Sorry the diagram is so big...



I have a few questions on completing my audio setup.

First, what amp do you guys suggest to push my 6x9's?

Second, what about the 6 1/2's and tweeters?

Third, what about crossovers? (Yes, I know the 6 1/2's have tweeters as well, thats why I've attached them before the crossovers)

I'm looking to spend no more than ~300-400 more. Too much spent already. If you REALLY suggest something bigger, let me know though.

I haven't bought the tweeters and 6 1/2's yet, but the rest is in and working great. Are there better speakers than the ones I have chosen for the $$$?

The LCD needs to be mounted, and a bezel needs to be cast to surround it, but it works great!

Any comments? Questions? Suggestions? Something I should change?

 

Ok....here we go. Rather than run 2 seperate amps for you interior speakers, I would suggest you purchase a nice 4 channel amp. The amp would be sufficient to power the 6x9's and the component set (see below). Since you have already bought an MTX sub amp, I would go with an MTX 4 channel amp. Their amps are very well made and are inexpensive. Your 2 options on the MTX front would be either the Thunder 4244 or the 6304. Either one is very nice, it's all about your preference.

Secondly, I would ditch all the extra tweeters and the coaxials and just buy a component set. That would take care of your need for external crossovers, because your component set would come with external crossovers.

Well, I think those changes would defintiely round out the system and make it very nice. Any other questions or concerns please feel free to ask! I hope I helped!

 

Thank you Dustyroads for throwing away all those tweeters. My ears were already starting to ache just looking at the diagram, counting 2, 4, 6 tweets. Two properly wired and angled are plenty, for the whole system. Tweeters are several dB more efficient than mids so a single tweet is frequently combined with 2 or more mids. And a resister is still inline with the tweeter in the crossover in most high end home speakers. And I agree with the suggestion for a good MTX 4 channel for the front and rear speakers. Unless you really want a complex actively crossed over system. In which case a crossover would need to be added or the MTX amp replaced with one that has a more complex crossover.

 

Thanks Dusty!

The reason for some extra tweeters was to get a combined center channel output from above the LCD. I removed the clock and hazard/defroster buttons and have fab'd up a speaker encasement that has the same curves as that piece. Is there another option for speakers there?

Which is better - components or coaxial?

 

Componets...I suggest getting some more money and doing this right...I dont' see you getting an amp and x over for all of 400 at least anything worth not pising on. Lose the tweeters...

 

Components are better simply because they come with their own crossover. Most coaxials have a cap thrown in after the midrange to cut off some of the low frequencies. The crossover will have a larger order filter in there and the tweeter will be very happy with it's high frequencies. Plus there is usually an attenuator thrown in there for the tweeter, because as jmax said a tweeter is one loud speaker.

Now if you want to do a center channel that is something completely different. Here is a really nice article on how to wire up a center channel. http://www.termpro.com/articles/center.html I would suggest you start there. I would say that rather than doing multiple tweeters, I would look into installing a single 3.5" driver or possibly 2 if they will fit in the enclosure you have constructed. The tweeter just won't cover enough of the frequency range to be considered suitable for a center channel. I hope this helps ya!!

 

For a great center I would use the same components as on the left front and right. Ditch the rear speakers all together. Unless they are an absolute must for entertaining kids. You can easilly fit a component 5 1/4 and tweet in the location you described. I would love to do that in my car but it is several dreams and pay raises away. You don't even need to remove the center vents. Just relocate the hazard and rear defrost switches to the lower area, where the ashtray is for example. Combine that space and the top 2 thirds of the triple din space and you have a great center channel area. And if you have a pop out and up LCD screen make sure it only covers the mid and not the tweet. Play with wiring the mid out of phase so that the sound reflected off the rear of the LCD is in tune with the rest of the stage.

 

No, the rears aren't necissary for kids, but I do transport people... and I have them already. I also removes all the sheetmetal in the rear deck and fab'd up a deck with all 4 holes (2 sub and 2 6x9).

The 5 1/4 won;t fit I don't think. In fact I'm sure. I have an 8.4" LCD screen to put in the middle of the console. That doesn't leave much room. I'm putting it stationary in the dash. I really dislike the pop-up LCDs. Plus a 8.4" screen coming out or the dash would be really long.

 

Whether or not a 5 1/4 will fit all depends on where you want to mount it, where it sounds best, and where you mount everything else. There is also the option of one of the mini-horns. I havn't looked at them in a long time so can't remember the shape and dimensions. I really don't think you will have great center channel sound if you use just a tweet. Even if it can play fairly low, it won't have the power handling to keep up with the rest of the system. And if you tune it for Dolby sq, it needs to be able to handle as much or more sound than the left and right speakers. Basically what I am saying is that it isn't worth the effort if you don't really do it right. A center image can be created with just the left and right speakers aimed properly.

 

jmax is definitely correct with his last couple of statements. Just think about your home stereo. The center channel has to be, by far the best speaker in the room. It handles the most amount of info. The side speakers handle a lot of the background music and the action as it falls of screen, but no one speaker does as much work as the center channel. So if your intent is to go with a full up Dolby system a beefier center is needed. Just wanted to throw my own $0.02 in there!!

 

Question. Someone told me yesterday that if you put a speaker onto a door panel where it is magnetized it will remove power from the speaker. Is this true? I also am wondering if any of you guys know of any REALLY good 3 or 4 way 6x9 Speakers for The rear of a Maxima.

Thanks in advance for your help.

"When the **** hits the Fan Just run down the street"

 

I've never heard of it causeing a "power loss". But you don't want to ground out the speakers anyway. Remember, the chassis ground is carried on every metal or other conductive material in contact with the chassis or frame. So this could allow alternator whine to enter the system.