So for awhile now I've been content with my setup. I have:
02 Ranger Supercab (2 door variant)
DEH-80PRS (standard mode)
Polk Audio PA4000.4 amp
Channels 1 & 2 driving JBL P660C components (via their passive crossovers)
Channels 3 & 4 bridged to drive a cheapo pioneer prefab 10" downfiring sub
I have a sundown SD3 10 that I ended up using in another vehicle, though soon will be moving it to the Ranger. Everything has been fine, until recently the passenger side woofer has started to buzz in a way I'm certain is the cone separating from the surround (or the surround tearing). If you look online you'll read mentions of the *later* P660Cs having some issues here, though the earlier ones seem bulletproof. I'm almost certain this is a defect with the woofer given that my settings are pretty conservative (mainly because the pioneer sub made more aggressive settings useless). My settings:
P660Cs (rated for 90wrms) thrown 75wrms (well under what the amp can do- should be no amp clipping here).
Gains set with 80PRS at volume 55 (of 62) to eliminate possibility of clipping from head unit (using 5v preouts with internal hu amp disabled).
HPF: 100 hz 12db/o (certainly should not be any over-excursion given the reasonably high HPF and relatively low wattage thrown)
Sub LPF: 80 hz 18db/o
So anyways I need to replace this passenger speaker. I originally had some Pioneer TS-D 1602 coaxial speakers that I used for awhile before the P660Cs, and they are still working 100%. I have a few options:
1- Get a new set of components along with their passive crossovers and tweets.
2- Put the TS-D coaxials in place of the P660Cs and deal with it. They are decent, but the tweeters are just too loud for me (so were the P660Cs tweeters even with the passives db cut enabled)
3- Cut the wires to the TS-Ds tweeters, install them in place of the P660C woofer, buy a class AB tweeter amp and RCA cable (to drive the already mounted P660C tweeters), and switch the 80PRS to network mode for a 3-way active setup. The best part about this option is that I will *finally* be able to level match the **** tweeters which have always been too bright for me no matter my setup. When I can save money for good woofers then I can just pull and replace. Not sure how much the tweeter being present on the driver reduces the sound quality of the mid, but from what I know the main benefit of a component is raising sound stage, the better quality crossovers, and generally better drivers. I get most of these benefits with 3.
What route do you guys think best serves me here? Obviously I'm leaning option 3. I recently changed the clutch in my truck and despite doing it myself, all the parts add up. I do not have the dough to spend more than $100 right now... that is the limit I will put on my credit card without immediately being able to pay it off. Still, I need music in the truck so one of these 3 is going to happen. For option 1 I can prolly find some Polk components for around 100, option 2 is free but I dread because coaxial, and option 3 is also about 100. I've had bad luck with used in the past... so I'm going the new route here.
