Help... Car Audio Issues

[tsam170]

I am hoping i can get some assistance on an issue i have been having with a new sound system setup i had installed into my truck a few months ago. i replaced the factory radio and speaker system with the following setup; Kenwood BT565u w/ KenwoodKFC1665s Speakers & Kenwood KSC-SW11 Subwoofer. i had the unit installed at the installation center at a PC Richards. For the most part is sounds good but only when i have the Tuner selected, however i noticed that when i either play a CD or music from my cellphone via bluetooth or USB the sound gets distorted terribly if i turn it up past level 23 or 24. I've literally spent hours making adjustments to the audio settings using the pre-sets and the user settings and this continues to happen, ive even spent hours making adjustments tot eh mp3 music files to probably help quell the chance of distortion. if i take alot of bass out of it to where it sounds like your listening through a transistor radio, then it does not distort but if i use a preset setting or anything i manually dial in it does it again. this even happened before i installed the Sub Woofer.

so after months of listening and making adjustments im pretty much out of ideas. is there something im missing, a setting or component or something. i have no idea so i submit to those of you that are more familiar with Car Audio systems and their setups. any suggestions will help. i appreciate your time and help.

Thank You

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[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

Your system is lacking power to get loud...or louder...without amplification.

You are using the head unit's amp to power the speakers and the amp has enough watts to power the radio which is more efficient than the cd player and especially using your mobile device via Bluetooth.

A small four channel amp will give you a much better sound and at higher levels even with low end speakers. As a bonus you would have saved money on that powered amp which costs more than your head unit and speakers combined by bridging the rear two channels to an unpowered sub in a small enclosure...considering to improve power you will have to spend money on an amp.

I'm wondering why the shop recommended such an inefficient system...if they did recommend it. It seems foolish to pump so much more power into your sub and so little power into the main speakers. As well as pretty much an under powered sub.

No amount of tweaking or settings changes are going to improve the sound at the levels you are talking about...you are going to get distortion as you hit the peak capacity of the head unit's amp.

 

[tsam170]

thank you for the info, i was wondering if i should get an amp. i DID inquire about the sound system with the sales person before i bought it and researched as much as i could. all i wanted was a better sounding and featured replacement for my stock system. i admit its not a field of expertise but maybe i should have researched alot more then i would have avoided the problem to begin with. ill look into getting a small amp. ill shop around and see whats good and reliable. thank you very much i really appreciate it, you rock //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Umbra]

What Kai Winters said. The head unit's amp is nowhere near powerful enough to drive aftermarket speakers with any authority. You're going to want an amp. There was a guy on here a couple weeks ago with a similar predicament:

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/speakers/627581-help-new-kenwood-speakers-sound-distorted-high-volume.html#post8832103

 

[cthedinger 10+ year member]

You definitely need to add an after market amp

 

[tsam170]

Thanks Umbra, im definitely taking Kai's and your advice and im shopping around for a decent 4 channel amp. ill make a decision and let you know what i chose. if you have any suggestions id appreciate the input as well.

 

[tsam170]

i read the thread in the link you attached Umbra it Helps a whole lot thank you..

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

There is a variety of small amps available, Alpine and JL Audio are two of the manufacturers, that often fit easily behind the dash for an easier install. The power is compatible with your powered amp. As a bonus the four channel amp can be bridged to power just the front speakers giving more power. I had the JL Audio mini amp and it worked great. Cost is reasonable as well.

Good luck and keep us informed...

 

[tsam170]

ok i know this may be a stupid question but as i said im still new at this whole thing, will i need one amp for the 2 sets of speakers or one for each set?

 

[ace_800 5,000+ posts]

Depends on if the amp is a 2 channel or a 4 channel. 2 channel will run 2 speakers, 4...4 speakers

If you only replaced your front speakers and added a sub and you don't want to take up too much additional room or run 2x as much wire. I would get a 4 channel where the rear channel is bridgeable. Channel 1 and 2 would run your front doors and channel 3/4 would bridge to run your sub.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

Get 1. 4 channel amp. Then you can run all the speakers. But if it were me. I'd bridge the amps 4 channels. Just for the front speakers only. And run the tears off the deck only. This way you get more power to the front and the staging will sound better

 

[tsam170]

Good News, audio sounds great and all is working perfectly, i opted for the 4 channel Amp and the sound is so sweet //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif thank you all for your advice i sincerely appreciate it .

once again Thank You

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

Good for you...enjoy