Subs - 1 or 2

Do you have the JBL headunit? Are you running the

$320 Rockford Fosgate DSR1 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor w/Integrated iDatalink Maestro Module

Rockford Fosgate DSR1? So I assume your not running this.

 

Correct I am not. Yes the JBL head unit.

Gain on doors seems to be set a little high because al vol 1 it's a little loud. For a volume 1 setting. Starting to distort ( but I'm being picky) at vol 35 -38.

 

I think the AP4 is used like the RF DSR1.

 

If you can get a DSR1 and have James program it. He did mine and it sounds awesome. My 2 installers did the whole install and did not have to mess with it. Unless you get that figured out with yours.

 

Good to know. If we can't reach the goal that will be my next effort. Thanks for the feedback.

Do you know what ohm setting your subs are running and what RMS power your putting on them?

 

I amped up my factory system and added a single 10TW3. I plan to upgrade to 2 eventually.
I don’t think 500w is enough for 2 of these subs. These take up to 400w RMS each.

 

No problem hope you get it figured out. My 5 channel arc audio is 1100 but I’m not sure what ohms my subs are running at. If I get a chance probably tomorrow I can look. I think my subs boxes were marked 4 ohms. Not 100% sure.

 

We shall see.

On a past system I played with the 2ohm / 4ohm setting and one way sounded a lot better but kept overloading the amp. If this situation is related to that it may be the cure and I may be in for a pleasant surprise

As is it sounds great. I'm just losing quality when cranking it up. And not a full surround sound like the factory system offered.

But this is why we do these things right! It's fun figuring it out and rewarding when the sweet spot is found

 

Yeah I crank mine up to 40 to 45 and Crystal clear and thumping.

 

So doing what you did - did you also amp the dash speakers as well?

 

Cool, I have good equipment so it's just going to be a matter of fine tuning

 

No, my dash speakers and rear tweeters are powered from the head unit since I have the non-JBL entune system. The dash speakers were a bit overpowering to begin with imo.

I think to maximize the bass output to what these subs are designed for in your setup:

1. DSR1 to process/fix the entune signal. Or an aftermarket radio.
2. Amp with more power for the subwoofers (~800w sub channel).
3. Ported subwoofer box. Sealed will sound good too, but ported is louder.

 

Good feedback, thanks!

 

Tuning is huge, but you have to know where to start and how to finish. It's a process that will fail if everything is not set up correctly. Speakers installed with solid mounting hardware and wired properly, baffles are treated with sound deadening, and panels are not blocking sound output. (Subs firing into the back of the seats can neuter the output if there is no airspace). Also x-over points, gains, EQ settings, source from HU and of course the HU itself is the most important piece of hardware. When using the OEM HU you must have the best possible DSP inorder to achieve anything remotely close to an upgrade. Our trucks actually suck pretty bad for an audio environment, there are terrible phase issues between the front and rear speakers, so much that I don't use any rears. I have 3-way Morel Elates up front with the JL stealth box (rear firing woofers) and it sounds incredible. Insanely loud and crispy clean at full volume. (A proper setup should never break up at mid-level volume)
You have to understand what each setting does or you will be overlapping and over processing which will lead to distortion in a heartbeat, even at low volume.
Take your time, and have fun!
And @BlueTSS has stated many good points too!

 

That's why I let the pros do it. Car Toys usually has pretty good installers

 

How are the focal speakers? did you get the sub figured out?

 

The focal speakers are great!

Car Toys is ordering the 4ohm JL subs and we will see what happens. I've been tweeking the settings and I am accomplishing better more full sound but there is definitely a roll off happening. I am thinking that without a deep box I will not be able to get the low level rumble that is common in a lot of the Pink Floyd which is a real bummer but we shall see what happens with the new subs.

 

The factory head unit will roll off bass the higher the volume. There are a few options to combat that.

 

Hey Dean, I did look at my boxes and my subs were marked 2 ohms but I could always confirm it with my installer if need to.

 

I hope they figure it out quickly for you. I am a little undecided on my subs - I think i want the JL narrow 12 with 400 rms or so. I would also consider 2 of these or 2 10s if it might be better for space. you mentioned Pink Floyd, i love some of their stuff, also nine inch nails and that music is a great way to really show what a system can or cant do. I want mine to be crisp clear and warm. I would not be surprised if you would benefit from more power to the sub and at some point I think you may be limited by what the head unit can do.

 

Go with two.

 

My install JBL headunit at number 40 crystal clear JUDAS PRIEST. Loving my system.

 

they have some great stuff. My old Mustang had 6x9s and a 10 inch sub with a huge amp and that thing was incredible. I also loved Number of the beast to show off the system

 

And disturbed and Duran Duran's Come Undone and Led Zeppelin's no quarter and so many more.

I do indeed like it as it is but I had this amp and door speakers running in my Honda Ridgeline and it was absolutely more full of a sound. The subs were 10in Alpine ?D4? And they were not shallow mount and in a deeper box.

Here I'm having problems with getting the full sound because of rolloff and distortion. I've solved some of the distortion by lowering the gain on the doors and backing off the base on the head unit but it just isn't as "full" as I expected it to be. I'll keep working on it.

The girlfriend thinks it's pretty damn good as it is so maybe I am being too critical...

 

No need. Based on what I read 2ohms is louder than 4 and more power hungry and 4ohm is better quality but not as loud. For now I will let them make the swap and see what happens. Worst case I will drop more $$ into a more powerful amp for the subs but based on my experience with the Ridgeline it should not be needed .. but ..idk

 

Impedance has nothing to do with actual quality. It is a parameter of the driver to be matched up as best as possible to the amplifiers output parameters. Ohms law my friend. Change impedance, you change current, they directly affect one another along with voltage. Increase impedance = decrease current and vice versa. The quality of sound and volume are just products the actual components, not the actual impedance. It plays a part in output so that's where system design and components selection is very important. The right matching components and amp will produce both high volume AND quality.

 

I'm running the same amp, the Focals you have in the front doors, Focal Performance 100AC in the rears, all the dash speakers disconnected.
Keep in mind I have an aftermarket Kenwood HU.
The Entune is sh!t, no matter how much lipstick you put on that pig, it's gonna be lacking.

That amp is plenty to drive 2 subs in a good box wired at 2 ohms.
I have one running a JL Audio SB-T-TUNDB3 Stealthbox with 2 10TW3-D4 subs.




Long story short;
My Stealthbox was supposed to be 2 ohms when I bought it from JL Audio.
They come with 10TW3-D8s now, but back when I bought mine it came with 10TW3-D4s.

SB-T-TUNDB3/10TW3/BK - Car Audio - Stealthbox® - Toyota - JL Audio

PDX V9 is 2 ohm stable.
The sub sounded like sh!te for 4 years: muddy, muffled, sloppy, weak bass.
All the forums said you don't have enough power to it.
JL Audio CS said that is plenty of power.

Bought a JL Audio 1000 watt mono amp, loosely (tested) installed it, it still sounded crappy.
Returned that amp.



FINALLY, after 4 years, I tested the sub box ohms and it measured 9 something, should have been 4ish.
Was told when I bought it it was 2 ohms.
Took it apart, it was wired in series that should have made it around 4 ohms..



Rewired it to parallel, brought it down to 2 ohms, and it has been awesome ever since.

Dual Voice Coil (DVC) Wiring Tutorial – JL Audio Help Center - Search Articles (zendesk.com)

I spent 4 years hating my $1K stealthbox, but the issue turned out to be it was wired wrong from the factory..
My sub gains are set very low, it takes very little to pump that sub box.
Front and rear gains are set around 11:00.

That may not be your issue, but that was my experience.

Good luck...

 

what FOCALS do you have the UTOPIA's ?

 

As a rule of thumb when installing any system, I always put a meter on the speaker wires before I connect them to the amp. Then take a small AA battery and "pop em" to confirm polarity too. This way you know exactly what your amp is up against. Though it took a while for you to find the problem, nice job pushing through and getting the results your system was capable of!

 

Old school talent

I love it

I was in the early 90’s

Orion/fosgate/audio control/ image dynamics

I tip my to the folks that still participate in this fine art

I will do
My truck next year