Ok I have scoured the internet and talked seemingly to every audio shop in my immediate area. So I am turning to the guys that know the G35 and audio systems best for opinions / help. This may be long winded but bare with me, there is a question in sight. First off my equips:

Head Unit: Stock Bose
Front Speakers: Focal Access 165 A1
Rear Speakers: Focal Access 165 CA1
Subs: 2x Eclipse SW6210 (12" DVC 4 ohm)
Sub Amp: MTX RFL600D
Component amp: Alpine MRP-F300
LOC: Peripheral

I replaced the Bose amp with the Alpine and installed an LOC as it did not accept the differential-balanced inputs. Here is my problem. I cannot for the life of me tune this system to make it sound as I know the music should sound. I have sound deadened the entire car so ambient noise isn't the issue of drowning out the nuances. To me it sounds as if my mids are missing or turned down really low. My wife and I have spent the last 3 nights tweaking and turning every **** we can to get this dialed in, starting from scratch all gains at zero and up with head unit levels all centered. Perfect example, Staind "Right here" sounds good at conversation level, but turned up when the distorted guitars come in all I hear is the guitar playing the solid chord (which should be background), I cant hear the "du-du-du-dudu" of the main riff and its not as thick and heavy as it should be. And so goes for the rest. Has anyone else had these issues of dialing in their systems? How did you fix it? One shop suggested a EQ processor by Memphis (16-6IX ~$200), is this recommended? Any information welcome and thanks in advance. Sorry again for the lengthy post.

 

first off you find a sound that you know really well it seems as though that staind song works for you.
Now what you do is turn DOWN the gain on the amps. so that they don't output anything. then you tune the fronts, generally what I recommend is not touching the levels on the deck (leave them at 0) and have the deck at 3/4 volume. then just tune the gain at the amp. just as it sounds like it is distorting back it off about 1/8th turn. then start tuning the subs. If your fronts are distorting at a low volume you may have to go to crossover and adjust them
When tuning a system with fronts rears and sub, I like to go fronts, sub then rears as the rear is just a filler

 

This is the way that I have been attempting to tune the system. I turn the deck to 22 and have all gains down and start from the bottom and go up, fronts then rear. But still playing music at say 15, the sound is good, all even. But going to 22 which is the jam out volume the mids just cant seem to keep up at all. Going beyond 22 to say 27 (very painful) it doesnt distort so I assume there is still enough power there to not be clipping the mids. A friend has offered the use of his EQ so that will be this weeks task. Appreciate the advice Troy, will post the results of the EQ addition.

 

when you're tuning do it at 22.
you may find that you have change your xover at the amp as well as the xover on the speaker.
Another thing is the peripheral LOC. depending if it's adjustable, you may have to turn down the lines on that to get a clear signal.
I'd suggest looking at the LOC before going to an eq. although are very good if you aren't getting the clear signal EQs are pretty useless

 

The LOC I have does have gain level adjustments on it. I did have them turned full on due to the low voltage signal coming from the headunit already and I didnt want to lower it further before going into the amp. This last tune attempt I did I adjusted those halfway and still same end result. What about by-passing the crossover for the component set up front? I am pretty sure the problem is the input signal overall and not the failure of Focal's equipment. This issue is frustrating as I have spent good money and lots of time on it, yet the end result is other than desirable. Once again thanks for the advice Troy, will attempt another tune-in using the method you described and if that doesnt work it's on to the AudioControl EQX. Will hear what happens.

 

try bumping up to a JL Cleansweep, Rockford 360 or something similar. I think it's your input that is killing your sound.

 

Well after much more tinkering the sound was still atrocious even with the EQX installed. Went to the audio store to for one, get a JL CleanSweep and two some advice. They assured me all I needed was to reinstall the Bose amp and then add a AudioControl LC6i and catch the signal post amp. Even brought the installer out and assured me this would do the trick. So I painfully came back home and stayed up until 3 a.m. getting that Bose amp back in and installing the LC6, only to find it still sounded the same, f'n horrid. Got tired of it, took it to them to tune. I have it back now and the sound is only slightly better, but still not good. At this point I have reached my frustration limit and am in total "F$%k it mode". Too much money wasted for high quality, sh$t sound. When the heat subsides, going back to full stock.

 

I find that factory radios are the major limiting factory in getting the most accurate sound out of good aftermarket stereo equipment. The manufacture will still sell cars even if the factory stereo sounds like crap. If you have the ability to change the radio, do so. You will get more depth and accuracy out of your music and generally have the ability to add more functionality (Sat, Ipod, Bluetooth, etc...) than you ever could with the factory without parts scattered across dashboard.

TroysG brings up a good point in the tuning of any system. This is the exact way I was taught to tune stereo 'systems' in my first high end shop. Most radio start clipping after 3/4 which is not easily noticable on a set of speakers. You amp that clipping on really good speakers and it is night and day! Front speakers are the most important in the car, with low end next and rears just so that the people in the back have something to hear.

It sucks that you have bought good equipment and are limited by the factroy radio. Time get an aftermarket radio to compliment the rest of your gear.

Remember, "All highs, no lows. Its got to be Bose!" tm.

 

Through blood, sweat and tears, my unwillingness to settle with this issue has paid off. I have fixed the problem! And here is how I did it...

The key here from what I can tell, is that Bose clips (or severely lowers) the mid range and low end to the front and rear speakers, and sends that info to the rear deck 'subwoofers' (the 6x9's). So if you are getting all your signals from your front and rears (pre or post Bose amp) you may be missing a huge chunk of the signal. Granted this is an assumption but my ears don't lie.

The fix was using the LC6i's summing feature to sum the front and subwoofer signals together to give you a flat signal for your amps. After doing this I noticed an immediate difference, it was incredible. The mids, which had been all but faint in the front and rear, are now there with full force. Did a complete re-tune from scratch, and....what the hell am I doing in the house? I am going for a long drive and rockin' that $hit!!!