4 replies to this topic

[N16]

Hi All,

I am currently trying to balance my system so that I have the best possible SQ with the components I have.

The main problems with my system are:

1. The HU (Pioneer DEH-P3350)-- as I bought my system in stages, the HU was fine originally, but now does not have as many features as I would like and only has one preout, which is quite frustrating.

2. The imbalance in the overall sound, which I am beginning to think is due to a lack of midbass, particularly up front. All my bass feels like it is behind me, the front speakers seem the quietest part of the system.

3. As the HU has no built in HP/LP crossover control, I have to rely on my amp, which has fixed 120hzHP, 80hzLP, or 'Full' options. Currently the fronts and rears are on 120hzHP, the sub 80hzLP. This seems to leave a gap that isn't properly covered by my system.

I currently have all speakers and my sub wired off the 4 channel amp, and due to the lone preout, (which everything seems to run off), can't do things like fading to adjust the balance and staging inside the car.

Which of these do you think would make the most improvement:

A) A new headunit, feature laden with 3 preouts so that I can control things like fading and HP/LP

--or--

B) New 6.5" splits with better midbass for the front (though I think the ones I have may be ok, they are just so quiet compared to the rest...)

--or--

C) Something else???

My current components are:

HU: Pioneer DEH-3350
Front: Infinity 6.5" 2-ways
Rear: Rockford 6x9" 2-ways
Amp: Rockford 200a4 4-channel
Sub: Rockford 12" HE

Thanks for any advice, this is driving me nuts!!

[Damon]

You seem to have answered a question I have posed for you in another thread elsewhere regarding your system lay out.

Anyhow, given that both your front and rear speakers have been paralleled to run off two channels of your Rockford amplifier this has lead to the fact that the rears are overpowering your fronts (thanks to to the common hig sensitivity offered by 6x9s) and you can adjust them independantly from each other. Sure, you could screw around with resistors but, if you need to turn the rears down, I'd recommend changing the wiring so that the 6x9s run from the opposing powered channels of your head unit to those which your RCAs fade towards.

Typically head units with just two pairs of RCAs have them fade towards rear, so you'll need to wire the 6x9s to the front power channels of your Pioneer so that the fader will work - only in reverse, which is fine.

Then you can simply attentuate the rears via the fader, which the relative level of the subwoofers to the front speakers can be altered using the input sensitivity controls of the amplifier.

Depending on how and what you listen to, to increase front bass output you could try switching off the high pass filter on the Rockford amplifier so that the fronts play full range. I run this in my car but, then again, I don't listen at crazy output levels or to much extremely bass heavy music.

Damon

[Mobools]

damn i sorta already explained ur situation in ur otha thread didnt know u had posted this one

neway theres always some way to get ur system right without buyin new stuff

but if u can afford it, like u mention a hu with 3preout would make things most simplest
this way u can from the reach of ur HU fade front/rear all u want and control ur subvol at the same time

all u need to do is connect
front rca -> ch1 and 2 -> front speaker
sub rca -> ch3 and 4 -> subwoofer
rear wire -> rear speaker

sound deaden ur door, fade more to front, adjust the sub and u should have it sounding just the way u like

[Macca]

The Pioneer HU isnt a bad HU. I have used mine for nearly 2 years with out a problem but my amp has very good crossover in it.

A possibility is an external crossover if you dont have the dosh for a new HU

[Sonic Nirvana]

High passing tghe front stage @ 120Hz is not gonna help mid bazss at all.

One way or another you need to fix this ~80Hz so they actually produce some amount of mid bass.

Next thing is that with a gap in the sub-bass to fronts, you lose integration, the sub-bass is not filling in and following with weight so you get no "kick' or "slam", and it doesn't drag the sub-bass forward for much the same reason.

Last, have you deadened and sealed the front doors?

With all these issues addressed, you will go a long way to getting the mid bass you are looking for.

It's just a matter of how, certainly a 3 pre-out HU will be the simplest solution.