How to Tune a Car Amplifier

Installing an amplifier into your car audio system is a great way to improve the sound and capabilities of your mobile stereo. But if you don't tune your amplifier properly, you won't get nearly the full potential out of your car amplifier. While there are many different models of car amplifier, understanding how to make some basic tuning adjustments will go a long way to improving the sound your amp yields. Best of all, tuning your amp doesn't require any special tools.

Things You'll Need

• Car amplifier
• CD (or recording) of some favorite music

Instructions

Set the High-Pass Filter

1. Set the high-pass filter to ensure you get the proper frequency range of signals to your smaller, full-range speakers. The high-pass filter blocks out low frequencies, and lets higher frequencies pass to the speakers. If your amp is connected to full-range speakers, like door speakers, these speakers are carrying the weight of reproducing the instruments and vocals in your music.

2. Look on your amplifier for a switch or knob labeled "high-pass." If the channel is connected to full-range speakers, turn it "on" or adjust the knob so it is set to about 100 Hz.

3. Listen to some music you know well. Adjust the setting downward if you want a little more bass in the full-range speakers, or adjust the setting upward if the sound of your full-range speakers is muddy or too bassy.

Set the Low-Pass Filter

1. Set the low-pass filter to ensure you get the proper frequency range of signals to your subwoofer. The low-pass filter blocks out high frequencies, and lets lower frequencies pass to the sub. If your amp is connected to a sub, you want this speaker to concentrate on the lows, not the highs.

2. Look on your amplifier for a switch or knob labeled "low-pass." If the channel is connected to full-range speakers, turn it "on" or adjust the knob so it is set to about 100 Hz.

3. Listen to some music you know well, and adjust the setting downward if to much of the mid-range is coming through your sub, or adjust the setting upward if you want a little more of the mid reproduced by your subwoofer.

Set the Bass Boost

1. Set the bass boost if you want more "thump" out of your subwoofer. Many amps have a bass boost circuit that will add a boost to the sound output at a low frequency, making your subwoofer more effective.

2. Turn on the bass boost (an on/off switch) and listen to the sound.

3. Keep it on if you like the sound. If the bass boost is a variable knob, adjust it up or down to match your taste in bass.