general assistance requested

[modish 10+ year member]

i've done my fair share of teaching (art) as well as moderating forums, so i do know what it is like to read a forum post by someone that states, 'someone tell what i like and how to do it.'

with that said, i have done a fair amount of research and i'm soliciting opinions and confirmation as i have no desire to buy something that i either can't use or won't do the job.

i recently purchased a head unit (xo vision #XOD1911). specs of the head unit:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3.5" DVD Receiver with a fully detachable face

Built-In DVD Player (worldwide compatibility) which supports: DVD,MP4 (AVI/DIVX/3.X/5.X),VCD,MP3,JPG,SVCD,WMA,MWV,CD

Built-In AM/FM Radio with 30 preset stations, Memory, and Auto Scan

Backup Camera Input (HTC31/32 sold separately)

Built-In USB Input and SD Card Input

Front AUX Input

High Power 4 x 50W Amp

ZPodLink Provides Ipod® and Ipod® Video playback through your vehicle sound system via a direct connection between the Ipod® and In-Dash unit. (Sold Separately)

Digital Album: Jpeg Image browser, slide show, zoom, Pan function

2 RCA Input, 2 RCA Output

Multi-zone (Auto PAL/NTSC System)

Remote Control Included

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

so now i need amps, subs, and speakers as well as learning the ideal placement of them. i did some rms math, etc. and i arrived at this amp:

http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=138

my thought is to use it for driving mid ranges and tweeters. here are my questions:

1) with high pass ranges listed, will it do the job of driving mids and tweeters?

2) of course i will get an amp for subs. will this amp easily integrate with another amp? will i lose any quality/power/output when i link it to another amp?

my current speaker configuration is (2) 4" in the dash and (2) 6" in the rear deck.

3) could i utilize the 4" positions for tweeters?

4) i do have room at the base of the passenger and driver door. should the mids be placed there?

at this point i can't purchase everything at once (2 amps, 4 speakers, subs), so i want to get a part of the system (above), BUT i want to be sure that i can easily add the remaining components and not lose any clarity/power.

any advice will be very much appreciated.

thanks!

Will

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[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

1. Do you plan on an active setup or passive? I do not reccomend using on-board crossovers (the ones on the amp) for going active. You can hear the difference. My mom can hear the difference.

2. What mids and tweets do you want? I would put everything up front and nothing in the back.

3. You can get a nice passive crossover front stage and 2 channel amp for what you will spend on that 4 channel and the speakers you had in mind. What is your specific budget?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

As far as placement is concerned, that depends on the characteristics of the drivers themselves and how much work you want to do. I have the midbasses in the lower corner of the doors and the tweeters in the door panel aprox 18" higher.

What kind of car do you drive? That may help us visualize what you are working with to offer more tailored suggestions.

 

[modish 10+ year member]

1. Do you plan on an active setup or passive? I do not reccomend using on-board crossovers (the ones on the amp) for going active. You can hear the difference. My mom can hear the difference.

my thought was passive, but if active is recommended, i'll do it.

2. What mids and tweets do you want? I would put everything up front and nothing in the back.

this i don't yet know. i was aiming for a good amp to handle mids/tweeters and can be bridged to a mono sub amp eventually, then spec'ing out the mids/tweeters. i've no problem putting everything up front. actually, now that i think about it, i'd prefer that it be all up front.

3. You can get a nice passive crossover front stage and 2 channel amp for what you will spend on that 4 channel and the speakers you had in mind. What is your specific budget?

don't really have a specific budget. the only constraints are that i don't want to buy the subs and sub amp yet. i'm fairly open. if you can recommend an amp that will drive mids and tweeters and also be able to be bridged to another amp at a later date, i'd love to see it.

What kind of car do you drive? That may help us visualize what you are working with to offer more tailored suggestions.

oversight on my part; meant to include that info.

1991 vw jetta. i can take some pix of the interior later today if that would help.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

You can keep that four channel and use the front two channels to a componet set and then bridge the rear channels to a sub woofer. That way you don't have to add another amp in the future.

 

[modish 10+ year member]

so i can do the entire system with the amp that i listed?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Trying to keep it on the inexpensive side:

Amp: http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=15174

Componets: http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=17540

Subwoofer: http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=17852

The whole deal for less than $350. Since you are willing to do without a sub for a while.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

so i can do the entire system with the amp that i listed?

Yes, keep in mind though you will only have 150w @ 4ohms for the subwoofer.

But yet. You can have a really nice setup with one 4 channel amp, a nice set of componets and a subwoofer.

In my second car, that is all I have.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

If there is any flexibility in the budget, I would upgrade the amplifier. I have heard nice things about that componet set. The sub is arbitrary because I like Pioneer products. The subwoofer plays such a narrow bandwidth, I am not sure why it gets so much attention.

 

[modish 10+ year member]

this is when i feel like a mental midget when it comes to car audio.

does this:

... use the front two channels to a componet set and then bridge the rear channels to a sub woofer. ....

mean that i use one channel for the tweeters and another for the mids?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

It can as that is why I do in my truck, but that is not what I meant.

You will run one channel for "left" and other channel for "right" and bridge the two rear channels for a subwoofer.

There is an inline passive crossover that separates the signal from mid to tweet.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

no the front 2 channels each goto a passive xover.

 

[modish 10+ year member]

excellent; thank you. more food for thought for me. i'm going to install a set of pedals in my car - i'll think it over while i do that.

thanks a bunch.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Have fun and take pics. I know you are new here, but we ban if you don't post pics.

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[modish 10+ year member]

Have fun and take pics. I know you are new here, but we ban if you don't post pics.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

oh, i take plenty of pix. i started my mods from the outside of the car to the inside. i've taken hundreds of 'before and after' pix. i've done nothing with the sound system yet; the head unit should arrive today or tomorrow. that said, once i begin the process there will be plenty of visual stimuli.

i have another question...let me know if i need to start a new thread for this:

a friend of mine owns a modded camry. he has a nice head unit and basic mid ranges installed. still in the box he has a set of tweeters and a 10" sub. he doesn't want to go the amp route. isn't it just as simple as installing crossovers for each channel?

ah, one more thing; i can post 'before' pix of my car (stereo install). if the weather holds out, i'll take a bunch today.