Reduced output when HU faded to front

[kottke 10+ year member]

Hi all,

I've been working, trying to get my setup to sound good. I have a 2006 Honda Civc sedan. Currently, I've got a ID10 in a sealed .75 box, with a 480 x 1 RMS amp powering it. I also upgraded my front door speakers to 6 1/2 Pioneer coaxials. I still have the factory speakers in rear deck and have factory HU (wanted to change this, but it' kinda of pain in the Civic). I am powering the front speakers with the HU.

Due to the factory speakers requiring less power and being more sensitive, if I don't fade the HU a notch or two to the front speakers (the Pioneers) it is noticeably louder coming from the rear speakers. However, when I fade like that, the signal to the rear is reduced (I'm using speaker level inputs, tapped from the rear speaker wires) in the sub also. Checking with a digital multimeter, the voltage goes down considerably coming from the amp, even if I crank the gain up. Therefore my sub output is lessened. I've tried compensating for this using the HU bass adjustment and also the bass boost on the amp. Neither sound as good and I know it's not the best idea to use either one.

So, I'm wondering what would be the best option:

1) Tap into front speakers instead, running wire to amp

2) Buy another pair of 6 1/2 Pioneers for the rear so they are of equal wattage and sensitivity to the front pair.

I know most people say putting speakers in the rear is a waste, but I can get the

6 1/2s for about $40 on Amazon right now, so they are pretty cheap. Plus they will be easy to install.

What are your suggestions?

Thanks guys.

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[dipitydoo 10+ year member]

Option one is your best bet for the time being. Yes, you will obviously run into that problem by tapping into the rear speaker outputs.

 

[tcguy85 10+ year member]

if ur running ur LOC off the rear speaker wires then that makes sense that you'll lose output when you fade to the front.

 

[kottke 10+ year member]

Alright guys.....I guess I'll have to run some wire from the front speakers. Man, I'm really getting sick of taking my dang car apart //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif. This will be like the fifth time I've had to take the center console, back seat, and dash apart. Most of this is my own fault, however, as I am a noob and have screwed up many aspects of this installation, including this issue.

Thanks for your help!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[electropro 10+ year member]

I would unhook the rear deck speakers all together. You will instantly notice a "cleaner" sound. Then you will also be able to fade front to back"sub" no problemo. I took my rear deck speakers out of the car entirely. This seemed to let more bass from the trunk into the cabin as well. Do it. If you don't like it hook them back up. My .25 cents

Almost forgot, Everything else is fine in your car, before you go messin with front speakers and consoles and dashes and shit, try what I recommended.

Good Luck.

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

I would unhook the rear deck speakers all together. You will instantly notice a "cleaner" sound. Then you will also be able to fade front to back"sub" no problemo. I took my rear deck speakers out of the car entirely. This seemed to let more bass from the trunk into the cabin as well. Do it. If you don't like it hook them back up. My .25 cents

Almost forgot, Everything else is fine in your car, before you go messin with front speakers and consoles and dashes and shit, try what I recommended.

Good Luck.

I also recommend doing that, from personal experience. I had cleaner sounding front speakers than rears, when I used to run both and had coaxes. My HU outputs were rear outputs, so my sub would get louder when I faded to the rear. I thought it was a good way of adjusting sub volume on the fly without messing with the bass/treble and distorting the audio.

I don't think you'll miss your rears. Especially once you get an amp on your fronts, and eventually get components. Don't kid yourself and think you won't eventually upgrade, haha.

 

[kottke 10+ year member]

I also recommend doing that, from personal experience. I had cleaner sounding front speakers than rears, when I used to run both and had coaxes. My HU outputs were rear outputs, so my sub would get louder when I faded to the rear. I thought it was a good way of adjusting sub volume on the fly without messing with the bass/treble and distorting the audio.
I don't think you'll miss your rears. Especially once you get an amp on your fronts, and eventually get components. Don't kid yourself and think you won't eventually upgrade, haha.

Hey guys, thanks for your input. I just got this message this morning....and I went ahead and ran inputs from my front speakers last night. Crap! This sounds like a good idea. So far it is sounding better than before, however. I've got it faded about halfway to the front.

Haha about the upgrade:laugh:. It has already began. This whole process began with me buying a crap Visonik $40 powered subwoofer from Walmart. Now, in less than two months I have an Image Dynamics sub, new amp, new box, and new front speakers. I told my boss....I mean wife, that I was just putting a sub in. She has been pissed off:laugh: !