install question, 6 speaker set up
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Bruce WI
install question, 6 speaker set up
Okay, this is for a different car but this seems to be the best audio forum I read. I will be installing a Sony head with 52 watts per channel. With a 700 watt 4 channel amp. With the amp I was going to run 2 6x9 polk rears and....the question, in the front I have 2 Polk 5 inch round component with seperate tweets and 2 Infinity 4 inch. Which should I run with the amp and which should I run with the head unit? I've read the Infinitys sound better with more power so I was thinking them but I dont know?
Second question, this system is going in a 87 Grand national, ( Buick Regal body) I am putting a 12 inch sub in a custom box in the trunk, should I make this a ported box, enclosed, add stuffing? This will be the first sub install I've done so completely new to this. A 400 watt amp for the sub if that makes a difference.
Any help, tips, tricks would be greatly appreciated!!!
Second question, this system is going in a 87 Grand national, ( Buick Regal body) I am putting a 12 inch sub in a custom box in the trunk, should I make this a ported box, enclosed, add stuffing? This will be the first sub install I've done so completely new to this. A 400 watt amp for the sub if that makes a difference.
Any help, tips, tricks would be greatly appreciated!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Use the amp for the component speakers, that is almost always the best way to go. Component speakers tend to require higher power and they're your front stage, give them the best available amp & highest available power. Power output ratings from head units are often... optimistic.
As far as the sub box goes it depends on the sub you plan to install. Most subs are going to sound best in a sealed box and ported boxes are MUCH harder to get just right. So look at the enclosure requirements for your sub and start from there.
As far as the sub box goes it depends on the sub you plan to install. Most subs are going to sound best in a sealed box and ported boxes are MUCH harder to get just right. So look at the enclosure requirements for your sub and start from there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 59
From: McLean Va
However, I would think running both sets of front speakers off front channels of amp would be better. If you run 2 speakers off one channel of amp. your amp will be in 2 ohms mode (I think... it's been a while) some amps can handle this. Or, you can run serial (again, I think this is correct terminology...) in which case your amp will maintain 4 ohms.
Again, I apologize, it's been almost 20 years since I was really into this stuff.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 59
From: McLean Va
I have a 94 ZR-1 and recently added sealed enclosure sub by tapping into rear speakers with LOC and feeding an old Alpine amp. I will be upgrading the rest, head unit w/ nav., 4 channel amp and non Bose speakers for front and rear. That's why I have been lurking to see what other C4 guys are doing.
Also, ported box gets larger and could sound a little farty for a lack of better expression. Sealed box will give you much tighter bass.
Also, ported box gets larger and could sound a little farty for a lack of better expression. Sealed box will give you much tighter bass.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
I disagree strongly on running all 4 of the front channels of the amp. Rear speakers are for fill, not to be "balanced" out so you don't need equal power, plus why drive the amp harder than you need to, assuming it's even happy running on a 2Ohm load, assuming your speakers are even happy in that configuration. If after setting the gains for the front speakers you find you would prefer a bit more fill just use the fade control. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Bruce WI
I'm confused, my plan was to run the Polks in the front and in the rear with the 4 channel amp, and then run the smaller infinitys in the front off the head unit. I know i can control the front polks with the gain on the amp, how can I control the infinitys from the head without affecting the system as a whole? Or should I just scrap the idea of the additional infinitys powered by the head up front?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Gain is not a volume control. It's a tool for matching the head units output to the amplifier.
From your equipment selection and install idea it sounds like your ultimate goal is "loud noise from every direction."
Speakers powered by head units sound like crap and will only act to reduce what sound quality you might accidentally achieve. Skip them entirely.
A ported box will give you more bump in a particular range. If that's what you want (And it sounds like you do), pick a generic ported box design suggested by the manufacturer that fits that particular sub and go that way.
A sealed box is much easier to make sound good, but will also sound less loud.
A ported box should never sound "farty." That's the result of poor design, poor subwoofer choice, or incorrect settings somewhere in the audio chain. A properly designed ported enclosure with a properly designed sub will sound every bit as good as a sealed box.
From your equipment selection and install idea it sounds like your ultimate goal is "loud noise from every direction."
Speakers powered by head units sound like crap and will only act to reduce what sound quality you might accidentally achieve. Skip them entirely.
A ported box will give you more bump in a particular range. If that's what you want (And it sounds like you do), pick a generic ported box design suggested by the manufacturer that fits that particular sub and go that way.
A sealed box is much easier to make sound good, but will also sound less loud.
A ported box should never sound "farty." That's the result of poor design, poor subwoofer choice, or incorrect settings somewhere in the audio chain. A properly designed ported enclosure with a properly designed sub will sound every bit as good as a sealed box.
Last edited by Kale; Sep 29, 2009 at 11:34 AM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Bruce WI
I couldnt spend a fortune on the system, I got what I thought was okay stuff? I do want the best sound I can get, thats why I asked here, you guys know how to get this stuff to work. I do want volume, thats true, but I am willing to give up some for better sound. This forum, and I think Kale, was very helpful in getting my vette system to sound way better than I thought it could. I'll take any and all advise I can get! It sounds like I'll be tossing the idea of installing the infinitys and stick with just the front and rear polks.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Yeah, it's tough to get a four speaker system sounding 'just right.' Adding 2 more that also add the distorted sound you will get from the head unit is just asking for trouble. The polks should sound better anyway.
