I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!!

766 Views 13 Replies 4 Participants Last post by MADBUG, Dec 4, 2001

LUV4DUBS

Discussion Starter · Nov 30, 2001

I had a beautiful system in my car, before my stereo got ripped off.
What I had before:
4 x 30 watt Clarion HU
300 watt Targa Amplifier - 2 ch ran at 85 watts rms
A pair of 220 watt Pile Driver 6 x 9's in the rear - 110 watts rms
A pair of 30 watt Pioneer 3.5 inch speakers up front
What I have now:
4 x 45 watt Clarion HU
200 watt JBL Amplifier - I don't know what it runs rms
A pair of 200 watt JBL 6 x 9's in the rear - 100 watts rms
A pair of 30 watt Pioneer 3.5 inch speakers up front
I have an ear for quality sound. It seems that my old setup gave me that sound. With this new setup, the quality of sound is crappy. It's loud, but crappy. I like a loud, clean sound. If anyone can tell me what is wrong with my setup, I would greatly appreciate it!!
Let me know if I need to buy a better amp, speakers or otherwise. Thanks.

[Modified by LUV4DUBS, 1:19 PM 11-30-2001]

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MADBUG

· #2 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (LUV4DUBS)

It looks to me like you have a few posible problems.
(1)6 x 9's really aren't all that great.
(2)Why amplify rear speakers and not the front?? Rear speakers are not nearly as important as the front sound stage.
(3)3.5" speakers in the front are okay for mid-range and highs, but you won't get any real mid or upper bass from them.
Also, crossovers are a very important part of the system.How do you have the front and rear crossed right now?

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LUV4DUBS

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (MADBUG)

Madbug, bear with me. I don't want it to sound like I don't want your help, because I do. First, let me say that the quality of sound that I had before was at a level, not quite competition, but it was wicked, with the components that I mentioned before, including the 6 x 9's and no crossovers.
True fact: Traditional 6 x9's are garbage if you really want to listen to good quality audio. However, have you ever had a chance to listen to a pair of Pyle Driver anything? OMG! Awesome. That being said. Let me ask you this: Could it be that I need a cleaner amp. Maybe, I need another set of Pyle Drivers. What is the benefit of adding crossovers to an audio system?

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Ringo

· #4 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (LUV4DUBS)

I also don't know how you can have decent sound with nothing but 3.5 drivers in the front.....running of the HU. Any head unit. Are you really driving a car that can't take anything better in the front?
Obviously, if your HU changed and your front speakers didn't and you are not happy with how it sounds and they are running off the HU, then you are not happy with how the HU sounds. Simple as that. I won't even go into the Pyle Driver scenario and 6X9s.... Look at improving and amplifying the front speakers because that is where most of your sound is coming from..or should be coming from that is!
What is the car?

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vdubjb

· #5 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (LUV4DUBS)

It couldn't have sounded that good without a crossover and a sub......

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LUV4DUBS

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (Ringo)

It's an A2 Jetta. Without major surgery, there isn't much room to go bigger than 3.5 inches for the front speakers. Why didn't you get into the Pyle Driver issue? Something I should know?

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MADBUG

· #7 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (LUV4DUBS)

Let me try to put this as delicately as possible.Pyle is just that.A pile of crap!! The reason it sounded great to you is most likely because you have never experienced a car audio system that's truley awesome.
People's ears tend to play tricks.If you have no very good reference for the way things should sound,you won't know any better until you do hear an awesome system.Also,you can get used to hearing a crap system and after awhile you'll believe it's actually pretty good.
I don't mean to flame you or be a dick,I'm trying to get you to understand some things.

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MADBUG

· #8 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (MADBUG)

There are alot of benefits to using xovers.For one thing they help protect the speakers from freq's they can't reproduce.Another thing,they divide up the freq response so that each speaker can reproduce freq's that they are more efficient at.In this case,the sound overall will be much cleaner and more clear.
For example,your 3.5" dash speakers can't handle freq's below 300hz very well.While the tweeter portion of that speaker has a simple 6db/octave crossover to protect it from low freq's, the woofer needs a hi pass crossover of at least 300hz.400hz would probably be better, 12db/oct.
Same with 6 x 9's.Yes,most 6 x 9's can get mid and even some low bass pretty well, they still aren't subwoofers.They need to be high passed.

Now,here's the next problem.You hi pass the front 3.5's at 400hz and and you have no mid bass speakers in the front.With 6 x 9's in the rear,all the bass is in the rear.You should be ale to pin point the orignation of the bass in the rear.THAT'S NOT GOOD!!!! If you are after a quality system,you need front speakers that can reproduce mid and upper bass.Then you use a small sub in the hatch and limit that sub to freq's of 50hz and below,once again using crossovers.This way,all the directional mid and upper bass freq's are originating from the front,not the rear,and the bass overall will sound like it's comming from the front and/or all around you.

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Ringo

· #9 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (LUV4DUBS)

quote:[HR][/HR]It's an A2 Jetta. Without major surgery, there isn't much room to go bigger than 3.5 inches for the front speakers. Why didn't you get into the Pyle Driver issue? Something I should know?[HR][/HR]

I had to remove the map pockets on the doors but I have put in a 6.5 set in the doors of a 91 GLI. You are just looking at the drivers in the dash. Have you even looked in the doors? I know it is a pain in the ass since they have it done as a system (the crossover is on a board next to the driver if I remember right) but you can get drivers in the doors without removing the pockets....just remove the box with the driver That would DRAMATICALLY improve your sound.
Removing the pockets and putting a vinyled piece of wood on the lower third of the door is surprisingly easy and solves a multitude of problems.
and since someone else has opened the door......the leap from a Pyle amp and speaker setup to a JBL amp and speaker setup can be likened to going from a 1987 Ford Escort to a 2001 Honda Civic....lol. I think you get the idea!

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LUV4DUBS

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (Ringo)

I really appreciate everything you guys are telling me. Thanks. I guess this is a lesson in Car Audio 101. I can't honestly say that I had a chanec to listen to a system that included mids, lows and highs, plus crossovers. Especially on a daily basis. My girlfriend's car is a Merc and it has a great sound. It has got me to looking at my system to see what I could do to achieve real quality sound. I guess my old system just got me through, like you said. Hey, someone thought it sounded great as I pulled into the parking lot of my job. That's the place from which they stole my Clarion HU, Pyles, CD Changer and amplifier. Okay, so where would I start? I hope that my amp and HU are sufficient before we go on. True or False?

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MADBUG

· #11 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (LUV4DUBS)

What I'd do is keep the current hu and amp.Try to go with some better speakers,especially try to get some 6.5" mid bass speakers placed in the front doors.It'll be alot of work,but very worth while!Also, ditch the 6 x 9 thing and at the very least, go with a good 8" in the trunk/hatch.
Also,ditch the Pioneer 3.5's.A better brand for that would be Boston Accoustics.If I remember right, BA's 3.5's are $65.

After you get the speakers set up better,see what you think.If things still aren't quite right, see about a new hu,or maybe even a decent Eq.

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Ringo

· #12 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (MADBUG)

quote:[HR][/HR]What I'd do is keep the current hu and amp.Try to go with some better speakers,especially try to get some 6.5" mid bass speakers placed in the front doors.It'll be alot of work,but very worth while!Also, ditch the 6 x 9 thing and at the very least, go with a good 8" in the trunk/hatch.
Also,ditch the Pioneer 3.5's.A better brand for that would be Boston Accoustics.If I remember right, BA's 3.5's are $65.

After you get the speakers set up better,see what you think.If things still aren't quite right, see about a new hu,or maybe even a decent Eq.[HR][/HR]

The only thing I would do differently is what I did in the GLI...we put a 10 mounted on a piece of pretty thick plywood in the pass-through slot in the back seat. My freind can't carry skis but other than that.... It was a really cheap solution.

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LUV4DUBS

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 4, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (Ringo)

Madbug, I gonna take your advice. I'll start with 2-10" woofers in the rear deck, or possibly some sort of sub system. Then get some kind of midrange setup in my front doors plus some premium tweeters up front. Thanks alot guys. I really appreciate all your help. That's why I visit this site often. Special thanks to Madbug and Ringo. I'll let you guys know how it all turns out.

[Modified by LUV4DUBS, 9:45 AM 12-4-2001]

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MADBUG

· #14 · Dec 4, 2001

Re: I have good components, but my stereo sound like crap. PLEASE Help me!!! (LUV4DUBS)

Just make sure you use an enclosure with those subs.Don't just mount them into the hatch cover/rear deck.

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