Car Stereo Speaker Installation Question
Posted in Car Electronics | Asked on Dec 24, 2011
2003 Toyota Tundra
New Alpine 18wX4 RMS Stereo
Factory Speakers (Front Seperates, Rear CoAxls)
Question: I am installing a set of new Polk seperates and have one side in. The problem is the factory side sounds better than the new speakers. What am I doing wrong?
I have:
Made sure the woofers are sealed (no air gaps) in the factory locations,
Double checked the wiring.
I have an amp to put in which will provide about 75w RMS to each front set. I know this will help, but shouldn’t the new speakers sound better than the factory speakers now?
There are 5 Answers for "Car Stereo Speaker Installation Question"
One of the speakers are hooked backwards or the new speakers just suck
The answer lies within your stats.
You have 4 speakers and a 18 watt x 4 channel stereo…..4 channels = 4 speakers. To install more speakers on these channels will change the ohms from either 8 to 4 or 4 to 2, in turn burning up the radio or speakers, if not both. This is why the new side doesn’t sound as good as you are sucking power from the 2 main factories to feed the new one.
If you want to add more speakers….run the speakers all into an amp or crossover, then add the new speakers to that point. Gotta leave the head unit alone and branch out elsewhere.
Buddy and I use to deck out our cars when kids and when we did projects like this we actually took the interior out due to how much wiring and running of crossovers, amps, etc. Plus sound from speakers all depends on location, angle of reflection, etc.
Hit up a local stereo shop and start talking to the guys and see if they won’t jot down a diagram on how to wire it all up properly.
I have never liked polk really, but i think your concern lies with the fact that your factory speakers are more efficient with 17w than the polks are (being they are made with paper and are probably rated at 10w). after an amp is hooked up to the polks, your sounds should have more clarity and not just loudness. next time i would recommend diamond audio. i really like their sound.
Maybe a good idea would be to finish the install and let all four new speakers together before you assess there performance.
I would say drop everything!
Put the amp in. Run the speakers directly to the amp, with larger (16-12ga speaker wire ) making sure the +&- are properly wired. If possible, isolate the stereo running an 8ga wire (fused) and the same size ground. The more current provided to the stereo, the more efficient it will perform.
You will not be happy with the amp in the stereo itself. Especially if you bought spankin new components.
Installing the external amp is like night & day. (quality wise)
Placement of your tweeters is key in an installation also. You should keep your tweeters as close to the midrange as possible, but still be able to agle them to be directed toward your ear.
Put a little sound deadening around the speakers, and they should scream well beyond the factory system. Sound deaden the whole door for best results (optional, but since you have the door panel off anyway!)
Bass blockers are also suggested to keep the bass meant for subwoofers out of your new midrages. You can also use the x-over in the stereo. Most Alpines have this feature now
The reason that that it may have sounded better originally is:
1: There is anexternal amp you are unaware of.
2: One of your speakers is hooked up backward(out of phase)
3 The factory stereo was only designed to sound good wth the components provided with the vehicle. i.e. smaller guage wiring, 6 ohm impedance maybe?
Remember, you will only get out of it what u put into it. All these steps will give you improved sound quality! Guarenteed