Something doesn't seems right with my setup . . . can someone diagnose?

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Hey Guys,

I've got the following setup in my car:

- Alpine CDA-9835 HU

- Focal Utopia 165W2 components in the front

- PPI Ax400 (Art Series) amp powering the Utopias

- Resonant Engineering RE-XXX 6.5" midbasses in rear doors

- Orion HCCA-225 G4 powering RE-XXXs

Now, my Utopias sound great, with absolutely no distorition even at pretty high volume, but the RE-XXXs in the rear can't keep up. At moderately high volume the XXXs will start to distort. I think the XXX's were wired in parallel to the HCCA-225 G4 so that I could lower the impedance (because the HCCA is a cheater amp stable to 0.5 ohms). I can't remember the impedance of the XXX, but I think it is something like 1.75ohms per speaker. I can't remember their RMS rating either. Wired in parallel I should get a 0.875ohm load, which should equate to about 150W x 2 RMS?

Here are the specs on the HCCA-225:

POWER OUTPUT

2 x 25 @ 4 Ohm

2 x 50 @ 2 Ohm

2 x 100 @ 1 Ohm

2 x 200 @ .5 Ohm

1 x 100 @ 4 Ohm

1 x 200 @ 2 Ohm

1 x 400 @ 1 Ohm

Anyways, I think something is really messed up. The XXXs are supposed to be good midbasses, but right now they seem to be grossly underpowered. To be honest, the installation was a while ago, and I can't remember exactly how I asked them to wire them up. All I remember is that I lost stereo (left and right) capability to minimize the impedance and hence maximize the output of the HCCA. The speakers only play on the right channel.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Thanks!

Bryan

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[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

I think I was trying to get as close to the 1 x 400W RMS @ 0.5ohms as I could if that helps any.

Thanks,

Bryan

 

[fuzzai 10+ year member]

move them midbass closer to your other speakers man. up front.

and maybe get left and right working again, what if there's some bass on th leff channel your not getting?

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Well, I have already got the Focals up front. I put the RE-XXX midbasses in for rear fill. It's not the positioning that is a problem, it is that they distort at volumes I wouldn't consider that loud.

I would like to get the mids into stereo, but if I did I think they would be grossly underpowered. . . .

What to do?

Regards,

Bryan

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Did I post in the wrong forum? Can noone here help me?

Regards,

Bryan

 

[Decado 10+ year member]

Where in back do you have them installed, could be your install causing the distortion.

 

[bdonkersgoed 10+ year member]

Where in back do you have them installed, could be your install causing the distortion.

They are installed in the rear doors of my 1999 Volkswagen Passat. I am running the XXXs infinite baffle, but the door is very well dynomatted.

Regards,

Bryan