Been talking to the talk audio guys, and the install I was planning for the z wont work:(

Cant use all the subs together as they will sound wrong and all the stuff I have got is a load of rubbish. Not sure what to do next, should I just go a head with it anyway and the hell to what they say, just use some of it or sell the lot and hope I get enough money to buy some decent stuff. Or sell the lot and spend it on the Z? not sure any more any advice welcome.

The sound isn't bad. Quality is reasonably, I just have little mid-range and bass definition. I have a top of the range Alpine headunit. If can't get decent sound from that, then I'll not bother with the ICE at all.

 

If you have good speakers and a good head unit and good wiring and you still cant get a nice sound, you need to be looking at speaker location and mounting.

 

Put the best speaker in the world in the wrong volume enclosure and pointing into bad areas it will always sound "off"

 

I know your not the kind of person to buy crap so I'd say something is amiss with the where and hows of your system rather than the componants themselves.

As I said, adding an amp will only give you a louder version of the sound your unhappy with. And if anything will make it worse.

If you have good speakers and a good head unit and good wiring and you still cant get a nice sound, you need to be looking at speaker location and mounting.

 

Put the best speaker in the world in the wrong volume enclosure and pointing into bad areas it will always sound "off"

 

I know your not the kind of person to buy crap so I'd say something is amiss with the where and hows of your system rather than the componants themselves.

 

Ok, well, I'll tell you what I did with the speakers. For the rears, I used the two Bose boxes and gutted them (I didn't have 6x4s in mine), just the 17cm rears. After gutting the boxes, I lined with with sound deadening material. Re-sealed the boxes, added sound deadening between mating surfaces and screwed speaker to box. Used sound deadening around the mount points and screwed that back to he car. I ran new cables from there to the front.

 

For the fronts, for some unbeknown reason, my Z came with one Bose box on the drivers' side and the metal frame for aftermarket speakers on the left.

 

I went out and sourced another metal frame for the drivers' side, covered both in sound deadening and boltng back to the car. Ran new cables here also.

 

I am thinking about ripping all the fronts out though and fitting gutted Bose speaker boxes. Sound from the rear speakers is slightly better quality.

The reason I want to run an amp to the speakers is because they only sound marginally better than the stock stuff I pulled out. I now have increased volume and no crackle, but they lack definition. If by doing what I have done, the system sounded like the one in my Leon, I'd be happy, but alas, it doesn't. Lacks bass and mid-range.

You will be lacking mid and low ranges with the fronts. The door space it too small for hitting any real bass.

 

You want to filter out the low ranges to your components and only have them playing High and mid range, while your Sub handles the Bass. They will sound pants till you get the sub fitted.

Is that where I'd need a cross-over? My current headunit has its own bass/sub output.

As I said, adding an amp will only give you a louder version of the sound your unhappy with. And if anything will make it worse.

 

I'm sorry but I disagree with this. A sensible separate amp should always sound better than running straight from the head unit. The amp modules inside headunits are very small and must be fairly cheap when you consider everything else your getting in the same box for your money. I'm not saying a separate amp will definitely sort all of Si's gripes, but it would definitely make it sound 'better'.

 

Having said all that, I agree with Legrath that you can't judge the sound untill the sub is installed, as you're only listening to half the system.

Is that where I'd need a cross-over? My current headunit has its own bass/sub output.

 

That Alpine amp you were looking at has a crossover (High pass filter) built in. If I were you I'd forget the rear speakers (run them from the head unit), and just buy a better (with the money you save) 2 channel amp for the fronts as they're the most important ones

Interesting. Thanks Phill.

 

Seem to have some conflicting reports now. I'd like to get all four speakers sounding better. But I guess since no one ever sits in the back, it's probably not worth it.

Anyhow, can I have my thread back now??;)

as posted before.

MPN: acrylic1200

 

Key Features

Car Speaker Type: Component

Elements: 1-Way

Car Speaker Function: Subwoofer

Size: 12"

Nominal Power Handling: 200 Watt RMS

Powered: Non-Powered

 

Technical Features

Peak Power Handling: 400 Watt

Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 1.5 kHz

Sensitivity: 91 dB

Impedance: 4 ohm (Dual Coil)

 

Components

Woofer Material: Poly / Plastic

Surround Material: Rubber

 

Mounting

Enclosure: Non-Enclosed

Top Mounting Depth: 5.12 In.

Mounting Diameter / Length: 12 In.

 

Also good second-hand amps to look out for

Good new amps that aren't stupid money