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General => Car audio => Topic started by: RyanManning on 02 April 2008, 17:50

Title: Help with audio instilation
Post by: RyanManning on 02 April 2008, 17:50
Hi I am a complete noob and this is my first car and my first attempt at car electronics. I was just wondering if I can change the two front speakers in my golf and use the power to the rear speakers on the front speakers as well as the normal power to the front speakers. Basically I want to get the most out of the front speakers without buying an amp.

Any help will be much appreciated

Thanks
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: Ruji on 02 April 2008, 19:09
I wouldnt advise connecting both channels direct from the head unit just for the front speakers only. If you have changed the front speakers, then buy some decent moderately powerful upgrades and if you have an aftermarket head unit, then the on board amp is enough to give you sufficient sounds from them.
Other than that, from an aftermarket headunit with the sufficient amount of pre-outs on the rear, can enable you to completely bypass every speaker connection and run everything off amps. but it means extra expenditure on an amp with the necessary amount of outputs whether you're lookin to connect front AND rear speakers or just the front..front speakers only meaning just get a 2 channel amp or 4 channel with a bridged connection using the maximum power of the amp that you possibly can. But in this event, you will have to carefully optimise the amp settings to a level of which it wont damage the speakers!
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: RyanManning on 03 April 2008, 09:10
Nice one. Thanks for the advice mate. I was thinking about getting ether of these speakers:


http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3916.html
or
http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-juice-js6c_p-23116.htm

With this headunit

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-sony-cdx-gt410u-xa-110ip_p-22865.htm

Anyone got an opinion on that stuff?
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: GavGti on 03 April 2008, 09:26
good choice getting components
either look good, can't go wrong with infinity

as for h/u - personally i don't like sony - too tinny sounding
try look for alpine, blaupunkt - can pick up some good second hand alpines with good spec for around 100
or look at some of there range and set a budget price, see what u get for ur money
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: S11EPS on 03 April 2008, 11:21
I concur with Gav - go for the Infinity numbers - the juice look good, but at 120wrms, you will need an amp to power them from day one; underpowered speakers get wrecked just as quick as over powered ones.

The Infinities will get enough power (just) from a decent, high-power head unit, but will still have the capability to be amplified as and when funds allow.

As for head units, again, I have to agree with gav - I really don't like the sound Sony output. I've never been a fan.
Personally I am a big fan of Alpine, Pioneer and Kenwood (in that order).

I would suggest you get into some audio stores, listen to some gear, then try and find it online - sound really is subjective; what one person loves another will hate, so rather than basing your purchasing solely on recommendations, I'd advise you get out and play with some kit, see what you like.

Oh, and in answer to your original question regarding powering the fronts with the front and rear outputs of the head unit - the answer is an empahtic no - each channel ouput of the headunit is designed to 'see' a specific load or impedance (measured in Ohms). If you start altering the impedance/load you run your equipment outside of its operational envelope and end up cooking it.
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 03 April 2008, 11:32
I have them Juice components, sounds pretty crappy atm tbh but that's because they aren't amped but I'm sure they will sound the shiz when I get them amped at the end of April.

As for a headunit this is the one I have:

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-alpine-cda-9880r_p-23169.htm

You have to buy the iPod cable seperately but they features this thing has is great, and it looks amazing...not too mention when your iPod is connected it works at the speed you can go, so if you're slow, it'll go slow, if you're fast, it'll work fast.

Caraudiocentre are top notch when it comes to ordering off them as well, I'm gonna be buying my amps and sub off them in a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: Ruji on 04 April 2008, 01:13
I gues every1 has there preference to what brand radio to go for from there own personal experience and sound expertise. There is nothing wrong with having a sony regardless as to how well brands such as Alpine, Pioneer etcc..perform.
I run a Sony unit but its cus av never bothered to change it as it came with me golf upon purchase and its prety decent...old..but decent. A lot of clarity and yess it is tinny but i prefer having a lot of tops at the front. Gives better optimised sound once u get a sub on the go to reali get a clear bass and treble sound output.

I admit i was never a fan of the Sony XPLOD range but i gues they grow on u after you have one. I wud definately consider one of there newer dearer units as theyr quite elegantly designed with rather nice distinctive white lighting.

I would however try and push to a minimal of 2 pre-outs if your going down the route of adding amps. It then allows you to optimise your sound better if you have a front and rear output for amps otherwise your going to be running amps from one preout and another (if required) from that amp if it has a follow up line out from it, otherwise you will have to get a splitter which creates 2 pre outs from just the one pre-out from the back of the head unit which will be similar agen so see what you can fork out on i gues. check out some of the radios mentioned by the other posts to get an idea or continue to browse on the same website where you found the sony:-)
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: RyanManning on 04 April 2008, 02:10
Thanks for all your help guys. i have been looking around and this came up

http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/alpine-cde9873rb-spe17cs-speaker-kce422i-ipod-p-1904.html

I was wondering how those components stacked up with the others. also will the headunit and speekers perform better together because they are the same brand ?

Thanks
Title: Re: Help with audio instilation
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 06 April 2008, 15:37
I don't think it really makes alot of difference if they are the same make or not (maybe some of the higher end stuff does but I'm not sure).

Haven't used that headunit myself but it's got an iPod full speed function which is defo a plus!

As Ruji said everyone has their own preference on what is good or not, those speakers are good however as I bought my friend them for his 18th birthday, and running from this headunit http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-alpine-cde-9850ri_p-22867.htm they are pretty damn good.