Upgrading sound system
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Nebraska
Originally Posted by jbrew
BARTAK!!! -
Man, I feel at a loose here and a little nieve when it comes to a good stereo system. I guess when it comes to the mathamatics of electronics everything has to jive with each other in certain fashin.. I guess the details of putting together a good stereo sytem never really interested me enough, or something, before last week I was under the impression that buying a good stereo system was like buying a light bulb (the higher the wattage, the brighter the room....") w/ Sounds system ( the higher the wattage the better the sound quality) obviously , theres more to it than that and I've read a few artcles on putting a good system together, it's not that difficult unless your MULTITASKING lol.
Lol, yup, little more involved than it first seems, doesnt take to long to catch on though
I've been re-wiring in side the cab and under the dash .. I have a Ford " Sure Start" car starter that was installed by Ford back in 98 - they did a good job in everything , it just some of the materials used didn't age well lol. I replaced all Charging system wires (engine comp - new starter & solenoid) along w/misc. connectors / feeds under dash..
In 2003 three , a kid at Micky Shore Audio Inc. Installed my old system , now this guy was a total butcher - I showed you a pic of where this guy used freakin "wire nuts" - Well everthing from the AMP settings being wrong to haveing three different AWG types of speaker wire between the AMP and speakers (just on one side).. Freakin Spazz, LOL , I gutted everything starting fresh on the stereo wiring - Thats's where I'm at now - Making a system harness with new and the correct size wiring, keeping in mind - "if your not sure ,make it bigger" ..
Sounds like they really knew what they were doing...not. lol
Bigger wire is always nice, nothing wrong if you go overkill with it. And if you do you have it in there already if you ever decide to stick a more powerful stereo in it
BTW - Those duel 8" Advents had more than enough bass - not midrangers lol - They were Woof Brothers.. Duel meaning - 2 Eight Woofs per unit w/600 WATT MAX.
Alright, I wasnt real sure...so do you think you will fix those or just get something new then? I think from a price standpoint I would just about get something new though
Latuh
Man, I feel at a loose here and a little nieve when it comes to a good stereo system. I guess when it comes to the mathamatics of electronics everything has to jive with each other in certain fashin.. I guess the details of putting together a good stereo sytem never really interested me enough, or something, before last week I was under the impression that buying a good stereo system was like buying a light bulb (the higher the wattage, the brighter the room....") w/ Sounds system ( the higher the wattage the better the sound quality) obviously , theres more to it than that and I've read a few artcles on putting a good system together, it's not that difficult unless your MULTITASKING lol.
Lol, yup, little more involved than it first seems, doesnt take to long to catch on though
I've been re-wiring in side the cab and under the dash .. I have a Ford " Sure Start" car starter that was installed by Ford back in 98 - they did a good job in everything , it just some of the materials used didn't age well lol. I replaced all Charging system wires (engine comp - new starter & solenoid) along w/misc. connectors / feeds under dash..
In 2003 three , a kid at Micky Shore Audio Inc. Installed my old system , now this guy was a total butcher - I showed you a pic of where this guy used freakin "wire nuts" - Well everthing from the AMP settings being wrong to haveing three different AWG types of speaker wire between the AMP and speakers (just on one side).. Freakin Spazz, LOL , I gutted everything starting fresh on the stereo wiring - Thats's where I'm at now - Making a system harness with new and the correct size wiring, keeping in mind - "if your not sure ,make it bigger"
.. Sounds like they really knew what they were doing...not. lol
Bigger wire is always nice, nothing wrong if you go overkill with it. And if you do you have it in there already if you ever decide to stick a more powerful stereo in it
BTW - Those duel 8" Advents had more than enough bass - not midrangers lol - They were Woof Brothers.. Duel meaning - 2 Eight Woofs per unit w/600 WATT MAX.
Alright, I wasnt real sure...so do you think you will fix those or just get something new then? I think from a price standpoint I would just about get something new though
Latuh
No prob w/ the help
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: MI
Just received those fancy 14 carrot gold connectors today, nice and shiney lol.
Bartac, you suggest running my system on 4 channels ? What's with the channel thing , how that work? what's the advantage , does it run cooler or something?
From what I gather , the more chanels you run it decreases you power output
running 4 would make it sound like chit wouldnt it?
Well , I guess the best way to figure this out is to tes different configs.
I have 2 200watt 8 ohm 12 inch woofers under the seat
Two 6x9 220 watt 4 ohm 3 ways in the rear doors..
Bartac, you suggest running my system on 4 channels ? What's with the channel thing , how that work? what's the advantage , does it run cooler or something?
From what I gather , the more chanels you run it decreases you power output
running 4 would make it sound like chit wouldnt it?
Well , I guess the best way to figure this out is to tes different configs.
I have 2 200watt 8 ohm 12 inch woofers under the seat
Two 6x9 220 watt 4 ohm 3 ways in the rear doors..
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From: MI
Been reading up a little. Would it be better to put the three way's in the front - 2 channels
and run the rears (12" speakers)on the other 2 channels ?
Well, I'm insulating the cab right now and hope to install every thing tonight and running my wires before I carpet.. I ran some new 10 guage wire to the battery from the amp. - upgraded the coaxial wire and got the best connectors I could find. Running 16 guage for the speakers. Running 16 guage from the receiver remote to the amp. Grounding the receiver to the body using 16 guage. Grounding the amp using 10 guage. That sound right?
and run the rears (12" speakers)on the other 2 channels ?
Well, I'm insulating the cab right now and hope to install every thing tonight and running my wires before I carpet.. I ran some new 10 guage wire to the battery from the amp. - upgraded the coaxial wire and got the best connectors I could find. Running 16 guage for the speakers. Running 16 guage from the receiver remote to the amp. Grounding the receiver to the body using 16 guage. Grounding the amp using 10 guage. That sound right?
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From: MI
Question about the RCA cable. I purchased the pink looking cable on the right , but have this other stuff that looks allot better and has gold tips. The blue cable say "video" cable where the pink says "audio" . - Are they different? Or could I use that Blue stuff? -
Also , just added a pick of my amp and wiring , I think I have everything I need - hope it all works..
Thanx.
Also , just added a pick of my amp and wiring , I think I have everything I need - hope it all works..
Thanx.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,760
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From: Nebraska
Hey Jbrew,
Sorry it took so long to get back, I havent been around a computer for awhile so I didnt have a chance to reply.
Anyway, what I would do is run your nicest speakers up front (Im not sure that you can fit a 6x9 in the front door though...) and run them off the front two channels of the amp.
Then, bridge the two rear channels and run the two subs off them. Wire the subs in parallel for a 4 ohm load.
Sounds good 
Just use the audio RCA's. Your not going to tell a difference between RCAs really anyway.
Sorry it took so long to get back, I havent been around a computer for awhile so I didnt have a chance to reply.
Anyway, what I would do is run your nicest speakers up front (Im not sure that you can fit a 6x9 in the front door though...) and run them off the front two channels of the amp.
Then, bridge the two rear channels and run the two subs off them. Wire the subs in parallel for a 4 ohm load.
Well, I'm insulating the cab right now and hope to install every thing tonight and running my wires before I carpet.. I ran some new 10 guage wire to the battery from the amp. - upgraded the coaxial wire and got the best connectors I could find. Running 16 guage for the speakers. Running 16 guage from the receiver remote to the amp. Grounding the receiver to the body using 16 guage. Grounding the amp using 10 guage. That sound right?
Just use the audio RCA's. Your not going to tell a difference between RCAs really anyway.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: MI
Sorry? No worries, I appreciate all the help
I may have said they were 6x9's mistakenly - but there 5x8's or 6x8's - crap , I forget , anyway there designed for Ford/Mazda doors and fit perfectly..
Fishing 16 gauge speaker wire threw the rubber coil behind the emergency brake for the door speakers was lots of fun
I ended up just taking the E-Brake out and chuckin it in a pile of extra parts , damn thing hasn't worked in three years anyway ..
I'll hook it up as you say when I figure out how lol - I'll read the manual after I get everything else finished - mann , I 'm getting sick of workin on it lol , but it should be nicer to drive when finished - more than it was..
Thanx again Bartak
I may have said they were 6x9's mistakenly - but there 5x8's or 6x8's - crap , I forget , anyway there designed for Ford/Mazda doors and fit perfectly..
Fishing 16 gauge speaker wire threw the rubber coil behind the emergency brake for the door speakers was lots of fun
I ended up just taking the E-Brake out and chuckin it in a pile of extra parts , damn thing hasn't worked in three years anyway ..I'll hook it up as you say when I figure out how lol - I'll read the manual after I get everything else finished - mann , I 'm getting sick of workin on it lol , but it should be nicer to drive when finished - more than it was..
Thanx again Bartak
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,760
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From: Nebraska
Originally Posted by jbrew
Sorry? No worries, I appreciate all the help
I may have said they were 6x9's mistakenly - but there 5x8's or 6x8's - crap , I forget , anyway there designed for Ford/Mazda doors and fit perfectly..
Fishing 16 gauge speaker wire threw the rubber coil behind the emergency brake for the door speakers was lots of fun I ended up just taking the E-Brake out and chuckin it in a pile of extra parts , damn thing hasn't worked in three years anyway ..
I'll hook it up as you say when I figure out how lol - I'll read the manual after I get everything else finished - mann , I 'm getting sick of workin on it lol , but it should be nicer to drive when finished - more than it was..
Thanx again Bartak
I may have said they were 6x9's mistakenly - but there 5x8's or 6x8's - crap , I forget , anyway there designed for Ford/Mazda doors and fit perfectly..
Fishing 16 gauge speaker wire threw the rubber coil behind the emergency brake for the door speakers was lots of fun
I ended up just taking the E-Brake out and chuckin it in a pile of extra parts , damn thing hasn't worked in three years anyway ..I'll hook it up as you say when I figure out how lol - I'll read the manual after I get everything else finished - mann , I 'm getting sick of workin on it lol , but it should be nicer to drive when finished - more than it was..
Thanx again Bartak
Alright, I forgot you had said they were Ford/Mazda specific fit.
Running that wire is a bish. Taking off the ebrake works I guess
No problem
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From: Vienna, Georgia
Hey guys. I got my "system" installed. It is VERY annoying. It makes my arm hairs vibrate.
I just found some old rca speaker wires and cut the ends off, and spliced them into the speaker wires. I then ran them into the amp. Works fine. Until I turn the gains up, then the subs rattle more than hit. Reckon why?
I just found some old rca speaker wires and cut the ends off, and spliced them into the speaker wires. I then ran them into the amp. Works fine. Until I turn the gains up, then the subs rattle more than hit. Reckon why?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Nebraska
Originally Posted by chester8420
Hey guys. I got my "system" installed. It is VERY annoying. It makes my arm hairs vibrate.
I just found some old rca speaker wires and cut the ends off, and spliced them into the speaker wires. I then ran them into the amp. Works fine. Until I turn the gains up, then the subs rattle more than hit. Reckon why?
I just found some old rca speaker wires and cut the ends off, and spliced them into the speaker wires. I then ran them into the amp. Works fine. Until I turn the gains up, then the subs rattle more than hit. Reckon why?
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From: Vienna, Georgia
Originally Posted by Bartak1
Hahaha, no man, dont do that. Different signals. Either get a line out convertor or tap your speaker wires and run them to the High Inputs on your amp.
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From: San Diego
Back to the RCA question...use those video RCAs on your speaker amp for sure. They will be higher quality. Not sure if your ear will hear a difference in actual SQ (unlikely), but they will be better shielded (the cheaper "pink" ones aren't at all) and will block out possible feedback from the truck's computer. Basically, you run the risk of hearing the alternator whine with those cheapies.
If you are running 2 amps you could use the cheap RCAs to jump from the component amp to the sub amp and be fine though.
If you are running 2 amps you could use the cheap RCAs to jump from the component amp to the sub amp and be fine though.
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From: MI
Originally Posted by Lumadar
Back to the RCA question...use those video RCAs on your speaker amp for sure. They will be higher quality. Not sure if your ear will hear a difference in actual SQ (unlikely), but they will be better shielded (the cheaper "pink" ones aren't at all) and will block out possible feedback from the truck's computer. Basically, you run the risk of hearing the alternator whine with those cheapies.
If you are running 2 amps you could use the cheap RCAs to jump from the component amp to the sub amp and be fine though.
If you are running 2 amps you could use the cheap RCAs to jump from the component amp to the sub amp and be fine though.
Okay thanks , I did that .. I thought they were the same as far as the way they send signals , the Blue ones were exspensive but kind of dated , think I purchased those a few years ago for a DVD set up in the house. That's been all changed around to DVR and I used there lines for that installation. They say monster accoustic on the lines - very good quality, I used them and have no noise, great sound..
Holy sh^t !! I couldn't imagine having two AMP's - would the windows hold up ? lol..
Last edited by jbrew; Mar 16, 2007 at 06:14 PM.
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From: MI
Well , fired up the system yesterday - very impressed !! The freakin base vibrates the windows lol..
I ended up using the original Technics (panasonic) 12 inch speaker boxes. I sized them down and silcone sealed.. Then raised the rear seats about 3 inches to get everything to fit..
I hooked it up the way Bartak suggested and it cranks man !!
I ended up using the original Technics (panasonic) 12 inch speaker boxes. I sized them down and silcone sealed.. Then raised the rear seats about 3 inches to get everything to fit..
I hooked it up the way Bartak suggested and it cranks man !!
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: MI
Originally Posted by chester8420
Hey guys. I got my "system" installed. It is VERY annoying. It makes my arm hairs vibrate.
I just found some old rca speaker wires and cut the ends off, and spliced them into the speaker wires. I then ran them into the amp. Works fine. Until I turn the gains up, then the subs rattle more than hit. Reckon why?
I just found some old rca speaker wires and cut the ends off, and spliced them into the speaker wires. I then ran them into the amp. Works fine. Until I turn the gains up, then the subs rattle more than hit. Reckon why?
LOL - Was Chester tryin to do some riggin
... I would never 
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From: MI
Bartak , Yeah, I'm goin to go ahead and fix those Advents (Jensons). Thanx for that link , I'll purchase the rings from them soon . They don't have an 8 inch Advent kit but they have 8 inch speaker rings that should work. They are kind of pricy , I need 4 rings , there about $20 a piece.. I could purchase new speakers for the boxes for a little more. I think I'll fix them and hook them up out in the shop. Maybe I'll put them in the truck if I decide to step it up a bit, later...
Last edited by jbrew; Mar 16, 2007 at 06:27 PM.