

Of course, speakers can have a varying range of settings that dictate the sound that comes out. In a nutshell, getting familiar with equalization opens a new door to controlling the sound you hear. Similarly, if you want to isolate the vocals a little bit, you can enhance the frequency ranges (mid-high) corresponding to that. If you want the bass in your tracks to punch through, you have the option of boosting the volume of lower frequency ranges. Without getting too specific, equalization technology grew and was added to constantly, with variance in design and functionality being a running theme.įor music specifically, EQ helps you adjust the sounds you want to hear most. The first equalizer to use slide controls-the type that you can find in your stereo-wasn’t developed until decades later. They worked over broader frequency ranges than we are used to today, but soon enough systems with variable frequency ranges were introduced and implemented. Soon enough, they began to be equipped with frequency filters, which included basic bass and treble controls. In the 1920s, during the rise of radio broadcasting, audio electronic equipment was used heavily in recording. The concept of EQ was utilized well before the first equalizer was properly introduced in 1971. EQ allows you to modify the volume of these specific ranges to suit your preferences. Particularly, the sounds our ears are more sensitive to (violin, for example) lie in the mid-high frequency ranges. To put it simply, EQ breaks up sound into several frequency ranges, starting with the bass as the lowest and percussion as the highest, with a myriad of other sounds in between. Truth be told, it’s a pretty useless tool if you’re not already familiar with it. You might have seen EQ in your settings before, be it on your phone or your stereo display. It might sound complicated at first, but the concept is fairly intuitive and will help you feel like a DJ when you’re on the road. Tweaking your EQ allows you to modify the volume of a particular frequency range-typically the lowest range for bass-so all the instruments are loud and clear.īefore we can talk about how exactly you can tweak your stereo settings to bring the best out in your music, it’s helpful to first familiarize yourself with what EQ is and how it works. Here’s an example of a typical situation where tweaking your EQ is a good idea: imagine that you’re listening to a song that is rich in bass, but that particular aspect seems slightly muted when you’re in the car. This feature is rarely used, but it can be the difference on the path to full, rich sound.Ĭar stereos are more versatile than people might think-they simply need to be set up properly first. Usually, it means your EQ settings aren’t completely optimized and need to be fine-tuned. You might notice your music sounding a tad different when it’s blaring through your car speakers as opposed to through your headphones or speakers at home. One of the hidden gems of many car stereos is the equalizer (EQ).
