Alright before someone bashes my brains I've searched most of today. I am trying to get the most out of my current setup before I do something larger in the Summer (just like my TBI). I have a Pioneer 1500 hu (4 ohms, right?) hooked up to some early non factory front Bose speakers, 4.5" diameter (8 ohms, probably) and then the factory 6*9 in the rear (10 ohms). So from what I have read the ohms should all match for oplimal sound quality. Would replacing the front and rear with some mid-grade speakers (Pioneer probably) and adding a capacitor at 200 hz in the front sound better than my current setup? Also when adding a capacitor you just put in either the pos or neg because its alternating current right?

 

Woah...those are interesting questions...we should let our resident audio experts handle this one.

 

TTT, left over Xmas Cash awaits audio expert responses.

 

Not to be a a**, but your not going to get great results from that HU. I would start there. Pioneer makes some good things, but you should shoot for a middle of the road unit, something like a DEH-P6500. But first, check those bose speakers, they my only be 2 ohm, and that's not good. The "ohms" Don't need to mach, per say, but your HU is designed to drive a 4-8 ohm load, NO LESS THEN 4 is the important part. If you're not plaining to get a new HU right off I would look into some components for the front, I wouldn't bother with rear fill.
I know, I know, making the best of what you have and all. I'm just saying if it was me I would start to save for a better HU and front speakers and then pop them all in at the same time. Until you have them all, I would just run what you have and not bother with trying to "tweak" it much.
Not exactly what your looking for, but hope it helps.

 

NEEDAZ, its better for you to tell me the truth, than me being really disappointed after spending time and money and not getting results. Is a Pioneer 3500 much better?

 

Here's the run down on Pioneer model#.
The DEH means it's a car CD player (KEH would be a tape deck), the -P means it has the IP bus (can be used with XM, a CD changer, DSP).
The first digit of the number would be the "level" of the unit. The second would indicate the series or "year". So a DEH-P3500 is this years DEH-P3400 witch was the year befores DEH-P3300. A DEH-P3500 is "one step up" from a DEH-P2500. If it has just two digit's you got it at Wal-Mart or some place like that. DEH-13 DEH-14 DEH-P35, what ever. They're vary close to the four digit model, usually the same other then button color. If you see three numbers it's a Premier model, again vary close but the Premier model will get you a setting or two more, something like 'Sub level' or an extra x-over.

Now that I've danced around the question and confused the crap out of you. I would go for at lest a DEH-P6500, DEH-P7500mp if you what to play MP3s. The 3500 are having a lot of problems with the display and that bugs me. Bugs me more the DE-P3600 are having the same problem. But hay, I'm just a tech. not an engineer, so what do I know. In the bang for the buck the DEH-P6500 6600 are a good buy. 7500mp for an MP3 unit. The DEH-P4500 will play MP3s, but it uses a 7seg display, so reading track titles is no fun.
I would also recommend taking YOUR own CD in and listen the them. I have a CD that starts with some 12 string work, then goes to classical, some country for giggles, some Rock/Pop sprinkled in for flavor, and ends with some NIN stuff. The trick is you NEED to know what should be there, what to LISTEN for, and how it SOUNDS in general. I'm confident that most will hear the difference in a back to back test like this. BUT, don't do this with the radio or their CDs, use your CD that you KNOW. And for fun, listen to everything they have, you can teach your ear what to listen for.

Clear as mud?

 

And I should add that the DEH-P3500 isn't a bad starter unit, and for most people it's good and all they will ever need. But if your going to take it to the next level, start with a good HU.

 

Alright I bought my friend a 3500 for xmas, I'll see if he will trade with me for the time being. Also was a correct about wiring capacitors?

 

I don't like the sound of all those different impedance levels... you should really test them with a voltmeter first.

Plus I highly recommend the Pioneer DEH-P8600MP... but really and truely I'd like to get some deck with a harddrive in it... like at least 250gb.... but that's just me dreaming...

 

i want a h/u with a 7" flip out monitor and HD but havent seen one yet and they are hella expensive. i have a DEH-P6600 and think its awsome. if i decide to upgrade down the line i will get the DEH-8600MP

 

I would try and swap the HU first. The 1500 and 3500 will have the same harness. So like I said, find a good "test" CD, play it in the 1500, then do a quick swap and try it in the 3500 (in your car so it's the same speakers, don't blow-up the 3500). It would be fun for giggles. I think you'll hear what I was talking about. You should be able to hear the difference in the vary lows and vary highs (hows that for terminology). I think you'll like how the 3500 functions as well. Don't forget the set the EQs and all the same between them for a good "test".
About the caps. It's important to remember that when using a passive x-over (like just using a cap) that the x-over frequency will be dependant in the impedance (note it's not resistance) of the load. So if you get a cap/bass blocker or whatever that will give you a 220Hz Fx with your 10 ohm speakers, they will not have a the same Fx with 4 ohm speakers. Now, the frequency listed on the packing (on the onces that show just the one Fx) will assume a 4 ohm speaker, so it wouldn't have the same Fx with your speakers. I wouldn't bother with that. Just get what will work with 4 ohm speakers and if you upgrade the fronts, you'll more then likely end up with 4 ohm speakers anyway.
And yes, the caps just need to be wired in series with the speaker, which wire doesn't matter.
Starting to see that, like a motor, everything has to work together to get the most from it?

 

Okay I took the dash off, the front speakers are Bose 28156 of some sort, they are 5" inches in diameter and look to be produced 6/24/99. I am guessing they are 4ohms now. It also says driver 6.5,077 if that means anything to anyone.

 

are they paper or some plastic/ceramic/metal material?

 

I believe they are some plastic/ceramic/metal material.

 

then I bet they are still in good condition---those seem to last forever... the only thing I can think of is that maybe they just weren't the best when they were made... but you said they were bose? I bet you're good to go

 

They seemed to be in good shape espically after I cleaned some of the wiring up. They would distort more before but less now. Bose manufactured in 1999. If that means much for quality.

 

I know my post has been dead, but so much stuff has come up. I'm not ready yet to buy products getting my eyes open again. For sound quality, loudness, bass, I am comparing to my 94 Camaro with the Delco Bose radio. That radio is loud and clean in my opinion (I have very virgin ears when it comes to audio quality). Would a Pioneer 6500 (or better), my 5.25" Bose fronts and a set of rear 6*9 MB Quart speakers sounds as good as the 94?

 

hrm, the bose stereos typically have a bigger/separate amplifier which can allow for much cleaner music...

if you get the pioneer, also make sure those bose speakers are 4 ohms a piece, otherwise you'll run into problems.

 

Alright here is what I plan on doing. I'm going to get a Pioneer DEH-P77DH (I know din and a half but it fills the whole space and isn't that expensive on ebay), a set of three way MB quart or Pioneer 6*9, keep my bose 5 1/4 fronts. I also found a set of Pioneer 12" Impp subs for cheap that I thought about adding. If I get a quality amp for the subs will this be a decent system? How about if I don't go the subs route?

Should I compare a P77DH to a 7700 series single din without the mp3 capabilities?

 

well you want mp3, and also don't count on the built-in amplifier being worth listening to.

 

Okay I must not understand. I thought the 77DH would be equal to something in the 7x00 series, maybe not though. In Pioneer single din quality what would a 77DH be equivalent to?

Do I really need Mp3 capabilities?

Maybe I should just get a 7700 and stop beating around the bush.

 

MP3 capability is nice. I, personally, have the Pioneer 8600 and absolutely love it to death. It has everything, but an hd and flip down screen.

 

i had a pioneer IMPP sub and all i can say is they suck. they crack easy and dont sound as good as other subs for the same price. i'd say a good deal for those subs would be free or if some1 paid you to take one

 

how do you crack a sub?

 

im not sure but those IMPP suckers are plastic and mine kept craking.... and i never had an amp on it..... nail polish makes a stylish fix for it tho

 

I think I know why they kept cracking, but not why they did in the first place

only maybe that the material was so cheap that the sun destroyed them?

/tint

 

my tint is so dark that it is impossible to see into at night and pretty dary in the day.... it just the sub i guess

 

Alright, changed my mind again. I think I'm going to get a 7400 series pioneer or better, keep my 5 1/2 bose dash speakers, add some factory kicks (with upgraded speakers), and some 6x9 kappas in the rear. I might also add a small amp, but I don't want it in plain sight or to run a hundred feet of wire.

Is there anything wrong with that setup?

I know I was recommend 6500 and higher, but are 7400's bad head units?

Are KAPPA 692.5i 6x9's quality enough for me?

 

Well either way you should run an amp for at least your kick panel speakers. It will sound best if you get a component set. Also I know you dont wanna run a ton of wire but if you want it to sound good you might have to. Head units really dont provide clean sound generally.

I suggest get the kick panels. Buy a component set with an amp. Forget your bose system and get the kappas for the rear. youll be more then pleased.

 

yeah, boston acoustics makes a 5x7" plate that might fit in the back of our cars, may sound better than a coaxial 6x9?



SL80

 

Alright I think after I get back from vacation I'm going to order a Pioneer p7700mp (shipped $180- $193) and a set of infinity kappa 692.5i (shipped $99- $104).

Would a p8600mp be worth an extra $20-30?

Will this atleast get me started, before I add the amp and kicks?

Should I stay away from new remanufactured head units?

 

ya. buy new. and yes infinity makes good speakers. Just again if your going kick panels get a component set with an amp.

u shud be good with the 7700 looks like an awesome head unit.

 

YES! Not that the DEH-P7700 is a bad HU unit.

 

Not if I did the work. We need a smiley that gets bigger and bigger then blows up, to match my ego…

 

if it's really only $30, then I say it would be a very good idea... if not, it's still an excellent idea.

I whole-heartedly agree with you NEEDAZ

Gladstoneiroc, pull up the specs on both units and compare them... one big thing you'll notice is the 8600 has a color screen. plus a few hundred other things that are better than the 7700

 

hopefully that's not what your repaired headunits do!

 

Okay maybe I couldn't get the p8600mp for 20-30 over the 7700mp, more like $65. Still worth it?

The key differences I see are screen and the 13-band graphic equalization of the 8600mp.

I don't really need the color screen, and I don't have the greatest speakers, would the 8600mp be greedy overkill?

Better spent the $65 on the 8600mp or kicks?

 

Well my setup is consisting of 4x6 Infinity Kapps in the dash, 6x9 3way Kappas in the rear, an 8600 that i absolutly love and 2 12" RE:SE Subs in the hatch, now i see people telling you about all these headunits and they are right, go with a new gen pioneer, the one you have picked out is very simular to the 8600, it has mostly the same features except no motorized face and no color screen and a few other goodies that you really dont need. the 8600s EQ is very impressive but the 7700 has a decent one too, i think that would be perfect for you and i recomend any infinity speakers. if you want good sound tho you gotta have atleast a small sub, kicker has there compvr's onsale @ sonicelectronix.com, theres where i get most of my stuff, Kicker has very nice subs. throw a cheap JBL amp on it and ur good. and listen to these people on the headunit it makes the diffrence, i went from a 4600 to a 8600 and i cant stress how big of a diffrence it made!

 

the 7700 lacks Auto TA/EQ, color screen, good looks, and an ergonomic layout. Is that rotary control ALSO a volume ****? I think you should have two dedicated controls, one for navigation, and one for sound... like every other deck in the world..

if it's really only $65 bucks, I'd go with it... since you also get more advance cut-off frequency control, and speed-based automatic volume correction.

but it is discontinued... so...

 

Ehhh I havent dealt with either of them so I cant give an opinion. But they both look like good head units.

 

Alright a few more q's.

Are the ls1 monsoon amps worth anything? I've read they are 6 channel and 200 watts. I have a friend selling one, should I pick it up cheap?

Can factory kick panels with speakers be upgraded to decent speakers? I've read that the bose are 1ohm and not worth anything compared to aftermarket. Any clear choices?

I'm going to buy either a 7700 or 8600, and some kappa 692.5i when I get from vacation.

 

I was under the impression that the actual amp was 4 channel, and the headunit powered the rest of the speakers...

keep in mind that you will need MONSOON speakers to go with that monsoon amplifier... and does it have a standard interface for the headunit (RCAs?)

the only reason you would want a 6 channel amp is if you had the performance option with the extra 'subwoofers,' then you could separately amplify them... but that can be done with a 4-channel amp anyways.

I'd say skip the monsoon amp.

you can get a VERY high quality 4-channel amp locally from a custom audio shop for under $400.

$200 from ebay

I'm considering getting another eD amplifier... the nINE.4, seeing how wonderful the nINE.1 has been.

 

I want to marry the way these amps look... I swear

eD nINE.4 100x4watts

 

Those amps look sweet, but I want an amp I can mount either under a seat or behind the cargo compartment or spare tire well. You probably could with those, I don't know though.

Back to my second question, can the factory kick enclosures be made into quality speaker enclosures or do I have to make my own or shell out big bucks?

 

I have that very same question, because if they suck, I won't bother getting any in my next car. It will seal the deal for Jim85IROC's kicks.

 

TTT for scrapmaker and my question.

 

I hate abbreviations

 

wat does TTT mean... and the rotary **** on the 7700 suckkksssssssssss... i used on in the store and its so hard to get used to and it pisses me off

 

which one is it?

TTT

 

To the top, (TTT). Sorry, I used the an acronym.


Never really found an answer on the kick panels either.


Also is there a test to measure impedance, (I want to check these bose speakers to make sure they are 4ohms before I do anything.)


The Infinity Kappa 692.5i speakers have arrived.

The 7700 **** does turn me off, I'm thinking of going to a 7600 instead. I wouldn't lose much there, except being cheaper.