Time to upgrade

[Project_121]

Hey everyone, been thinking about changing the system in my car for a while and I think it's time to start gathering what I need

I DON'T want to get rid of the factory HU and I not an overly large fan of flashiness so I would like to keep the system as incognito as possible because I've had a full system jacked from my old truck. Plus I rather enjoy my steering wheel controls.

So for my amp I was looking at..

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_020XC14...on-XC1410.html maybe tucked away somewhere in the rear trim or even the pillar.

Front speakers would be http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575P165...ch-P165-S.html and the rears would be http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575P165...unch-P165.html

I've read that Cleansweep is a bad idea for the fortes because the stock HU has a clean signal until vol 22 then it gets all crazy with factory EQs adjustments, I can't confirm this however.

I'm not trying to compete with the people at that stop lights that can register on Richter Scales just want better sound and if it matters I favor music like Two Steps from Hell but I do listen to EDM and bands like Five Finger Death Punch.

Will this setup be appropriate for my audio enjoyment, feedback is welcome and encouraged!

Thanks!

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[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Unless you never turn the volume up past 21 you will not get around the factory EQ, if that is in fact the way the radio behaves. I like Clarion XC1410 a lot, but it has no gain adjustment. That means you can't crank the gain to compensate for low head unit output voltage. You might be able to use JL CL441dsp as well as a 4-channel amplifier, as long as you can get a 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz input signal from no more than 2 pairs of speaker wires per side out of the factory sound system. If you need other JL parts to make this work right you might as well step up to JBL MS-8. It has an 8-channel amplifier built in and the auto EQ is better.

 

[Project_121]

That's a beautiful thing! I looked over the MS-8, noticed it has an amp already built in but at 18 RMS with 8 channels. Can I bridge the unused channels into the 2 component and to the rear? If not how would it it get set up? HU > MS-8 > Amp > Speakers or HU > Amp > MS-8 > Speakers Or will the power from the MS-8 work enough? For some reason, Music Streaming from BT from say Pandora or any other music service is really REALLY has the gain jacked down but only on that input source, SAT and USB and AUX are perfectly fine.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

No, MS-8 cannot be bridged to increase power output. You can use 2 ohm speakers to bump it up to roughly 30W per channel. MS-8 needs to go before an aftermarket amplifier in the signal path. In terms of power delivery, it's in between what a head unit's tiny chip amp can do and what Clarion XC1410 can do. More power is good for headroom, but I can't tell you if you think that would be enough for your needs. Some people are very happy with MS-8 powering their entire system.

If this is something you decide to buy, send me a private message. We have a forum special offer for MS-8 that is a much lower price than we advertise.

 

[Project_121]

Awesome, I'll gather the speakers up first and get then look into the MS-8 and see how it works out and if i feel that I don't like the power from it I can always simply add the amp after. Thanks for the help so much. Can I ask you to PM me the price of the MS-8 you have avail with forum special so I can redo my budget?