Trying to get more out of my speakers, amp them?

[JeffyZ33 10+ year member]

Well to start off, I wasn't sure where to post this because of the variety of components it deals with.

So the deal is, I have 2 sets of Alpine Type S speakers running off of my Alpine 9855. I've tried adjusting the EQ to get more "scream" out of them with less bass, but I can't seem to get them as loud as I'm looking for. So my guess is they are being underpowered running off only the deck. The idea? Hook up an Orion 4004 to them to try to get more out of them. Would I see a big difference? Would it justify the cost? (~300 after getting a 1/0 amp kit, distro block, rcas, 4ga lengths of wire, etc, all knukonceptz to split my 1200d and the said 4004)

If I do that, I may just upgrade my 4x RE8s to 2x 12SE during the group buy. Spend a little bit, spend a lot //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Click to read more...

 

[rocky 59 5,000+ posts]

i amped my dash speakers and those puppies bang. i would if i was you. also buy an eq to get the high up and the mids and lows down on the speakers

 

[Cris 10+ year member]

Amping your interior speakers is a great great idea. Running speakers off head unit power is like taking a 1 bite of a great steal and walking way. You'll always want more.

-cris

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

So the deal is, I have 2 sets of Alpine Type S speakers running off of my Alpine 9855.

What size Type S speakers?

I've tried adjusting the EQ to get more "scream" out of them with less bass, but I can't seem to get them as loud as I'm looking for.

I am unfamiliar with the specifics on most Alpine decks, having never owned one myself. Does that unit have a HPF that affects the speaker outputs as well as the preamp outputs? If so - and assuming that you have it enabled if it does - at what Hz do you have it crossed? If there isn't a HPF that affects the speaker outputs then my first suggestion would be some sort of passive HPF being included in the wiring. If you're running them completely full range then the lower octaves are going to strain the speakers' abilities to reproduce the higher octaves with any degree of clarity at high volume levels.

So my guess is they are being underpowered running off only the deck.

Certainly this is a possibility using only HU power. What's the RMS rating of the Type S speakers you have?

The idea? Hook up an Orion 4004 to them to try to get more out of them. Would I see a big difference?

Potentially. A head unit typically won't give any speaker what it truly needs to operate its best. If you've got speakers rated for 50w or more RMS then the 18~20 real world watts that the HU will put out isn't going to do them justice. Alpines Type S line wasn't known for extreme efficiency, IIRC.

Would it justify the cost? (~300 after getting a 1/0 amp kit, distro block, rcas, 4ga lengths of wire, etc, all knukonceptz to split my 1200d and the said 4004)

What size cable do you have running the 1200d currently? If you're upgrading to 1/0awg just for the sake of that 4004 then I'd suggest that's a bit of overkill, wouldn't you say?

If I do that, I may just upgrade my 4x RE8s to 2x 12SE during the group buy. Spend a little bit, spend a lot //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

if it is within your budget and nothing else will suffer for the purchase (being able to pay bills and whatnot) then I can't see any good reason not to while the good prices are available. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

 

[rocky 59 5,000+ posts]

Quote:

I've tried adjusting the EQ to get more "scream" out of them with less bass, but I can't seem to get them as loud as I'm looking for.

Quote:

also buy an eq to get the high up and the mids and lows down on the speakers

my bad. ADD lol

 

[JeffyZ33 10+ year member]

What size Type S speakers?I am unfamiliar with the specifics on most Alpine decks, having never owned one myself. Does that unit have a HPF that affects the speaker outputs as well as the preamp outputs? If so - and assuming that you have it enabled if it does - at what Hz do you have it crossed? If there isn't a HPF that affects the speaker outputs then my first suggestion would be some sort of passive HPF being included in the wiring. If you're running them completely full range then the lower octaves are going to strain the speakers' abilities to reproduce the higher octaves with any degree of clarity at high volume levels.

Certainly this is a possibility using only HU power. What's the RMS rating of the Type S speakers you have?

Potentially. A head unit typically won't give any speaker what it truly needs to operate its best. If you've got speakers rated for 50w or more RMS then the 18~20 real world watts that the HU will put out isn't going to do them justice. Alpine

s Type S line wasn't known for extreme efficiency, IIRC.

What size cable do you have running the 1200d currently? If you're upgrading to 1/0awg just for the sake of that 4004 then I'd suggest that's a bit of overkill, wouldn't you say?

if it is within your budget and nothing else will suffer for the purchase (being able to pay bills and whatnot) then I can't see any good reason not to while the good prices are available. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

The speakers are 6.5-6.75.

I'm not quite sure about the crossover, I'm guessing it has one being the highest CDA model out thus far. I haven't played with it enough to really figure everything out.

The RMS of the speakers is 40

The 1200d runs off of 4ga right now, but I figured instead of running a seperate line I would just upgrade to a single 1/0 wire and then mount a distro block. Might as well make it purty, eh?

And yes, the prices look great. I think 2 12SE would be a great upgrade over my 4 RE8s that I already love.

The reason I am looking at the 4004 is because HCCAFan (where i've bought 2 1200ds with excellent excellent service) is having a sale on them. It's rated 50x4@4 ohm, which is close to what the S' are.

Now, a noob question. After I run all of the wire back, how is the amplifier inside the deck disabled? Does it disable when you put front/rear rca's into it?

 

[JeffyZ33 10+ year member]

Bump for teh win!!!

 

[bikejunkie223 10+ year member]

Amp the snot out of them they will be better, though eq-ing will be more important to make them sound right. Also, try sound deadening/sealing your doors- huge gains in midbass to be found there regardless of amp power.

 

[JAZN 5,000+ posts]

I saw a big difference going from HU power to external amp power.

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

To start with, use the HPF built into that head unit and see what happens, and then go and get a 4channel amp for them.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

I saw a big difference going from HU power to external amp power.

i wonder why....