My upgrade ? maybe
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 962
Likes: 61
From: oswego ny
My upgrade ? maybe
My 06 vertable, i have replaced the head unit already with a pioneer, Installed Kicker's in door panels above stock bose woof, Added Raamat and ensolite to doors along with alum chanels from Raamaudio.. Now im trying to decide if i want to go futher ??,--- As i have a 4 channel amp , polk 6.5 DB6501 Component's and
Adaptors, ....and wiring..........--- Friend told me im going to loose alot of base going to the 6.5 in place of the bose thumpers ?? Any thoughts on that guys ????. If so what about just keeping bose amp and thumpers working, and add my 4 channel amp to power rears and front speakers that are mounted in door panel. ?? Any suggestions would be great...----------- Oh, and after i added the stuff from Raamaudio i can actuall here my front kicker's putting out some highs now.. yea i here symbols now...And bose thumpers better to..
Adaptors, ....and wiring..........--- Friend told me im going to loose alot of base going to the 6.5 in place of the bose thumpers ?? Any thoughts on that guys ????. If so what about just keeping bose amp and thumpers working, and add my 4 channel amp to power rears and front speakers that are mounted in door panel. ?? Any suggestions would be great...----------- Oh, and after i added the stuff from Raamaudio i can actuall here my front kicker's putting out some highs now.. yea i here symbols now...And bose thumpers better to..
Last edited by carls2004; May 12, 2014 at 06:18 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
The issue with this is that the 3.5" speakers in the doors can't handle much more power than they're already getting without distorting, so there won't be all that much of a volume gain in the front by adding the amp, and cranking up just the rears doesn't sound too good.
If you pull the stock subs and put 6.5" components in the doors you'll be able to feed them everything the amp can put out, which will partially make up for pulling the original subs.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
That's perfect for the 6501's. After installed, set the HU HPF around 80Hz and you can prob get the amp gain almost all the way up. The speakers can easily play down to 50Hz, but you'll have to turn the gain down a bit to prevent distortion if you like to really crank it up.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: Tampa FL
I dunno. I really, REALLY wish I had a 5-channel amp - two to new front speakers, two to the new components in the back and one to the sub.
I did a three-channel amp, with two to the new rear components and one to the sub. I left the fronts connected to the stock HU.
All that sound goes up in the air with the top down.
I did a three-channel amp, with two to the new rear components and one to the sub. I left the fronts connected to the stock HU.
All that sound goes up in the air with the top down.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 962
Likes: 61
From: oswego ny
Im running some wires today.. And wonder where i tap in for the Amp remote on.. On my deck the blue/wh wire is already connected to the os-2bose unit.. Or do i still tie into that blue/wh wire
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: Tampa FL
Do not pull front door speakers unless you are going to put in sub. I may be wrong, but I think it's been discussed quite a bit. I even toyed with the idea and I looked at all sorts of options including those flat subs that theoretically could fit in the door.
I may be wrong but the way that Vette stereo is engineered is a little weird. Yes, those front door speakers are powered from the HU but there are actually mini-amps in the door that further drive those small bass speakers.
So when you take the front speakers out and replace them with whatever, it's not gonna sound right unless you pick up bass from somewhere.
Mark's solution is a lot better. Bridge two of those channels for a sub. If you really want to be sure, pay a little more for the 5-channel amp.
Sound solutions for convertibles are very different than those for hardtops, so just ignore a lot of the hardtop solutions. All they need is a three channel amp with a sub and two good coaxials.
I may be wrong but the way that Vette stereo is engineered is a little weird. Yes, those front door speakers are powered from the HU but there are actually mini-amps in the door that further drive those small bass speakers.
So when you take the front speakers out and replace them with whatever, it's not gonna sound right unless you pick up bass from somewhere.
Mark's solution is a lot better. Bridge two of those channels for a sub. If you really want to be sure, pay a little more for the 5-channel amp.
Sound solutions for convertibles are very different than those for hardtops, so just ignore a lot of the hardtop solutions. All they need is a three channel amp with a sub and two good coaxials.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
I haven't really setup my new system yet. Took it for a ride to a friends house last night. With the top down or top up, I really heard the rear speakers more than the front. Most likely because the tweeters are seperate from the woofers and aimed forwards at us. So, that being said, I don't know if having front speakers only on a convertible is what everyone would want.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 962
Likes: 61
From: oswego ny
Thanks for all input guys.. Heres where iam,, I ran power back to rear partition area, also ran front and rear [amp] speaker wires off back of deck to that area, and have amp remote turn on wire ran and hooked up.. Taken it one step at a time before hooking up.. Gotta run speaker wires thru acordian at doors still,, to hook to crossovers.. which ill stuff somewhere under dash..
I had planed to attemp to mount amp behind pass seat, but after looking i think im going to just hide it behind waterfall area... as it should be cooler there. AND running wires to that area is easy, and keeps wires out of sight in that area..
Only thing i did wrong so far was i BROKE my trac control button on my console.. ughhhhhhhhhhhh.... Anyone suggest where to buy.. ---Ill keep ya posted on the amp hook up..
I had planed to attemp to mount amp behind pass seat, but after looking i think im going to just hide it behind waterfall area... as it should be cooler there. AND running wires to that area is easy, and keeps wires out of sight in that area..
Only thing i did wrong so far was i BROKE my trac control button on my console.. ughhhhhhhhhhhh.... Anyone suggest where to buy.. ---Ill keep ya posted on the amp hook up..
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
Take a look at this thread. I put a bunch of pictures from my recent install in my C5 Convertible.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...y-c5-vert.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...y-c5-vert.html
Last edited by Mike Beck; May 13, 2014 at 10:31 PM. Reason: Forgot link!
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
Sorry, I linked the wrong thread! Here is the correct thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...dio-bezel.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...dio-bezel.html
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 962
Likes: 61
From: oswego ny
Finally got the polk 6.5 in the doors and added amp. I put amp behind water fall area [tight] but figured it cool better...then putting behind seat... Did quick adjust, and luv it alot better.. OH but i was wrong on my amp rating at rms, its not 75 @ 4ohms its 60. But all seems fine, except gotta get things a little better organized, and mounted like the crossovers.. Gives me the feeling of sloppy install in a vette. ??.. With amp behind waterfall, the wire's were easy to conceal.. Just ran out of light here last nite and lacked the time to get polk tweeter in left door panel. As of now crossover is powering a kicker DS 3.5 in left panel and a polk tweet in right door panel. lol..
NOW,, mmmmmmmmm.. gonna aim for better amp, or sub first ???.. Amp is pretty low price unit but seems to work good and is CEA rated, and no noise from amp/wiring at all,, coming from speakers.
NOW,, mmmmmmmmm.. gonna aim for better amp, or sub first ???.. Amp is pretty low price unit but seems to work good and is CEA rated, and no noise from amp/wiring at all,, coming from speakers.
Last edited by carls2004; May 18, 2014 at 02:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 962
Likes: 61
From: oswego ny
That's perfect for the 6501's. After installed, set the HU HPF around 80Hz and you can prob get the amp gain almost all the way up. The speakers can easily play down to 50Hz, but you'll have to turn the gain down a bit to prevent distortion if you like to really crank it up.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
If you set the HPF somewhere around 50-80 (experiment with it) you'll be able to turn up the volume more, while putting less stress on the speakers.
If you download some test tone MP3's from the net it's not that hard to adjust the HU and amp settings very accurately.
The 6" speakers in my doors are only getting the 80-400Hz signals at about 150wRMS each. If I turn up the volume until I hit a 'limit', on most songs the 6" are fine, but with songs that are real heavy with low end bass they tend to distort. I'm aware that they do, so I make sure to not leave it there for very long. I could up the radio HPF to eliminate the high-volume distortion, or lower the amp gain for those speakers, but I like the way it sounds now at my normal listening level, so I'm willing to live with it like it is. You could do the same.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 962
Likes: 61
From: oswego ny
You can send the full signal to the fronts, if you never crank it up to max volume you'll be fine. However, the 'limit' of the 6" speakers will be that you can only go so loud with the full signal since they aren't designed to play the super low bass frequencies. You'll be able to hear the distortion if you turn it up too loud. No big deal every now and then, but if that's your norm your speakers won't last as long as they should.
If you set the HPF somewhere around 50-80 (experiment with it) you'll be able to turn up the volume more, while putting less stress on the speakers.
If you download some test tone MP3's from the net it's not that hard to adjust the HU and amp settings very accurately.
The 6" speakers in my doors are only getting the 80-400Hz signals at about 150wRMS each. If I turn up the volume until I hit a 'limit', on most songs the 6" are fine, but with songs that are real heavy with low end bass they tend to distort. I'm aware that they do, so I make sure to not leave it there for very long. I could up the radio HPF to eliminate the high-volume distortion, or lower the amp gain for those speakers, but I like the way it sounds now at my normal listening level, so I'm willing to live with it like it is. You could do the same.
If you set the HPF somewhere around 50-80 (experiment with it) you'll be able to turn up the volume more, while putting less stress on the speakers.
If you download some test tone MP3's from the net it's not that hard to adjust the HU and amp settings very accurately.
The 6" speakers in my doors are only getting the 80-400Hz signals at about 150wRMS each. If I turn up the volume until I hit a 'limit', on most songs the 6" are fine, but with songs that are real heavy with low end bass they tend to distort. I'm aware that they do, so I make sure to not leave it there for very long. I could up the radio HPF to eliminate the high-volume distortion, or lower the amp gain for those speakers, but I like the way it sounds now at my normal listening level, so I'm willing to live with it like it is. You could do the same.
I unhooked the rear speakers after adding the sub, and bridged chanel 3-4 on the amp for the sub..
Last edited by carls2004; May 19, 2014 at 08:40 PM. Reason: forgot info
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: South River NJ
You can send the full signal to the fronts, if you never crank it up to max volume you'll be fine. However, the 'limit' of the 6" speakers will be that you can only go so loud with the full signal since they aren't designed to play the super low bass frequencies. You'll be able to hear the distortion if you turn it up too loud. No big deal every now and then, but if that's your norm your speakers won't last as long as they should.
If you set the HPF somewhere around 50-80 (experiment with it) you'll be able to turn up the volume more, while putting less stress on the speakers.
If you download some test tone MP3's from the net it's not that hard to adjust the HU and amp settings very accurately.
The 6" speakers in my doors are only getting the 80-400Hz signals at about 150wRMS each. If I turn up the volume until I hit a 'limit', on most songs the 6" are fine, but with songs that are real heavy with low end bass they tend to distort. I'm aware that they do, so I make sure to not leave it there for very long. I could up the radio HPF to eliminate the high-volume distortion, or lower the amp gain for those speakers, but I like the way it sounds now at my normal listening level, so I'm willing to live with it like it is. You could do the same.
If you set the HPF somewhere around 50-80 (experiment with it) you'll be able to turn up the volume more, while putting less stress on the speakers.
If you download some test tone MP3's from the net it's not that hard to adjust the HU and amp settings very accurately.
The 6" speakers in my doors are only getting the 80-400Hz signals at about 150wRMS each. If I turn up the volume until I hit a 'limit', on most songs the 6" are fine, but with songs that are real heavy with low end bass they tend to distort. I'm aware that they do, so I make sure to not leave it there for very long. I could up the radio HPF to eliminate the high-volume distortion, or lower the amp gain for those speakers, but I like the way it sounds now at my normal listening level, so I'm willing to live with it like it is. You could do the same.
One thing I will say is this: To me, the rear speakers are the most important location to spend good money on in a convertible! I finally finished the system (got a sub from Dennis) and got everything adjusted the other day. Have been driving around top down windows down, really surprised how well of a sound stage it has.
The sky decided to open-up but luckily I had put the top up when I stopped at a store for a minute. I had to drive with the windows closed (I really don't like doing that anymore) and low and behold, I finally truly heard the FRONT speakers!
It was a whole new experience. Driving with the windows and top down you barely hear the front speakers without setting the fader to about 75% front, 25% rear. I set it back to 50/50 with everything closed-up.
Honestly, with a convertible and driving top-down and windows-down, I could care less about the front speakers anymore.