07/08/2026
A client brought us a Jeep Rubicon because the rear speakers sounded terrible. He had already paid another shop to install a DSP because he was told, “A DSP will fix everything.”
The problem?
The DSP wasn’t actually tuned.
After inspecting the system, we found it was simply being used as a pass through. None of the crossover settings, equalization, time alignment, output levels, or other critical adjustments had been configured.
Unfortunately, this isn’t unusual.
We’ve probably inspected 50 to 60 vehicles over the last few years that had DSPs installed by other shops. Not a single one had been properly tuned. Not one.
A DSP is one of the most powerful tools you can add to a car audio system, but only if the person installing it knows how to use it. Simply plugging it in does not improve the sound. Proper tuning is what unlocks its full potential.
There are very few shops in Florida that truly understand how to measure, configure, and tune a DSP correctly. It takes specialized equipment, training, experience, and many hours of practice.
If you’re shopping for a car audio installer, ask these questions before you spend your money:
-What measurement microphone do you use?
-What software do you use to tune a DSP?
-What target curve do you use?
-Do you use RTA measurements or tune only by ear?
-How do you set crossover frequencies and slopes?
-How do you determine speaker polarity?
-Do you use time alignment? How do you calculate it?
-How do you set gain structure throughout the system?
-How do you verify frequency response after tuning?
-Do you save and provide the DSP tune file?
-Approximately how many DSPs have you personally tuned?
If they struggle to answer those questions, there’s a good chance they’re not actually tuning the DSP.
At Audio Designs & Custom Graphics, we don’t just install equipment. We take the time to configure and tune every system so it performs the way it was designed to.
The hardware gets you potential.
The tuning delivers the experience.
