It can be difficult to choose which car audio equalizer to use for yourself, especially if you’re entirely new to the concept. You want to make sure you find something that is suitable for you and your car, your level of expertise as well as budget, and most importantly, the ears of those driving with you!
We’ve listed the best car audio equalizers for 2022 that are high in standards, performance, and respectable in pricing.
Table of Contents
Car Equalizers We Recommended
| Image | Car audio equalizers | Bands | Channels | Signal to Noise |
 | Our Pick Check Price | 4 | 6 | 110dB |
 | Bang For The Buck Check Price | 7 | 6 | N/A |
 | Budget Check Price | 7 | 6 | 100dB |
 | Budget Check Price | 7 | 6 | 100dB |
AudioControl THREE.2 In-dash equalizer
The AudioControl THREE.2 is actually a combination of an equalizer, preamp, crossover, and line driver. It’s there to take your digital signals and process them into crisp, clear sound and to limit and reduce background noise or “crackling” tones that simply interfere with a good sound system.
It lets you fine-tune to your musical preferences with 3 band EQ (+/-12 dB at 125, 1,250, and 10,000 Hz ) and one bass EQ: +/-12 dB at 40-80 Hz. It offers a brilliant ability to fight feedback, allowing the listening time in your car to be an enjoyable one.
This digital equalizer also has high-pass and low-pass crossovers, for controlling front and rear line outputs. Or when you do not use a subwoofer, the crossover can be bypassed, sending signals to the front and rear outputs.
Another great thing is the line driver which you can use to optimize noise ratio and dynamic range.
Biven all these specs we believe the AudioControl THREE.2 is the best car audio equalizer of the bunch if you can afford it because it comes with a premium price.
Clarion EQS755
Here is another equalizer that you may find useful if the price of Our Pick is too much for you. If you need a car equalizer that will achieve a flat line, then you will be very happy with this purchase as it strengthens your signal almost to the level of a line driver, making up for unfriendly acoustic environments where your music can’t flow as well through.
The Clarion EQS755 offers a 3.5mm front AUX input, 2-channel RCA AUX input with variable gain adjustment RCA, and speaker inputs of high level.
Its 7-band equalizer handles frequencies at 50Hz, 125Hz,315Hz, 750Hz,2.2kHz, 6kHz, and 16kHz. This EQ also comes with a 12-dB low-pass filter (60Hzor 90Hz) 6-channel and 8-volt RCA outputs: sub, rear, and subwoofer.
We know people can be picky with the clarity in their stereos, which is why we reassure them that this car EQ will give you wonderful sound and enhance your music. The control is at your fingertips with the blue-tint backlight, allowing you to adjust and readjust over the 7 bands as much as you please.
Sometimes simple is the better option for you, which is why this great item works just how it’s supposed to.
The Clarion EQS755 is another brilliant pick to carve out and stabilize frequencies that may be flowing out of control.
Skar Audio SKA7EQ
The budget cause you should definitely check out is the Skar Audio SKA7EQ, a 7-band preamp electronic car equalizer with front, rear, and subwoofer outputs, fader control, and selectable RCA inputs.
Some feel like seven (or more), bands can be a bit of an overkill for equalization, which is why there is an option available for all varying purchasers.
This is a high-performing car EQ with a price that goes above all your expectations and a choice that will guarantee to upgrade your sound system, allowing you to put your sound experience into your own hands and take control back from the car inconsistencies that can ruin audio.
This car equalizer has a subwoofer crossover that can be adjusted across frequency bands of 60 to 120 Hz, giving you the ability to tune your sub-feed for the finest sound you want to hear.
The Skar Audio SKA7EQ is a passive device that turns on with the head unit and allows a separate device – such as an MP3 or another accessory – to be input.
The EQ has a sturdy, well-built casing and an elegant clear top, showcasing the circuitry inside.
Just like the DS18 EQX7 and the Massive Audio EQ7X, this car EQ is one that won’t stretch your wallet but will certainly stretch your appreciation for a clean-sounding audio system.
Massive Audio EQ7X
The Massive Audio EQ7X car stereo equalizer has 7 bands, a 12dB boost or cuts adjustment, subwoofer output with adjustable filter, master volume, input sensitivity adjustment, backlit color, and gold plated RCA connectors.
It’s recommended for those with a tighter budget but understand the importance of music that isn’t dominated by crackling, hissing, or spitting.
With its faders, you can bring roaring sounds to the front of your car or push them to the back, depending on the placement of your speakers.
With the center frequencies being at 50Hz, 125Hz, 320Hz, 750Hz, 2.2KHz, 6KHz, and 16KHz, you are still given a range of adjustments to make sure the quality of sound that is filling your car is still pleasant.
With a subwoofer crossover frequency variable from 60 – 120Hz and a signal-to-noise ratio of 100 dB, spending less isn’t always a bad option, but instead can boost a sound car system tremendously.
You will be pleasantly surprised after a short installation time, with a bass that’s deep and trebles that are crisp, this affordable car equalizer will make a good fit for you and your ears. With its sleek sizing, this EQ will work well with your large car components, not adding any bulk but rather blending with the style.
The Massive Audio EQ7X will not limit your bass experience but will add an extra punch to those songs that are lacking. High-end, high-tech, isn’t exactly what every person who just wishes they had some control over sound-quality wants, so this in-dash equalizer is one worth looking at.
DS18 EQX7
The DS18 EQX7 is an in-dash equalizer that has 7 bands, which is even more than that cheaper price is pretending to give you.
While offering you full power and control over your listening time, it also has a crossover that is specifically created for a mobile setting, so you can have dazzling sound blaring from your speakers whether you’re parked at a mall or heading down a highway.
The DS18 EQX7 gives these wonderful features in a compactable size to fit comfortably in your car dash and with easy wiring, it is almost as simple as plug and play.
It also has an active gain equalizer with adjustable input sensitivity, a master volume control with up to 8 volts RMS of output, individual left and right sensitivity controls, gold-plated RCA input/output connectors and illumination so you can fine-tune even through the night.
If you want to listen off another device and without the head unit, you can use a 3.5mm male jack from one end to the RCA on the other.
Just like the Skar Audio SKA7EQ, this is the budget car equalizer, and if you don’t want to spend a fortune just to have a good jazz-out session if someone says “you get what you pay for” you will realize you’re receiving more for less with the EQX7.
In the same category
What is Car Equalizer?
A car equalizer (EQ) can help improve the quality of sound coming from your car radio by dealing with the things that can disrupt the audio.
The factors can vary varying, as your music could be drowned out by the wind from outside, the interior of the car (like metal grills over the speakers), or just general street noise.
The glass windows can cause music to also sound like an echo, but an EQ can cut tones or boost them to stop this issue from taking place. One same note can sound like something entirely different depending on what you’re using to listen with or where you are.
An EQ can give you specific adjustment ability over the quality of tone that is being emitted from your radio speakers.
Most car EQs come with two bands: bass and treble, but there can be five, ten, or even thirteen bands meaning the EQ is more detailed to your favorite sound.
For music equipment used by professionals, there can even be up to thirty bands, just to put into perspective how finely tuned you can really make audio. For most, a simple altering for a deeper bass or sharper treble is all they need to enjoy their music, while others may like to have all those extra options to fit audio to their strict liking.
The left side of the EQ is for low frequencies while the right side is for the high ones adjusting the top EQ bands control how much treble you have, and the bottom bands control the bass.
All sliders on a car equalizer are usually centered on certain frequencies in Hertz (Hz). Sometimes you’ll have to have a basic understanding of the music you are listening to so that you can adjust your EQ correctly. For example, tracks that have vocals don’t use many lows, but rather mids and highs.
What’s The Difference Between An Equalizer And A Crossover?
Well, an EQ compensates for the inconsistencies in a car by using different bands and changing the amplitude of audio signals at certain frequencies. They essentially are software filters that adjust how loud certain frequencies are.
A crossover takes in one input signal and splits it into two or three output signals containing separated bands of low-, mid, and high-range frequencies. These different bands feed into different speakers – or “drivers” – in sound systems: woofers, tweeters, and subwoofers (15-inch or 10-inch).
A simple crossover will have two filters: a low-pass and a high-pass, but this can increase depending on which one you use. The low-pass filter will only allow signals that are below a specific frequency, driving the mid-range driver to the woofer.
As you’ve guessed, the high-pass filter then only allows high-frequency signals, which feed through to the tweeter.
And finally, low-bass frequencies are directed to the subwoofers. Through a crossover, each speaker will only handle the frequencies that it can emit efficiently, that way there is no overlapping, high distortion, or overall mixing of noncorresponding tones, while an equalizer will take care of frequencies that need to be heightened or lessened.
There are two different types of crossovers: passive and active.
Passive crossovers do not need external power supplies, are easier to install, and will filter an audio signal after amplification.
But active crossovers do require a power supply, giving you more control over your sound and filtering audio signals before amplification. All speakers have their own frequency range that they perform best at, so a crossover will give them clarity, and just like an EQ, the more bands the more complex the sound adjusting is for you as the listener.
How To Properly Adjust The Car Equalizer?
Car equalizers have controls that offer a selection of presets: rock, concert, pop, vocals, concert, flat, electronic, jazz, acoustic and more, but it is not limited to just these ones.
Every person has a subjective taste in sound as well as the fact different speakers require different settings, so it is in the hands of the user to make sure it’s adjusted to the best of standards.
Start off by making sure the EQ is set at neutral (0 positions), meaning there is no EQ curve. Then, while playing a sound that you’re familiar with, make small adjustments to the frequency controls.
Start with having the subwoofer off and then slowly turn up the output until you hit the spot you’re happy with. Some call it the “sweet spot” which essentially means it’s in a setting where the bass has kicked in nicely without overpowering anyone.
The positioning of your car speakers can also have an effect on how you want to alter the audio sound.
Bass blockers can be used if you have small front speakers to help with filtering lower frequencies. This allows the music to be ultimately clearer and even louder. If your speakers are in the back of your car then you can use the faders on your receiver to bring music more forward or further back (probably depending on who’s in the ride with you).
Remember that handling a car equalizer for the best-desired sound is about balance and amount. If you want more bass, you can turn down the treble and mid-range frequencies.
What about a clearer treble? You can reduce the low frequencies to clear it up a bit. It’s best to cut and lessen instead of increasing, for this may lead to distortion of sound, which won’t sound nice at all.
How To Connect Car Equalizer To An Amplifier
To connect your EQ straight to your 4-channel amplifier, there need to be preamp-in and preamp-out channels on it, (which are usually located at the rear).
- You will need two RCA cables to run signals to and from your EQ to your amp, (right channel jacks will normally take the red RCA plugs while the left is for the white or black).
- Connect one pair to the preamp-in channels on your EQ and then connect the other end to the preamp-out channels on the amp.
- Now connect the second pair of RCA cables to the preamp-in on your amp and to the preamp-out on your EQ. This will be between the amplifier and the receiver. Also, instead of preamp connections, some have “tape monitor channels” which work also.
- Some amps have switches that will turn on the preamp connections. If you only have access to tape monitor channels, then you can turn this switch on instead.
- Finally, turn on the EQ, the amplifier, and the receiver and adjust the EQ to your liking! Small changes can make a big difference, so start off slow and give it several seconds for the adjustments to fully take place.
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / *Image Disclaimer: We use images/data from Amazon Product Advertising API solely on products that link to Amazon. On products with the "Price at Crutchfield" button, we use images/data from Crutchfield.com as per the partnership deal.
