[Ricky Bobby]

I don’t have access to a RTA (spectrum analyzer) so i really can’t tell when the factory head unit starts to attenuate the lower frequencies. I’ve tried to listen with my ears but I just can’t tell where the threshold needs to be set. Right now I have it set to about 50% with the accubass level set to 50%. I’m using the front speakers for inputs so I’m tempted to just turn the threshold all the way counter clockwise and deactivate the feature. Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing how others are using this feature... or not...lol

 

[Salle2061]

Your result will vary on the speaker(s) you are using, position and amps you have so its not an exact science even between the same car radios.

To my ears the base drops off starts at around 20 so I would go to about 22-23 and than turn the accubass slightly up. Remember that "slightly up" will increase accordingly with the volume so don't over do it. Make sure you are playing a song you are familiar with. Helps if you have someone turning the knob while you sit in the front and immediately hear the difference without having to pause music run to the trunk etc.

Of course this is my opinion

 

[Ricky Bobby]

I played a bass beat on repeat thru carplay and really couldn’t hear the bass dropout or stay steady as I increased the volume. I did the same with the radio as a source and could hear what your describing around 20. I played with the setting for a while and in the end what sounded the best to me was to set the threshold all the way clockwise so accubass was always on and then set the accubass level knob to 25%. I leave it here for a few days and give it a good listen. Before I had it engaging at 20 or 22 but the level wasn’t right so when I would be listening at 24 or so and turn it down to 16 the bass would drop out to much when accubass was shut off.

 

[Salle2061]

I played a bass beat on repeat thru carplay and really couldn’t hear the bass dropout or stay steady as I increased the volume. I did the same with the radio as a source and could hear what your describing around 20. I played with the setting for a while and in the end what sounded the best to me was to set the threshold all the way clockwise so accubass was always on and then set the accubass level knob to 25%. I leave it here for a few days and give it a good listen. Before I had it engaging at 20 or 22 but the level wasn’t right so when I would be listening at 24 or so and turn it down to 16 the bass would drop out to much when accubass was shut off.

If that sounds good to you than your found your best setting.

But you brought up a excellent point I missed in my first reply. SOURCE. Radio, CarPlay and Bluetooth will all have a different output voltage and as a result maximizing the settings for radio will likely be too powerful for Bluetooth and vice versa.

I notice a huge difference in the amplitude when I switch between the Bluetooth and CarPlay. Bluetooth being noticeably louder at the same volume setting. The Bluetooth DAC easily has 0.5V higher output than the output of CarPlay (or iPhone). Im not sure if CarPlay has a DAC or if its using iPhones internal which would explain the difference. Investigation underway

BTW, did you try playing around with that PS switch in the "secret menu". I have not been able to hear any audiable difference. I'm wondering if that is "Personal Settings" and has nothing to do with audio in any way.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

BTW, did you try playing around with that PS switch in the "secret menu". I have not been able to hear any audiable difference. I'm wondering if that is "Personal Settings" and has nothing to do with audio in any way.

I did play with the PS setting and to me the bass increased just a bit but the rest of the music sounded flat and muddy to me. I have the treble set at about 75% and was worried with it off I wouldn’t be able to recover the treble with it off. Right now my biggest complaint is the miss and highs just don’t sound crisp and clear. I don’t know if that’s due to the speakers, lack of power, both, or the head unit processing the over air signal. Spotify thru CarPlay sounds much better than the radio but it to isn’t up to par in the mids and highs. I hope once I replace the stock speakers and add an amp for them this improves considerably. I even thought about the kicker key for the built in DSP but not sure if it has enough power.

 

[Salle2061]

Right now my biggest complaint is the miss and highs just don’t sound crisp and clear.

This statement goes against you original post topic And it is a very broad one. Unfortunately the only way do that is to replace your speakers first then add the amp, if necessary.

I have in the past used Infinity Reference series. Decent value for the price and they have a tweeter that suits my type of music. As others, they come with -3db attenuation for the tweeter (components and coax's). I keep them at -3db as full setting hurts my ears . You may like it.

Not to get in to speaker design but OEM speakers are almost always plain treated paper speakers. That is not a bad thing, but it is a cheap thing. The lighter the speaker cone is the less power it needs to be push. When you get in to After market like Infinities, they are almost always have a heavier cone. This results in them needing more power to be as loud as the paper OEMs. With that in mind, Infinity REF series run on three ohms as oppose to four in order to squeeze out a little extra juice from the amp. Amps don't see the 3 ohm load as the long wires in the car add to the final impedance so it safe for the built in amp.

There are many other great options out here I am just telling you about the ones I know/own. If you find the "old model" of the Infinities, at a lower price, go for it. They are the same just a little repackaged.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Prior to adding bass the mids and highs sounded ok, but after adding the extra bass it kind leaves the other lacking.. of course digital music on Spotify sounds much better than the radio.