vibez

Hello people,

Can anyone tell me how to select the 'right' speakers for a frequency range in the car? Let me explain a bit. The MBQUART Reference series components up front have a frequency response of 40Hz to 32KHz, and a power handling of 40-90W. I am feeding it 50WRMS from the amp, and to me the above data shows that it can handle the frequency response range specified on the box with that power - but it does not! There is a considerable amount of distortion, specially in the bass registers anywhere below 150Hz at light to moderate volume levels.

With this disparity in data specs and actual reproduction, how is one to select speakers?? For example, I am looking to find out what frequency range at 50W per channel can my power series Fosgate 6x9 speakers ACTUALLY reproduce without distortion at, say, 50 volume of the Pioneer 80PRS HU with gain on the amp set to about 50%.

Any guide/tutorial/explanation on this would be awesome!!

veeman

iTrader: (3)

sounds like an installation or crossover/ equalizer problem. Those speakers should easily be able to handle that volume level cleanly, if set up properly. I have my front components crossed at 50 hz and it plays with 110 watts all the way to 95% of my volume range. I'm thinking there is bass boost turned on, and the cross overs are set too low, or the gains are set improperly. Otherwise, there may be a mechanical installation problem. It's hard to help you online as we can't see what's been done. I suggest you turn all eq/cross overs off on the deck and the amps, then turn on only the cross overs on your deck. Set the front xo's at 100 hz, the rear ones at 100 hz and your subs at 100 hz. Next, adjust your gains on the amps by turning your volume control on the deck to about 85-90% of it'd range, and adjust the gains until you just barely hear distortion, then back it off slightly. Make sure no bass boost or other eq is on and test from there. Adjust one thing at a time until you are comfortable with the sound. If it still seems like it's distorted, go to a shop and have them check it out.

vibez

Thanks, mate

There is one more question related to this. When I got done with the Auto TA and EQ function of the setup, I turned both of them on and since I had no amp and sub, the sound was waayyy muddy and boomy. BUT, at low volume the sound has an excellent warmth and feel, and I feel if I could turn up the volume it would sound excellent! The problem is, now I need to somehow find out what exactly (apart from the subwoofer) am i lacking and how to rectify that problem, where to set the crossovers for each speaker, etc. My system is using Fosgate Power 6x9s for bass below 300 Hz from the rear, and Quarts reference RVF210 (4" mids) up front crossed HPF at 160 Hz. I NEED that sound at higher volumes!! (corollary question: should I trust the DEH-80PRS unit auto TA and EQ setting to be 'Optimum'? or should I follow the wayyy manual and tedious tweaking/tuning procedures discussed in this forum (in other words, what kind of an additional difference in SQ would it make if I followed the detailed tweaking and tuning procedure apart from the auto function of my hu?)?

Help needed here..

MTT

iTrader: (17)

I'd use the auto functions of the deck to set as a starting point, it wont be perfect by any means, then tweak by ear...just my opinion but I dont think you'll find what you're after with that set up......but I've been proven wrong lots of times before.

Dukk

If you used the auto-EQ without a sub, the deck likely boosted the bass to the MBQs significantly which will kill their power handling.

theif

yep, i've done it with mine a hundred times. tested that head unit in just about everey configurationn you can think of. Save some bucks and get a sub.

vibez

Okay guys, some reality check here (and I think I am missing out on a helluva lot of SQ because of this...correct me if I am wrong please),
In my initial setup of the 80PRS HU, Lanzer 150W 2-way 4" fronts and fosgate 6x9 rears (mentioned above), I calibrated the auto TA and EQ at one given point in time. At that time I used to listen to the traditional way of listening to crappy sound via great HU....rear speakers!!! (fronts were only a fill biased at 4 rear!)
THEN I found out about this forum, and I found out about SQ!! and then I got to know what I was potentially missing...hence I upgraded the fronts with MB Quarts, and added a Fosgate P4004 amp for both fronts and rears recently.

Now the thing is, I am STILL using the OLD Auto TA and EQ setting...at 5 front bias. I normally turn the Auto EQ off because of no sub and have a custom EQ derived from the Powerful one, a little less treble and more bass to compensate for the front bias. And my rears are running at LPF of about 320Hz...

WHAT am I doing wrong, if anything? How to go about properly setting up my system for the best possible sound without a sub (for the next few weeks)??? HELP guys looks like I am in some real need of a guide here...

THEIF, you look like someone who can really help me out with the HU and whatnot...comments needed here dude, detailed ones...thanks

vibez

One more thing, since I am using the auto TA/EQ setup and normally do not tweak any further apart from the EQ if I am not using the Auto EQ, should I still go through the long and tedious procedure of switching phases on the speakers and adjusting EQ for left right separately etc? If yes, is there a detailed guide on how to go about it and what to look for?

One more question that comes to my mind is the x-over frequencies...how to select what frequency range to send to which speaker and cut-off where at what slope...? Any guides/comments on this?

Thanks a lot for your help guys, really really appreciate everything you are telling me...

theif

The unit does a damn good job of tuning as long as you have the know how when it comes setting up your filters. And with your rear speakers if they're not on the sub channels, let them play full range. When the 880 does its auto time correction, it does so with certian freq. If your slope is too low it can cuase shifts in phase which will cause incorrect alignment resulting in a muddy image.

And more importantly, You need to run your auto feature every time there is any signifigant change to the system. New speakers MORE than qualifys you for new auto settings. Hell I redo mine if I move my tweet 1/4 inch.
This is really hard. In person I could set you up in less than15 min. I've own every Pioneer auto deck since the P1.
Theres just so much more you need to now than what the deck can provide.

I'll say it again....GET A SUB. Your gonna need 1 to get the sound your after. Just a good 8" or something.

vibez

Theif,

Right now I am at the edge of my seat with the restlessness that comes with finding out what I am missing out on. Can you PLEASE make a small (detailed ) step guide for me to set up this system, or point me to one you know of? I also need to know the x-over frequencies and slopes selection/setting criteria...because in a few hours I will be carrying out this complete tuning overhaul of my system and dont wanna miss out on anything at all please. Hell I dont even know what I should be knowing to set this system up properly, maybe just mention the list of things I need to check and in what order, would help me out in making sure i cover everything!
Please also mention what you recommend my system to be like before I do the Auto TA and EQ...and please also tell me what kind of a result should I expect from this exercise so I can compare...

Thanks a lot more in advance bro and thanks for letting me in on this and taking your time out...