Radio questio
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
Radio questio
I put a $100 Kenwood in my C3. I've replaced dash and floor speakers and added (2) 6X9 enclosures behind the seats. I've tweaked the equalizer, but I get no "thump" at all from base. Can I add an inexpensive amplifier to this and get better sound? I'm not looking to rattle windows, just want to hear my music.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
Possibilities:
1. The 2 sets of speakers are wired "out-of-phase" so that the music output from them is cancelling each other. If you don't understand that answer, Google is your 'friend'.
2. The speakers don't have good bass reproduction capabilities.
3. You haven't gone thru the set up procedure to establish the equalization parameters.
and, of course...
4. sumpthin' else
1. The 2 sets of speakers are wired "out-of-phase" so that the music output from them is cancelling each other. If you don't understand that answer, Google is your 'friend'.
2. The speakers don't have good bass reproduction capabilities.
3. You haven't gone thru the set up procedure to establish the equalization parameters.
and, of course...
4. sumpthin' else
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
Possibilities:
1. The 2 sets of speakers are wired "out-of-phase" so that the music output from them is cancelling each other. If you don't understand that answer, Google is your 'friend'.
2. The speakers don't have good bass reproduction capabilities.
3. You haven't gone thru the set up procedure to establish the equalization parameters.
and, of course...
4. sumpthin' else
1. The 2 sets of speakers are wired "out-of-phase" so that the music output from them is cancelling each other. If you don't understand that answer, Google is your 'friend'.
2. The speakers don't have good bass reproduction capabilities.
3. You haven't gone thru the set up procedure to establish the equalization parameters.
and, of course...
4. sumpthin' else
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
Simple answer is yes. But it can get complicated. In my '73, I'm running dash speakers, kick panel speakers, and a small sub-woofer in the back. Dash speakers are powered by the head unit. I installed a 4 channel amp for the kick panel speakers and the sub-woofer. The front 2 channels power the kick panel speakers. The rear two channels are bridged to power the sub-woofer. My head unit has sub-woofer control so that helps. My system can be loud enough to hurt your ears. But, my system wasn't inexpensive.
It would be best to somehow filter the signal so that the deeper bass frequencies are blocked from getting to your smaller dash and floor speakers. The 6x9's should be providing most of the bass.
You might touch base with Richard454. If I remember correctly, he used to work for Kenwood and should have some tricks up his sleeve to help you out.
Good luck,
DC
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 485
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
Odd...I have a Kenwood media player, new Sony kick panel speakers and a pair of Polk Audio bookshelf speakers in the very back and no problems with volume or bass. I would suspect the 6x9's are the issue...perhaps free air (no tight enclosure) or located in a bad spot. Have you tried setting the back balance all the way on to see what they sound like by themselves?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
Odd...I have a Kenwood media player, new Sony kick panel speakers and a pair of Polk Audio bookshelf speakers in the very back and no problems with volume or bass. I would suspect the 6x9's are the issue...perhaps free air (no tight enclosure) or located in a bad spot. Have you tried setting the back balance all the way on to see what they sound like by themselves?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,876
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
To check if the speakers are in phase-
Turn the bass up all the way- at a low volume- turn the balance left to right. You should have NOTICEABLE (aprox 3dB) more bass when balancer in centered. IF not the speakers are out of phase and working against each out. The polarity is wrong.
There's a trick to using a 1.5V battery to check polarity really easily. Positive of the battery hooked to the positive wire of the spaker-negative to the negative speaker wire- speaker will move forward.
Could also be an acoustic short circuit.. I'll save that for later!!!
let us know-
Richard
Turn the bass up all the way- at a low volume- turn the balance left to right. You should have NOTICEABLE (aprox 3dB) more bass when balancer in centered. IF not the speakers are out of phase and working against each out. The polarity is wrong.
There's a trick to using a 1.5V battery to check polarity really easily. Positive of the battery hooked to the positive wire of the spaker-negative to the negative speaker wire- speaker will move forward.
Could also be an acoustic short circuit.. I'll save that for later!!!
let us know-
Richard
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
C'mon Charley. Please show us where the OP said he didn't like your answer. It seems to me his reply to you in post #3 indicates he has ruled out the first 3 scenarios you presented.
Even if turns out you're right about out of phase wiring, your condescending attitude needs improvement.
If you're here to help, then help.
back at ya,DC
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
If you want help and you ask for it, be happy with what you get...even if it doesn't help you. Someone tried to help...and it was free!!
If you want to be 'politically correct', tune in to the Oprah network.
If you want to be 'politically correct', tune in to the Oprah network.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
Wtf are you gibbering about? I simply asked if an amplifier would improve my sound.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,188
Likes: 1,670
From: Long Island
You can get a sub that fits into the jack well.
I think it's Kenwood. It's self contained and really works well.
Kicker and Pioneer also make one .
Item #: 113KSCSW11
In stock
I think it's Kenwood. It's self contained and really works well.
Kicker and Pioneer also make one .
Kenwood KSC-SW11
Compact powered subwooferItem #: 113KSCSW11
In stock
- compact aluminum enclosure with 8-1/4" x 5-1/8" sub
- 75 watts RMS power amplifier (150 watts maximum)
- preamp- and speaker level-inputs plus wired remote
Last edited by BLUE1972; Apr 4, 2020 at 11:03 PM.