Rear fill and center channel confusion, help please!

[HardcoreBob]

I'm 40, but been out of the car audio game for awhile so I'm basically a newb looking for a "veterans" dream set up, but want to do as much as I can myself...

I have 2011 Ford F-150 super crew, with so called premium Sony Nav...

I don't know what to do with the canter channel.

Should I just run it off the head unit, or eliminate it (or upgrade and amplify)

Also, I'm going to upgrade the front component speakers to a high end pair (want less high and more mid/lows for darker toned heavy metal, are high end rockfords recommended?)

Any way, should I run my rear speakers as they are, off hu, or should I upgrade them, and run off hu, or amp them, or upgrade AND amp them.

Thanks!

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

It needs surround sound processing to do it right.

It’s upxixed since stereo is only 2 channel.

Alpine PXA-H800 is the current one to use

 

[HardcoreBob]

Thanks...

If I'm not going to do any processing (not any on that scale anyway) should I just leave that center channel running off the head unit, since I'll have heavily amplified components up front, or eliminate the center channel altogether?

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Ditch the center and rears. But if the HU is doing some voodoo that you don’t bypass it won’t sound right.

 

[evilmonstertruk Premium Member]

All the center channels I have seen where using helix or better dsps. And they did sound good. Not SPL though.

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

All the center channels I have seen where using helix or better dsps. And they did sound good. Not SPL though.
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Helix don’t process surround. Only the MS-8, H800, and 360(not sure what it uses). Helix and mini DSP can do differential rear fill.

 

[evilmonstertruk Premium Member]

Helix don’t process surround. Only the MS-8, H800, and 360(not sure what it uses). Helix and mini DSP can do differential rear fill.

Oh I wasn't saying it did just saying that's what they were using to do it.
And it did sound good, but sq cars that didn't have one sounded just as good.

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Oh I wasn't saying it did just saying that's what they were using to do it.
And it did sound good, but sq cars that didn't have one sounded just as good.

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Centers are good for 2 seat tunes. Like mine images perfect in the drivers seat, crap in the passenger seat.

A good center channel tune will image in both

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thanks...
If I'm not going to do any processing (not any on that scale anyway) should I just leave that center channel running off the head unit, since I'll have heavily amplified components up front, or eliminate the center channel altogether?

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For you, Swap the head unit to an SQ head unit, nothing you do will sound good until you do this. guidelines for an SQ oriented head unit, must have 24 bit dac, 13 band or higher EQ, time alignment, 4 volt pre-out or higher.

Get some quality speaekers like morel or dynaudio rockford is meh at best.

get a lot of amplfiier power 150 watts rms a channel at least, power helps with SQ a lot.

Do acoustical treatments to your door. basically deaden, then turn your door into a speaker box then use baffles to direct sound in the cabin along with treating rear speaker waves. this is the most important step next to the head unit upgrade/tune. Without doing these two, your setup will be garbage no matter how expensive your speakers are.

Dont bother spending any time or money on the center or rears, absolutely useless waste of time. just keep the rears stock on head unit power if you so wish but thats the most attention you should ever give to it.

 

[The Camry]

Helix don’t process surround. Only the MS-8, H800, and 360(not sure what it uses). Helix and mini DSP can do differential rear fill.

How To: Rear Fill With Helix DSP - Car Audio | DiyMobileAudio.com | Car Stereo Forum

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

How To: Rear Fill With Helix DSP - Car Audio | DiyMobileAudio.com | Car Stereo Forum

Talking center channel.