EQ settings on your radio?

It will depend on your ears - which could well depend on your age.

Also the type of music you listen to. Classical music is best with a full frequency range - if our ears can handle it. Voice PODCASTS are terrible with too much bass. So, depends on what I'm listening to, I adjust the bass. On my old-fashioned stereo, there was often a single knob to adjust bass/treble - but PRIUS insists you press at least 7,549½ buttons to get there - OK, slight exaggeration - I think that's the number to adjust the clock.

As we age, our high frequency deafness increases generally - so in some cases we try to boost the treble to hear what we can't hear. But other people just can't, so boost the bass so they can at least hear something. All of which frustrates the grandchildren sitting in the car who have fantastic frequency range!!!

 

Definitely agree.

I normally leave equalizers flat. But this Prius is an exception, because I found both SiriusXM and FM-HD programs that seemed to have seriously boosted bass, triggering convulsions in my ears. (No problem with regular FM or my music files on USB.) I'd experienced this occasionally for decades with certain too-loud deep tones, from machinery, other people's snoring, and the seriously over-amplified rattletrap 'music ' noise from some adjacent cars, but never ever from my own music devices. So I had to turn this Prius' bass way down to stop it.

FWIW, with this ear problem, I just don't do sub-woofers.

 

On the odd occasion I plug in my MP3 player - I have to adjust the settings, haven't for a while, but it's usually a voice PODCAST, and the bass is too emphasised. But then - it could be my cheap MP3 players (got 3) which I normally listen through cheap ear-buds.

 

All depends.
Your hearing, the mix of the song, the quality of the recording.
As for a sweet spot....
I'd start with balance and fade.
A little more fade from the front to the rear...IMO that my best advice.
Left or right, that depends upon your hearing or luggage in the car.
In my V, non Bose, it is a little bass boomy.
I typically have treble at max, bass one less than max and midrange 1 or 2 (sometimes 3) off the minimum.
I typically listen to hard rock, versus talk radio or classical or rap.
Again, all depends. I don't think there is an overall sweet spot for the variety of music and one's hearing variences.
Have fun.

 

I generally start with Mid on full, Bass and Treble low - and adjust from there. Bearing in mind that sitting in your garage is a bit different from driving on the Motorway, so while driving, might need further adjustments.

L/R Fr/Rr depends on whether you've got passengers. Most of the time, I'm alone, so will boost LEFT slightly to give me a good stereo balance. Before she went into care, I often had my elderly mother in my car, and she'd complain that her speaker was too loud (she didn't understand stereo - she thought it was my speaker and her speaker!!)

 

I went with an aftermarket head unit that has an actual equalizer. It is seriously night and day with the sound. I also sound deaden the doors which made the ride a tiny quieter which doesn’t force me to turn up radio on the highway.

 

Hello themassster, I'm curious about the rest of your system ? Did you replace the coaxials ? Did you add a subwoofer or amp somewhere ? I have, and after playing with aftermarket stereo systems for more than 30 years, I think my Prius might just have the best sounding system I have ever built ! Okay, not the loudest, but as for balance, and just general great sound, I am super happy with it And finally, I have such a system in my daily driver ! ....and not my truck, which is parked on the driveway 90% of the time anyway. I am working on that sound system again now too though. The Prius stereo job got me fired up again lol

 

Being a new dad, I can only do small projects piece by piece. I’ve added new infinity speakers and they are definitely an upgrade. Especially the 3.5” on the dash. My current project I’m currently handling is a compact alpine amplifier. I’ve tested the wiring without having the power go through firewall and it is another upgrade in sound. Next project is a compact amplifier under the seat.

 

Awesome I think people are especially surprised to hear a nice sound system in a Prius, since even the upgraded system doesn't have a subwoofer. Of course where theirs a will theirs a way
Keep at it one piece at a time. You will get there.

 

A good sound system doesn't need a sub-woofer.

I'd be a bit careful with a subwoofer in a RideShare - particularly with passengers with hearing loss - often older folk, but not necessarily. Personally, I've got Tinnitus, and also the high frequencies are missing - but the low frequencies are consequently accentuated.

 

..

 

I couldn't disagree more ! A good system absolutely has to have a subwoofer, even if just an efficient little 8" or even a properly set up 6".

I don't have to have crazy loud, stomach shaking bass all the time.... Although sometimes I like that too. I just hop in my truck for that

I feel like I can judge passengers really well with music. For most people, I have my volume set at 1 or 2 clicks out of.... Is it like 50 ?
College students are usually okay with 5 or 6... But then if I see them moving to the music, whistling, singing, etc, I'll ask them, hey are you into car audio ? Would you like a little demo ? I've done that 8 or 10 times in the 3 weeks I've had the system and they have all been really impressed. And voted my car best Uber stereo system

I also have several playlists now, with something for almost anyone.

 

I

Was having reception issues. Good now

Oh but about the tinnitus, I get that. But during normal situations, I keep my stereo just loud enough that you can make out the song if you listen closely... 1-3 depending on roadnoise.... in town or freeway.

 

Correction with my post above, I meant underseat subwoofer, not amplifier.

Although slightly derailing from OP, but could be still relevant/related, I have the underseat subwoofer in hand, have not installed it yet but have test fitted it. It is a cerwin Vega 10” and dimensions wise, due to the vents taking up the space under the seats, then I have to rotate it facing front back instead of left right. It does fit, but it doesn’t allow for the back passengers to have good leg room for that little extra extension people can place their foot under the front seats. Something to consider if someone wants to invest in a subwoofer. I sometimes like to fold down my seats and use every possible space to carry something large in the back so subwoofer in the back isn’t ideal for me. But I do think installing my subwoofer will help in filling the lower frequencies that is lacking for completion for my ultimate listening experience even after listening with my new amp.

 

But to bring this conversation back on track and after looking at the comments, my sound preference is a bit of bass, but with good vocals. The stock sound system is a bit poor which if you turn up the bass, it muffled the vocals. You turn up the treble and there is no bass. I was hugely frustrated which pushed me to upgrade my system. But my sweet spot before starting my upgrade process was having treble flat and bass with few notches up. But that is for my taste and even then, i was not impressed.