System Setup, Hertz/Audison

[Norby 10+ year member]

Hello,

New to this forum and Car audio in general.

Just installed new system and had questions about setup.

Hertz MLK2's with Audison LRx5.1 amp, Mille 3000 sub.

The MLK's have huge crossovers with multiple jumpers.

How can the sound be changed with the crossovers?

What overall effect on system?

My "complaint", if that's the right word, is that overall it sounds a bit flat. Less "colorfull" than the previous setup (lower level Hertz/audison)

My head unit (avic d3) has a huge range of adjustments for sound.

I'm impressed with the new systems linearity and smoothness, but want a bit more "pizazz" in the midrange.

Any comments or advice appreciated.

Click to read more...

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Why don't use try active? Since that 5.1k is pretty nice and can do those kinda things.

 

[Norby 10+ year member]

"Why don't use try active? Since that 5.1k is pretty nice and can do those kinda things."

Can you elaborate please?

 

[zeuolaxxx 10+ year member]

Dude.. I am planning to buy Hertz MLK2.. these speaker worth the money? give me some ideas, review and compare it to another that you had before...

 

[spark plugs. 10+ year member]

Why don't use try active? Since that 5.1k is pretty nice and can do those kinda things.

i don't think telling him to go active is helping to solve the problem. wouldn't it be easier to try to figure out if maybe the jumpers on the crossovers might be (probably) attenuating the tweeters?

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

Eq?

 

[Tonyguy 10+ year member]

The d3 is your weak link. Add in in line eq or processor i.e. Audiocontrol pieces DQXS or DQS

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

i don't think telling him to go active is helping to solve the problem. wouldn't it be easier to try to figure out if maybe the jumpers on the crossovers might be (probably) attenuating the tweeters?

I think since he has the capacity and flexibility, then why not. That way he wouldn't have to worry about those passive crossovers doing anything....but I guess I am just opposed to passive setups. Personal bias prevented me from giving a more appropriate answer, I suppose.

 

[zeuolaxxx 10+ year member]

Dude.. I am planning to buy Hertz MLK2.. these speaker worth the money? give me some ideas, review and compare it to another that you had before...

Norby!! Need your help!

 

[Norby 10+ year member]

Well, playing around with different sources last night, fiddling with the adjustments on the D3: all the EQ settings, soundfields etc., I'm NOT very happy with the sound.

The speakers before were lower end Hertz, and I swear they sounded better. It's hard to put sound impression into words, but adjectives that come to mind are:

Dull

Lifeless

Flat

No sparkle.

I REALLY hope something is wrong in the setup.

It does sound better at really HIGH volumes, but at moderate listening levels, I'm VERY disappointed.

IF anyone out their has any advice, PLEASE feel free!

 

[Blackcharger06 10+ year member]

You might want to take a look at your gains. If you look at the post by TIm B he did a great job in his car, and has a very similar set up. I have a 450/4 Jl audio powering my MLK 2's and love them. Most forum members are feeding them between 200-300 watts. The D-3 deck is your weak link. Do you have the book for the MLK 2's. The crossover jumpers are gone over in great details in them. Don 6spdcoupe also has them in his car and loves them.

 

[Norby 10+ year member]

"You might want to take a look at your gains. "

Laymans terms please. I'm very technically minded, but I'm new to car stereo. You can get as complicated as you want, but please define terms. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

"Most forum members are feeding them between 200-300 watts. "

Do you think the LRx 5.1k is inadequate? It's rated at 50 and 160w to the tweets and mids accordingly. I've played a bit more and I must say that the louder you crank, the better they sound. I just feel like the frequency range is somehow not right. Like a hole somewhere in the mids, and the highs not high enough. I tend to boost the highs more than most people like.

"The D-3 deck is your weak link. "

Well, I absolutely LOVE the D3 for its versatility and quality of interface. Navi/DVD/XM/IPOD/Backup Camera all in one package. I'm not changing it! And I had no complaints about the sound with the previous setup with the D3 as the head. Just wasn't LOUD enough:veryhapp:

"Do you have the book for the MLK 2's. The crossover jumpers are gone over in great details in them."

I'm trying to get a hold of my installer as he must have the book at his shop.

Hopefully this is just a setup issue.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Blackcharger06 10+ year member]

"You might want to take a look at your gains. "
Laymans terms please. I'm very technically minded, but I'm new to car stereo. You can get as complicated as you want, but please define terms. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

"Most forum members are feeding them between 200-300 watts. "

Do you think the LRx 5.1k is inadequate? It's rated at 50 and 160w to the tweets and mids accordingly. I've played a bit more and I must say that the louder you crank, the better they sound. I just feel like the frequency range is somehow not right. Like a hole somewhere in the mids, and the highs not high enough. I tend to boost the highs more than most people like.

"The D-3 deck is your weak link. "

Well, I absolutely LOVE the D3 for its versatility and quality of interface. Navi/DVD/XM/IPOD/Backup Camera all in one package. I'm not changing it! And I had no complaints about the sound with the previous setup with the D3 as the head. Just wasn't LOUD enough:veryhapp:

"Do you have the book for the MLK 2's. The crossover jumpers are gone over in great details in them."

I'm trying to get a hold of my installer as he must have the book at his shop.

Hopefully this is just a setup issue.

Thanks for the feedback.

Ok here we go,

1. Your gain is the input senstivity. If you don't have this set properly then you aren't going to get what you paid for, with that audison amp. It's a great amp if tuned right.

2. Your running active, so your using the 160watts to the tweets, but only 50 to the woofers? Well that is your problem right there. The woofers are rated at 125watts rms. Your better off just going passive and sending 160 to the tweeters and the woofers.

3. Your deck had a lot of features but it really is the value pack. Your paying for the add on stuff you can do and the nav. You only have 2 volt pre outs which usually isn't a huge deal if done right, but with decks that put out 4-8volts it's always a nice thing to not have to turn the gains up as high to reach your target voltage. You also don't have much for eq settings. You would benefit greatly with a 31 band eq. Settings such as rock, pop, or vocal just don't cut it when you have the quality of speakers and amp that you have.

4. I have no idea why you don't have the suitcase that the mlk2's came in, and the book. Any good installer would provide you with them, and go over your system with you while they tune it, and not let you leave until you are happy. This site and diymobileaudio.com are 2 great resources. Read up on car audio and save ya self some cash, so you can tweak ya system to your liking and save a ton of money.

 

[Norby 10+ year member]

Ok here we go,
1. Your gain is the input senstivity. If you don't have this set properly then you aren't going to get what you paid for, with that audison amp. It's a great amp if tuned right.

2. Your running active, so your using the 160watts to the tweets, but only 50 to the woofers? Well that is your problem right there. The woofers are rated at 125watts rms. Your better off just going passive and sending 160 to the tweeters and the woofers.

3. Your deck had a lot of features but it really is the value pack. Your paying for the add on stuff you can do and the nav. You only have 2 volt pre outs which usually isn't a huge deal if done right, but with decks that put out 4-8volts it's always a nice thing to not have to turn the gains up as high to reach your target voltage. You also don't have much for eq settings. You would benefit greatly with a 31 band eq. Settings such as rock, pop, or vocal just don't cut it when you have the quality of speakers and amp that you have.

4. I have no idea why you don't have the suitcase that the mlk2's came in, and the book. Any good installer would provide you with them, and go over your system with you while they tune it, and not let you leave until you are happy. This site and diymobileaudio.com are 2 great resources. Read up on car audio and save ya self some cash, so you can tweak ya system to your liking and save a ton of money.

I think we miscommunicated a bit.

It's 50 to the tweets, 160 to the mids.

I have the suitcase, just not the manual.

The D3 has an adjustable EQ as well as presets, but it's annoying because you can't adust the individual bands without effecting the band next to it. I forgot the term for this type of EQ, but I know I don't love it. I will consider the 31band EQ as an option. Someone recommended an "audiocontrol DQS". Any other opionions?

On the Hertz website, under tech specs for the MLK2, I see a graph for frequency response with two lines, but says TAD/HFC on, and one off. The graph line for HFC off looks similar to what my ear says is happening. The schematic of the crossover jumpers shows that you can control this function by moving jumpers.

Anyone know what these jumpers do exactly, and/or what TAD or HFC stands for?

Also, can you control the frequency response for the mids and tweets by adjustments in the crossovers?

ANyone know what HFC or TAD does?

 

[Blackcharger06 10+ year member]

I think we miscommunicated a bit.It's 50 to the tweets, 160 to the mids.

I have the suitcase, just not the manual.

The D3 has an adjustable EQ as well as presets, but it's annoying because you can't adust the individual bands without effecting the band next to it. I forgot the term for this type of EQ, but I know I don't love it. I will consider the 31band EQ as an option. Someone recommended an "audiocontrol DQS". Any other opionions?

On the Hertz website, under tech specs for the MLK2, I see a graph for frequency response with two lines, but says TAD/HFC on, and one off. The graph line for HFC off looks similar to what my ear says is happening. The schematic of the crossover jumpers shows that you can control this function by moving jumpers.

Anyone know what these jumpers do exactly, and/or what TAD or HFC stands for?

Also, can you control the frequency response for the mids and tweets by adjustments in the crossovers?

ANyone know what HFC or TAD does?

It's all in the book. so you only have 50watts to the tweets? They need more power. If you payed for the crossoevers you might as well use them. You can save like 500 bucks by not getting them. Good luck.