RedMapleLeaf
Active member
There are many posts about upgrading the audio system in the LEAF, including adding new speakers. If you are not ready to go that far, there are a couple of things you can try if you use an iPhone for the source of music for the LEAF's audio system.
1. Use the "Small Speakers" setting on the EQ. This helps the bass response somewhat, and also helps to remove the nasty midrange peak the stock speakers seem to have. Actually, I would think most audio players have this type of simple "preformatted" eq's, not just the iPhone.
2. Try an EQ app. I've been using EQu from elephantcandy, but there are numerous EQ apps out there. The app is free, and you can play your playlists or songs through it. It is not as clean as using the iPhone's native Music app, which, when using bluetooth, simply turns on and off when the car or radio is turned on or off. With EQu, I have to "pause" music before I leave the car or the iPhone continues to play in my pocket. However, the benefits of being able to tailor the sound far outweighs the minor inconvenience.
Of course none of this works for the radio or CD player; it's only for the stuff coming from the iPhone/Player.
One thing to remember when using equalizers: Cutting is better than boosting. The ear does not detect a loss of frequencies as much as it detects a boost of a frequency band as unnatural. If you find that cutting offensive frequencies makes the overall volume level too low, simply turn up the volume to compensate.
Hopefully this is a simple and easy thing to do for many of you, before resorting to replacing speakers. I've actually found that the LEAF has quite a good amount of bass in the front door speakers, it's just that certain midrange frequencies are too overbearing, so taming them really helps. Also, simply turning the treble down on the audio system in the LEAF can help. I've used a real time analyzer and found that dialing back the Bass one notch and dialing down the treble 3 notches is a good start.
Of course having said all that, I too dream of better speakers and more power....
1. Use the "Small Speakers" setting on the EQ. This helps the bass response somewhat, and also helps to remove the nasty midrange peak the stock speakers seem to have. Actually, I would think most audio players have this type of simple "preformatted" eq's, not just the iPhone.
2. Try an EQ app. I've been using EQu from elephantcandy, but there are numerous EQ apps out there. The app is free, and you can play your playlists or songs through it. It is not as clean as using the iPhone's native Music app, which, when using bluetooth, simply turns on and off when the car or radio is turned on or off. With EQu, I have to "pause" music before I leave the car or the iPhone continues to play in my pocket. However, the benefits of being able to tailor the sound far outweighs the minor inconvenience.
Of course none of this works for the radio or CD player; it's only for the stuff coming from the iPhone/Player.
One thing to remember when using equalizers: Cutting is better than boosting. The ear does not detect a loss of frequencies as much as it detects a boost of a frequency band as unnatural. If you find that cutting offensive frequencies makes the overall volume level too low, simply turn up the volume to compensate.
Hopefully this is a simple and easy thing to do for many of you, before resorting to replacing speakers. I've actually found that the LEAF has quite a good amount of bass in the front door speakers, it's just that certain midrange frequencies are too overbearing, so taming them really helps. Also, simply turning the treble down on the audio system in the LEAF can help. I've used a real time analyzer and found that dialing back the Bass one notch and dialing down the treble 3 notches is a good start.
Of course having said all that, I too dream of better speakers and more power....