Going active with the 9887

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

I just bought the CDA-9887 to replace my CDA-9883, and I want to go active.

I have been reading all over the forum about the KTX-100EQ and going active and blah blah and all sorts of shit.

I am going to have alot of questions about how to acctually set the shyt up correctly without blowing anything.

WHen I run this head unit active, Im just going to run some newer higher quality Shielded RCA's....so my first Question is:

I notice that the 9887 has 3 preamp outs. Obviously front, rear and sub. When I am sending the Rca's directly to my 4 channel amp. I am assuming that the "front" RCA's would go to the 2 channels I want my mids to be on, and the "rear" would be for my front tweeters?... Obviously the gain on the amp for both tweets and mids would be the same, because each tweet and each mid I would want to get the same amount of power.

Also when running active with a set of components...Is getting the KTQ-100EQ worth it? I want the best sound I can get out of these speakers.

Speakers: Rainbow SLX265's(Not the greatest but you know)

I just want the best imaging I can get out of my set.

Just to let you guys know I am VERY impressed with these speakers passive running on the 9883, getting 90 watts per door. So I would imagine that doing this process of going active in the front, ditching the rear for now, and getting this new 9887(With far better SQ Processing than the 9883) Is going to REALLY Impress me.

As said I am still searching and reading about this process, but if anyone want to chime in... feel free. Because I really want to get this done right.

Kris

P.S- Would anyone have suggestions to what kind of wattage I should send each mid and tweet...I know these probably wouldnt be able to take 200 and such, but right now I can bridge my 4 channel and quite the amount of power.

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[nismos14 5,000+ posts]

I notice that the 9887 has 3 preamp outs. Obviously front, rear and sub. When I am sending the Rca's directly to my 4 channel amp. I am assuming that the "front" RCA's would go to the 2 channels I want my mids to be on, and the "rear" would be for my front tweeters?... Obviously the gain on the amp for both tweets and mids would be the same, because each tweet and each mid I would want to get the same amount of power.

Don't expect the tweets and mids to want the same amount of power, its likely the tweets will require less once you have them hooked up directly. My 9887 is an oddball, the top preout is for the tweets, the middle is for the mids and the bottom is for the sub. I'm 90% sure the top is labeled front, middle is labeled rear, and bottom is labeled sub.

Also when running active with a set of components...Is getting the KTQ-100EQ worth it? I want the best sound I can get out of these speakers.

I've heard yes and no, and I am not willing to gamble with getting it, I am happy with my sound without it.

Just to let you guys know I am VERY impressed with these speakers passive running on the 9883, getting 90 watts per door. So I would imagine that doing this process of going active in the front, ditching the rear for now, and getting this new 9887(With far better SQ Processing than the 9883) Is going to REALLY Impress me.

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

P.S- Would anyone have suggestions to what kind of wattage I should send each mid and tweet...I know these probably wouldnt be able to take 200 and such, but right now I can bridge my 4 channel and quite the amount of power.

I would play it by ear, head room is always good, 80 x4 rms would be sufficient, and I think you'd be fine with that with the gains set appropriately.

 

[XaznKewLguyX 10+ year member]

Don't expect the tweets and mids to want the same amount of power, its likely the tweets will require less once you have them hooked up directly. My 9887 is an oddball, the top preout is for the tweets, the middle is for the mids and the bottom is for the sub. I'm 90% sure the top is labeled front, middle is labeled rear, and bottom is labeled sub.


I've heard yes and no, and I am not willing to gamble with getting it, I am happy with my sound without it.

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

I would play it by ear, head room is always good, 80 x4 rms would be sufficient, and I think you'd be fine with that with the gains set appropriately.

i blew my tweeter doing it the other way around because thats how it was on my Eclipse.

 

[nismos14 5,000+ posts]

Can you confirm which way they are marked on the unit itself?

So I guess the top is the rear output?

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

I can take a look later and see if the top is labled for tweets and the mid is labled for mids. I will definately make sure that they go in the correct input. I knew that the mids would be taking more power than the tweets, but I just didnt know what kind of wattage I should send. As said right now they are running passive, and they still sound amazing.

I just really dont know much about the KTX-100EQ....etc

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

Edit: Just checked the back of my unit, The top is labled front, middle rear and bottom sub(I guess like all other HU's) But their is no mention to if front is associated with "Tweeter", but I will take your word for it.

SO I will connect The Tweeter to the front RCA's the Mids to the rear RCA's and the subs to the well sub RCA.

Now I assume their is a certain setting inside of the 9887 to "turn on" this active setup?

 

[nismos14 5,000+ posts]

I can take a look later and see if the top is labled for tweets and the mid is labled for mids. I will definately make sure that they go in the correct input. I knew that the mids would be taking more power than the tweets, but I just didnt know what kind of wattage I should send. As said right now they are running passive, and they still sound amazing.
I just really dont know much about the KTX-100EQ....etc

I don't think they have any labels except front rear and sub.

I wouldn't other with teh ktx.

 

[nismos14 5,000+ posts]

Edit: Just checked the back of my unit, The top is labled front, middle rear and bottom sub(I guess like all other HU's) But their is no mention to if front is associated with "Tweeter", but I will take your word for it.
SO I will connect The Tweeter to the front RCA's the Mids to the rear RCA's and the subs to the well sub RCA.

Now I assume their is a certain setting inside of the 9887 to "turn on" this active setup?

First connect the mids, and listen to make sure they are on the right output, THEN connect the tweets, so you don't blow them.

There's a switch on it on the bottom that you flip to put it to active mode.

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

I have the 4 channel MRP-F550:

Details:

4-channel car amplifier

90 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms (125 watts RMS x 4 at 2 ohms)

250 watts RMS x 2 bridged output at 4 ohms (4-ohm stable in bridged mode)

SO If I wanted to bridge my first 2 channels for the mids, to give em more than 90rms, then I could, and just leave the 3rd and 4th channels alone for the tweeters(seems like 90 would be more than plenty if over-kill)

Edit: I was not thinking.

 

[nismos14 5,000+ posts]

I have the 4 channel MRP-F550:
Details:

4-channel car amplifier

90 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms (125 watts RMS x 4 at 2 ohms)

250 watts RMS x 2 bridged output at 4 ohms (4-ohm stable in bridged mode)

SO If I wanted to bridge my first 2 channels for the mids, to give em more than 90rms, then I could, and just leave the 3rd and 4th channels alone for the tweeters(seems like 90 would be more than plenty if over-kill)

I don't think you understand bridging.... If you bridge your 4 channel you will be left with just 2 useable channels. You need to have 4 channels of power for an active setup (2-way active). Briding requires two channels to be combined to allow more power output.

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

I don't think you understand bridging.... If you bridge your 4 channel you will be left with just 2 useable channels. You need to have 4 channels of power for an active setup (2-way active). Briding requires two channels to be combined to allow more power output.

Your right, I was thinking like a dumbass. I do understand the concept of having a 4 channel amp to run active. I just was not "thinking"

I guess I was thinking of still using the passive x-overs and using it like that, but NVM, I just wasnt thinking.

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

On another note, I have never tuned by ear. I have always tuned by a DMM....so I have really never heard just a tweeter without a mid before.

So with that said, I should continue to send 90rms to the midrange and tweeter on each door? Or a little bit less for the tweeters...

90x4@ 4ohm

 

[nismos14 5,000+ posts]

Just set the gain on the mid slightly higher listen to it that way for a while see if you need more or less on the tweet and go from there.

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

Ill see what I can do.... please if anyone else has any input... please do so....I am open to learning 100% about the active setup for the 9887.

 

[nismos14 5,000+ posts]

It's really the same as running active with any other.

The 9887 has a nice feature for the tweeter, it automatically sets the tweeter at 4khz so that you don't blow it, but of course that is as long as you connect it to the correct outputs. The crossovers and eq's can be stored in 1 - 6, when you disconnect power to the radio those settings stay saved.