Loudness on HU

[R_Mac_1]

So I was just doing a little tuning on my system because I just replaced my mids and highs amp. I'm now running a Sundown SAX-50.4 to my Type X 6.5" comps (bridged to 2 channels and running passive). Anyways, I'm messing with all my HPF, gains, etc. all with bass boost off on the HU, EQ flat, loud off, etc. I get it close to where I like it (close enough for now anyways). I'm using HU volume 40 out of 50 as my highest listening volume, so I still have some headroom. Still gotta bust out the DMM and check my gain settings.

Now to the question: what exactly does the "loud" option do and why is it bad? My guess would be that it just boosts the lower and higher frequencies (also make the HU start clipping earlier)? Cause I'll be damned if it doesn't sound better to me. I turned it on Low (my HU has low, medium and high) and I thought the bass was much fuller and highs seemed clearer. I know everyone says to avoid it so what I'm wondering is what are some tricks to get that fuller sound without using the loud level? Is it a matter of manually boosting EQ and whatnot? With loud being turned off my components are still loud, but the midbass seems lacking and the overall sound is just....thinner I guess.

[Snow]

Loud function = clipping

Keep it off.

Do you have your doors deadened? That will dramatically help with the midbass.

[toaster]

The loud button is an internal eq setting, most HUs have them. It was originally designed to overcome road noise when listening @ low volume levels.

The loud button does not cause clipping, but you will drive your outputs to clip sooner with it on due to the additional gain of the signal.

[finkster]

Yes, loudness makes up or the lack of highs and bass at lower volumes. On some head units, loudness rolls off once the volume is turned up past a certain point. I don't know that it necessarily means clipping, until u get to a certain point. Clipping will occur sooner though. My hu doesn't clip ever so I can't really say. Check it out with an oscope to be sure, as of course all hu's are different.

[R_Mac_1]

Yeah I don't have an oscope, nor can I really afford one.

My doors are deadened a bit, but I'm going to do some more work on them when it warms up. My main problem is that my woofers mount directly to my door panel (there's not really a way to mount them to the door frame) so I'm thinking about glassing the backside of my door panel to really harden it up and give it some weight. I'm hoping that will help with the midbass output.

There's quite a dramatic difference between having loud on low and putting it on medium and high (which sound like poo). Obviously I don't want to clip my signal and stress my components, but it honestly still sounds pretty clean to my noob ears. I don't usually drive my stuff to hard nor do I listen for long periods of time.

[R_Mac_1]

So today after tweaking it a bit I got it sounding better. I turned the loud all the way off and bumped up a couple bands on my HU's EQ. It's a seven band and I bumped the 50 hz, 125 hz, and the two highest ones (only increased them by one each) and it honestly sounded a lot better than a totally flat EQ. It was not as dramatic as loud:low so I think it's a happy medium.

I really need to do something about my door panels, though. I can see and feel them vibrating from the midbass and I'm sure it's hurting output. You guys think putting a few layers of glass on the backside of the panel would be a good way to go about stiffening the panel up and reducing some of the flex?

I have a a few layers of deadener on the back of the panel near the woofer but I don't think it did much.