Newbie speaker bass question

[musiqlover 10+ year member]

Guys I really need help with this. Please refrain from flaming me as I've tried to read up as much as I can, but, there is no one else that seems to have this problem.

Here's my situation:

I've replaced my stock system with all aftermarket parts a few years back and since then, I've never had much bass coming from the front speakers.

My stock system on the other hand, had a lot of bass coming out of the speakers THEMSELVES. I could feel the bass come out of the front and rear speakers and it sounded great. The only problem was I could only put the volume so high before they became distorted which is why I decided to just replace the entire system.

My front drivers are Alpine Type-X 5.25" components so I know they are capable of producing some decent bass. Yet, when I listen to songs, especially hip-hop or rock, the music sounds somewhat flat. I can put my hand on the grill and barely feel the bass vibrations that I got from my stock system.

My question is:

What could be the possible problems and what can I do to improve the bass to make it sound more like my stock system? I'm sure everything is hooked up right, because I had a pro put it together.

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[macq32 10+ year member]

do you have an external amp?

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Was about to say the same thing.

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

Deaden your doors and seal them up. There was also a thread like this started not that long ago.

 

[musiqlover 10+ year member]

Thanks for the quick response guys. I do have an external amp. I don't know if these specs will help:

Phoenix Gold amp Octane R 5.0:4

Technical Details

* 50 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms

* 75 watts RMS x 4 at 2 ohms

* 150 watts RMS x 2 at 4 ohms

* variable high- and low-pass filters (40-400 Hz at 12 dB/octave)

* variable Twin "T" bass EQ boost (0-15 dB boost at 45 Hz)

The front drivers:

Alpine Type-X SPX-137R

Speaker Type Component - 2-way - passive

Speaker Diameter 5.25"

Nominal (RMS) Output Power 60 Watt

Max (RMS) Output Power 240 Watt

Response Bandwidth 40 - 60000 Hz

Input Impedance 4 Ohm

 

[musiqlover 10+ year member]

Deaden your doors and seal them up. There was also a thread like this started not that long ago.

I don't think it has to do with the deadening so much because my stock speakers did a great job at providing bass without any dampening material.

I have a hard time describing this to people, but, basically the midranges sound very flat. I understand that they weren't designed to push out ultra low or ultra high frequencies,but, it sounds like there's no depth.

I've listened to most stock systems in the 2000's and most speakers sound like there's ample bass. Whereas my bass seems to be coming solely from my subs.

As an example, if you guys listened to the radio and if a radio veejay had a deep voice, you can feel it or at least hear it the depth.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

You should get some subs for bass //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

And make sure your EQ is tuned like you like it.

 

[Savstyle 10+ year member]

I don't think it has to do with the deadening so much because my stock speakers did a great job at providing bass without any dampening material.
I have a hard time describing this to people, but, basically the midranges sound very flat. I understand that they weren't designed to push out ultra low or ultra high frequencies,but, it sounds like there's no depth.

I've listened to most stock systems in the 2000's and most speakers sound like there's ample bass. Whereas my bass seems to be coming solely from my subs.

As an example, if you guys listened to the radio and if a radio veejay had a deep voice, you can feel it or at least hear it the depth.

stock speakers are made to play lower becuase te average person doesnt want to spend money to get "boom" in there car.

Deaden your doors and check the eq on your deck.

6.5-6x9 are not meant to produce bass thats what subs are for.

 

[musiqlover 10+ year member]

Subs are setup already. Subs are working fine, it's the bass coming from the front sp[eakers that are not.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Subs are setup already. Subs are working fine, it's the bass coming from the front sp[eakers that are not.

Then you need some louder subs.

 

[musiqlover 10+ year member]

I'm assuming EQ stands for equalizer. I don't have one, but, is installation going to be a hassle? Is this really the only explainable issue here? Is it possible that I do not have my subs configured properly with the front drivers?

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

What are the pass filter settings for the Type X comps and the subs?

 

[JayRich 10+ year member]

What do you have the HPF set to on your amp for the speakers? Alot of the time, when you have a stock system they make it so that the headunit internal amp has a bass boost at certain frequncies but since they are cheap speakers when you turn them up you will hear distortion. Aftermarket equipment allow you to set the gains and equalization yourself, so you'll have to play around with the settings. You may want to check the specs on your speakers to see what the lowest frequency it will play and set it for the next highest level that you head unit with cross it at. Ex. if it can play down to 58 hz, then set it at lets say 62, and then have your sub play all the frequencies below that point, so that they wont play the same notes. I'd say check your crossover setting first, but also agree to seal and deaden the doors

 

[eharri3 10+ year member]

Most common aftermarket front speakers are not designed to produce 'BASS', defined as 60-75 HZ and below. That's what a sub is for. You'll get more bass coming from stock front speakers than aftermarket fromts most of the time because they're designed to run off low-powered stock HUs and are designed so you can pump the bass up on the stock system without killing your door speakers although it won't like 'good' bass at that point. They're made this way because, as someone else said, most stock systems don't come with subs so they have to give you more low end from the door speakers.

Aftermarket speakers, what you're shooting for is a high pass of 75-80 HZ on the fronts so they can provide the firm 'snapping' sound in bass and drum beats that's supposed to sound like its coming from the front to cap off the lower booming frequencies in the beat that are less directional and give you the illusion of up front bass. This is MIDbass. If you blast crunk and rap all day long I wouldn't go much below 75-80 HZ on these. If you play stuff without too heavy of a bass line you can probably get away with 65-70 HZ. Id say make sure your sub is tuned to around 75-80HZ then try tuning to front compnents to pick up right around that same point as a start.