Rep Power: 0

This is what I learned from posting my original question on this thread:

1. Stock speakers are full range, that is why they sound so 'good'
2. The stock deck is matched with the stock speakers, that is why it sounds so 'good' and balanced.
3. In order to get a better sound you need to get a good quality set of components, dont skimp here, but also buy what you can afford. This will provide you with highs and mids
4. You can either disconnect the rear speakers or get aftermarket speakers for rear fill, this is a personal preference.
5. The speakers must be amped by a good quality amp. It is important that your speakers are ADEQUATELY powered... ie the amp output should be AT LEAST 70% of the rms power of the speaker, the higher the better, but do not overpower your speakers either. Under/over powering over time will both cause your speakers to blow.
6. To round out your system, you will need a subwoofer, again, powered by an ADEQUATELY powered amp.

You can go to BB and buy stuff that is on sale, nothing wrong with that, but just make sure that it is good quality sutff. For example, I was at BB on the weekend and I saw a set of JBL components and coaxials, they were really nice. But then in reading alot of posts in these forums, I decided to go another route and go with Alpine Type Rs with an Avionixx amp (which I am planning to get from Ebay). Do you reasearch and dont just jump into buying a speaker cuz it is on sale... only to be dissatified with the sound and wanting to replace them a month later. JBLs are a nice brand too, but I just felt that I would get more bang for my buck by going the Alpine route.

If I have missed anything , please, I invite other members to correct me.

 
Rep Power: 0

Amp-Speaker match, that's what you need...50W RMS amp pushing 50W RMS speaker...Bridging will be fine as long as the amp is good quality...

I really like you all having low power speakers...Mine eats up 200W RMS per channel...

 
Rep Power: 812

i believe the install makes or breaks a system. I don't care how expensive your speakers/amp are. If circuit city, best buy, etc installs it, you're gonna have terrible sound quality.

 
Rep Power: 0

I guess the best thing is to go to a specialized car sound dealer and listen to whatever is there, then your place of purchase will be ebay...

 
Rep Power: 0

I am not questioning ytour expertise in this area, just wondering what BB and CC do or dont do that make the install such crap. Or better still what should I be looking at in a shop that does a godo install...what makes a good install

 
Rep Power: 0

What speakers are you running with>

 
Rep Power: 812

well yea like i said before, speakers will sound completely different in a car vs in a store and also depending on the install. After hearing my setup, I've had people give me disbelieving looks when I told em I only had infinity reference speakers, cheap amp and deck.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yes but, what different did your installer do that was different from BB or CC

 
Rep Power: 812

the installer was me, and i had to redo everything basically. I'm running infinity reference 2-way 6.5 speakers all around in my sedan and separate infinity tweeters.

I'll just give you a summary and you can lemme know if there's anything else. I noticed when I got the new alpine deck that the tweeters just came alive and were 2x louder than before. Also the speakers sounded like they were amped, like they should. So maybe the old deck was just too much. The new alpine only has 2v preouts so I'm thinking it matches the amp better. Also the amp doesn't get nearly as hot as before. I have all four 6.5 2-way speakers (sedan) running off the amp. The tweeters are completely separate with their own small crossover and wires. They are running off the deck power. My deck has the ability to turn off its internal amp so I can compare what it sounds like with and without tweets on. Sounds a whole lot better when they're on. On my speakers in the front, I have the tweeter part pointed toward the floor. In the rear, they're pointed out toward the window. Here's what I have: I actually should be gettin some cool EL red tape light for the trunk setup instead of neons.
-Alpine CDA-9847 MP3 Player
-Alpine MRP-F240 Amp
-Infinity Reference Speakers
-Monster Cable Wiring
-Infinity Reference Tweeters
-Custom Amp Display
A huge difference is also the way you install the speakers. I put dynamat covering almost the entire door underneath the plastic panel. There are wires and stuff so you can't seal it completely. Before installing the speaker, I got two dynxorb pads and put one behind each front door speaker. You will have to cut each one in 1/2 because there's the big metal bar behind the speaker. The dynxorb is excellent at blocking back wave distortion. I just superglued mine to the outer metal door skin, hopefully it hasn't fallen off. I did all this at way below freezing temps with heat gun. Anyway, then I used plastic spacers 1" from circuit city because wood might get wet and rot. I screwed on the spacer, then screwed on the speaker. I used small pieces of dynamat to seal around each spacer so that it covered the holes between door metal and spacer. Needless to say, the bass bumps hard on certain songs (especially trance), enough to shake the mirrors without sounding bad. I don't have anything faded on the deck. Just adjusted bass to +4 and treble to -4. It sounds so much better than with the pioneer deck I had with 13 band eq. For the rears, I just put down a layer of dynamat on the metal part. As far as sound, I can almost not hear the rears at all except for the bass (which is much better in the back cause of the accoustics). Tweeters are very nice in front. On a sedan, I have mine surface mounted on the sail panels and they're actually angled inward toward the windshield instead of my ear. Still can hear it very well.

 
Rep Power: 812

circuit city just threw in the speakers and had actually cracked a spacer and thought I would never notice. there were air holes all over. dynamat helps alot. You can get dynxorb pads and xtreme from www.carmedia1.com for a good price.

 
Rep Power: 0

I got an air leak on my driver's side speaker...

 
Rep Power: 328

I don't wanna hear it, mine eat 250 per side

 
Rep Power: 812

mystic what do you think of my install? anything i can improve?? thanks.

 
Rep Power: 0

I won a set of type r components from a local ebayer in Toronto....doesi t make sense to get another seat for the rears and not use the tweeters. I tried to get the Type R coaxs for the back but I was outbid at the last moment... should I get another set of compnenets for the rear and not use the tweets..

 
Rep Power: 812

hmm tweets are very important for the front though

 
Rep Power: 0

yeah i will have them for the front..but if i get the same component set for the rear at the same low price, can i install the 6.5s from the second set in the rear deck minus the xover and tweets

 
Rep Power: 812

oh that i'm not sure. i thought everything was connected through the x-over.

 
Rep Power: 256

Good thread, I am considering just going with a sub, I have a leased 2005 lx and the decks sounds pretty good. I am just missing some kick. I spoke to my boss' son and he does installs for a living, he said the cheapest bang for the buck is to throw in a 10" sub and an amp and leave the stock system alone, with an install it would cost about 500 canadian. Its one of those things I could live without, do you guys/gals think it is worth it. I don't want to spend a bucket of money, just want a bit better performance...comments please.
Thanks

 
Rep Power: 282

I wouldnt do it cause your going to get shitty sound quality. Have you ever heard a system with compnents and atleast one quality 12 inch sub?
Its well worth it to spend like 2-300 on speakers, and about the same for amp and amp kit. The install is pretty easy too, especially with a forum like this.
^why wouldnt you want tweeters in the rear?
Yeah you have to use crossover btw.

 
Rep Power: 812

i'm happy with no sub. the speakers still give some decent bass, but not if you like rap music for the below 80hz boomy bass (which I don't anyway).

 
Rep Power: 0

I don't either....Always feel like somebody punching my back....

 
Rep Power: 282

even if you only listen to country, one sub is essential IMO
but opinions very

 
Rep Power: 0

If I am to use a sub, I will just get the freq as low as possible, like may be 50Hz, so that the punch is heard from front speaker and the rear takes the lower, looser bass...

 
Rep Power: 812

alot of songs actually sound better with speaker bass instead of sub. Sometimes a 10 inch can get too sloppy playing songs with alot of beat or higher freq.

 
Rep Power: 282

maybe maybe not it depends on which sub of course, and the EQ.

 
Rep Power: 0

I've been looking at various speakers, and I found that pretty much no Alpines have much bass with them. They are very good speakers, but must be used with subs because I haven't found any that go below 60Hz. You need to be down in the 30-40Hz range (at least) to get any good bass response.

According to their site, the higher-end Pioneer speakers can respond in the low 30s.

 
Rep Power: 291

Please dont bring back up old threads?

And Infinity's happen to be good all around speakers, if you're not looking into a sub