Don’t trust your car’s default audio settings—5 quick, free ways to improve them
Some car enthusiasts never even turn on their radio. For them, the only music they want to hear is that of a rumbling V8, a high-pitched flat-six or a screaming Soprano V12. Sometimes the world of music and engine notes collide, like when Yamaha Corporation tuned the exhaust note of the Lexus LFA’s 4.8L 1LR-GUE V10 engine.
But for some people, the engine sound isn’t the main attraction. They are audiophiles who want the best sound possible from their car speakers.
If you’re an audiophile with an unlimited budget, this is great. You can specify the optional Sonus faber audio system in your new Lamborghini Revuelto and enjoy premium sound. However, most people don’t have an unlimited budget (although, if you ever get the chance to listen to a pair of Sonus faber Lilium floor-standing speakers, grab it. Sure, they cost $75,000 a pair, but it doesn’t hurt to dream).
These days, gas prices are skyrocketing and keeping your car’s tank full is a bigger priority than your stereo. However, there are several steps you can take to improve the sound quality of your vehicle without spending a dime.
The following ideas for improving your car audio are ranked by their ease of use, although none are particularly difficult to implement.
5
Adjust equalizer settings
Basic equalizer settings can have a huge impact on sound quality
Today, almost all car stereos include at least some basic equalizer (EQ) adjustments. The equalizer allows you to control the tone of the music. The most basic settings include bass, midrange, and treble, and they can make a huge difference in your car’s audio quality.
- Low: Range from 20 Hz to 250 Hz. These low frequencies make your music sound muffled.
- Medium: Range 250 Hz – 4 kHz. Covers most vocals and instruments, such as guitar and piano.
- Triple: Range 4kHz to 20kHz. Handles instruments like cymbals, snare drums, and vocalists as they hit those high notes.
To start, set all EQ settings to zero. Adapt now to your preferences and your vehicle.
Many people start by increasing the bass, but it might be better to start by reducing the mids and highs first; then you can increase the bass a bit if you need to. Keep these tips in mind:
-
Too much bass will cause distortion and drown out the midrange.
-
Too much treble will make the music too high pitched.
-
Different music genres will sound better with different settings.
Every vehicle interior is different too, so experiment with your car and the music you listen to the most. Make small adjustments until you find the sound you’re looking for. Remember that road and tire noise, the size and shape of your interior, window reflectivity, and even the material used in the seats can all play a role in the sound of your vehicle.
The 6 Best Ways to Upgrade Your Car Audio Without Spending a Fortune
You don’t need a Bentley audio system.
4
Adjust fade and balance
Getting it right will give you a more immersive audio experience
The fade and balance determine where the music is coming from. The fade is front to back and the balance is left to right.
The best way to adjust this is to start with the scale. Turn the fader all the way up so that only the front speakers produce sound. You can now adjust the balance from left to right until you are satisfied with the result. Now adjust the fade all the way back and adjust the left to right balance again.
To adjust the fade, you’ll want to set up the system again so that all the sound comes from the front. Then you can slowly increase the output backwards until you are happy with the fade. You can also move everything slightly behind the front seats and slightly towards the center of your vehicle. This can create a more immersive feel without any expensive audio upgrades.
As with EQ settings, you may find that different types of music require different fade/balance settings. Adjust slowly until you are happy with the sound.
- Front camera resolution
-
1080p
- Security
-
24 hour parking mode
This small Nexar dash cam sits comfortably behind your rearview mirror and captures 1080p footage. It also has GPS to geotag videos.
3
Use higher quality audio files
No audio setting will overcome a poor quality audio source
This one might be the most important. It doesn’t matter what your EQ, fade, or balance settings are if you’re listening to a low-quality audio file. Settings can’t do much to improve the sound if the original audio file is distorted or the recording levels are poor to begin with.
There are several ways to get high-quality sound in your car. The first is to subscribe to a high-resolution music streaming service such as Amazon Music or Spotify. You can also load songs onto a USB drive in formats like WAV or FLAC and then connect it to your infotainment system. There are also high-resolution portable music players that you can connect to your AUX port to play music.
Bluetooth connections are improving, but they don’t offer a true high-resolution music experience. It’s best to make a direct connection to your car’s audio system if you want the best quality available.
2
Remove loose and rattling objects
You want your music to rock, not your empty soda cans
This one almost seems too silly to include, but it happens. My wife is known for this. She leaves empty CD cases, water bottles and other small items in door pockets. Inevitably these things shake when I drive down the road. Even if the settings are perfect, an empty plastic bottle vibrating in a door pocket can ruin the entire musical experience.
Check your interior and trunk for any loose objects that could bounce around. Remove them or secure them in place. Once you do this, you may find that your audio quality has magically improved.
6 Ways to Soundproof Your Car So Your Music Sounds Much Better
Turn up the volume because you want to, not to combat outside noise.
1
Remove speaker obstructions
No matter how many speakers you have, don’t block any
This one is related to the previous item but deserves its own place on the list.
Some vehicles today are equipped with an impressive number of speakers. A Cadillac Escalade can be equipped with up to 40 speakers. The problem is that with more speakers, there is more opportunity to jam them with the everyday flotsam that ends up in a vehicle: book bags, water bottles, a pillow, a pair of socks, an empty McDonald’s bag; these are all elements that may find themselves in front of a speaker at any given time.
Blocking a speaker not only suppresses the sound, but can also change its characteristics. Essentially, you can’t fine-tune your fade and balance settings with blocked speakers.
It won’t cost you anything except a few minutes of your time. Go through your car, truck, or SUV and make sure nothing is blocking any of your speakers. We all love the pleasant surprise of an unexpected coin at the bottom of the center console, but those coins can really interfere with the bass boost settings you enjoy.
Combine these tips for the best results
Although the interior of a car will never match the acoustics of a concert hall, many avid audiophiles still invest significant time and money into upgrading their audio systems. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
As Ludwig van Beethoven said: “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. » But before you open your wallet, try a few simple adjustments. You might be surprised to discover that your car’s existing audio system can perform much better than expected.
