DSP Tuning & Sound Quality Installs

Most car audio systems don’t sound bad because of the speakers. They sound bad because nobody set them up properly. A DSP (digital signal processor) is what fixes that, and tuning it well is what we’re known for.

Gavin, who designs, fits and tunes every system here, started out competing in EMMA UK sound quality with a car he built himself, winning his class league championship in his debut year. He has since gone on to produce more UK championship-winning cars for our customers, and had a hand in helping many other successful vehicles. Thirteen years and hundreds of systems later, customers travel to us from as far away as Newcastle, Somerset and South Wales to have their car tuned.

What DSP tuning actually does

Inside a car, every speaker sits a different distance from your ears, and the cabin itself (glass, leather, plastic, odd shapes) colours the sound. No speaker can fix that on its own. A properly tuned DSP does three jobs:

• Time alignment. Delays the closer speakers so the sound from every speaker reaches you at the same moment. The stage moves up onto the dash in front of you instead of coming from your knees.
• Equalisation. Corrects the frequency response for your car’s cabin, measured in the car, not guessed by ear.
• Crossovers. Makes each speaker play only the range it’s good at, so the system plays cleaner and louder without strain.

A well-tuned system with mid-range speakers will usually beat an untuned system with expensive ones.

Treating the doors helps too. Our sound deadening stops the door panels flexing and buzzing, so the mid-bass you’ve tuned for actually reaches you.

Our three levels of tune

• Stage 1: shakedown tune. Typically 1 to 1.5 hours. We test the whole system and find any wiring, install or setup faults before going further.
• Stage 2: measured EQ. Typically another 1 to 2 hours on top of Stage 1, using the processor’s own measurement software (Helix PC-Tool, for example) to set EQ, time alignment and crossovers properly.
• Stage 3: competition tune. Usually 4 to 6 hours, using REW and Smaart measurement software. Best suited to fully custom 3-way front systems with bespoke speaker locations. For a straightforward 2-way system we’ll tell you honestly it isn’t the best use of your money.

Processors we tune

Audiotec Fischer (Helix, Match and Brax), Morel and Vibe DSPs and DSP amplifiers.

Bought a DSP and fitted it yourself?

No problem. Book the car in and we’ll tune it. If you buy the DSP from us, we can also load a safe starting setting before it ships, if you’re happy to wait a couple of extra days. We don’t offer remote tuning; a proper tune needs the car here and a microphone in the seat.

What it costs

Tuning is charged by the hour (prices include VAT), because the time depends on how complex the system is:

• £110 per hour for systems we didn’t supply.
• £90 per hour if you bought your equipment from us.

We’ll confirm how long your system needs before we start, so there are no surprises.

Bought a DSP amplifier from us? Your Stage 1 tune is free. Every DSP amplifier we sell comes with a free Stage 1 shakedown tune when you bring the car to us.

Travelling to us

Our workshop is in Sutton-in-Ashfield, near Mansfield, a short hop from the M1 (junction 28). Plenty of our tuning customers make a day of it:

• Sutton-in-Ashfield and Mansfield town centres are a short Uber ride away.
• East Midlands Designer Outlet is just down the road at junction 28 if you fancy some shopping while we work.
• Local cafes nearby for a coffee and something to eat.

Leave the car with us, enjoy the day, and come back to a system that finally sounds the way it should.

FAQs

Do I need a DSP? If you want real sound quality in a car, almost always yes. Most modern cars already have one in the factory amplifier, but its tune is a compromise to make the system sound reasonable in every seat, not to create an excellent experience for the driver.

Can you tune my existing system? Yes, as long as it has a DSP or DSP amplifier we can connect to.

How long does it take? From about an hour for a shakedown to a full day for a competition tune. We’ll tell you before you book.

Will I need a retune later? Sometimes, after the speakers run in, after a car software update resets the audio, or when parts are added.

Get in touch to book your tune

Speak With a Car Audio Specialist