Stereo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
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From: Honolulu HI
Stereo
First off, I know nothing about sound systems. I bought a car w/ a big stereo in it. However, when I turn the volume up, the stock speakers really vibrate a lot. Wouldn't you normally disconnect stock speakers if you were going to put in a big system? If not, what should I do to correct this problem?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
First off, I know nothing about sound systems. I bought a car w/ a big stereo in it. However, when I turn the volume up, the stock speakers really vibrate a lot. Wouldn't you normally disconnect stock speakers if you were going to put in a big system? If not, what should I do to correct this problem?
Can you outline what you mean by big stereo? Having lots of speakers doesn't count. A big stereo would be an after market head unit, a large amp...maybe two, and some speakers and a sub.
If you can tell us what components your stereo has I can help deduce what's wrong or missing for good sound.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
From: Johnson City Tennessee
If the stock speakers are rattling at high volume then there are a couple things you can do.
1 try to adjust the power input to them to a lower level. Adjust the fade more toward the rear / bigger speakers. Also try adjusting with the main volume at around 75%-90% not max. Most big systems that sound really good don't have every **** everywhere on max.
2 they may just be old, tired, blown, dry rotted etc. If adjusting doesn't help then its time to replace with an upgrade.
3 If the speakers seem to be good but you've adjusted them so low its ridiculous then they may just be overpowered from the time they were installed. Time to start checking numbers & get better speakers.
If you get speakers with a higher wattage than you're stereo or amp can give them then you'll get a good 10-15 years out of them. If you go under they may blow right away or just not last very long. Try to avoid off brands as they tend to always display huge numbers at low prices & just suck like sparkomatic. Look for a big magnet. That will tell you if it really has oomf. Pioneer, Kicker, Sony, Kenwood, etc etc All good brands at a decent price. You can consistently almost always get anything you see in the store on ebaY for less than 1/2 price with shipping included.
1 try to adjust the power input to them to a lower level. Adjust the fade more toward the rear / bigger speakers. Also try adjusting with the main volume at around 75%-90% not max. Most big systems that sound really good don't have every **** everywhere on max.
2 they may just be old, tired, blown, dry rotted etc. If adjusting doesn't help then its time to replace with an upgrade.
3 If the speakers seem to be good but you've adjusted them so low its ridiculous then they may just be overpowered from the time they were installed. Time to start checking numbers & get better speakers.
If you get speakers with a higher wattage than you're stereo or amp can give them then you'll get a good 10-15 years out of them. If you go under they may blow right away or just not last very long. Try to avoid off brands as they tend to always display huge numbers at low prices & just suck like sparkomatic. Look for a big magnet. That will tell you if it really has oomf. Pioneer, Kicker, Sony, Kenwood, etc etc All good brands at a decent price. You can consistently almost always get anything you see in the store on ebaY for less than 1/2 price with shipping included.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Look for a big magnet. That will tell you if it really has oomf. Pioneer, Kicker, Sony, Kenwood, etc etc All good brands at a decent price. You can consistently almost always get anything you see in the store on ebaY for less than 1/2 price with shipping included.[/COLOR][/SIZE]
I'm sorry but that just isn't true. The magnet itself may be big and cheap with poor motor and cone design and the speaker will sound like poop. Not trying to pick a fight, just clearing that up a bit. wasn't meant as rude at all.
Yes, some very good speakers do have large magnets but that doesn't mean that every speaker that has a large magnet will sound great. I have a set of Hitron 6.5" speakers I use for demonstrations and fittings because they have massive magnets. The truth is they sound worse than anything I prefer to use that has a smaller magnet.
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville Iowa
Stereo equipment is like pretty much everything else in the world. You tend to get what you pay for. You didn't mention the make and/or model of vehicle, but for the sake of discussion, we will assume that we are talking about a Corvette. Most speakers of the C-3 era have paper cones. these tend to dry out and disintigrate with age. When this happens, they tend to either quit working or start sounding like crap. Also, if you have a system that generates a lot of bass, mounting bolts will vibrate loose,which will give you a tinny sounding vibration.That being said, more information is required re: Brand and wattage of head unit, size and location of speakers, size of amp, etc.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
From: Johnson City Tennessee
I'm sorry but that just isn't true. The magnet itself may be big and cheap with poor motor and cone design and the speaker will sound like poop. Not trying to pick a fight, just clearing that up a bit. wasn't meant as rude at all.
Yes, some very good speakers do have large magnets but that doesn't mean that every speaker that has a large magnet will sound great. I have a set of Hitron 6.5" speakers I use for demonstrations and fittings because they have massive magnets. The truth is they sound worse than anything I prefer to use that has a smaller magnet.
Yes, some very good speakers do have large magnets but that doesn't mean that every speaker that has a large magnet will sound great. I have a set of Hitron 6.5" speakers I use for demonstrations and fittings because they have massive magnets. The truth is they sound worse than anything I prefer to use that has a smaller magnet.
Sorry, that did sound a little all encompassing. I think I should elaborate with an example. If you've got a 15" speaker & the box says 2000W for $30 & its got a 1oz magnet somethings not right somewhere. I think we've all run into that type of scenario with off brand stuff in the past. It sounds like hes starting from scratch so I was thinking from that perspective. Anyway, dismiss that statement & just go with name brand.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Canastota Ny
in other words here. it sounds like whoever put the equipment in that car either put speakers that were not rated for the wattage of the amplifier or stereo pushing them. or they just left the factory speakers in there and are pushing those. either way what your problem is, is distortion. match the RMS wattage of the speaker with the power source. if the speakers say they can handle 300 watts RMS that means 150 watts EACH, 60 RMS is 30 and so on. so take that into concideration when buying new speakers.
Last edited by 1nicecorvette; Sep 13, 2008 at 01:44 PM. Reason: just plain cant spell
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
Can you outline what you mean by big stereo? Having lots of speakers doesn't count. A big stereo would be an after market head unit, a large amp...maybe two, and some speakers and a sub.
If you can tell us what components your stereo has I can help deduce what's wrong or missing for good sound.
If you can tell us what components your stereo has I can help deduce what's wrong or missing for good sound.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
in other words here. it sounds like whoever put the equipment in that car either put speakers that were not rated for the wattage of the amplifier or stereo pushing them. or they just left the factory speakers in there and are pushing those. either way what your problem is, is distortion. match the RMS wattage of the speaker with the power source. if the speakers say they can handle 300 watts RMS that means 150 watts EACH, 60 RMS is 30 and so on. so take that into concideration when buying new speakers.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 441
Likes: 22
From: Northeast OH
The head unit is the part in the dashboard that has the radio and/or CD player or tape deck. The part that sends the signal to the amplifier in the back. If you have big speakers behind the seats you may as well just disconnect the factory speakers in the dash.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
OK, cool; thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Canastota Ny
someone went the extra mile to uh 
install a stereo system in your car! some advice? remove everything after the radio! 
as for the front speakers they are only 4x6 and im sure if stock are dead after being hit with the wattage off the head unit. after 30 years that paper speaker is dust to begin with.
this is an easy project for you to do. you can 1 of two things.
1- replace the front speakers with a nice plate setup. that is a 2 1/2 or 3" speaker with a 1" tweeter together on a plate and installs where the factory speaker lays. easy
2- you can replace with a regular 4x6 and add a capacitor inline of various values, to raise the HZ (hertz) to lets say 500. more technical.. i would go with the first idea. here is a pic of what im talking about
NOTE: THE HEADUNIT IS THE STEREO ITSELF
install a stereo system in your car! some advice? remove everything after the radio! as for the front speakers they are only 4x6 and im sure if stock are dead after being hit with the wattage off the head unit. after 30 years that paper speaker is dust to begin with.
this is an easy project for you to do. you can 1 of two things.
1- replace the front speakers with a nice plate setup. that is a 2 1/2 or 3" speaker with a 1" tweeter together on a plate and installs where the factory speaker lays. easy
2- you can replace with a regular 4x6 and add a capacitor inline of various values, to raise the HZ (hertz) to lets say 500. more technical.. i would go with the first idea. here is a pic of what im talking about
NOTE: THE HEADUNIT IS THE STEREO ITSELF
Last edited by 1nicecorvette; Sep 16, 2008 at 08:32 PM.