Signal processing isn’t new in car audio. Back in the 80s, we had standalone equalizers, crossovers, and even phase-shifting devices—all designed to help installers optimize car audio systems. In recent times VIBE Audio design focus has shifted from analog to digital audio signal processing. Today, VIBE Audio is developing numerous standalone digital signal processors, and even more amplifiers with built-in DSP technology.
Let’s explore why you might want to consider adding a VIBE DSP to your car audio system. We’ll also delve into what a car DSP amplifier is to help you navigate what is right for you.
What Does a Car DSP Amplifier Do?
In essence, a car DSP amplifier utilizes a microcontroller specifically designed to manipulate audio signals in the digital domain. Most DSPs on the market include crossovers, equalizers, and signal delay features that can be used to fine-tune your sound system’s performance. This translates to a simpler installation process for you or your installer and effortless control via software UI.
Should I Get a DSP?
If your car audio system already has an amplifier, then a digital signal processor can significantly enhance your listening experience. If you want a simple installation and no plans for additional amplifiers, then a Amplifier DSP is the right choice for you. Cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats, and even ATVs all have unique reflections and resonances that alter the sound reaching your ears. Listening to a speaker in a showroom is vastly different from hearing that same speaker in your vehicle. Why? Because the environment’s acoustics differ.
VIBE has all bases covered with a range of simple plug and play amplifier DSP’s and more complex stand alone DSP’s when you need to build something to a higher audio file standard. 
Car Audio System Equalization
At its core, a DSP can be considered a sophisticated yet extremely precise tone control. When you combine a processor’s features with measurements from a real-time analyzer, a qualified technician can dramatically improve your audio system’s tonal balance and accuracy. Vocals and instruments will sound more lifelike, replicating the presence of a live performance rather than a recording. Expert technicians can leverage stereo equalization to further elevate the realism of your listening experience by enhancing the staging and imaging characteristics of your sound system.
The Importance of Accurate Crossovers
No single speaker can accurately reproduce the entire audible frequency range and deliver sufficient output to create an enjoyable listening experience. Consequently, car audio systems comprise multiple speakers, each designed to operate within a specific frequency range. Tweeters handle high-frequency information, typically above 3kHz. Midrange drivers manage the majority of vocals and operate between 100Hz and 3kHz. Woofers and subwoofers handle low-frequency information below 100Hz. A driver’s suitability for a particular frequency range depends on its size and design.
Ideally, when designing a car audio system, we dedicate an amplifier channel to each speaker. In a three-way system, for instance, we could utilize a five- or six-channel amplifier to power the woofers, midrange speakers, and tweeters. The crossover functions incorporated into a DSP are responsible for dividing the audio signal into frequency bands suitable for each of these speakers.
The Benefit of Signal Delay
Let’s revisit our three-way system example. In many systems, the tweeters are mounted at the top of the door, on the A-pillar, in the sail panel, or in the dash. Midrange drivers in such a system are typically 6.5 inches in diameter and installed in the factory door location. Finally, woofers typically require an enclosure and are mounted in the trunk, cargo area, or under the seat. The distance between the listener and each speaker varies, as does the difference between the left and right speakers. These variations in path length cause us to hear the closest speaker first, tricking our brains into perceiving it as the primary source of the sound.
The signal delay capabilities of a DSP empower the installer or technician tuning the system to delay the signal sent to the closest speakers. This ensures that sound from all speakers reaches the listening position simultaneously. When executed correctly, the music in your vehicle seems to emanate from a space between the speakers, rather than from the speakers themselves. If your speakers are installed in optimal locations, this virtual soundstage should appear to span the width of the windshield and precisely place each performer and instrument within this soundscape.
What Else Can a DSP Do?
The majority of DSPs available on the market offer the ability to store multiple system configurations, VIBE offers 10 presets. If you desire a customised sound for a single-seat listening position and another for when you have friends in your car, the tuning technician can create those. If you have a convertible, you might want a separate audio system configuration specifically for when the top is down.
Many processors feature multiple inputs, and all VIBE DSP products include Bluetooth streaming as an additional audio source. If you have a factory-installed source unit but want the option to stream music from a media player or smartphone, you can set the VIBE DSP to directly link to your device.
Pretty much all of the DSP devices on the market include crossovers, equalizers and signal delay features that we can use to optimize the performance of your sound system. At VIBE we make it easy to do, saving time on complex installations and easy to control by software via IOS, Android or Windows.
Check out the DSP on your mobile!
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/vibe-dsp/id1669128332
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tigerapp.vibe_application&hl=en_ZA