S677 HiFi System Professional DSP Equalizer Settings (Frequency Tested)

[werdn]

Hello all,

For a loooong while, I have been unsatisfied with the online postings of EQ and Treble/Base settings in the HiFi system for our E70 X5's. Something just does not sound right to me (self proclaimed enthusiast audiophile LOL). The base seems muddled and over done on some places, and wrongly emphasized mids, and overbearing high frequencies. But I was too lazy to self correct it.

Today, I took my time to sample the frequency response of my 2007 E70 X5 4.8, and I present you the optimal settings modeled after the Harman House Curve (if you do not know what it is, I suggest you look it up).


TLDR:

Treble: 0
Bass: -4

100hz: -3 (-2 if you want a bit more bass)
200hz: +3
500hz: +1
1000hz: +5
2000hz: +3
5000hz: 0
10,000hz: -3

Surround: Stereo

Sunroof cover: Closed


Methodologies:

I used an individually factory calibrated microphone (UMIK-1) with Room EQ Wizard (REW) to preform my frequency response samples. Total of 8 samples with many adjustments in between to get the final audio settings. Each sample consists of 3 slightly varying measurements from the front two seats, rear 3 seats, and center console area.



Above, the original sampled frequency response (average) curve. I took three slightly varying measurements from each location at ear height. The locations being: drivers seat, front passenger, front center console, and rear left-center-right seats. As you can see, there are basically two lines. The higher curves are from the front, and the lower curves at around 50hz is from the rear seats. I think this has to do with the balance/fader settings (which I did not touch). I just averaged the two in my settings.



You can see that for the original frequency response curve, REW suggests reducing the heavy, heavy bass in the factory tuning, and the higher frequencies. We can conclude from this original graph that we need to reduce the bass either in the EQ or in the treble/bass settings, and mildly reduce the higher frequencies.



Above is the 8th iteration of the frequency curve with treble, bass, and the equalizer edited. I think this is the closest I can get the frequency response to be a clone of the Harman House Curve. Setting the settings to my settings, the sound is very balanced. If some extra lower down bass is required, you can set the 100hz to -1.

If you look at the final frequency response curve, you can see that there is a peak at 40-50hz. This seems to be a characteristic that cannot be rid of. Maybe this is due to limitations of the 'room'.

The overall sound with the above settings is very clear, I tested this with various CD's, and Apple Music's High Res-Lossless Audio. The bass is balanced with the high frequencies.

Let me know if you have any questions, I am open ears. I hope this helps. I am not sure if later LCI models and x5M with the top speakers use the same set up. Also, it should also be noted that all speakers from the factory may have some variations.


Misc Pics:

View post on imgur.com

*testing done with pink noise at ~75.0dB*

[robinasu]

Nice work. Is the recommendation to set:

Treble: 0
Bass: -4

OR

100hz: -2 (-1 if you want a bit more bass)
200hz: +3
500hz: +1
1000hz: +4
2000hz: +3
5000hz: 0
10,000hz: -3

Or, do we set:

Treble: 0
Bass: -4

AND

100hz: -2 (-1 if you want a bit more bass)
200hz: +3
500hz: +1
1000hz: +4
2000hz: +3
5000hz: 0
10,000hz: -3

[werdn]

Originally Posted by robinasu

Nice work. Is the recommendation to set:

Treble: 0
Bass: -4

AND

100hz: -2 (-1 if you want a bit more bass)
200hz: +3
500hz: +1
1000hz: +4
2000hz: +3
5000hz: 0
10,000hz: -3

Thanks! It is both. The -4 on the bass largely suppresses the surplus bass in the sub 150hz frequency range.

And a correction I made for 100hz and 1000hz due to miscounting, it is -3 (-2 if you want more bass and less Harman curve strict). +5 for 1000hz (previously +4).

If this is too neutral for you, you can slowly increase the 100hz and 200hz frequencies. I do not suggest increasing the '-4 bass' setting as that muddles a bunch of mid to low frequencies.

And Stereo for surround settings.

[robinasu]

Thanks, I will give it a try. I probably will like it as I set the EQ to be neutral to my ear, so I am curious to hear this. Will report back.

[SlowX6M]

Thank you for this, I always turned the bass down a few notches just by ear, never messed with the eq. I have B&W speakers and sub swapped in.

[robinasu]

Sounds good! I was grooving out for sure. Thanks for posting.

[werdn]

Originally Posted by robinasu

Sounds good! I was grooving out for sure. Thanks for posting.

Np, glad it sounded good

[-negrito-]

Just tried this setting and it sounds amazing. I did raise 100hz a little. I like bass.

Thanks

[RL18]

Nice work!

Depending on the genre of music you listen to there is likely a lot of musical bass energy in that range. No matter how I tune with pink noise there will always be peaks, it’s just how the music was recorded. Also could be the underseat location or just the interior, although my underseats have been cut off at 80hz for awhile now. My sub in the trunk is from 20hz-70hz. Sound deadening might be worth looking into also. I’ve done a lot of it and I still need to do quite a bit more, but it helps a lot with unwanted lowend frequency energy.

I need to get me one of those microphones. I’m currently making a custom crossover for the b&w 4” midranges and some morel mt120n tweeters and that would really be nice for testing purposes.

[RL18]

FYI cabin gain starts at about 56hz in our x5s, which is most likely the reason for the peak in the bass. Then it drops off by about 40hz because the underseats lose their oomph by then.