Carver DSP - Poor sub volume

Lofty · Post by **Lofty** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:59 pm

Hi I'm looking to solve the same issue I think.

My car has the pro hi fi with DSP options on the nav screen. However the sound quality is generally poor and there is hardly any bass at all. You can hear some very low frequency stuff when fading to rear, but in general all sub output sounds wooly and out of phase.

Are there some visual checks to do? Also is there a knack to opening the fuse box I can see behind the glove box?

Scaramanga · Post by **Scaramanga** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:11 pm

Mine is currently with a specialist who is running some checks. Debating whether to add an extra amp and swap the carver subs for some 8" shallow mount alternatives...

Lofty · Post by **Lofty** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:51 pm

In your opinion is the carver set up any good when it is working properly?

Scaramanga · Post by **Scaramanga** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:53 pm

I think it is good, but just a shame that the behind-seat subs don't seem to do anything...

DMike · Post by **DMike** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 7:20 pm

Could fading to rear channels be part of the issue? The carvers are fed from the front channels.

Scaramanga · Post by **Scaramanga** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:31 pm

Think they have a dedicated sub channel which is independent of the fader settings.

Lofty · Post by **Lofty** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 2:30 am

Had a look around my car this evening and found the Lear amp. Also found an Alpine KCA-420i (the cd changer had been removed and replaced with an iPod lead but I wasn't sure what it was connected to until now.)
Couldn't find much online regarding replacement amps - what do you guys do? Repair or go aftermarket?
On the intravee site it mentions needing the above with an Intravee II for iPod - I couldn't see any other box in there so guess you don't really need both and the Alpine box simply replaces the changer.

EDIT - Just found an intravee 2 tucked away in there too!

Lofty · Post by **Lofty** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 8:49 pm

Scaramanga did you have any luck with the specialist?

I took the grilles off the subs and found them to be working, and also that they are unaffected by the front/rear fader setting.
But still, most of the audible bass is coming from the front.

Scaramanga · Post by **Scaramanga** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:18 pm

Lofty wrote:Scaramanga did you have any luck with the specialist?

I took the grilles off the subs and found them to be working, and also that they are unaffected by the front/rear fader setting.
But still, most of the audible bass is coming from the front.

Currently away on holiday but he said that the signal was much better if he tapped into the front woofer channel.

I'm not necessarily keen on that as I would prefer to keep as stock as possible. Thinking of replacing the rears with 8" subs driven by a dedicated amp.

thecremeegg · Post by **thecremeegg** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 3:15 pm

I had the same issue - no bass even though it was turned up. I turned the bass slider all the way down then back up again and that fixed it!

Lofty · Post by **Lofty** » Sat May 14, 2016 1:24 pm

I found part of the problem with the sound on mine.

If I use a simple AUX in the sound is pretty clear, and even the bass sounds fine. The lead I have can't maintain a decent connection though which is annoying.

It's when I use the iPod kit that the sounds goes to sh!t!
The bass sounds out of phase, woofly and distorted, and the rest of the range sounds poor too, with a little distortion.

I am using an iPhone 6s with an apple lightning converter. (And of course doesn't charge either).

So I'm wondering if it is a limit of the iPod kit hardware or if it's faulty

SonnyA85 · Post by **SonnyA85** » Sat May 14, 2016 8:05 pm

Lofty wrote:I found part of the problem with the sound on mine.

If I use a simple AUX in the sound is pretty clear, and even the bass sounds fine. The lead I have can't maintain a decent connection though which is annoying.

It's when I use the iPod kit that the sounds goes to sh!t!
The bass sounds out of phase, woofly and distorted, and the rest of the range sounds poor too, with a little distortion.

I am using an iPhone 6s with an apple lightning converter. (And of course doesn't charge either).

So I'm wondering if it is a limit of the iPod kit hardware or if it's faulty

Limit of the kit I imagine.

I'm in the process of upgrading the DSP Carver in my system as the head unit was out of date 13 years ago never mind today. New head unit which means new amp needed too and 3 way crossovers and new wiring to handle the new amps load.

Costing me about £1K when you include installation costs too. I however will be looking to sell the old kit to recoup some of that.

THECATMAC · Post by **THECATMAC** » Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:46 am

Scaramanga wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2016 8:18 pm
Lofty wrote:Scaramanga did you have any luck with the specialist?

I took the grilles off the subs and found them to be working, and also that they are unaffected by the front/rear fader setting.
But still, most of the audible bass is coming from the front.
Currently away on holiday but he said that the signal was much better if he tapped into the front woofer channel.

I'm not necessarily keen on that as I would prefer to keep as stock as possible. Thinking of replacing the rears with 8" subs driven by a dedicated amp.

Scaramanga, how are the rear woofer speakers sounding now that they were tappped into the fronts? I get nothing out of the rears and it just pisses me off! I have tried everything I can and was thinking of going this route if it works. Crazy to have a couple good looking speakers there and no getting any sound. From what I have read they are identical speakers as the ones in the lower front, and I think they do a great job! Let me know if it is worth the trouble....

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