Stereo question
- Thread starter bobthetj03
- Start date
Thanks to you and the other audiophiles on here for great advise. One last question. What is "Q factor"? It has an adjustment of 1.35, 1.50, and 2.00.
That’s the first time I’ve heard of that setting. I looked it up and what it does is it sets the “width” of each frequency band on your equalizer. The higher the number, the narrower and sharper the cutoff is between frequency bands. The lower the number, the more they blend together.
For example, if you adjust the 100 Hz band:
On a high Q-factor, you will only be adjusting a narrow range between bands. There will be a sharp cutoff between the 62.5 Hz and 100 Hz equalizer bands. This would mean if the bands are significantly differently adjusted, there might be a sharp increase/decrease in power as the frequency passes between the bands.
On a lowQ-factor, the equalizer bands will blend into one another. So say you have the 62.5 Hz band set to the max, but the 100 Hz band set to the minimum. A lower Q-factor will soften the change as the frequency passes through the band, so there is a less harsh change in volume.
In essence, Q-factor smooths the curve of your equalizer settings. It gives you less harsh changes between bands at the cost of adjustment accuracy.
I would leave it at the stock setting if you have no problems
If there’s a harsh change you can’t equalize out, then you can try adjusting it down. Or if there’s a frequency area you just can’t adjust properly, you can try adjusting it up.
EDIT: Had higher/lower backwards. Fixed.
Last edited:
It’s similar to how you chose the cutoff slope (-6dB, -12 dB) on your low pass and high pass filters. Except it controls the frequencies adjusted by each equalizer slider.
Ok, thanks. It's sounding pretty dang good right now, but I tend to not leave well enough alone, lol! It's a jeep, so how good can it possibly get, right? Lol!
Edward Turner
TJ Enthusiast
Here’s a detailed explanation of Quality Factor and how you use it when EQing your system. The bigger the Q factor, the narrower the band you are adjusting.
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-bandwidth.htm
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-bandwidth.htm
My sony only has 1-2-3 for slope settings? have it at 2. I can say that putting both the hpf and lpf at 80hz made a difference per @dudehitt. I need to get under the dash and open up the sub settings so I can let the head unit do the dictating.
I'm pretty amazed at all the fine tuning settings this Kenwood HU has. My last HU was a 15 year old Alpine. It had Bass and Treble. That's it. Not even a AUX port.
sometimes I miss those days....I can't even set the gps or change media settings on my wifes benz!
Yeah, that's crazy. I had to pay $500 for a HU with most of that stuff 10-12 years ago. Had no Q but i could set it up for 4 speaker + sub or 2 + sub and go full active. Settings wise it was pretty similar to the kenwood. Maybe better SQ but you'd never know in a TJ.
I bought my first real car stereo system 30 years ago at Circuit City. It was the latest Sony pull out HU. When I say "pull out", I mean the whole HU could be removed from the chassis. It was silly thinking about it now. Added a 10 disc trunck mounted CD player, and a 600 watt Sony amp to power 2 10's. Think I payed $1500 for that setup. Crazy!
Well, thanks to this thread, I have my new system tuned too. Holy cow, was I missing a bunch of low end. Sounds absolutely phenomenal now!
Can we please stop talking about this now? I keep going to crutchfield and sonicelectronix and woofersetc but i have more important things to do with my jeep. I mostly listen to am sports radio now anyway (FM doesn't work). I don't need to build a new system, even if it is cheaper than it used to be. Fiberglass is a PITA, there's nowhere to put a big sub and i need a lift. 
Can we please stop talking about this now? I keep going to crutchfield and sonicelectronix and woofersetc but i have more important things to do with my jeep. I mostly listen to am sports radio now anyway (FM doesn't work). I don't need to build a new system, even if it is cheaper than it used to be. Fiberglass is a PITA, there's nowhere to put a big sub and i need a lift.
You don't need a big sub. Just keep it simple and put a slimline 8 in the center console with a small amp to power it. If I were to do it over again, I think I'd get a 5 channel amp and power the Polks as well. Deck power is limiting.
I have about 500 bucks into my setup. Small sub in the console, 5 channel amp, and a head unit. 4 5.25" speakers. Couple incidentals. Way cheaper than it used to be.
Well finally had time to play today, laptop in hand so this thread and the manual was accessible. Although I don't have as comprehensive adjustments as others (no Q setting, only 3 slopes to choose from) I was able to make a heck of a difference than the way it was. Thanks to Jim for starting the thread and the rest for your input.
Yeah mine only had 3 slope settings as well. Haven't played around with those much. I have them at -6 right now. Biggest improvement was the EQ settings for me. Did you like any of the preset EQ settings? I didn't find one I liked, so I went to Manual EQ and set my own.
my slope setting are just that 1-2-3 no db correlations. I just used the pre-set of rock on the eq, eventually I will create a custom one. I just want to hear the system for a while on radio and usb music to decide how to tweak. I also want to possibly play with the HU sub settings more. I did get under the dash to open up the sub amp setting so that the control went to the head unit.
I did the same with my sub amp. On the HU, I set the sub frequency to 120hz. and the front/rear speakers to 100hz. I wanted a little overlap. I tried 90hz./100hz. but it seemed to sound better at my first setting. My manual EQ settings look similar to the Rock preset, but my lower frequencies are higher and my high frequecies lower on my custom tune. Still playing around with the mid frequencies. I mostly listen to classic rock and Indy rock, so different songs change the settings.
I did the same hpf and lpf settings...I also recently installed sep tweeters on the dash, now it actually seems like I have front speakers. Before the only way I could tell the dash speakers were working was to put my hand over the grill.
Similar threads
