Umbra
Hobbyist & CA Tenderfoot
Welcome to the forum!
Personally I'd focus on putting your best speakers up front. Most people here would agree to keep your sound stage in front of you, myself included. Rear speakers should be for fill. I have the same speakers in the front and back and even with them behind me I like to turn them down to about 75% to keep the sound stage up front. Some people here wouldn't even bother with rear speakers at all, they'd just focus their efforts and money on solid speakers up front. I like the rear fill and I sometimes have passengers in the back, so I include them.
I'm not sure if you were suggesting putting the third set up front or behind you, but I wouldn't recommend the latter. I'd rather have two speakers and a sub rather than four speakers without one. If your 4 channel is bridgeable consider getting a small sub and using it in lieu of the other two speakers, then you can use whichever set in your other vehicle. Just my two cents.
Personally I'd focus on putting your best speakers up front. Most people here would agree to keep your sound stage in front of you, myself included. Rear speakers should be for fill. I have the same speakers in the front and back and even with them behind me I like to turn them down to about 75% to keep the sound stage up front. Some people here wouldn't even bother with rear speakers at all, they'd just focus their efforts and money on solid speakers up front. I like the rear fill and I sometimes have passengers in the back, so I include them.
I'm not sure if you were suggesting putting the third set up front or behind you, but I wouldn't recommend the latter. I'd rather have two speakers and a sub rather than four speakers without one. If your 4 channel is bridgeable consider getting a small sub and using it in lieu of the other two speakers, then you can use whichever set in your other vehicle. Just my two cents.
hispls
5,000+ posts
CarAudio.com Veteran
Front speakers and a sub. Have you ever been to a concert where the band is behind you AND in front of you? Rear channels IMO should only be used for 5.1 surround movies.
- Thread Starter
- #4
Thank you for the reply. I've definitely got the best set of 6.5's planned for the front as that's how I usualy set up the balance, with the most sound from the front. I don't have a sub planned as I would like to see if I can manage without. For space reasons and because it would have to add another amp/ wiring / expense etc. I was hoping the high end 6.5 inch speakers I bought for the front, and changing out the 5.25 inch speakers in the back to 6.5 inches would give me a little more bass? What do you think?
- Thread Starter
- #5
Oh and the third set would likely go in the kick panels on an angle to face towards. Just would have to figure out how ppl build speakers into there!? Think that's worth the trouble?
- Thread Starter
- #6
Yes definitely got a point there! I'm guessing you wouldn't bother switching out the 5.25,s in the back with 6.5's then? Just thought they would kinda help w bass
big scott
blazin low, and loud
if your dead set on using the rear speakers them upgrade them.
i had speakers in the rear of my truck and i did not like the sound stage.
so i pulled them out.
i had speakers in the rear of my truck and i did not like the sound stage.
so i pulled them out.
hispls
5,000+ posts
CarAudio.com Veteran
I would scrap the rears entirely. Even a small 8" or 6.5" subwoofer in a tiny sealed box on 100W would provide far more low frequency than you could hope to achieve out of the factory locations without extreme modification/customization.
Consider just the low frequency you get from one of those tiny speaker systems a lot of people hook up to a desktop PC. 5 or 6" subwoofer. You really think you'll get even that out of a car door/panel?
Kai Winters
10+ year member
plain ol' me
More info is needed...
Are you using the factory head unit? or an after market unit? Is there more than just the factory/after market unit's amp?
Were it me I'd do the following: replace the factory head unit, not knowing quality/etc., install a 4 channel amp. Next would be the control connections for steering wheel controls, etc. if needed. Then I'd put in the best front speakers I could afford...very good speakers aren't terribly expensive. Last a good quality sub in a size that will fit the vehicle, I've had a 10" sub in a sealed enclosure on the floor behind the drivers seat for years...for me and the car it is a great spot, providing plenty of low end bass and can be removed if needed...worked better than in the trunk. I power the front speakers off the first two channels then bridge the rear channels for the sub...you have to make sure the amp provides enough power in the bridged state to power the sub. My Memphis Audio amp does this just fine.
Good luck, keep us informed and provide more info...
Are you using the factory head unit? or an after market unit? Is there more than just the factory/after market unit's amp?
Were it me I'd do the following: replace the factory head unit, not knowing quality/etc., install a 4 channel amp. Next would be the control connections for steering wheel controls, etc. if needed. Then I'd put in the best front speakers I could afford...very good speakers aren't terribly expensive. Last a good quality sub in a size that will fit the vehicle, I've had a 10" sub in a sealed enclosure on the floor behind the drivers seat for years...for me and the car it is a great spot, providing plenty of low end bass and can be removed if needed...worked better than in the trunk. I power the front speakers off the first two channels then bridge the rear channels for the sub...you have to make sure the amp provides enough power in the bridged state to power the sub. My Memphis Audio amp does this just fine.
Good luck, keep us informed and provide more info...
- Thread Starter
- #10
Yes the factory hu. I like the way Bluetooth , wheel controls, sat all work perfect. And at a glance it won't look appealing to theves.
I have a mtx 4 channel amp to install model rt604 60w rms
And 3 component sets from hertz
hsk 165xl
DSk 165.3
Esk 130.5
I have a mtx 4 channel amp to install model rt604 60w rms
And 3 component sets from hertz
hsk 165xl
DSk 165.3
Esk 130.5
- Thread Starter
- #11
It appears I've kinda got ahead with the components! I should have asked first. If I could do it again from the advice I've gotten so far I would have invested in a sub. Whoops
Kai Winters
10+ year member
plain ol' me
Well, depending on what you listen to regarding music the sub may or may not be that big a bang...at 60 my favorite music is "classic" rock LOL...The Beatles, Led Zep, Aerosmith, Kinks, AC/DC...as well as Frank Sinatra, The Bing, etc...I also listen to a lot of podcasts and Audible audio books so in many cases the bass of a sub is not very pronounced. I don't have a sub in my CRV and find I don't really miss it much as the JL Audio coaxials have an awesome mid bass that covers the bass levels just fine and listening to podcasts and audio books the sub is just an anchor hehehe.
I just finished a search and look see for your speakers...they should work well and provide a nice sound, though I'm not at all familiar with them...I'm much more familiar with JL Audio, MB Quart...how are you going to connect 3 pair of speakers to a 4 channel amp?
Your truck is large with a large air volume inside...not much different that the cubic feet of space in my CRV allowing you to do a lot with a sound system.
How are you going to connect the amp to the factory system...line out or does it have pre amp connections? I'm using the line out on my little JL Audio amp until the Alpine iLX-007 head unit gets installed in a few days then I use the pre amp connections for a better signal and sound.
Were it me and I had to/wanted to use the speakers I just bought I would try this as an experiment: Amp is connected and working properly...hsk's in the front doors with the tweeters installed in the door panels down and to the right/mid point? from the arm rests to keep them close to the mids for a good sound stage. I'd mount the dsk's in the rear doors placing the tweeters in a close location to the mids as well. I'd adjust the fronts for a balanced sound stage favoring the higher or lower range depending on my hearing/listening preferences though closer to "flat" than either to high or low. For the rears I'd play around with de-emphasizing the higher range while boosting the mid to lower ranges to emphasize the lower range...you can't get sub levels but you should be able to get a decent low level bass...if not you merely have to adjust the settings on the head unit...you can play around with the settings on the crossovers for the speakers as well to cut out or reduce the highs so the fronts have primary stage...you can do the same with the amp but make sure one...amp or crossovers...doesn't override the other.
This will/should give you a very nice sound stage and a lot of room for adjusting the sound to the truck's interior volume and acoustics and your listening preferences.
Use the remaining pair of speakers in another vehicle...the Toyota? or just sit on them/sell them.
If you decide you want a sub you can easily use the rear channels that are going to the rear speakers to power the sub and the rear speakers will/can be unused.
I suggest you start with all your settings at a "flat" setting and your crossovers at the recommended settings...let the system and your ears break in to the new kit and sounds then after a week or two you can start "tweaking" to achieve a good balance and sound that you prefer...if you've not installed an amp before do some research on setting the levels...you really really don't want to just max them out as you just get a lot of awful noise at full or close to full volume and can risk damage to the speakers..."noise" is very harmful...
Good luck and have fun.
I just finished a search and look see for your speakers...they should work well and provide a nice sound, though I'm not at all familiar with them...I'm much more familiar with JL Audio, MB Quart...how are you going to connect 3 pair of speakers to a 4 channel amp?
Your truck is large with a large air volume inside...not much different that the cubic feet of space in my CRV allowing you to do a lot with a sound system.
How are you going to connect the amp to the factory system...line out or does it have pre amp connections? I'm using the line out on my little JL Audio amp until the Alpine iLX-007 head unit gets installed in a few days then I use the pre amp connections for a better signal and sound.
Were it me and I had to/wanted to use the speakers I just bought I would try this as an experiment: Amp is connected and working properly...hsk's in the front doors with the tweeters installed in the door panels down and to the right/mid point? from the arm rests to keep them close to the mids for a good sound stage. I'd mount the dsk's in the rear doors placing the tweeters in a close location to the mids as well. I'd adjust the fronts for a balanced sound stage favoring the higher or lower range depending on my hearing/listening preferences though closer to "flat" than either to high or low. For the rears I'd play around with de-emphasizing the higher range while boosting the mid to lower ranges to emphasize the lower range...you can't get sub levels but you should be able to get a decent low level bass...if not you merely have to adjust the settings on the head unit...you can play around with the settings on the crossovers for the speakers as well to cut out or reduce the highs so the fronts have primary stage...you can do the same with the amp but make sure one...amp or crossovers...doesn't override the other.
This will/should give you a very nice sound stage and a lot of room for adjusting the sound to the truck's interior volume and acoustics and your listening preferences.
Use the remaining pair of speakers in another vehicle...the Toyota? or just sit on them/sell them.
If you decide you want a sub you can easily use the rear channels that are going to the rear speakers to power the sub and the rear speakers will/can be unused.
I suggest you start with all your settings at a "flat" setting and your crossovers at the recommended settings...let the system and your ears break in to the new kit and sounds then after a week or two you can start "tweaking" to achieve a good balance and sound that you prefer...if you've not installed an amp before do some research on setting the levels...you really really don't want to just max them out as you just get a lot of awful noise at full or close to full volume and can risk damage to the speakers..."noise" is very harmful...
Good luck and have fun.
- Thread Starter
- #13
Thanks for the great reply. The factory hu will be hooked to the amp va high level inputs. Prob not ideal but that really the only weak point of me using the factory unit as far as I'm feeling. After a little more talking to the salesman I've been dealing with he,s sold me a sub lol. It's a 10 inch hertz model and he gave it for only 54$. I'm going to order another mono mtx amp purely because it'll look uniform with my 4 channel and then there's a complete system. The sub amps and crossovers are all going to be mounted in a box under my fold down rear seat. I actually have got some of it already made so the whole thing is a done deal! I kind of felt I would always regret not just doing a bit of a bigger system including a sub so this way it's done all at once and my truck all ripped apart once.
Pictures to follow.
Pictures to follow.
- Thread Starter
- #14
Oh and if I used all 3 pair speakers I thought I'd use the amp to power the front 4 and my hu to power the rear since they are less important as I'm told. Don't think I'll be using all 3 pair now though. 4 speakers and the sub now. The extra set of 6.5 will be put into the Toyota
- Thread Starter
- #15
So here's what I've got so far,View attachment 26554166View attachment 26554167View attachment 26554168
The sub box will be sealed and according to the sub manual a little small. Not quite sure what that will translate into sound wise hoping somone here could tell me? The section of the box w the amp will have a second clear plexiglass "shelf" with another mtx mono amp for the sub. The third section will be for storage; what I originally wanted this under the seat box for! The whole thing will be covered in matching black carpet.
Sorry about the upside down pic!
The sub box will be sealed and according to the sub manual a little small. Not quite sure what that will translate into sound wise hoping somone here could tell me? The section of the box w the amp will have a second clear plexiglass "shelf" with another mtx mono amp for the sub. The third section will be for storage; what I originally wanted this under the seat box for! The whole thing will be covered in matching black carpet.
Sorry about the upside down pic!
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