How do you guys tune your car systems? Is it worth it?

Hey all, last year I built up my car’s sound system. I replaced all the speakers, added a sub, did some sound deadening, and upgraded everything with the best parts I could find—stuff like W7, VXi, K2’s, and more. I also paid over $300 for a professional tune.

The tune wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t sound right to me. It wasn’t what I expected for the money I spent.

The thing is, I have OCD, and that makes me obsess over stuff like this. So, I decided to get my own audio interface and XLR mic. I spent a lot of time watching YouTube and reading on forums… but it paid off!

After tuning the system myself, I feel like it sounds way better than I ever expected. It actually sounds better than I thought it could.

The mic and interface together cost me about $60. My advice is, get a DSP and XLR/interface for tuning while you build your system. It’ll save you money in the long run, as your speakers might have way more potential if tuned properly.

There are so many things that tuning can do.

Yep, I did mine too after the shop messed it up. I live close to Parts Express, so I grabbed a mic and borrowed a laptop. Next time I’m keeping my car battery on a charger though.

You paid $300 for a tune and didn’t like it?

I just dropped a DSP amp, new speakers, and a sub into my M3 last week. I left it at the shop for a tune this morning. If it doesn’t sound good when I pick it up, I’m going to be pissed. My local shop’s cheaper though, it’s only about $140 USD.