[jlr]

My new 330i has the 5.1 stereo option. When I got the car I adjusted the base and trebble to higher levels but the stereo was noting special. A few days later I found equilzer setttings for the stero. When making the settings the frequencey chart displayed should look like a
V. The base and trebble (on the two ends of the spectrum), shold be
set hight while the center frequencys need to be at mid range. My
car came from the factory in the N postion. The comlplete oposite of what it sould be. I changed it to the v position and it sounds 100 percent bettter. Better than any sound system I have ever heard. When you get to the EQ mode the display should look like the below




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[RichReg]

Yep, you're absolutely correct.
The settings from the factory are flat, but of course you can adjust them to your own preferences, and then it WILL sound a whole lot better.

[MonacoBlueNJ]

In a normal stereo, the EQ flat should sound the best. My e90 has yet to arrive, so I can't really comment specifically on this stereo. Usually your radio will sound 100x better if you just leave the EQ alone.

[Jeffelite]

My salesman set the EQ for me, thankfully, and he did it exactly how you described. I think it sounds quite impressive.

[Oz]

I didn't play with the EQ yet but I will definitely try this. I was wondering why the system didn't have presets for it..Thanks for the idea

Would you be able to take a picture of the EQ on your car?

[jlr]

MonacoBlueNJ,

The EQ is not to be flat. If it is flat it means you might as well not have it. I can tell you if you change it from a flat to a V your sound
quality will go up 1000000000000 percent. If you set you EQ and base. By changing the settingns my car stereo I went from a AM radio
to a rock concert on wheels.

[RichReg]

Not to mention the wonders that it does for CD & Mp3 playback!

[Squawks]

It depends on preferences.

If you have really good speakers, which I do at home for my home theater system and my music/entertainment/DJ system, then a flat EQ is all you need. Anything else is just defiling the music.

If you have crappy speakers, then an EQ will help but obviously, that depends on every single listener's preferences. Some people like bright speakers, some like it more flat and natural.

Personally, I don't like setting the EQ to the cliche style mentioned by the OP.

I personally know how my music should sound like, and I definitely don't like to adulterate it with an EQ that makes it sound more unnatural. Of course, some people don't care if it's natural or unnatural as long as it suits them. Some people are a little deaf when it comes to low/high notes, and thus, they like to put it on the cliche'd V EQ.

The V EQ is so common and cliche'd, in fact, that most stereo head units already have a setting preset for that - it's called the 'loud' setting. While not related to amplification of the signal, all it really does is utilized the V EQ.

[MonacoBlueNJ]

I drove with a $3000 sound quality system in my previous car...my head unit(Clarion HX-D10) had no amplification, only preouts. It also had EQ bypass, which was a pure unfiltered signal to the amps. If properly set up(signal paths and crossovers, wattage, placement, etc.) you should need no EQ. In fact, an EQ, even if left flat, would just further complicate and "muddy" the sound. Your "V" may sound good to you, and if it does, enjoy it and be thankful you aren't ijnto the expensive audio hobby.

[Squawks]

Well said, Monaco.

Most folks only deal with stock/crappy amplifiers and thus rely heavily on EQs.

[MonacoBlueNJ]

Yeah, it got too expensive for me though. Audio, especially car audio, is like an addiction-always uprading and its never quite "enough." The worst part is, $10K in stereo equipment in a car will never sound as good as a crappy $500 home setup. I've learned to live with my home setup and stock speakers in my car and spend money in other places.