Audio Test CD

ehidle · Apr 8, 2008

ehidle · Apr 8, 2008

Rotus8 said:
The absolutely slowest site ever to post a 432 MByte file.

I think your enter key may be stuck...

But, just in case you were being difficult, I posted links to the individual tracks.

I'm obviously not responsible for the size of the author's work, nor for his choice of hosting provider, so I am also obviously not the right person to cop an attitude with if you don't like it.

Thanks.

Speeed3 · Apr 8, 2008

I agree, he's just relaying some great info, not like he uploaded it to there. And boo hoo you have to wait an hour or 2 for almost a half a gig.

Thanks ehidle, I've been looking for a good cd like this since a "friend" borrowed my last one and then dissappeared.

Rotus8 · Apr 8, 2008

ehidle said:
I'm obviously not responsible for the size of the author's work, nor for his choice of hosting provider, so I am also obviously not the right person to cop an attitude with if you don't like it.

Sorry. I've been having a bad morning. Post deleted.

SuperStretch18 · Apr 8, 2008

Nice find!

ehidle · Apr 8, 2008

Rotus8 said:
Sorry. I've been having a bad morning. Post deleted.

No worries. I'm just trying to help here

SuperStretch18 · Apr 8, 2008

It was VERY helpful! Only about a 45 minute download; though I do have a pretty good connection here...

chacon101 · Apr 8, 2008

For us complete newbs here, can you give a brief overview of what to do with this?

Thanks

SuperStretch18 · Apr 8, 2008

It's to test frequency response on your stereo, so you can adjust crossover points and fine tune your sound system. It's not much use for a stock stereo, but if you have aftermarket amps or better yet a fully active crossover set-up, you can really fine-tune your audio system with this!

ehidle · Apr 9, 2008

SuperStretch18 said:
It's to test frequency response on your stereo, so you can adjust crossover points and fine tune your sound system. It's not much use for a stock stereo, but if you have aftermarket amps or better yet a fully active crossover set-up, you can really fine-tune your audio system with this!

Stretch, I used this to develop an EQ profile so that when I burn CDs, I can adjust the EQ so I can actually stand to listen to them on that horrible stock 6CD stereo they put in it. I can get reasonably close to flat, although the stereo still wants to blow the windows out with the 100-200Hz bass it's tuned for.

I know it's a personal gripe, but I think it just shows arrogance and cluelessness for the designers to assume everyone wants ridiculous bass and nothing else, and to furthermore not give any meaningful adjustment mechanism to the user.

(braindead

puelly · Apr 11, 2008

ehidle said:
Stretch, I used this to develop an EQ profile so that when I burn CDs, I can adjust the EQ so I can actually stand to listen to them on that horrible stock 6CD stereo they put in it. I can get reasonably close to flat, although the stereo still wants to blow the windows out with the 100-200Hz bass it's tuned for.

I know it's a personal gripe, but I think it just shows arrogance and cluelessness for the designers to assume everyone wants ridiculous bass and nothing else, and to furthermore not give any meaningful adjustment mechanism to the user.

(braindead

That's an interesting way to do things. What do you use to burn your CDs and how exactly did you make the EQ profile. I am abit curious. I wonder if I can get abit more out of the stock system before I make any changes.

ehidle · Apr 11, 2008

puelly said:
That's an interesting way to do things. What do you use to burn your CDs and how exactly did you make the EQ profile. I am abit curious. I wonder if I can get abit more out of the stock system before I make any changes.

It's actually pretty painstaking. I used Ardour to actually create an equalized file that can then just be burned to CD like any other file. Ardour might be a bit much for the casual user. Audacity might do it as well, but I've never used it.

http://www.ardour.org (not for windows, sorry)
http://audacity.sourceforge.net (yes, for windows)

There may be CD burning software with EQ-on-the-fly built in... if you find something, let me know

edit: One other way is to just use your MP3 player that has a built-in EQ and plug it into the AUX port, if your MP3 player has a finely-grained EQ. Or, if your ripping software supports EQ (don't know of any that do offhand), you can rip direct to an equalized file.

ecniemann · Apr 16, 2008

Dude, cool link, I will dl this when I get home. I had a test CD from HSU Research for a HT sub, but the frequency increments are too large to really do anything with. I have a parametric EQ on my monoblock, so I should be able to flatten this with the test CD, correct? If I am to understand correctly, you also need to add a few decibels to the lower frequencys when testing with a SPL meter, right? I have a chart with this info (ie. how many db's to add at which frequency). So basically I can cut or boost as needed at respective peaks or troughs. My main question is what can I do for the frequency's above 100 Hz (my sub/component speaker crossover point) with this CD, since this is a passive crossover? Anything with the HU? I do have a 3 level (frequency) parametric EQ on my aftermarket HU as well for both bass and treble. Thanks.

ehidle · Apr 16, 2008

ecniemann said:
Dude, cool link, I will dl this when I get home. I had a test CD from HSU Research for a HT sub, but the frequency increments are too large to really do anything with. I have a parametric EQ on my monoblock, so I should be able to flatten this with the test CD, correct? If I am to understand correctly, you also need to add a few decibels to the lower frequencys when testing with a SPL meter, right? I have a chart with this info (ie. how many db's to add at which frequency). So basically I can cut or boost as needed at respective peaks or troughs. My main question is what can I do for the frequency's above 100 Hz (my sub/component speaker crossover point) with this CD, since this is a passive crossover? Anything with the HU? I do have a 3 level (frequency) parametric EQ on my aftermarket HU as well for both bass and treble. Thanks.

Yes, you need to compensate your measurements for the rolloff that occurs in both A and C weighted measurements.

So, if you use A-weighting on the sound meter, you will "hear" a flat response if you tune the stereo to a flat response on the meter.

My whole initiative here was because the HU has a terrible native sound curve and only a 2-band EQ. I can now equalize my CDs in software before I burn them, so at least I can get close to a flat-sounding curve in the car. So, I would say that if you want to flatten the HU, you'll have to resort to methods similar to those I am using.

Audio Test CD

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