stereo help

krit · Outlaw Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 145

I have an 02 Outback LS with the 6 factory Kenwood speakers in it. I just had a pair of 6.5" MB Quart tower speakers from MonsterTower put on the tower (and a 250-watt Alpine amp installed). They all run from the same power supply. The problem is, I like my music loud and I can tell that the factory speakers can't take much power. I wouldn't mind replacing them at a decent price. So my question is: If I need to replace them, what should I get? Or is there something else I can add (maybe a sub-woofer or crossover) to my current setup to make it sound better? I would rather take the cheapest route, but I'll replace if necessary.

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

get a sub and see if that will help first. you may be able to then turn down the bass on the 6 speakers you already have, or just use a cross over to switch off all the lows completely. that's what I did and it is o.k. now.

krit · Outlaw Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 145

Thanks for replying, Breezer. Sorry if my questions start sounding dumb, but i'm female and don't understand any of this stuff.

What is a good sub to get?

Dees · Posted: May 20, 2003 11:07 am Post subject:

it depends. do you have all the speakers hooked to the amp??? if you do I would do a high pass cross over so you don't blow the Kenwoods with the amp and add a sub. and maybe an amp to run the sub and/or tower speakers. But that not very cheap to do adding another amp

we have our 6 factory clarions running off a Kicker IX404 and the Deafcon III and fosgate 12 bridged running off a Fosgate 700x. it sounds sweet. we will probable upgrade the 6 speakers later in the year.

Dees · Posted: May 20, 2003 11:08 am Post subject:

oh and you dont sound dumb

Hyperryd · Addict Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 604 City: Central Cali

Your best bet is to run a seperate amp for the 6 Kenwoods with a high pass crossover turned almost all the way to the high side. The bass is what causes most of the distortion. Just watch the cones of the speakers when adjusting the crossover. Turn up the music pretty loud. Adjust the crossover until the cones are barely moving at all and the highs are clean. Of course the music will be louder, but you will have a lot less bass. You might want to add a sub to give it a little more kick. Have fun!

krit · Outlaw Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 145

thanks for the info. what kind of high pass crossover (i.e. average price i should pay for one and where to get one)? also, since i need another amp for the 6 speakers, what wattage would be good?

SupraBoarder · Posted: May 20, 2003 11:49 am Post subject:

just get new speakers... then u can have fun by adding an amp and a sub later. if you amp the 6 kenwoods that are already in there, they're just going to sound like stuff.

SupraBoarder · Posted: May 20, 2003 11:49 am Post subject:

BTW, I went through the same problem as you. Now mine's pretty loud.

krit · Outlaw Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 145

What did you end up replacing the factory speakers with?

SupraBoarder · Posted: May 20, 2003 1:57 pm Post subject:

I just emailed you krit. if you want to, you can post it here for others.

Hyperryd · Addict Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 604 City: Central Cali

Most new amps have crossovers built into them. A good way to go is a four channel amp since you have so many speakers you can break them up better. Make sure the amp has a high pass crossover not just low pass. An adjustable crossover is better than a set one, but not neccesary. I really doubt there is anything wrong with the speakers you have, they just don't like bass. In a boat there is no roof or windows to keep the sound in, so we turn the volume much higher. The speakers are trying to make loud bass which they are not really designed to do.

MossSavage · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 10

yup crossover and sub best thing u can do for the least amount of cash. Then next get a amp dedicated to the sub.

Johnny G · Outlaw Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 100 City: Orlando

I'm not an expert, that's why I took my boat to an expert. Last year I had them install a kicker amp, sub, tower speakers and two addtional alpines in the boat. It sounded great! But, I just replaced the 4 stock kenwoood (same as yours) and the alpines with 6 Kicker KM60 coaxial marine speakers....unbelievable difference. I would definately change the your speakers, add a sub and be sure amp has enough power to push it all. The kicker speakers are reasonable, less than $100 pair.

Good Luck

oh, I have a Launch if you wondering how I know that your kenwoods were the same as mine.

krit · Outlaw Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 145

Thanks for all the input, everyone.

OK, well, i found out that the 4-channel amp is just running the 2 tower speakers. The guy who installed it said he could put a sub and a 5-channel speaker in (to replace the 4-channel) to run all the speakers. Do I REALLY need a 5-channel, or will the 4-channel work? And if I do get the sub and amp put in, will I be able to tell a big difference??

Hyperryd · Addict Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 604 City: Central Cali

Use the four channel for the tower and boat speakers and add a seperate amp for the sub. You will notice a huge difference in sound and volume. The reason for not running the 5-channel is with one power supply feeding all five channels it will probably over heat. With a seperate amp you have two power supplies and a lot more area on the heat sinks to dissapate heat. Your system will last longer and is upgradeable where a 5channel is a one time thing, I one channel croaks everything goes.

MossSavage · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 10

Hopefully the 4 channel amp is bridged for the tower speakers, or else you are wasting 2 channels.

You will get much better sound with a sub (you wont overkill your other speakers trying to reproduce the lower sounds. That will take away a lot of extra stress on them making them sound cleaner.

if u do get a sub, get a seperate amp for it. Do not run all speakers with one amp. You will definitely overheat it often...if you like playing it loud. Also, you want your sub amp to push the most wattage in your system.