Advice on Speaker Combination
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May be a stupid question/idea, or me severly misunderstanding the way this is supposed to work- but what is the viability of using a 3 way component system (like the Focal ps165f3) and putting the 6.5 and tweeter in the front door like a 2 way running off the front amp channel, and then putting the 3” mid woofer in the rear to replace the stock 5.25s and running them dedicated off the rear amp channel instead as a part of the bigger woofer/tweeter combo?
Le Mans Master
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I wouldn't do that. The 3 way set is designed to be an entire front stage. Removing the mid-range to place in the rear would throw the stage way off. I know you can manipulate output by altering amp channels and stuff, but you won't get a great sound. Go with a 2 way component set and a set of 5.25's (or 6.5's) in the back. In a 3 way set, the 3-4" mid-range provides most of the music being heard, typically from about 500 Hz to around 4K Hz. That's the main content of frequencies for music.
Last edited by Pb82 Ronin; Aug 9, 2019 at 08:15 AM.
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I wouldn't do that. The 3 way set is designed to be an entire front stage. Removing the mid-range to place in the rear would throw the stage way off. I know you can manipulate output by altering amp channels and stuff, but you won't get a great sound. Go with a 2 way component set and a set of 5.25's (or 6.5's) in the back. In a 3 way set, the 3-4" mid-range provides most of the music being heard, typically from about 500 Hz to around 4K Hz. That's the main content of frequencies for music.
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Plans have changed somewhat. I realized I will save a lot of money utilizing the JX mono I already have. So am now planning to either get the JL VX400/4i or the Kicker iQ500.4 and run my front components active. Then either keep factor rears or get dayton audio RS100-4's and run off the 4400nex headunit which allows for some basic EQ/time alignment etc.
Kicker IQ is $450 and JL VX is $850. Is the JL worth 2x more than the Kicker? Is JL's Tun that much better than Kicker's Tweeq?
Edit: Or would solely being able to tune the front components, while having the subwoofer and rear fill off of the headunits capabilities be a bad idea?
Kicker IQ is $450 and JL VX is $850. Is the JL worth 2x more than the Kicker? Is JL's Tun that much better than Kicker's Tweeq?
Edit: Or would solely being able to tune the front components, while having the subwoofer and rear fill off of the headunits capabilities be a bad idea?
Last edited by NP Doom; Aug 19, 2019 at 02:53 PM.
Le Mans Master
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Easy for me...VXi all the way. Take that a face value though as I have ZERO experience with Kickers DSP. Small edit though...you won't be able to run all the way active on a 400/4. You'll need a minimum of 6 channels to run active 3 ways (or component set in front and rear speaks), and the 800/8 if you want to include the rear speakers with the active 3 way up front. Think about it like this. True active equals 1 driver per amp channel. You can run the 4 channel, but you'll have to stay passive up front if you want amplified power to your rear speakers UNLESS! you're going to ditch them and just run components up front.
Another neat feature of the VXi, you can daisy chain amps together, meaning your sub amp will also be able to be controlled through VXi. (That means you can tune your sub with DSP too). Do not appear that you can do that with Tweeq.
Another neat feature of the VXi, you can daisy chain amps together, meaning your sub amp will also be able to be controlled through VXi. (That means you can tune your sub with DSP too). Do not appear that you can do that with Tweeq.
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Easy for me...VXi all the way. Take that a face value though as I have ZERO experience with Kickers DSP. Small edit though...you won't be able to run all the way active on a 400/4. You'll need a minimum of 6 channels to run active 3 ways (or component set in front and rear speaks), and the 800/8 if you want to include the rear speakers with the active 3 way up front. Think about it like this. True active equals 1 driver per amp channel. You can run the 4 channel, but you'll have to stay passive up front if you want amplified power to your rear speakers UNLESS! you're going to ditch them and just run components up front.
Another neat feature of the VXi, you can daisy chain amps together, meaning your sub amp will also be able to be controlled through VXi. (That means you can tune your sub with DSP too). Do not appear that you can do that with Tweeq.
Another neat feature of the VXi, you can daisy chain amps together, meaning your sub amp will also be able to be controlled through VXi. (That means you can tune your sub with DSP too). Do not appear that you can do that with Tweeq.
Ok I think it should work then- 4 channel active for front 2 way components, with the rear speakers driven off the 14w rms that the headunit offers (given the drivers sensitivity would put them around 100-102db so I figure that would be loud enough for fill anyways) and the sub run off of the JX500/1d but no DSP since that would be separate from the other amps DSP. Do you think I would really need the EQ ability of a DSP for the rears/sub as the headunit has some basic capabilties? Or could I get away with just the fronts since they will be providing most of the soundstage? I will have to do some more reading and spec comparison with the Kicker and JL DSP's.
Edit: I got the mic and fooled around with the auto EQ of the head unit- once it does its thing, it will open up the ability to go in and fine tune things yourself- can change time alignment, hpf or lpf (but not both) for each independant channel and can change the slopes as well.
Edit2: Just read about the daisy chain ability of the VXi, that is very intriguing haha. Whats an extra $400 at the end of the day haha
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Last edited by NP Doom; Aug 19, 2019 at 04:16 PM.
Le Mans Master
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Both scenarios will work for you. The crappy part is, I can't say which you'll like more because I don't know your preferences or how much money you're willing to spend. You could always try the cheapest route first, and see if it satisfies you. This audio game is a long one for sure...
My advice is, if you're willing to spend the money, VXi is almost impossible to beat from just the sheer functionality and tuning ability of it. It's truly the last amp you'll ever need to buy (unless you upgrade to more channels later). The factory Pioneer "DSP" functions are NOT a DSP. They are more like very adjustable crossovers. You won't hurt your speakers with the signal you send, and then you have a 13 band EQ to dial it all in, that's about its limit. You simply can't compare the VXi tunability to the NEX Pioneer. I have both...I've used both...I tune with VXi.
My advice is, if you're willing to spend the money, VXi is almost impossible to beat from just the sheer functionality and tuning ability of it. It's truly the last amp you'll ever need to buy (unless you upgrade to more channels later). The factory Pioneer "DSP" functions are NOT a DSP. They are more like very adjustable crossovers. You won't hurt your speakers with the signal you send, and then you have a 13 band EQ to dial it all in, that's about its limit. You simply can't compare the VXi tunability to the NEX Pioneer. I have both...I've used both...I tune with VXi.
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Both scenarios will work for you. The crappy part is, I can't say which you'll like more because I don't know your preferences or how much money you're willing to spend. You could always try the cheapest route first, and see if it satisfies you. This audio game is a long one for sure...
My advice is, if you're willing to spend the money, VXi is almost impossible to beat from just the sheer functionality and tuning ability of it. It's truly the last amp you'll ever need to buy (unless you upgrade to more channels later). The factory Pioneer "DSP" functions are NOT a DSP. They are more like very adjustable crossovers. You won't hurt your speakers with the signal you send, and then you have a 13 band EQ to dial it all in, that's about its limit. You simply can't compare the VXi tunability to the NEX Pioneer. I have both...I've used both...I tune with VXi.
My advice is, if you're willing to spend the money, VXi is almost impossible to beat from just the sheer functionality and tuning ability of it. It's truly the last amp you'll ever need to buy (unless you upgrade to more channels later). The factory Pioneer "DSP" functions are NOT a DSP. They are more like very adjustable crossovers. You won't hurt your speakers with the signal you send, and then you have a 13 band EQ to dial it all in, that's about its limit. You simply can't compare the VXi tunability to the NEX Pioneer. I have both...I've used both...I tune with VXi.
As always, your insights and advice are greatly appreciated! Knowing myself, I'll probably be happy with whatever the improvement is
Ill prob go cheaper and if that doesnt do the trick, trouble shoot and upgrade from there.
Burning Brakes
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If your still looking for front speakers..the focals i got sound great..you do lose the lower end base ..but thats what the sub is for. They sound a million times better than the bose woofers with the jl 3.5's.
Im going with the jl 500 mono amp and vette nuts corner sub
Im going with the jl 500 mono amp and vette nuts corner sub
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so may look at some others if the Focals are particularly lacking in that department. (I dont like boomy, rattling, loud bass for the sake of it- more, I love me some nice tight/accurate bass that hits you like a quick jab in the gut, if that makes sense).
Burning Brakes
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The focals arent lacking..its just the nature of 6 inch speakers..they sound very clesr and have plenty of bass..just not the deep base of a sub..no components of this size will..
They sound great and i could expsriment with sending more bass to them..but once i get the sub i wont need to.
They sound great and i could expsriment with sending more bass to them..but once i get the sub i wont need to.
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The focals arent lacking..its just the nature of 6 inch speakers..they sound very clesr and have plenty of bass..just not the deep base of a sub..no components of this size will..
They sound great and i could expsriment with sending more bass to them..but once i get the sub i wont need to.
They sound great and i could expsriment with sending more bass to them..but once i get the sub i wont need to.
Le Mans Master
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Duly noted, thank you! Sounds like you are happy with your switch? I love me some bass, and I know that the sub will handle that, but would be nice to get a little extra so may look at some others if the Focals are particularly lacking in that department. (I dont like boomy, rattling, loud bass for the sake of it- more, I love me some nice tight/accurate bass that hits you like a quick jab in the gut, if that makes sense).
so may look at some others if the Focals are particularly lacking in that department. (I dont like boomy, rattling, loud bass for the sake of it- more, I love me some nice tight/accurate bass that hits you like a quick jab in the gut, if that makes sense).
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I came across a fantastic deal for a factory refurb RD900/5 so snatched that up. I will either be looking at getting a Dayton DSP408 or a used Helix mini off of diyma.
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Newest Update:
All components have been purchased, next up is ordering installation items/accessories (amp kits, wires, sound deadening, etc)
Since Im running fronts active, decided to just buy the woofers and tweeters separately that way I wouldnt have a passive crossover I didnt need.
Parts List:
Amp JL RD900/5
SI TM65 mkIII 6.5 woofers
CDT DRT25 Tweeters
JL TWK88 DSP
Am going to keep the W6 for now, but am considering selling along with the JX amp and getting a SI 12BM mkV shallow mount.
Excited to get to the installing and tuning part!
All components have been purchased, next up is ordering installation items/accessories (amp kits, wires, sound deadening, etc)
Since Im running fronts active, decided to just buy the woofers and tweeters separately that way I wouldnt have a passive crossover I didnt need.
Parts List:
Amp JL RD900/5
SI TM65 mkIII 6.5 woofers
CDT DRT25 Tweeters
JL TWK88 DSP
Am going to keep the W6 for now, but am considering selling along with the JX amp and getting a SI 12BM mkV shallow mount.
Excited to get to the installing and tuning part!