Running 1.03 here is my system config.

Empeg
ppi 4400.2 running
jl xr 5.25 components up front - running stereo
jl stealthboxes running bridged parallel 2 8 ohm 8" subs.

Now then....

First off, why does the eq cause popping between a 4 ch and 2 ch eq setting. it is bad, i fear it is going to crunch my speakers.

Second off, why is it that when you set the eq setting to 4 ch it has NO driving strength. What i mean is this. I have a PERFECT eq setting in 2 channel, my system sounds very full and nicely balanced. I figured I wanted to drop some of the low end off the front, so i went into 4 ch mode.. rather then limiting the x-over anymore then 85 Hz on the amp itself. When i went into 4 ch mode, i set the front correctly, with fade only to the front, so i could hear it clearly.

next i faded all the way to the rear, to set the sub responsiveness. Now then, herein lies teh problem.

In 4 channel mode the ability to "boost" the levels seems really low. compared to 2 channel mode. My amp has 4 channels, and has not been touched, this is simply in the eq settings.

Bare in mind also i have gone from a flat 2 ch eq setting to a flat 4 ch eq setting with similar results. It just seems so underdriven. What is the deal with this? FWIW the same scenario occured with the old speakers in the rear, prior to the JL stealthboxes. I have pretty much narrowed that it isn't the amp, speakers, or the 2 ch setting in the eq, only the 4 ch.

Does anyone have a similar experience? I would love to know why this is happening.

Please note that, in general, the EQ should be used to cut frequencies, not boost them.

Although it's possible to boost frequencies, since the EQ is digital, you might clip the signal if you boost. For instance, a 0db waveform, boosted with the EQ past 0db, played at 0db volume level, will enter the digital clipping realm. This is exacerbated if you throw loudness into the equation. In practice, this won't happen too often, but the more you boost the frequencies, the more of a chance this will happen.

But anyway, down to your specific question about the frequencies: I think you simply need to adjust the Q of the bands you're trying to boost. Widen the bandwidth of the boosted bands (reduce the Q) and I think it'll do what you're expecting it to do.

Before you read any further, make sure to check out the FAQ entry on "Q" and the equalizer...

Okay, my theory is that the 4-channel version of the equalizer might be using the same algorithm to decide the automatic Q width of each band as the 2-channel version. Resulting in too-narrow bandwith if you boost it very far off-center.

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Tony Fabris

Ahhhh.. that sounds about right.

I was boosting with the eq in realms in which i feel comfortable, it helps me to keep a little load off my amp while still maintaining a clean signal. I do acknowledge your point about clipping, but haven't found it to be a problem, perhaps due to my particular setup. I will read the q in the faq and get back to you, however your analogy seems correct, that the proportion may be less.

Thanks tony.

A small somewhat offtopic question: how good are the stealthboxes? I'm very interested in gettting one for my Golf, and regain some of my needed trunk space, but never came across anyone who had one. What's your opinion? do they successfully replace more traditional-made subs?

well a few things,

in the GTI and Golf it is 1 10" in my m3 it is 2 8"

i think the 10 probably hits a little louder.

That said, if you are not a "bass head" yah, they are great.

if you are used to a 10"s or 2 12"s and 300-500 watts, then no.

I am pushing about 200 watts to the 2 8"s right now and i will say this.. i can't believe how much frequenzy response they got out of them. they have a great range.. so far i am very happy. My only prob is that since i bridged teh rear channel of my ppi i can't gain up too much.. when i do they HIT HARD, really hard, and LOW, i am stunned they can get that low, it is 2 8"s in an infinite baffle setup. So to answer your question, they are great for sq, and sound great... but i doubt they = a custom box with 2 10"s then again, i didn't want neighbour waking sonic death boom rattle your heart out of your chest bass, although i CAN achieve it with the stealthboxes, i would have to run more power.

Check out vwvortex.com a lot of guys over there have them

Let me finish by saying, if the 8"s have this kind of response in an infinite baffle setup, i would imagine the 1 10" in the spare well would sound PHENOMENAL.