Harman Kardon SoundStick 4 and the problem of fine-tuning EQ

[nhamcho93]

I'm using my SoundStick 4. but I find the bass very annoying and beyond my tolerance.
Is there any way I can fine tune the bass and high mids of this speaker.
I plan to look for a preamplifier for this speaker. Does that help balance the sound of this speaker?
Which preamplifier should I use? Thanks for helping !

 

[staticV3]

Hi @nhamcho93! Welcome to ASR.

You can use Equalizer APO to fine tune the bass and high mids of your SoundStick 4. The software is extremely powerful.

A preamplifier will not help balance the sound of the speaker, unless the preamp has built-in EQ or room correction (expensive).

You can use the Alternative A2DP Driver to unlock higher quality Bluetooth output on your PC.

Lastly, a measurement microphone (UMIK-1, Micbooster EM258) is extremely effective for quickly correcting your speakers. Highly recommended.

 

[nhamcho93]

Hi @nhamcho93! Welcome to ASR.

You can use Equalizer APO to fine tune the bass and high mids of your SoundStick 4. The software is extremely powerful.

A preamplifier will not help balance the sound of the speaker, unless the preamp has built-in EQ or room correction (expensive).

You can use the Alternative A2DP Driver to unlock higher quality Bluetooth output on your PC.

Lastly, a measurement microphone (UMIK-1, Micbooster EM258) is extremely effective for quickly correcting your speakers. Highly recommended.

Thanks StaticV3. Thanks for your advice. I always use the SoundStick 4 speaker fully connected using the 3.5mm port, and I've always been clear that the wireless connection doesn't sound really good. So what preamplifier can I use to be able to tune the bass and treble range?

 

[staticV3]

Thanks StaticV3. Thanks for your advice. I always use the SoundStick 4 speaker fully connected using the 3.5mm port, and I've always been clear that the wireless connection doesn't sound really good. So what preamplifier can I use to be able to tune the bass and treble range?

I would buy an Apple headphone adapter, do PC->Apple adapter->SoundStick, then install Equalizer APO and use it to tune the sound.

A preamp with EQ costs upwards of $500, which is absolutely not worth it when EQApo achieves the same for free.

 

[nhamcho93]

I would buy an Apple headphone adapter, do PC->Apple adapter->SoundStick, then install Equalizer APO and use it to tune the sound.

A preamp with EQ costs upwards of $500, which is absolutely not worth it when EQApo achieves the same for free.

Can you guide me to install Equalizer APO. Thank you very much

 

[staticV3]

Can you guide me to install Equalizer APO. Thank you very muchView attachment 365222

Here's the download link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/

Here's the installation and configuration guide: https://sourceforge.net/p/equalizerapo/wiki/Documentation/

One thing that the guide doesn't mention is that you can configure EQApo with a simple Editor GUI (It's called Configuration Editor). There's no need to mess around with .txt files.

 

[nhamcho93]

Here's the download link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/

Here's the installation and configuration guide: https://sourceforge.net/p/equalizerapo/wiki/Documentation/

One thing that the guide doesn't mention is that you can configure EQApo with a simple Editor GUI (It's called Configuration Editor). There's no need to mess around with .txt files.
View attachment 365226

I downloaded and installed but nothing happened after that?

 

[nhamcho93]

Here's the download link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/

Here's the installation and configuration guide: https://sourceforge.net/p/equalizerapo/wiki/Documentation/

One thing that the guide doesn't mention is that you can configure EQApo with a simple Editor GUI (It's called Configuration Editor). There's no need to mess around with .txt files.
View attachment 365226

 

[staticV3]

I downloaded and installed but nothing happened after that?

Wdym by nothing happened?

EQApo doesn't change the sound just by installing it.

You have to open the Editor and make changes yourself.

 

[nhamcho93]

Wdym by nothing happened?

EQApo doesn't change the sound just by installing it.

You have to open the Editor and make changes yourself.

Can you suggest some customizations of the Sound Stick 4 speaker for me?. I find the Peace software quite difficult to control!

 

[staticV3]

Can you suggest some customizations of the Sound Stick 4 speaker for me?. I find the Peace software quite difficult to control!

I don't use Peace and don't generally recommend it.

I use the default Equalizer APO Editor, where for the most basic sound adjustment, you can simply add a -10dB preamp (to avoid clipping), then a 10-band graphic EQ.
If there's too much bass, simply reduce the sliders on the left.

 

[nhamcho93]

I don't use Peace and don't generally recommend it.

I use the default Equalizer APO Editor, where for the most basic sound adjustment, you can simply add a -10dB preamp (to avoid clipping), then a 10-band graphic EQ.
If there's too much bass, simply reduce the sliders on the left.

Actually I can't figure out how to open equalizer apo without opening Peace.

 

[Rednaxela]

 

[staticV3]

Actually I can't figure out how to open equalizer apo without opening Peace.

You just double-click the Editor:

 

[nhamcho93]

You just double-click the Editor:
View attachment 365276

i got it. Thank you so much !

 

[staticV3]

i got it. Thank you so much !

Btw, if you have an iPhone or can borrow one, then you can measure your SoundStick's response with the HouseCurve App and use that to make corrections.
No measurement mic required.

 

[nhamcho93]

Btw, if you have an iPhone or can borrow one, then you can measure your SoundStick's response with the HouseCurve App and use that to make corrections.
No measurement mic required.

Yes. I have iphone 13pro