Upgrade from MM651??

  • 3
    Participant count
  • Participant list

fb111a1
10+ year member

Member
My current setup:

Head unit- Alpine CDE-HD149BT

Amp - Alpine MRP-F240

Speakers- fronts only- Polk MM651

Sub - 8" JL audio ported box - will soon be running this with a JL Audio 250/1

My main source is a 4th gen Ipod Touch

My doors are as deadened as they can get. I've just about worked out every rattle that I can find. I'm looking more for SQ than volume. To my ears it sounds pretty **** good at the moment. The only thing that I would like is maybe a little more mid-bass. Really at this point I'm still tinkering just because I can and it's something to do.

Is there any other speakers that would "sound" better (less than $250)? I really don't want anything with more treble. I am running the MM651 with the stock crossovers. Is there a better alternative?

Thanks

 
It looks to me like the next logical step is a DSP and to run those speakers active. This means you'll be taking the passive crossovers out and running the tweeters and woofers off 4 amplifier channels. When it already sounds great, changing out speakers might not give you what you're after. If you upgrade to "active" with a DSP that makes it much more practical to change the speakers and tune the system in a much more detailed way. The difficulty goes up quite a bit with this kind of upgrade, but it will really boost your system to the next level.

Alpine has a DSP, PXA-H800, and a controller for it as well. If you would have a shop do the work I recommend you keep an open mind to whatever DSP they have experience using. There are many good options, but not many shops are skilled enough to do a great job with a DSP they don't sell. I use JBL MS-8, and it does a lot of the tuning automatically. If you can install an amplifier you can install MS-8.

 
Those Polks are coaxials right? You could improve upon them with a component set. One popular speaker has been JBL MS-62C components. Supposedly they have pretty natural sounding tweeters and sound good with their stock passive crossovers.

As for DSP, is this head unit compatible with Alpine's Imprint processor? That could be a cheap way to go. If it's not, the next more affordable option is to get the Pioneer DEH-80PRS head unit. This one is active capable with automatic tuning capability. You can expect an instant improvement in sound with most components. Normally, the auto eq feature clears up the highs and mid-range pretty well. After that you can fine tune bass, time alignment, etc.

 
I'm sticking with the head unit. I just bought it. I'm not sure if it works with Imprint, but it does have a lot of tuning options. It has time alignment, 9-band EQ, etc. If Alpine can get their piece of crap program(Tuneit) to work I might even be able to use it.

 
Activity
No one is currently typing a reply...
Old Thread: Please note, there have been no replies in this thread for over 3 years!
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.

Similar threads

Hello, I have a Peugeot 207 SE 2007 and would like to upgrade its existing car stereo. It’s a single cd fm/am radio and I would like to get...
0
57
That's not an amplifier designed for subwoofer use, it's a 4 channel designed for you primary speakers. Small $75 investment to get you where you...
2
296
i would not worry about the tweeters. They will never see anything above 20 watts before your ears bleed. your options with 4 channels would be...
4
377
Thought I would update this thread… Couldn’t login over the weekend for some reason. Finally got the Kenwood installed last Friday… Had a little...
32
2K
Are you planning on upgrading the alternator and add extra batteries?
2
640

About this thread

fb111a1

10+ year member
Member
Thread starter
fb111a1
Joined
Location
New Hampshire
Start date
Participants
Who Replied
Replies
3
Views
977
Last reply date
Last reply from
fb111a1
1000005348.jpg

Deepak Walia

    Apr 23, 2024
  • 0
  • 0
1713846388212.png

Random4thGuy

    Apr 23, 2024
  • 0
  • 0

Latest topics

Top