Upgrading Components and Rear Speakers

[qkassidyw 10+ year member]

Background:

I have a 1995 Grand Cherokee with 6.5 type s coax's and stock tweeters up front (got all my speakers for free so don't hate).

I have always been scared to get a set of components because whenever I install them into cars they end up sounding too bright to me....meaning there is too much high end and it almost hurts your ears to listen to them.

I think I am ready to make the plunge but would like some help from you guys as to which sets have an adjustment in the crossover to bring the tweeter down if necessary. I am willing to spend probably up to $300 if the components are worth it, and I'm pretty sure Silk Dome is what I am looking for to have a smoother sound.

I listened to the JL XR Series and liked those but again anyones input is appreciated.

Also, I think I want to mid range/small subs in the rear doors, what do you guys recommend?

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[lyttleviet 10+ year member]

do a search on Hertz HSK165s.

 

[Hoodlum007 10+ year member]

If you want a smooth sounding comps you need a set with silk tweeters. Check out the Image Dynamics CTX65CS or Premier 720PRS. Many memebers here are using both and have great things to say about them. I am using the CTX65cs and cant rave enough about the sound quality.

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

It is normal for tweets to get too bright as you turn the volume up. This is a function of how our ears work, not the tweeters. This is known as the "Loudness Curve". Simply turn down the highs on the head unit, or turn off the "Loudness" button, as the volume gets louder. Problem solved.

At low volumes you will want to add the highs back in, or turn on the "Loudness" button.

This isn't a problem with stock speakers, because they don't have any highs to begin with. When you add a real set of speakers now you have lots of potential energy at all frequencies and you need to understand how, and why, to control them.

 

[qkassidyw 10+ year member]

It is normal for tweets to get too bright as you turn the volume up. This is a function of how our ears work, not the tweeters. This is known as the "Loudness Curve". Simply turn down the highs on the head unit, or turn off the "Loudness" button, as the volume gets louder. Problem solved.At low volumes you will want to add the highs back in, or turn on the "Loudness" button.

This isn't a problem with stock speakers, because they don't have any highs to begin with. When you add a real set of speakers now you have lots of potential energy at all frequencies and you need to understand how, and why, to control them.

I don't agree with this...

I NEVER have my loudness setting on, makes for crappy sound, I don't want to turn the highs down because then that will remove highs from almost the whole frequency spectrum (at least the high end of the spectrum).

And I understand the Fletcher-Munson curve but there are components out there that don't hurt your ears to listen to them at high volumes (Like my stock tweets //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif). The good companies can design the speaker to be less responsive at frequencies (and their harmonics) that the human ear is sensitive to.

Also, there are component sets (like the Type-R's) that have jumpers to reduce the level of the tweeter so you aren't wincing when turned up to high volumes.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

I don't agree with this...I NEVER have my loudness setting on, makes for crappy sound, I don't want to turn the highs down because then that will remove highs from almost the whole frequency spectrum (at least the high end of the spectrum).

And I understand the Fletcher-Munson curve but there are components out there that don't hurt your ears to listen to them at high volumes (Like my stock tweets //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif). The good companies can design the speaker to be less responsive at frequencies (and their harmonics) that the human ear is sensitive to.

Also, there are component sets (like the Type-R's) that have jumpers to reduce the level of the tweeter so you aren't wincing when turned up to high volumes.

if you have a good equalizer you can make any set less bright. Also most crossover have a tweeter attenuation option or some even 2 or more

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

I don't agree with this...I NEVER have my loudness setting on, makes for crappy sound, I don't want to turn the highs down because then that will remove highs from almost the whole frequency spectrum (at least the high end of the spectrum).

And I understand the Fletcher-Munson curve but there are components out there that don't hurt your ears to listen to them at high volumes (Like my stock tweets //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif). The good companies can design the speaker to be less responsive at frequencies (and their harmonics) that the human ear is sensitive to.

Also, there are component sets (like the Type-R's) that have jumpers to reduce the level of the tweeter so you aren't wincing when turned up to high volumes.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif Well, at least I tried... Your posts indicate you don't understand the loudness curve or how to eq works. Those two bold statemenst are complete jibberish. Flat frequency response changes at different volumes. It is our perception that changes, not the speakers. Reducing the highs at the crossover or at the eq is the same thing.

As I said, it's a function of our ears. Obviously some tweets are harsher than others, but that doesn't change how our ears work.

It doesn't matter how expensive the speakers are. If you change the listening volume, you have to retune the system to make it sound "flat". If you raise the volume, you have to turn down the highs and lows. (Although in car audio we don't complain as much about the added bass). If you lower the volume, you have to turn them back up.

Taking out 3 db on the crossover does exactly the same thing as taking 3 db out on the HU. If you wack out the highs on the crossover so it's smooth at high volumes, then when you listen at low volumes you will need to add highs at the HU or it will sound dull and muffled. Adding with eq adds more noise than cutting with an eq.

Brand and type are irrelevent to this effect. Dynaudio's or PG, silks or titaniums, doesn't matter. It's just physics.