Why are my rainbow tweeters barely audible?

[drwang 10+ year member]

Hi all,

I used to frequent this forum all the time for my 2004 Mustang. I ended up trading up to a 2007 Ford Explorer. The stock head unit needed to be replaced. So I decided it was a chance to get back into car audio.

The issue I have right now is that the tweeters don't seem to be playing much, if anything. When they were used before, they were bright and clear. But now I'm barely getting anything. When I put on classical music, it's pretty much just the 5.25 components handling it all. I even tried +3db on the passive crossover for the tweeters on the right door.

Here's the equipment:

HU- Dual XHD7714

Amp- Arc Audio FD4150 http://www.arcaudio.com/archives/fd-man.pdf

Front speakers- Rainbow CS230 Contour 5.25 components/cal25 with passive crossovers

Rear speakers- Kicker KS68

I have the crossovers set to stereo on front and rear, 4 channel. Gain set slightly more sensitive on the front over the rears. Freq at 80hz front and 55 hz rear. 12db and Freq range x1. Bass boost turned all the way down.

Pics:

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[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

have you checked the head unit? try swapping them to the back see if that helps

 

[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

have you checked the head unit? try swapping them to the back see if that helps

 

[drwang 10+ year member]

Swapped the front RCA with rear RCA. No change. I was playing music on pandora on iPhone using Bluetooth. When I swiped iPhone to unlock, it was louder on the tweets. So they do in fact work. It has something to do with settings?

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Bluetooth is a compressed format and is lossy. don't use that as a way to evaluate the sound system. you listen to it for convenience, not fidelity.

try some CD's.

on a safety note, i think you have way to much exposed copper at your crossover connections. my rule: no copper strands should be visible. this is easier to achieve if you use spade terminals and heat shrink.