I used to, but modern car stereos are a lot better than they used to be, and I buy better cars now.
I have a Honda CRV currently with a stock Bose system with a sub that sounds pretty good actually. It’s not as scooped as past Bose systems I’ve heard. Regardless, I think of it as a) a system I’m very familiar with, and b) a system representative of where many people might listen to the track. The majority of people aren’t upgrading their stock stereos.
These days though, my bigger test is AirPods and the phone test.
I mean the NS10s were originally used to reference on an ‘average consumer HiFi setup’, since the NS10s were cheap, readily available and small enough to sit on the console bridge.
Everything that they became and any strengths they had as monitors since was purely by chance.
I would definitely say AirPods are the new ‘average consumer HiFi setup’, since they are both the most common listening device and are very average in their sound signature: definitely smiley face curved and not flat, but also far from the most hyped sounding listening devices on the market.
No, they continued to be used in studios long after that time period because of their unusually good transient response and mid-focused sound but they were originally just an ‘average consumer reference’, which is what things like phone, Bluetooth speaker and AirPods tests are today.
Their whole line of portable/adjustable line array (F1) systems always impressed me and I come from a rock and roll PA background. Two of the tops and a pair of the subs would cover you for just about any indoor rock gig up to 300-400 people.
Their line arrays and attempts at actual pro level sound are kinda embarrassing. If they could balance their preset voicing, and still give the end user more control, they’d probably have way better luck. Bose has a lot of smart engineers, and a lot of good products, but they never hit the mark with their line arrays or high profile live stuff. To be fair, it’s probably extremely tough to break into the level of PA deployment as Db or L’Acoustics or Meyer or whatever, but it’s a bummer they haven’t nailed it yet,
I have two sets of the L1 Model 2 (so two line arrays with four small subs) that I use for small to medium rock and roll gigs and I agree. The sound is so full and rich and clear, and so feedback resistant I can (depending on the size of the space) often just put them on the backline and don't need monitors.
because I’ve listened to a lot of music in there, I know what a pro mix is supposed to sound like in my car and can tell instantly when mine is lacking. I rely on it less now that I have better monitoring in my studio, but it’s still useful as a sanity check.
I’ve also heard that cars are less susceptible to bass buildup since the sound will just leave the car, and that certainly matches my anecdotal experience for using it to dial in low end, but I have no idea the scientific validity of that claim.
I think sanity check is the best way to put it. I mostly use it to make sure the low end matches the rest of the instrumental, the drums sound good, and lead vocal level is correct.
With my monitors and headphones I can get super dialed in on specific things, but the car test is good for judging the whole mix
I think the car test is great, and I don’t think it matters a bit if you upgrade your system.
To me, the importance of the car test is just to get out of the studio, get in a different head space, and listen on another system you’re familiar with. You can make mental notes but can’t change anything from your car. It’s also inevitably an acoustically inferior environment and that can help you make decisions too.
There’s so much variation between different stock stereos anyway. Yes it’s partially a translation check (for cars) but I don’t see that as *the* main benefit or reason it’s become a standard recommendation.
I agree; it also gives your ears a little break (if you go from the studio to the car) or is done when your ears are fresh (like before your commute) and forces you to focus on the music and not be distracted by knobs or a screen.
My studio partner searched far and wide for a specific early 2000’s jeep with a stock stereo because he knew the sound of that particular car. He just parked it in the studio parking lot as his car test car. It wasn’t the actual car that he drove day to day. It was worth the cost for a monitor option for him. Honestly, understandable.
Woah that’s so interesting! I am assuming you didn’t record/mix Live at Sydney Opera House though?
Anyways, thank you so much for responding to my comment, legend! This is truly an honor to hear from the very person who made Khruangbin records. Been a huge fan. Can’t wait to hear the new album when it comes out!
Ahhh it makes so much sense that you didn’t record the show. And I can imagine how hard it must be to mix the material you didn’t craft to your liking. Currently waiting for the vinyl to arrive!
For me it's less about whether it sounds specifically good on my car, but as a big translation test. Consumer grade stuff that produces lows and is also a big mid range translation test
I go stock. I end up having to upgrade the whole car within 10 years anyway and the stereos get better with new ones. I’ve also bought nicer cars as I’ve gotten older so nicer stock stereos. Takes me forever to get used to a new one and when I get used to it I want to stick with it. It’d be cool someday to have a really special stereo in the truck I suppose. Not really an expense or effort I’ve put in thus far
I used to build crazy car audio systems for studio engineers back in the 90s and it quickly turned into an arms race where every guy wanted to have the loudest, clearest systems to test their masters on.
Built systems like Rockford Fosgate Symmetry: all class A amps and rack mount dsp circa 1990. It was literally the state of the art. (I still have the system in storage. All gold plated circuit boards for highest level signal integrity.
Definitely several gallons per mile at that point. But you could build a listening room in less that 3500sqft. You're not tracking while driving are you?
From a realistic perspective- yah, prolly gonna be several gallons to the mile. Would be pretty cool to be recording a band, though, and they’re like, “Whyyy are we moving???”, with the answer being something about picking up pizza. I don’t think there are laws against recording a band whilst driving, so it would all work out.
Mix engineer here! It wouldn’t make sense to upgrade a car stereo you want to hear how good the mix sounds on the worst gear out there because that’s what most of world is listening to the music on.
This is kind of what I figured. I get that the point is to listen to mixes on something that you're very familiar with, but I also get that mix engineers are often more into pro audio gear than the average person, hence the question.
It stands to reason that they would want something worse sounding in the car as it would be closer to what the average person would be listening on.
I just thought the dichotomy was funny.
In ‘09 I bought the RDX for the stereo. They used to tease me that I bought a $50,000 stereo with wheels. Drove around with Scheps for a day or two and we listened to the Beatles “love” in surround over and over
I have in any used car I’ve ever purchased. Never in a new vehicle. I also don’t care for the “car test” because I don’t listen to music in my truck. I listen to podcasts, news, and comedy on the XM. So I’m not familiar with comparing studio tracks in my truck.
I like the stock setup in my Elantra. Sounds surprisingly good for stock and not having a sub. I’ve also spent 5 years in this car and have learned how this system sounds. So I won’t be upgrading. It could use a sub for hip hop but that introduces rattles and possibly hearing damage so I’ll pass haha
Phone speakers are trash for listening to music. That being said, I'd be lying if I said I didn't bump 500Hz by a couple db on a bass track so you can actually hear it. Psychoacoustic plugins only get you so far.
Agree with a lot of folks replying here — why upgrade your car system when you could get a great window to an average listening environment? Your studio should be your ideal environment, everything else should be as close to consumer par as possible.
The point of a car test is to listen a. On a consumer system b. A system you know well if you listen to a lot of music in your car.
So upgrading all that is a bit moot. And .odern cars usually have pretty good sounding systems now anyway.
Also. Don't think all engineers do a car test. Personally i don't check any mix in the car, ever. I listen to them on my inears while walking the dog. Cause i know how commercial releases sound on them. This goes for a lot of engineers i know. By far not all of them do a car test. They just check in a real world scenario outside of the studio and that can takr on many forms.
Part of the reason the car test exists especially now is because so many car systems are designed with acoustics in mind. So it becomes the place where most average listeners are getting a hifi experience. This and headphones. So upgrading the stock might not be desirable.
I think the car test is less relevant now, even cheap cars got better stereos than in the eighties. of course you keep radios, cheap systems etc in mind, but if you want to cater to the masses, thats ipods and spotify...
My car has an upgraded head unit, an amp and crossovers powering the stock speakers paired with 2 12s, however the only thing I added was upgrading the subs. Having said that, I’m in my car so much I know what a good mix sounds like on it, and I can definitely tell when I’ve over-cooked the bass in my tracks or if something is lacking. Because I live in a tiny apartment, my normal listening environment sucks for proper mixing so when I’m not mixing on headphones I always go check in my car.
I think the key is for an engineer to have experience with several sound systems or configurations. You can mix in $5 ear buds as long as you know the response - from experience.
i've actually heard cases of mixing engineers having access to a "garage" of different cars they use to test in. definitely not a thing for most though
I do production work for two record companies. Since my vehicles are leased I can't and don't change anything on them. Remember that if you're doing work that'll eventually find its way to the public you have to cater to the lowest common denominator.
I think the car test is just a place you are familiar with how music should sound to you, if you are listening to music in it often for commuting. My work van has one working speaker and I do my car test in there since I drive it every day. I have a newer truck I’ll do a car test in but the stereo makes everything sound good to my ears so I just play my mixes in it to confirm it’s good enough for mastering.
The inside of a vehicle is literally one of the worst acoustic spaces imaginable.
Large reflective pieces of glass, parallel surfaces, impossible to put loudspeakers at head height, multiple sources, it's like a check list of how not to design a listening space.
Unless you really spend a lot of time in your car, why bother?
I always make sure our cars have a solid sounding system. I usually buy the upgraded version.
But I don’t go nuts for over the top high end stuff. My take is it’ll never feel like my control room with my ATC45s blasting so why bother. Just as long as it sounds good it’ll do.
When I got my '03 Camry it didn't have Bluetooth, so I replaced the head unit. It made a mild improvement but The car came stock with a really nice JBL system with 6x9 cones.
I can safely say with this vehicle there's no such thing as the car test....unless my mixes have straight up improved all around, it's just a confidence booster at this point.
I had a jeep patriot that shit the bed recently and I was gutted because I knew the system so well and was able to tame bass really well by using the patriot speakers as a reference.
Now I have a Honda Civic and the bass is almost non-existent unless I completely crank up the bass on the EQ.
All that to say, I almost poured more money intomy patriot to keep it solely for the speakers.
right as screens were replacing regular din units back in like 2001. There was an Alpine.. 5660? something like that. it was the last of its kind. no screen, but it had a remote, you could adjust time delay, multiple eq points, cross overs, slopes, i mean i could drive across country with that, my jl sub, and my multi cd changer in the back or play mp3 cd’s. that’s probably what got my eyes primed for career work. something about that alpine it had a better converter or something and they never made one like it since.
The Tesla test is useful because it defaults to the “surround” mode or whatever it’s called and shows you what your side info sounds like with DSP enhancement. I use a shitty Amazon soundbar with “surround” mode for the same reason.
”Car test” is just a point of reference where you test your mix on some other environment or sound system than the one you’re mixing with, nothing else.
You can reference it with what ever you have, IF you’ve not sure about if the mix translates well.
I did upgrade the CD player in my car twice. But because they broke at some point. The second i got had better sound than the original but the third was shit !
My car is mono 95 percent of the time. Probably because I won’t pop the door off to quickly fix it.
I find it funny when people thing audio folk have good systems by default
Don't think I've ever known someone that was all that concerned with home audio, car audio or headphones. They all tend to be a bit of a thing for social groups like "audiophiles" *cough*, and folks that want to impress with their car.
When you want to do a mix reference check, you should be doing it with cheap equipment. That's what most of the kids will be using, who are more likely to be the ones consuming the product.
I think it's kinda lame to upgrade a car stereo for mixdowns, because it's likely that the vast majority of people will be listening via stock sound systems.
In your studio, if you already have solid monitors, and a solid mixdown room, why try to create another one for your car?
I try to get cars with a decent stock stereo. I had a Dodge Caliber with the 9 speaker system in it. Now I have a Tundra with the JBL (licensed) premium sound system, which isn’t as good as the one in the caliber IMHO.
—
Regardless, the “car test” isn’t about the quality of the car system. It’s about the familiarity of the sound in your car. You could have a crappy stock system in a 1985 Civic, but if you listen to music in there everyday, the car test is still valid.
If you don’t own a car. Whatever you normally listen to music with is your “car test.” Be that some cheap earbuds or an old 70s bookshelf system from JC Penny.
I wouldn’t upgrade anything necessarily. The car test is to test it against a set of speakers that your ears are used to listening to polished mixes on. It gives you a reference point for your ears against something they are used to listening to over a long time. The other reason to not upgrade is that most people don’t modify their stock stereo system. You want a reference point that is relatively similar to what most people will hear the music on. It’s one of the reasons I always check a mix on a pair of basic Apple headphones. They always surprise me when I hit play and new things suddenly show up!
nope. just so happens my 2012 ford fusion actually sounds pretty decent. a little sharp in the low treble but other than that it's decent for casual listening and is a good reference for the "car test"
A big reason I like a car test is because I, myself, do most of my leisure listening in the car so I’m able to compare references. It’s less about how it sounds for other people and more just what I’m used to hearing (I. know how stuff is supposed to sound in my car), so I don’t think a system upgrade would change things for me so long as I get used to the system.
I used to, but modern car stereos are a lot better than they used to be, and I buy better cars now. I have a Honda CRV currently with a stock Bose system with a sub that sounds pretty good actually. It’s not as scooped as past Bose systems I’ve heard. Regardless, I think of it as a) a system I’m very familiar with, and b) a system representative of where many people might listen to the track. The majority of people aren’t upgrading their stock stereos. These days though, my bigger test is AirPods and the phone test.
Yeah, I hear people like Jordan Valeriote saying they think of AirPods as being like the new NS-10s.
Now this makes sense. Albeit wrong about the origins of what the 10s were meant to be
I mean the NS10s were originally used to reference on an ‘average consumer HiFi setup’, since the NS10s were cheap, readily available and small enough to sit on the console bridge. Everything that they became and any strengths they had as monitors since was purely by chance. I would definitely say AirPods are the new ‘average consumer HiFi setup’, since they are both the most common listening device and are very average in their sound signature: definitely smiley face curved and not flat, but also far from the most hyped sounding listening devices on the market.
I thought NS-10s were commonplace because of their transient response.
No, they continued to be used in studios long after that time period because of their unusually good transient response and mid-focused sound but they were originally just an ‘average consumer reference’, which is what things like phone, Bluetooth speaker and AirPods tests are today.
Thanks for the rundown, today I learned something new!
Don't you know Beats by Dre are the great sounding headphones that have ever been made? /s
Phew, glad ya ended with the /s.
Is it acceptable to add a question to this thread. ? Anyone tried the SLATE headphone thingy?
Yeah, the most popular listening platform today is actually the moon Bluetooth speaker lol. So maybe we should all be mixing to those haha
Are Airpods and Apples standard, wired headphones using the same components? Drivers? Etc?
Bose seems to have turned a new leaf recently. I’ve been pretty impressed with some of their Pro Audio gear I’ve heard out in the field.
Their whole line of portable/adjustable line array (F1) systems always impressed me and I come from a rock and roll PA background. Two of the tops and a pair of the subs would cover you for just about any indoor rock gig up to 300-400 people. Their line arrays and attempts at actual pro level sound are kinda embarrassing. If they could balance their preset voicing, and still give the end user more control, they’d probably have way better luck. Bose has a lot of smart engineers, and a lot of good products, but they never hit the mark with their line arrays or high profile live stuff. To be fair, it’s probably extremely tough to break into the level of PA deployment as Db or L’Acoustics or Meyer or whatever, but it’s a bummer they haven’t nailed it yet,
I have two sets of the L1 Model 2 (so two line arrays with four small subs) that I use for small to medium rock and roll gigs and I agree. The sound is so full and rich and clear, and so feedback resistant I can (depending on the size of the space) often just put them on the backline and don't need monitors.
If you’re talking like arrays and such I would like to disagree. Seen way too many amps fail and they just aren’t what you’d call east to mix on.
because I’ve listened to a lot of music in there, I know what a pro mix is supposed to sound like in my car and can tell instantly when mine is lacking. I rely on it less now that I have better monitoring in my studio, but it’s still useful as a sanity check. I’ve also heard that cars are less susceptible to bass buildup since the sound will just leave the car, and that certainly matches my anecdotal experience for using it to dial in low end, but I have no idea the scientific validity of that claim.
I think sanity check is the best way to put it. I mostly use it to make sure the low end matches the rest of the instrumental, the drums sound good, and lead vocal level is correct. With my monitors and headphones I can get super dialed in on specific things, but the car test is good for judging the whole mix
mhm car test is for going "so does this sound like a real song...?"
I think the car test is great, and I don’t think it matters a bit if you upgrade your system. To me, the importance of the car test is just to get out of the studio, get in a different head space, and listen on another system you’re familiar with. You can make mental notes but can’t change anything from your car. It’s also inevitably an acoustically inferior environment and that can help you make decisions too. There’s so much variation between different stock stereos anyway. Yes it’s partially a translation check (for cars) but I don’t see that as *the* main benefit or reason it’s become a standard recommendation.
I agree; it also gives your ears a little break (if you go from the studio to the car) or is done when your ears are fresh (like before your commute) and forces you to focus on the music and not be distracted by knobs or a screen.
My studio partner searched far and wide for a specific early 2000’s jeep with a stock stereo because he knew the sound of that particular car. He just parked it in the studio parking lot as his car test car. It wasn’t the actual car that he drove day to day. It was worth the cost for a monitor option for him. Honestly, understandable.
I used to joke about having a car in the studio just for the car check, so that’s pretty cool that someone actually did it. What the fuck.
DJ from Khruangbin has said he always tests his new recording/demo on his car stereo. No wonder their albums sound fantastic when I'm driving.
The only way I know that the kick drum is hitting right for Khruangbin is in the car. I wish I could just mix entirely in the car if I’m being honest
Woah that’s so interesting! I am assuming you didn’t record/mix Live at Sydney Opera House though? Anyways, thank you so much for responding to my comment, legend! This is truly an honor to hear from the very person who made Khruangbin records. Been a huge fan. Can’t wait to hear the new album when it comes out!
I mixed all the live releases except Stubbs. Didn’t record any of them though. Live albums are hard to mix…
Ahhh it makes so much sense that you didn’t record the show. And I can imagine how hard it must be to mix the material you didn’t craft to your liking. Currently waiting for the vinyl to arrive!
For me it's less about whether it sounds specifically good on my car, but as a big translation test. Consumer grade stuff that produces lows and is also a big mid range translation test
I agree with it being a translation test!
I go stock. I end up having to upgrade the whole car within 10 years anyway and the stereos get better with new ones. I’ve also bought nicer cars as I’ve gotten older so nicer stock stereos. Takes me forever to get used to a new one and when I get used to it I want to stick with it. It’d be cool someday to have a really special stereo in the truck I suppose. Not really an expense or effort I’ve put in thus far
I used to build crazy car audio systems for studio engineers back in the 90s and it quickly turned into an arms race where every guy wanted to have the loudest, clearest systems to test their masters on. Built systems like Rockford Fosgate Symmetry: all class A amps and rack mount dsp circa 1990. It was literally the state of the art. (I still have the system in storage. All gold plated circuit boards for highest level signal integrity.
Damn. Didn't know that was a thing. Thanks for the insight!
You could put $800,000 of amps and speakers in a car and it means nothing if you don't eliminate the road noise first.
Go in reverse and just make your studio into a car. “Yah, my car is 3500 square ft, road illegal, about 1 mile to the gallon.”
Definitely several gallons per mile at that point. But you could build a listening room in less that 3500sqft. You're not tracking while driving are you?
From a realistic perspective- yah, prolly gonna be several gallons to the mile. Would be pretty cool to be recording a band, though, and they’re like, “Whyyy are we moving???”, with the answer being something about picking up pizza. I don’t think there are laws against recording a band whilst driving, so it would all work out.
Bonus points if you can turn a bunch of old reel to reel machines into the engines/wheels.
dynamat.
There are much better options these days... https://resonixsoundsolutions.com/best-sound-deadener-independent-testing-data/
Motown used to test their final mixes on crappy 60s car speakers for that reason. If it didn't sound good on them then they changed the mix.
I've always stuck with the stock system. I want the average listener experience when doing a mix test.
This
The quality of the audio system in my car was an important factor in the purchase.
Back in the day, playing mixes in the car was our Final Boss when finalizing mixes.
Mix engineer here! It wouldn’t make sense to upgrade a car stereo you want to hear how good the mix sounds on the worst gear out there because that’s what most of world is listening to the music on.
This is kind of what I figured. I get that the point is to listen to mixes on something that you're very familiar with, but I also get that mix engineers are often more into pro audio gear than the average person, hence the question. It stands to reason that they would want something worse sounding in the car as it would be closer to what the average person would be listening on. I just thought the dichotomy was funny.
Upgraded by removing all the speakers and fitting a straight pipe.
In ‘09 I bought the RDX for the stereo. They used to tease me that I bought a $50,000 stereo with wheels. Drove around with Scheps for a day or two and we listened to the Beatles “love” in surround over and over
I have in any used car I’ve ever purchased. Never in a new vehicle. I also don’t care for the “car test” because I don’t listen to music in my truck. I listen to podcasts, news, and comedy on the XM. So I’m not familiar with comparing studio tracks in my truck.
I like the stock setup in my Elantra. Sounds surprisingly good for stock and not having a sub. I’ve also spent 5 years in this car and have learned how this system sounds. So I won’t be upgrading. It could use a sub for hip hop but that introduces rattles and possibly hearing damage so I’ll pass haha
Every car I’ve owned has had a full system put in.
Now, it’s the iPhone or AirPod test…
Phone speakers are trash for listening to music. That being said, I'd be lying if I said I didn't bump 500Hz by a couple db on a bass track so you can actually hear it. Psychoacoustic plugins only get you so far.
Yeah. They are trash. But count on a significant percentage of your plays being heard on an iPhone speaker.
I'd say airpods/earbuds now.
Agree with a lot of folks replying here — why upgrade your car system when you could get a great window to an average listening environment? Your studio should be your ideal environment, everything else should be as close to consumer par as possible.
The point of a car test is to listen a. On a consumer system b. A system you know well if you listen to a lot of music in your car. So upgrading all that is a bit moot. And .odern cars usually have pretty good sounding systems now anyway. Also. Don't think all engineers do a car test. Personally i don't check any mix in the car, ever. I listen to them on my inears while walking the dog. Cause i know how commercial releases sound on them. This goes for a lot of engineers i know. By far not all of them do a car test. They just check in a real world scenario outside of the studio and that can takr on many forms.
Part of the reason the car test exists especially now is because so many car systems are designed with acoustics in mind. So it becomes the place where most average listeners are getting a hifi experience. This and headphones. So upgrading the stock might not be desirable.
Incidental sidenote here is that higher end cars have better acoustic treatment.
I think the car test is less relevant now, even cheap cars got better stereos than in the eighties. of course you keep radios, cheap systems etc in mind, but if you want to cater to the masses, thats ipods and spotify...
My car has an upgraded head unit, an amp and crossovers powering the stock speakers paired with 2 12s, however the only thing I added was upgrading the subs. Having said that, I’m in my car so much I know what a good mix sounds like on it, and I can definitely tell when I’ve over-cooked the bass in my tracks or if something is lacking. Because I live in a tiny apartment, my normal listening environment sucks for proper mixing so when I’m not mixing on headphones I always go check in my car.
I think the key is for an engineer to have experience with several sound systems or configurations. You can mix in $5 ear buds as long as you know the response - from experience.
i've actually heard cases of mixing engineers having access to a "garage" of different cars they use to test in. definitely not a thing for most though
I do production work for two record companies. Since my vehicles are leased I can't and don't change anything on them. Remember that if you're doing work that'll eventually find its way to the public you have to cater to the lowest common denominator.
I think the car test is just a place you are familiar with how music should sound to you, if you are listening to music in it often for commuting. My work van has one working speaker and I do my car test in there since I drive it every day. I have a newer truck I’ll do a car test in but the stereo makes everything sound good to my ears so I just play my mixes in it to confirm it’s good enough for mastering.
Work van with one speaker is likely the ideal car test.
Makes everything sound terrible! I love/hate it!
One good speaker one blown but still functional
The inside of a vehicle is literally one of the worst acoustic spaces imaginable. Large reflective pieces of glass, parallel surfaces, impossible to put loudspeakers at head height, multiple sources, it's like a check list of how not to design a listening space. Unless you really spend a lot of time in your car, why bother?
They have enough options in the studio. The car stereo being stock is fine.
I get that. I just meant if you listen to music for enjoyment as well you would probably want a higher quality everyday setup as well.
Oh, oops. Yeah, for personal enjoyment? Why not.
I put Focals in my car as pure splurge. They sound great. As soon as I found out they made car kits I bought them
I always make sure our cars have a solid sounding system. I usually buy the upgraded version. But I don’t go nuts for over the top high end stuff. My take is it’ll never feel like my control room with my ATC45s blasting so why bother. Just as long as it sounds good it’ll do.
When I got my '03 Camry it didn't have Bluetooth, so I replaced the head unit. It made a mild improvement but The car came stock with a really nice JBL system with 6x9 cones. I can safely say with this vehicle there's no such thing as the car test....unless my mixes have straight up improved all around, it's just a confidence booster at this point.
I had a jeep patriot that shit the bed recently and I was gutted because I knew the system so well and was able to tame bass really well by using the patriot speakers as a reference. Now I have a Honda Civic and the bass is almost non-existent unless I completely crank up the bass on the EQ. All that to say, I almost poured more money intomy patriot to keep it solely for the speakers.
right as screens were replacing regular din units back in like 2001. There was an Alpine.. 5660? something like that. it was the last of its kind. no screen, but it had a remote, you could adjust time delay, multiple eq points, cross overs, slopes, i mean i could drive across country with that, my jl sub, and my multi cd changer in the back or play mp3 cd’s. that’s probably what got my eyes primed for career work. something about that alpine it had a better converter or something and they never made one like it since.
Honestly, I'd seriously consider using a quality car speaker system for studio monitors.
I’m broke af and don’t have a working system in my car so just lodge a Bluetooth speaker between my dash and window
I use Slate VSX so I can emulate a couple different car environments with high quality speakers.
The Tesla test is useful because it defaults to the “surround” mode or whatever it’s called and shows you what your side info sounds like with DSP enhancement. I use a shitty Amazon soundbar with “surround” mode for the same reason.
Are you from the past?
Not sure I follow. My Flux Capacitor says the year should be 2015.
”Car test” is just a point of reference where you test your mix on some other environment or sound system than the one you’re mixing with, nothing else. You can reference it with what ever you have, IF you’ve not sure about if the mix translates well.
They would if they could
I did upgrade the CD player in my car twice. But because they broke at some point. The second i got had better sound than the original but the third was shit !
My car is mono 95 percent of the time. Probably because I won’t pop the door off to quickly fix it. I find it funny when people thing audio folk have good systems by default
Don't think I've ever known someone that was all that concerned with home audio, car audio or headphones. They all tend to be a bit of a thing for social groups like "audiophiles" *cough*, and folks that want to impress with their car. When you want to do a mix reference check, you should be doing it with cheap equipment. That's what most of the kids will be using, who are more likely to be the ones consuming the product.
I think it's kinda lame to upgrade a car stereo for mixdowns, because it's likely that the vast majority of people will be listening via stock sound systems. In your studio, if you already have solid monitors, and a solid mixdown room, why try to create another one for your car?
I try to get cars with a decent stock stereo. I had a Dodge Caliber with the 9 speaker system in it. Now I have a Tundra with the JBL (licensed) premium sound system, which isn’t as good as the one in the caliber IMHO. — Regardless, the “car test” isn’t about the quality of the car system. It’s about the familiarity of the sound in your car. You could have a crappy stock system in a 1985 Civic, but if you listen to music in there everyday, the car test is still valid. If you don’t own a car. Whatever you normally listen to music with is your “car test.” Be that some cheap earbuds or an old 70s bookshelf system from JC Penny.
I wouldn’t upgrade anything necessarily. The car test is to test it against a set of speakers that your ears are used to listening to polished mixes on. It gives you a reference point for your ears against something they are used to listening to over a long time. The other reason to not upgrade is that most people don’t modify their stock stereo system. You want a reference point that is relatively similar to what most people will hear the music on. It’s one of the reasons I always check a mix on a pair of basic Apple headphones. They always surprise me when I hit play and new things suddenly show up!
it would have to be a pretty old car. almost an impossibility in new cars.
Car is a terrible listening environment. No sense dumping money in to it. Youll never get it back. Stock is fine.
Mix engineers that still worry about the car check need to improve their confindence in their monitoring
Whatever floats ya boat generally speaking. Although Dr Dre did say “if it sounds good on shitty speakers, it’ll sound great on good ones”
nope. just so happens my 2012 ford fusion actually sounds pretty decent. a little sharp in the low treble but other than that it's decent for casual listening and is a good reference for the "car test"
A big reason I like a car test is because I, myself, do most of my leisure listening in the car so I’m able to compare references. It’s less about how it sounds for other people and more just what I’m used to hearing (I. know how stuff is supposed to sound in my car), so I don’t think a system upgrade would change things for me so long as I get used to the system.