A.4 Auto EQ Optimization Tips
By using the System Setup Wizard, crossover parameters, post-crossover parametric EQ and, in some cases, driver alignment delay settings are set to match your system. The Auto-EQ can be used to adjust your system to compensate for room effects, and adjust the response of the entire system to your liking. After allowing Auto EQ to “pink the room” your system will sound tighter. The low end will have more definition, the mids will be more intelligible, and the highs can be tamed. Here are two things to look for to get the best performance from the Auto-EQ.
Look out for Modes
Some speaker and RTA microphone positions will result in certain frequencies canceling out. The resulting modes can not be corrected with equalization. The Auto-EQ does not detect modes in the frequency response, so may try to boost a band to compensate for a mode without positive affect. You may be able to see if a lifted band is a mode by manually adjusting a lifted EQ band - if no change in the EQ is perceived, you probably are seeing a mode in your frequency response. To reduce the effect of this mode, try different microphone positions and adjust the location of your speakers, then re-pink the room for a more effectual Graphic EQ adjustment.
Adjust Crossover Output Gains (gain structure)
If your system setup or the response you have chosen results in the Auto-EQ lifting or cutting a number of consecutive bands of the Graphic EQ, you can adjust the level of the associated crossover output gain to match the average boost or cut in the graphic EQ and re-pink your room. This time, the adjustment of the Graphic EQ bands will be less “heavy handed” and the system will sound better having fewer phase problems and a lower noise floor than a more aggressively adjusted Graphic EQ. With the rest of your system properly adjusted, the Auto EQ can compensate for room resonance and adjust to suit personal taste without large excursions in the Graphic EQ bands.
Note: If using a ‘Custom’ configuration, meaning any of your amplifiers/and or speakers were not selectable in the System Setup Wizard, it is recommend to properly tune some of the parameters within the DriveRack 260 before using the Auto EQ feature. Failing to do so could yield undesirable results. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the parameters contained in the following effect modules should be tuned in the DriveRack 260 before using the Auto EQ feature:
•Crossover
•Output Limiters (including calibrating the systems gain structure - see Appendix A.10)
•Output PEQ(s), if applicable
•Output Delay(s) (driver alignment delay), if applicable
