Quote from: Kolk1 on December 10, 2013, 09:32:30 AM
Another idea that was brought up to me by the owner of JMLaudio, he stopped by my shop and hung out with me for a little bit the other day so I always like to pick his brain.
He mentioned he could de-code the factory radio. Basically taking out all the built in processors and THX programming out of the radio, and it would make it a flat signal no matter where the volume knob is set. He said thats the only way he feels is the correct way to keep the factory radio and put a good SQ system into the newer fords. Then went on about how even if you run a processor on our cars, since the EQ the radio puts out is constantly changing, the only other half assed way without decoding the radio, is to put the volume at a constant spot on the radio(never touch it again) then use the EQ to level everything out at the one specific volume setting, then just adjust the volume on the EQ to raise and lower your volume from now on.
Im just wondering in my eyes if its worth all the time and money over what I already have. I love the way mine sounds right now, wouldnt mind getting better amps, but besides that I think ive pretty much hit the wall of point of diminishing returns. I mean, I might buy that Kicker Front Stage I can get for $100 bucks so I can get rid of my cheap Line out put converters, but thats about it.
I dealt with the logic of this in my Mazdaspeed 3. Same problem. The head unit boosted via mild EQ as the volume was raised, and then a cut was put at the upper volume limit on the bass (to save the cheesy speakers). This was back in the 3sixty.2 days. Bottom line, the solution there was to tune the 3sixty.2 at a happy medium listening volume, and in the rare instance that I wanted to "crank it", I would use the auxiliary volume knob which was a pure gain dial.
The Flex's Sony system (my 2010 model) had a similar boost-cut effect, but the MS8 seemed to handle this much better. My 2013 Non-Sony system is almost dead-flat and is AMAZING sounding. At full-tilt-boogey my 2013 setup is easily the best sounding system I've created. Not the loudest but certainly the most realistic and entertaining. The MS8's spacial processing is my not-so-secret weapon for this. That, and very aggressive deadening and sealing techniques in the tin-can doors of the Flex. Also lots of deadener and foam everywhere else.
Bottom line, you can overcome a boost-cut auto EQ by creating a "happy medium" listening volume. Any louder and chances are your ears will lose sensitivity anyway, and any quieter and you'll not really by listening.
