My current car has a rather strange speaker size arrangement. Currently, I am using an Android head unit sending sound to 6 speakers i.e.
- 2 x 3.5 inch coaxial speakers at the dashboard
- 2 x 6/9 coaxial speakers at the front door card
- 2 x 3.5 inch coaxial speakers at rear pillar (near to cargo door, it is an SUV).
- 1 Alpine active subwoofer at the cargo area

All of these speakers were already upgraded to JBL club series. After installing the speakers and subwoofer, I find the music too sharp and the bass is harsh (feels like not properly moderated, either too hard or too boomy...). The EQ in the Android head unit is a joke...

I am not planning to change to component speakers after already spending so much upgrading to same type/ size speaker but better brand. That leads me to considering amplified DSP (e.g. Alpine unit?). For my current set up, I am not sure if DSP will help and if 6 channel output is good enough?

In my mind, use 6 channel dsp to filter out high freq for coaxial at door card, and filter out low freq for smaller coaxial at dash and rear pillar… sort of ‘component’ style? Does it work that way?

I enjoyed good sound system but not too picky about it... e.g. I am happy with 50% of Volvo XC40 Harman Kardon level but don't have to go until Volvo XC60 B&W level.

Hope to hear your advice and suggestions.

This post has been edited by EddyHyip: Jun 6 2025, 06:38 PM

I can see why being 'too sharp' there are way too many high freq driver than usual (From each coaxial unit)

DSP is worth a try since changing speaker is not the idea and in your situation i would go for 8channel since the bass is harsh
2ch > dashboard
2ch > front door
2ch > rear pillar
Remaining channel > subwoofer

Dont like the idea of "alang2" since the decision is pursue dsp, might as well get as much control across entire ecosystem as possible. Then, after dsp, check again if JBL club series is too much of a "sharp nature" to one liking even after tuning. Only then it will tell is it really this series characteristic isn't your cup of tea.

frequency uneven. equalizer out of range. big possibility is phase clash.
u need to swap + / - during speaker installation. otherwise they are working against each other.

dont believe, just push fader to fully front or fully rear. each end will sounds fine. combine all = disaster

yes dsp would help. you can try the following

- 2 x 3.5 inch coaxial speakers at the dashboard > use dsp to cut off the low freq / bass
- 2 x 6/9 coaxial speakers at the front door card > use dsp to cut off high frequency / sharpness
- 2 x 3.5 inch coaxial speakers at rear pillar (near to cargo door, it is an SUV). > use ful range
- 1 Alpine active subwoofer at the cargo area > use dsp to cut off mid / high frequency

This post has been edited by error: Jul 22 2025, 01:08 PM