First off I wanna say I don't know anything about sound systems...
After looking at Cam2Xrunner's post about being able to get a system for $100 (I don't know what exactly all that was) I'm thinking about putting a system in my car. I have a Kenwood Head Unit, Pioneer speakers in the front (something like these) and then some mobile audio speakers in the back (I think those are stock, I dunno...I bought the car used).
My Plan:
It's a 98 tacoma extended cab.
Take out everything but the head unit, put tweeters in the front (on the door panel) and subs in the back where the speakers are now (6.5") and put in new speakers up front (instead of the pioneers also 6.5"). I don't have a ton of money to spend, but I'll spend what's necessary.
First off I wanna say I don't know anything about sound systems...
After looking at Cam2Xrunner's post about being able to get a system for $100 (I don't know what exactly all that was)
Sorry I should have explained it more. That topic was based on if you have a 4channel amp to power the tweeters and the mids(midbass) And adequate crossovers in the headunit, amp, electronic crossover etc.
A reg component system is going to come with a passive crossover, tweeter and midwoofer.
A component system using passive crossovers and just 2 channels off an amp can be very easy to setup and get fairly good results.
Wiring active(4 channels to the components, and ditching the passive crossovers) can give you better results.
With this thinking in mind, if you are going to wire active anyways, may as well pay less for individual peices of the component system, without having to spend mone yon those passive crossovers.
A simple upgrade for the better would be to get a reg. component set and a 2 channel amp. Don't worry too much about the rear speakers. Use your Pioneers in the rear if you want.
You'll have to use something with a slim mounting depth. One guy on Customtacos, put the seas mids I showed him in the doors, but the mounting depth made it harder to install them.
Ok I understand the whole amp thing (I think). But what's activing wiring and passive crossover? and what kind of sound deaden stuff should I look into?
That exile stuff looks really nice, I just need to know where I can find prices/buy the stuff. I'm thinking I'd go with a 4 channel amp (maybe this). And then the XP65comp or the X65Comp and put the pioneers in the back until I can get subs.
oh and what's the difference between mids, components, and just normal speakers? In my mind they're all the same. I think they are.
A normal speaker would be a coaxial speaker, in which the tweeter is built into the same unit as the mid.
Ok those speakers you linked are called component speakers. Part of a component speaker system includes a tweeter and a midwoofer(mid). It also comes with a passive crossver.
This is a passive crossover.
Each passive crossover gets one channel of the amp,the crossover splits the frequencies and sends an output to the tweeter and one to the mid..
Very simple. This require's a 2 channel amp to wire it this way. This is refered to as wiring passive.
Wiring Active means with your same component system you have, instead of using a 2 channel amplier you use a 4 channel. You wire the front channels of the amp to each tweeter. One to each side. The rear channels of the amp go to the midwoofers(mid), one to each side.
Now that you aren't using the passive crossovers anymore, you will need to adjust the crossover frequencies some other way. You can do it with your headunit if you have a good 3 way crossover. You can do it from the amp, if it has a flexible crossover, with bandpass. Or you can use an electronic crossover.
Most people prefer to wire passive for ease of use, or from lack of channels from an amp.
If set up properly wiring active can be much better.
I think the simplest way to get started would be to wire passive. You can get a 4 channel amp and bridge the rear channels to a sub if you want to use one amp.
It looks like the better XP65COMP set would be the best way to go. They're only 150 $ I believe. Contact them directly, they can point you in the direction of a dealer, or sell directly to you.
I'd probably go a different route with the amps, they aren't as much as a deal than their speakers imo.
Dang it! Just deleted a full paragraph......
Ok, here's the revised plan. After reading some reviews on those Exile XP65COMPs I think that's exactly what I want. I probably won't need subs so I'll throw those in the front and then move the pioneers to the back. Couple questions now.
1. Will I need an amp for just those speakers and tweeters?
2. Will I need a new head unit maybe to tune it or EQ it? My Kenwood is kinda old and ghetto. It can adjust bass, treble, mid, balance, and fade and that's it.
3. Will it work to put my tweeters in about right here? (gotta love MSPaint)
If you don't want to replace your headunit, and don't plan on it in the future, I would just get a 2 channel amp and wire the components using the passive crossover.
If in the future you want to go active you should think about that now and buy a 4 channel amp instead. You can always bridge the amp for 2 channel mode now if you want.
I personally would go with the 4 channel and bridge it and run it passive at this point. Then when you're shopping for a headunit, look for one that has a 3 way crossover. An example would be the Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP. If you like Alpine, go with the cda9835/9853 ('04/'05 models)
You might be completely happy with it without buying a headunit.
What would be the budget for an amp? You can get the Diamond D5300.4 dirt cheap right now, and will work great for those components when you bridge it to a 2 channel amp.
Also make sure to deaden the front doors at least. That will make a big difference in the sound quality.
I would try to mount the tweeters closer towards the windshield. If possible put them in the A Pillars.
One trick people do is they get 4Runner Sail panels that are ready for tweeters.
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Last edited by cam2Xrunner; 07-13-2005 at 06:22 PM.
Sorry dont mean to hijack the thread but i just wanted to ask a quick question since its on the active and passive x-overs, i have pioneers 4-ways in the back, and stock in front with a kenwood HU mp825, i was just starting to look into buying componenets for the front, my question is if i get the components plus the 4 channel amp will give better results? im also looking for it to hit a little without having to get a sub is that possible.
Again sorry for not making a new thread
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Last edited by Dainfamusgc; 07-16-2005 at 11:09 PM.
If you want to wire it active you would need a 4 channel amp for them(or two 2 channels)
It is harder to set up though. And it's best to use a headunit with a very flexible 3 way crossover.
What you can do is buy a regular component set of speakers, and a 4 channel amp. Bridge the amp and use the passive crossovers. If in the future you upgrade to a headunit that has the 3 way crossovers, then ditch the passive crossovers from the speaker set and wire it active using the headunit. And only after you've done some reading up on it.
Is it a really noticeable difference i notice you seem to suggest it a lot just wanna know how big of a difference, sorry for the noob questions im new to the audio part, i am an EE major though so im learning as much as i can.
Is it a really noticeable difference i notice you seem to suggest it a lot just wanna know how big of a difference, sorry for the noob questions im new to the audio part, i am an EE major though so im learning as much as i can.
It is a noticeable difference, but it does need to be set up right and you have to have the right equipment. I shouldn't suggest it as much as I do, especially to people who aren't really ready to jump into it (sorry to anyone that took my advice and it didn't work out right )
I can feel comfortable with recomending a regular component set over coaxials, and getting a 4 channel amp and bridging it before you decide to go active with the right headunit/crossover.
I will add though, that if you do plan on going active right away, you can get a better set of speakers for the same or less money by peicing together individual speakers.
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