Equalization, Real Time Analyzers, FFTs, and More

A quality audio system usually has some attention to tuning and equalization. But how does equalization relate to the interior of a vehicle? The answer is not trivial. Let's start at the beginning and cover the basics of equalization then work our way up to advanced subjects such as RTA (Real Time analysis), FFT (Fast Fourier Transforms), and TDS (Time Delay Spectronometry).

The history of equalization can be traced back to the early 1930s. Since car audio topics have seldom been included in history lessons, a little background information might be beneficial. Many installers and technicians might be unfamiliar with how equalization is used in other parts of the audio world such as pro audio, home audio, and the recording industry.