Need more power

[Emvaz 10+ year member]

Hey guys, I'm trying to get more power to my front end components and was wondering what the best solution would be. Here is my current setup:

2006 Nissan Altima Se-R

Head unit: Kenwood BT-9000

Amp: "Memphis Belle" 600w 5-channel

Subs: 2 12' Memphis M3s

Front End: Hybrid Audio Clarus C61-2 components with 2-way crossovers

Rear Shelf: Hybrid Audio Mirus 6x9 coaxials

Rear Doors: 5 1/4 stock Bose speakers (currently unpowered)

So, I'm happy with the sound I'm getting from the tweets with the crossover set to +0 db, and I'm happy with the bass I'm getting from the subs, but the midbass could be more defined. I feel like I could be getting more of the potential out of the Clarus 6 1/2 drivers if I fed them more power, and have read about some users running these with 1 channel going to each tweeter and each 6 1/2 (4 channels total), but this would mean taking power from the 6x9s in the rear. Ideally I would like to buy another amp and replace the currently unpowered 5 1/4 in the rear doors to utilize all stock speaker enclosures.

What would be the best way to to go about this?

Should I use my current amp to power the front end and sub, and then buy a new amp to power the rear door components and coaxials?

Can my current amp get the best out of the Clarus doing it that way?

If not, should I power the rears with my current amp and buy a new amp to run the Clarus components in the front exclusively?

Is that even a viable setup?

What amp would you all recommend to get the job done?

Rear door speakers?

Thanks in advance for any help.

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[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Are your doors properly sealed and deadened? Start there in your quest for midbass.

 

[Emvaz 10+ year member]

Actually no, I just received a load of Raamat and Ensolite in the mail yesterday and haven't had a chance to deaden the top part of the rear deck (because I have to unbolt the rear seats and take off the c-pillars to be able to snap off the lid to the rear deck...its a pain) or front doors yet but I plan to seal the door holes with plexiglass this saturday. Lets say I want to utilize those stock enclosures in the rear doors and feed more power to the front components regardless...what would be the best route?

Thanks

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

If u want to keep that amp, bridge the full range channels to the front comps and run the rears on HU power or on a decent 2 channel amp. Honestly, I think sealing that door will make a nice improvement in midbass though.

 

[Emvaz 10+ year member]

Assuming I run the front comps off the 5-channel 600w "Belle", what amp and 5 1/4 speakers would you recommend so as not to overpower my front end soundstage? Should I stick with a Memphis amp and Hybrid component?

Thanks

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Personally, id leave them stock. But if u want to upgrade, are u wanting coaxials or just midrange/midbass in the rears?

 

[Emvaz 10+ year member]

Ive already got components in the front and coaxials in the rear, so I figure just the 5 1/4 component so as not to disturb the soundstage with another tweeter in a weird position

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Scanspeak Discovery Mids are nice along with Silver Flute and Peerless HDS.

Check out madisound.com and partsexpress.com

Both have great selections of raw component drivers to choose from.

 

[Emvaz 10+ year member]

Do you think the Memphis 16-MC2.100 would be a good match with the current setup?

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

They are nice amps. If you want to stick with the Memphis amp theme, and have the coin, then they are a solid choice amp-wise. I am assuming you plan to use that amp for the rear speakers.

 

[Emvaz 10+ year member]

Well that was my initial thought. The other option would be to power the comps in the front with the new amp, but would that complicate the interface as far as setting gains and making adjustments like that?

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Nope, not really. Just use the existing front rcas for the new amp (if u use it for the fronts) and set the gain as u did the first time.

 

[Emvaz 10+ year member]

Ok great. I guess it makes sense to feed the channels with the most power to the front components (as they are my best speakers). As long as its not going to affect my ability to fine-tune the equalizer to the components while I'm driving, then that sounds like the best option. Thanks for all the help!