DSP Tuning
DSP Time Alignment Calculator
Head-unit style cabin layout. Set each driver distance in centimeters; delays are calculated to the furthest speaker so every channel lands at the listening position together.
System configuration
SoS = 331.3 + 0.606 × T
Midbass + Tweeter
Cabin layout · distances in cm
Measure from the listening position (driver seat) to each acoustic center.
Left stage
Right stage
Low frequency
Channel summary
Copy these values into your DSP. Delay is relative to the furthest active speaker (180 cm · 0.00 ms).
Sample rate 48 kHz
| Channel | Distance (cm) | Delay (ms) | Samples | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subwoofer | 180.0 | 0.00 | 0 | Reference |
| Midbass R | 155.0 | 0.73 | 35 | — |
| Tweeter R | 145.0 | 1.02 | 49 | — |
| Midbass L | 110.0 | 2.04 | 98 | — |
| Tweeter L | 95.0 | 2.48 | 119 | — |
DSP Tuning Guide: Time Alignment
In a car, the driver sits much closer to the near-side speakers than the far-side ones. Sound at roughly 343 m/s (20°C) means tens of centimeters of path difference become milliseconds of arrival error. That gap produces comb filtering, smeared imaging, and a stage locked to the nearest driver.
This calculator treats the furthest measured speaker as the reference (0.00 ms). Every closer channel receives positive delay so wavefronts meet at the listening position. Formula used: delay_ms = ((d_max − d) / (v × 100)) × 1000, with distances in cm and v = 331.3 + 0.606 × T°C.
Measure to each acoustic center (not the grille edge), keep the cabin temperature consistent with the value you enter, and apply delays in your DSP before fine EQ. Level matching (ILD) is a separate step after time alignment—start with coherent arrival, then balance output.
Time Alignment vs. Stage Centering
Expert tipTime alignment aligns the arrival time of sound waves at your ears to fix phase and imaging focus, but it does NOT center the soundstage on its own.
Because your left speakers are closer to the driver's seat, they naturally sound louder than the right speakers. To pull the center stage (vocals) to the middle of the dashboard, you must adjust speaker amplitude (levels):
- Calculate and apply time alignment delays first.
- Lower the relative gain/level of the driver-side (left) channels by 1 dB to 3 dB until the phantom center shifts to the middle of the dash.
- Use Left/Right EQ trimming to correct any frequency-specific pulling caused by cabin reflections.