

What are they?
A device that Boosts or Cuts selected frequencies.

Why are they needed?
To compensate for the shortcomings of a vehicle’s interior as a listening environment. Equalisers are meant as a tool to compensate for the changes to the audio signal, which may happen in a mobile environment. Using a real time analyser (RTA) to evaluate these changes an equaliser can then be used to help overcome any changes that may be present. These can be tailored to suit the preferences of individual listeners as well as particular music types.

What types of Equalisers are there?

Graphic

- an equaliser that allows the selection of preset frequencies that can then be Boost or Cut.
- These are limited to the frequencies selected by the manufacturer of the unit and may require more bands of adjustment to attain the control needed to compensate for individual systems.

Parametric

- an equaliser that allows the adjustment of: Centre Frequency (typically in 1/3 Oct. steps), Boost / Cut Level, and Q.
- These allow the selection of a specific frequency, further the width of the adjustment area can be altered allowing greater accuracy of the desired boost or cut.

“Q” stands for ‘quality factor’, and is the “width” of the area affected by the Boost or Cut. This allows the adjustment of a specific frequency, or a bandwidth of frequencies centered around the desired point.

Alberts Car Stereo

Myaree, Western Australia

Custom Car Audio & Car Security Specialists

Alberts Car Stereo, Myaree. Western Australia.