How To Setup HPF On Your Car Stereo For Better Sound Quality
High Pass Frequency is majorly used for tweeters and speakers. Creating a good balance between the frequencies sent to the tweeters and those sent to the speakers is important to ensure a good listening experience.
In this article, we show you how to set HPF for Pioneer stereo receivers.
What Is HPF Setting Pioneer?
An audio High Pass Frequency is an equalization tool that attenuates all the frequencies below a set point. The filters basically remove low frequencies while allowing high frequencies to pass through.
Understanding how and when to use HPF is important especially if you need to improve your mixes, whether you are mixing live sound performances, studio recordings or tuning consumer audio systems.
HPF And LPF Settings On The Head Unit
Many car audio systems come with integrated crossover systems that can be easily adjusted by users. They are built to route certain sound frequencies to specific speakers that have been directly connected to the head unit.
High-pass filters in a two-way crossover work by restricting bass frequencies from mid- to high-range speakers. On the other hand, low-pass will only allow low-frequency bass signals to reach the larger subwoofers.
It is important to properly adjust the high-pass and low-pass filter settings to promote maximum sound quality and speaker longevity.
How To Set HPF And LPF Filters On A Car Stereo Receiver and Amplifier
Before getting to the steps, please note that some amps offer an LPF and HPF switch like this one:
Step 1: Check The Frequency Response Listing Of Your Speakers
Check the speakers and subwoofer manual of your sound system and note the “frequency response” listed. This will be listed in Hz and kHz. However, you can ignore this step if your vehicle does not have any after-market speakers.
Step 2: Study The Frequency Slope Diagram
Check the speaker manual and study the frequency slope diagram. If your car uses high-range or coaxial speakers, check the specific frequency where the diagram shows a sharp decline for the low-frequency range. If you have subwoofers, check the decline in the high-frequency slope.
Step 3: Determine The Right High-Pass And Low-Pass Frequency Cutoff Points For The Speaker System
For even sound reproduction across all frequencies and speakers connected to the system, choose HPF and LPF cutoff frequencies that will deliver a “flat” transition between high- and low-range speakers.
Step 4: Check The Stereo Receiver’s Manual And Note The Available Frequency Crossover Points
Decide on the closest and most suitable crossover points for the speakers. Keep in mind the resonant frequencies of the vehicle, the mounting position of the speakers, and the enclosure type for the subwoofer system. These will have a major effect on the final adjustments you will need to make.
Step 5: Adjust The Crossover Settings
Now turn on the car stereo and navigate to the desired crossover menu for the “front” speaker high-pass filter.
Choose the appropriate frequency cutoff and repeat the same adjustment for the “rear” speaker high-pass filter option.
Adjust the low-pass filter for the subwoofer to the desired setting. To promote a smooth transition between the speaker components, ensure the crossover points for HPF and LPF settings are set to the same frequency.
Step 6: Adjust The Amplifier “Gain”
Adjust the amplifier “Gain” setting to the lowest setting or turn off the subwoofer system. Play some music with a wide range of high and low sound frequencies and adjust the volume to the loudest position, just before the distortion point.
Step 7: Adjust The Fader And Balance Controls
Sit in the driver’s seat and adjust the fader and balance controls to your preference. Switch the crossover on the sub to the “Off” position or “pass-through” position.
You will not need to use the amplifier’s crossover system since you will be controlling the LPF settings from the stereo receiver.
Step 8: Adjust The Amplifier’s “Gain”
Now adjust the amplifier’s “Gain” setting to the loudest setting, just before the point of distortion. Also, adjust the volume of the receiver to the normal listening level.
Step 9: Test The Frequency With A Frequency Test CD
Insert a frequency test CD with a “Sine sweep” test track. The sound test should produce a progressive sound that “sweeps” between the low-frequency and high-frequency ranges.
Step 10: Adjust The Level of Differences
Listen to more tracks and note the sound level differences between the subwoofer system and speaker if any. Make appropriate adjustments to the “dB/Oct” slope levels for each filter setting. Make further adjustments to the crossover settings by repeating the test as necessary.
You can listen to a wide range of music and make small adjustments to the treble, bass and other sound fields if necessary.
Pioneer Best EQ Settings
Pioneer is well known for quality audio car radios and speakers, especially for entertainment.
Pioneer AVH for instance is one of the best car audio receivers from Pioneer. It comes in various series including Pioneer multimedia, AVH 512EX, AVH 3500NEX, etc.
Best Equalizer Settings For Pioneer AVH
Pioneer AVH radios have two major setup options:
- Network mode, and
- Standard mode
We’ll show you how to work around the best equalizer settings with a radio FM.
Step 1: Tap The EQ Icon
Go to the homepage settings icon and tap on EQ. note that the equalizer has bands starting from 13Hz to 12.5kHz. the high frequencies are on the right-hand side, the mid frequencies are in the middle, and the soft frequencies are on the left-hand side.
The equalizer has five precepts – bass, powerful, natural, vocal, and flat. Click on your preferred precept.
Step 2: Adjust The Fader
Now move to the fader/balance and adjust the dot to the middle of the front, left, right and rear.
Step 3: Adjust The Source-Level
Adjust the source level to attenuate all the other sources to the FM especially if you are playing a radio station or some music over Bluetooth and you notice it is quiet.
You can also turn it up in the source-level adjuster.
Step 4: Adjust The Subwoofer And Speaker Level To Your Preferred Levels
- Turn on the subwoofer
- Turn on the HPF (High pass front) and adjust it to 100 Hz with a slope of -24 dB/Oct.
- Turn on the LPF (Low pass front) and adjust it to 50 Hz with a slope of -12 dB/Oct.
- Repeat the same with the rear and adjust it to 200 Hz with a slope of -6 dB/Oct.
Step 5: Adjust The Time Alignment Precept
The time alignment precept enables you to know how far or close you are to the speaker. Adjust the number by your left to negative and the number by your right to positive.
SLA Setting Pioneer Stereo
The SLA function prevents radical leaps in volume level when switching between sources.
- Compare the FM volume with the volume of the other source
- Press the AUDIO button and select the SLA mode in the audio menu
- Increase or decrease the level with the volume up and down buttons
What Should HPF Be Set At?
The recommended settings are an HPF (5000Hz) for the front tweeters, an HPF (80 Hz for the front midrange, an HPF (80Hz) for rear speakers, and 12 dB or 24 dB slope. If the rear speakers (passive) are added to this system, the settings will be altered a little.
What Class Of Amp Is Best For Mids And Highs?
Whereas there are quite a number of Amps to choose from, the P400X4 is said to be an excellent option that is reasonably priced. It is a CEA-2006 compliant rated amplifier with its Signal-to-Noise (SNR) at the rated power output of 105 dB