New radio, but bass is now gone?

[slim142 9]

So I just upgraded from a factory HU that I had connected to my Sundown 2000D with a LOC.

With my factory HU, all I had to do was bring the volume to 12 (75%) and then get my bass knob and increase it 4 clicks. That was loud bass and loud mids/highs with no distortion.

Today I just got a Pioneer DEH-P800PRS. Installed it, took out the LOC and connected the Rockford RCA cable to the Subwoofer output.

Reseted the headunit to default (by pressing the small button on the front of face plate), started listening to FM, CDs and even my iPod and realized there is no bass.

I checked the LPF and its on default 80hz. I havent touched any filter on my amp. I even thought I had to increase the gain since the new radio is 5v preamp outputs. I did but nothing.

The only way to bring bass to the subwoofer is to increase the 31.5, 50 and 80hz bands which I honestly dislike since most people here say EQs are used for cuts not for boosts.

Whats going on???

[BanginGMC 23]

Check the settings on the head-unit, the EQ settings. The sub woofer level might be a 0

[slim142 9]

Check the settings on the head-unit, the EQ settings. The sub woofer level might be a 0

I spent like 30 mins going though most settings, for some reason I couldnt find the subwoofer level.

I think I have to take a look at the manual.

But thanks for the help, all comments are welcomed

No bass makes me be worried

Edited September 16, 2010 by slim142

[BanginGMC 23]

That head-unit has High-Pass Crossover (HPF) and Subwoofer Crossover (LPF) make sure those aren't fucked up.

Besides it being settings in the head-unit, check your RCAs.

[slim142 9]

So far I have left all (front, rear, sub) filters on default which is 80hz. I have my LPF (the sub one) slope at 12db and the front and rear slopes at 18db. Besides that, I have also changed "SUB" from OFF to ON and SUB MONO to SUB STEREO.

My RCAs, since the sundown 2000D doesnt have a specific L or R, I just have it like this: White RCA from HU to bottom input RCA, red RCA from HU to top input RCA.

Let me know if Im doing something wrong or if you need more info.

Edited September 16, 2010 by slim142

[KU40 173]

Make sure the RCAs are plugged into the subwoofer output on the head unit and not a front or rear.

Increasing the gain doesn't help at all? Like not even a little bit?

[slim142 9]

Make sure the RCAs are plugged into the subwoofer output on the head unit and not a front or rear.

Increasing the gain doesn't help at all? Like not even a little bit?

I have triple checked that. RCA is going to Subwoofer out.

No, increasing gain in the amp did not help. To give you an idea of how much I increased it, I brought it up from 8 o'clock (where I had it with my factory radio) to 10 o'clock and nothing. Played around with the bass knob too but nothing. After 4-5 clicks on the bass knob, bass just stops getting louder (but still only 1/6 as loud of what the sub would get with my factory radio).

Im lost now

Edited September 16, 2010 by slim142

[Notorious97200 339]

When you're on the settings menu, go to the LPF and then you just push up the knob. So you can have the settings to level up or down the db on the bass : maybe this is set to - 25. You can go up to + 5

The main (on the right when you look at the h u) knob can be pushed up, down, left and right ! It can rotate too !

Good luck. This is a great h u.

The only options I miss on mine are usb reading and maybe the fact that I can't use no more the factory "remote" on the...steering wheel. Must add/buy some more connector and gear.

[slim142 9]

Notorious!

How ironic! I was just giving a look at the manual and realized I had to go to the LPF and then move up to go to the subwoofer level setting!

Anyways, cant wait to get home and start playing with this! Its probably on a really low number!

Will come back with an update!

Thanks!

[sefugi 166]

Notorious!

How ironic! I was just giving a look at the manual and realized I had to go to the LPF and then move up to go to the subwoofer level setting!

Anyways, cant wait to get home and start playing with this! Its probably on a really low number!

Will come back with an update!

Thanks!

Hope that does it!!!

[Shogen 325]

Yea that sounds about right, I have a similar radio... BT610U .... Should be what your issue is....

[slim142 9]

Update

Yes guys, the LEVEL setting was there, it only goes up to 6.

Yes, bass improved and now much more comes out. Still not there compared to my factory radio (maybe 4/6 of my factory), but I was rushing so Im thinking I need to readjust the gains and play a 50Hz tone.

Anyways, I'll keep you updated guys!

Question while I find time to fix the gain: Should I leave the subwoofer setting on MONO or STEREO? (I only have 1 sub btw).

[ssh 924]

Update

Yes guys, the LEVEL setting was there, it only goes up to 6.

Yes, bass improved and now much more comes out. Still not there compared to my factory radio (maybe 4/6 of my factory), but I was rushing so Im thinking I need to readjust the gains and play a 50Hz tone.

Anyways, I'll keep you updated guys!

Question while I find time to fix the gain: Should I leave the subwoofer setting on MONO or STEREO? (I only have 1 sub btw).

subwoofer signal would theoretically be mono, but your monoblock amp should output a mono signal whether its input is mono or stereo...

[bassahaulic 155]

What mode is the radio in?

Is it in Network or Standard mode?

[KU40 173]

I would guess that stereo vs. mono switch is for if you only run one RCA to the back for the sub amp or two. if you put it on mono, the head unit probably sums the signal from the left and right sides to send it down to the RCA, and you'd only need to plug in one RCA. I'd say just leave it in stereo, I believe the amp sums the input into mono anyways.

Don't be afraid to turn the gain up if the sub can handle it. The factory radio was using high level outputs to the LOC you were using, so its signal may have been higher than your new head unit's signal with the low level RCA outputs.

[slim142 9]

Thank you so much guys for the help! I really appreciate this!

The radio is in standard mode. Bassahaulic, I was trying to remember who I saw with this radio on his signature! Nice to see you in this thread!

Ku40, yeah thats what I thought. I have both RCAs (red and white) connected to the amp anyways so Im going to leave it on stereo.

And now that you mention it, it makes sense. The factory radio and LOC are pretty much very different than connecting straight to the HU without amplified signal. Will spend a good time tuning the bass if not tonight, tomorrow.

Thanks all!

EDIT: Just checked the sundown 2000D and saw this (Input Sensitivity 200mV to 6V (+/- 5%)

My HU has 5V preamp outputs, so does that mean the gain will pretty much have to be set past the middle? or that doesnt matter at all and I should just go ahead and set-and-test with the tone and forget about numbers and voltages?

Edited September 16, 2010 by slim142

[slim142 9]

Ok guys had some time today to play with the gain. The news are not that good.

I increased the gain a bit more, not half-way yet, but close.

Still, with 4 clicks on the bass knob, the sub reachest its limit (I can go up to 5 but its a small improvement, I kept it at 4 to stay away from clipping).

The only way I can make the sub sound like it did with my factory radio is to play around with the EQ.

The way I have the EQ right now is 20hz (-1) 31.5hz (+1) 50hz (+2) 80(+2) 125 (+1). Everything else flat (20hz on -1 because I wanna play it safe and no need to increase that one).

This is how I need the EQ to be in order for the bass to sound 90% of what it sounded like with the factory radio (plus the 4 clicks on the bass knob and subwoofer level on +6 of course). I feel like some songs need a +3 on the 50Hz band to sound as loud as they did with the factory radio.

An important thing, I still havent set up the Auto EQ with TA. Was trying to figure out but couldnt find how. I guess I will have to read the manual (or if Bassahaulic could tell me how it would be great)

Any comments?

[cheese20323 13]

Turn the gain up until you find how it sounded with your factory radio, your LOC probably had better output voltage and didn't need the gain up so high now the new HU is lower thus making you turn u your gain more, I have my gains all the way up only because my HU sucks and have 1 volt rca's and I'm going to get an external EQ.

[slim142 9]

Thanks Cheese

Will go and give it another try. This time, will go beyond halfway if I have to and see if that makes things any better.

Will keep you updated

[bassahaulic 155]

The Auto-EQ is complete junk, but the Auto-TA is actually pretty good.

[slim142 9]

How do I get to set up the Auto EQ and Auto TA?

Dont have the manual with me right now

[KU40 173]

Your factory radio may have had a bass boost built in.

[slim142 9]

Good guess KU

Now I want to report my experience after playing with the radio the entire day today.

I want to start with the quality.

When everything is off and on default, the music comes out like if it was treble boosted. Comes out loud but kinda high pitched and really bright. So decided to play with the EQ and fix this. I wouldnt be surprised if the factory speakers were designed to work together with the factory radio.

This is how I found my ears to get pleasant sound

My custom EQ

20Hz (-1), 31.5Hz (-1), 50Hz(-2), 80Hz(-3) 125Hz(-2) 200Hz(-2) 315Hz(-2) 500Hz(-3) 800Hz(-4) 1.25Khz(-3) 2Khz(-3) 3.15Hz(-3) 5Khz(-4) 8Khz(-4) 12.5Khz(-3) 20Khz(-1)

Now, this works for most music that does not need bass. When I need the bass to be a little more present, I just bring back 50Hz and 80Hz to 0.

However, I have some problems.

Today when driving around, I found that there was a point (Custom EQ w/ 50hz and 80hz on 0, Subwoofer level +4 and bass knob on max w/out clipping) that my front speakers (not the tweeters, but the woofers) would distort on high volumes.

For a moment I thought it could be too much bass sent to the speakers? But then I checked the EQ and the 80Hz is on 0 and the 125Hz is on -2

So why did the music started distorting? Was it because I have reached the maximum (rms maybe?) with them? Cause I cant explain "too much bass" at the speakers at this point.

Also, it seems like its kinda hard to find the distortion point on the subwoofer. Some songs will not give out the same bass they did with my factory radio and when I try to fix it, music sometimes starts coming out ugly, like distorted a bit or bass just comes out ugly (not distorted, but like... strong notes from my factory radio sometimes come out weak, some feel like they come out when they shouldnt and thus messing up the song).

Sometimes, some songs feel like they could have more bass, so I bring the 50Hz band to +1 or +2 and it seems like the subwoofer can handle it, but at the same time it makes the front and rear speakers distort a bit? (its more noticeable at +3)

I dont understand since I have my LPF on 80Hz with 12db slope, HPF on 80Hz with 12db for both front and rear speakers.

I really like how the radio sounds. The quality is amazing (yes, even with factory speakers) and I can go up to high volume levels without bass. That is no problem at all.

The problem comes when I try to bring bass to the system. Seems like no combination between bass knob (amp gain), EQ, subwoofer level and volume can be found. Either it distorts front speakers, there is not enough bass, or sub starts clipping or the mids/highs are not loud enough.

I played it safe. I used sub level +4, bass knob on max w/out distortion (4 clicks), 50hz and 80hz on 0. Volume I usually found myself between 50-54 out of 62 which is above 75% I know, but anything below 45 is really low (trust me, Im not deaf, anything below 45 is nothing loud)

At this point, what should I do? this is becoming really complicated and annoying. I really dont want to have to be driving and have to mess around with 3 or 4 settings to have a song play "right". There is 2 custom EQs that you can set at anything you want, I honestly dont want to be having to increase and decrease the sub level/EQ bands for every song.

[slim142 9]

Im thinking about getting a pair of Bravox CS60CF

Dont know if this will fix most of the issues.

[Notorious97200 339]

Why don't you let the bass level at 0 on the h u ? It may be safer.

You won't have to play too much with the eq.