My mids are not as loud as I though......

[eskimochaos 10+ year member]

Now I know that loud is very relative, and that each person is into something else. My HU goes to a max of 33ish and I find myself listening to it around 24-26 while cruising to work in the morning with the windows down. For some reason the mids just dont seem that loud. I set the gain on the amps w/ 3/4 HU volume and I feel that at that volume it should be unbearable regardless of the person because that is where I tuned everything to.

I have a PDX-5 (I know I changed my mind after I purchased it that I was not going to run subs off of it) rated at 101x4 on the birthsheet

JL VR600csi 6.5 components up front and TR600cxi in the rear.

What can I do to make it louder...looking back I chose the wrong speakers but is the amp loud enough?

Is it normal to listen to 24ish out of 28(where I set gains at) and it still not be THAT loud?

I wish I had someone to compare to...non of my friends have a system.

The stock system in my 93 legend w/ BOSE stereo seems louder.

OH, BTW, my installer used 20 gauge speaker wire.

Thanks in advance!

Oh yea my HU is a Kenwood DDX712

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[tez4life Premium Member]

Now I know that loud is very relative, and that each person is into something else. My HU goes to a max of 33ish and I find myself listening to it around 24-26 while cruising to work in the morning with the windows down. For some reason the mids just dont seem that loud. I set the gain on the amps w/ 3/4 HU volume and I feel that at that volume it should be unbearable regardless of the person because that is where I tuned everything to.
I have a PDX-5 (I know I changed my mind after I purchased it that I was not going to run subs off of it) rated at 101x4 on the birthsheet

JL VR600csi 6.5 components up front and TR600cxi in the rear.

What can I do to make it louder...looking back I chose the wrong speakers but is the amp loud enough?

Is it normal to listen to 24ish out of 28(where I set gains at) and it still not be THAT loud?

I wish I had someone to compare to...non of my friends have a system.

The stock system in my 93 legend w/ BOSE stereo seems louder.

OH, BTW, my installer used 20 gauge speaker wire.

Thanks in advance!

Oh yea my HU is a Kenwood DDX712

That grabbed my attention more than anything else....

Not sure what to tell you though, im sure someone will chime in

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

some people believe 20awg wire is sufficient for front stage setup, i disagree but oh well

 

[tez4life Premium Member]

I agree, thats like headphone wire for a set of comps, lol

 

[mrogowski 5,000+ posts]

20AWG can take 30 amps before melting.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

i think 20 awg is fine

 

[eskimochaos 10+ year member]

I agree, thats like headphone wire for a set of comps, lol

I created a thread about that a week ago and nobody seemed to think it was that big of deal...I think it is however.

I paid the installer $580 for wiring of 2 amps through distro block, 4 speakers and DVD headunit. I provided 1/0 Knu power wire and they used this shit 20 maybe 22 gauge to wire the speakers. They didnt even wire them entirely, they wired that shit from the amp to the ORIGINAL FACTORY wires behind the headunit!

I am really thinking of going back and threatening them with an American Express chargeback!

 

[SRim23 5,000+ posts]

didnt we give you a bunch of suggestions in the other thread that you made about this? if ur doors arent properly deadened your midbass will be lacking. you also have to give them time to break in. ive heard many cases where midbass is pretty quiet until they are broken in, then they are like a different speaker.

 

[eskimochaos 10+ year member]

So if its not the wire, should I get an amp that puts out more power?

Kicker ZX850.4?

175x4 @ 4ohm?

Thanks!

 

[eskimochaos 10+ year member]

didnt we give you a bunch of suggestions in the other thread that you made about this? if ur doors arent properly deadened your midbass will be lacking. you also have to give them time to break in. ive heard many cases where midbass is pretty quiet until they are broken in, then they are like a different speaker.

What's an estimated break-in time. They get about 70 mins a day w/ moderately loud and an occasional loud streak.

Had em for 2 weeks today....**** this addiction....have it already and its my first system!

 

[eskimochaos 10+ year member]

didnt we give you a bunch of suggestions in the other thread that you made about this? if ur doors arent properly deadened your midbass will be lacking. you also have to give them time to break in. ive heard many cases where midbass is pretty quiet until they are broken in, then they are like a different speaker.

maybe not the midbass line but I mean words of a song etc...sorry for any confusion...the doors are not deadened but there are baffles around the speakers

 

[mrogowski 5,000+ posts]

I created a thread about that a week ago and nobody seemed to think it was that big of deal...I think it is however.
I paid the installer $580 for wiring of 2 amps through distro block, 4 speakers and DVD headunit. I provided 1/0 Knu power wire and they used this shit 20 maybe 22 gauge to wire the speakers. They didnt even wire them entirely, they wired that shit from the amp to the ORIGINAL FACTORY wires behind the headunit!

I am really thinking of going back and threatening them with an American Express chargeback!

Nope. It's not.

Take a little test. Go and listen to your new stereo at your normal listening level for 10-15 minutes. In mid song turn it down immediately. If your ears are ringing slightly or are suddenly sensitive to the noise around you, your stereo is loud enough - just cleaner than what you experience with the Bose system.

 

[SRim23 5,000+ posts]

What's an estimated break-in time. They get about 70 mins a day w/ moderately loud and an occasional loud streak.
Had em for 2 weeks today....**** this addiction....have it already and its my first system!

maybe not the midbass line but I mean words of a song etc...sorry for any confusion...the doors are not deadened but there are baffles around the speakers

when it comes to the wire being to small its my understanding that as long as the wire isnt melting for getting hot then its doing its job and transferring the power just fine.

when it comes to break in time honestly im not sure. both my comp sets ive owned were either in the car already, or i bought used so they were both broken in already. i know when i added some deadener to the door, and to the inside of the door behind the speaker my midbass got much better.

im not familiar with the EQ on the kenwood you have but have you messed with the settings at all? whats the crossover set to on your amp?

 

[eskimochaos 10+ year member]

Nope. It's not.
Take a little test. Go and listen to your new stereo at your normal listening level for 10-15 minutes. In mid song turn it down immediately. If your ears are ringing slightly or are suddenly sensitive to the noise around you, your stereo is loud enough - just cleaner than what you experience with the Bose system.

OK I can agree with you about the wire. I can take that test, my ears are still a little soar from listening about 3 hours earlier so I guess it is loud enough.

Is it normal however for the volume to really start increasing after about half way?

It appears to be the same on my home theater receiver.....

 

[eskimochaos 10+ year member]

when it comes to the wire being to small its my understanding that as long as the wire isnt melting for getting hot then its doing its job and transferring the power just fine.
when it comes to break in time honestly im not sure. both my comp sets ive owned were either in the car already, or i bought used so they were both broken in already. i know when i added some deadener to the door, and to the inside of the door behind the speaker my midbass got much better.

im not familiar with the EQ on the kenwood you have but have you messed with the settings at all? whats the crossover set to on your amp?

100 on the components and coaxials and either 100 or 80 for the sub, the amps hpf and lpf are set the same way