Suggestions for P5 stereo setup for a car-audio newbie???

[rmedoc]

Ok, call me stupid, but I have to ask this question...

Sir Nuke has already helped me out a great deal, led me to this thread, and you guys rock! You have shown me it is way to easy to get what I want done.
I have one question though concerning speaker choices. I unfortunately have to please 2 people here, 1 myself, and 1 my wife. I know nothing about car stereo enhancement, and my wife wants everything to "look good." So, what would my outcome be as far as quality if I were to install the Pioneer TS-D160R's in the rear, and the TS-D680R's in the front?(pictures of which are enclosed)
I know that Pioneer does not make great sounding equipment, but I don't want to win any contests or anything. I want music that is rich to listen to when driving alone at louder volumes, but stil produces good sound at lower volumes when the wife and kid are in the car.
The rest of the setup would be the stock HU, the Apline MRP-F320 amp, and the JL Audio sub Sir Nuke talks about. Those part of the applications are set in my mind, and the wife doens't care, 'cause you really aren't going to see them as much as the real speakers.
If the Pioneer's are going to totally suck, let me know, and offer me some good advice on choosing speakers that won't kill my budget of about $700 total with install.
Thanks for the help ladies and gentlemen.

 

[Synthesis5]

hey 1st mp3.... or any other audio people

im runnin 2 10" mtx thunder 4000 series to a MA audio m286i (2 channel 600 watt amp) hooked up to my SHU. and oh yea "stock door speakers"

now my question is, what are some good door speakers to keep up with my subs. because it seems like im missing out on the highs.......... and every time i try to adjust the bass in the HU it just doesnt sound good.

i've played around with all the controls on the amp and HU, and i figure i think im due for a door speaker change.

 

[1sty]

rmedoc,

Pioneer isn't terrible there are just better sounding speakers for the price in my opinion. You should always listen to the speakers your considering and compare different sets to see which one you like the sound of the best. You can't see any speaker installed in the factory locations anyways so why would looks matter?

 

[1sty]

hey 1st mp3.... or any other audio people

im runnin 2 10" mtx thunder 4000 series to a MA audio m286i (2 channel 600 watt amp) hooked up to my SHU. and oh yea "stock door speakers"

now my question is, what are some good door speakers to keep up with my subs. because it seems like im missing out on the highs.......... and every time i try to adjust the bass in the HU it just doesnt sound good.

i've played around with all the controls on the amp and HU, and i figure i think im due for a door speaker change.

The best door speakers are the ones you like best that you can afford. Listen to different stuff and see what you like the sound of.

NEVER USE THE BASS ADJUSTMENT OF A HEADUNIT! LEAVE IT AT 0!
bass adjustments just add distortion to the music. They are in no way equivalent to a sub-woofer volume control of an aftermarket headunit.

Distortion is what kills speakers, not power. It is very hard to kill a speaker by over-powering or under-powering it with a clean signal.

From what your describing you need to replace you speakers and amplify them. The bass that distorts the speaker but not the subs will also distort aftermarket speakers. Aftermarket speakers witht eh same power as stock speakers are not usualy louder. Infact they are the quiter. Many people precieve them louder becuase of the high frequency the aftermarket speakers produce that the stocks could not.

Any good amp will have a crossover so you can take the bass out of the door speakers and keep it only to the subs. Bass blockers don't work as well since they are only 6 db per octive and most amps are atleast 12 db/octive. Always look for amps with adjustable crossovers. Obviously a 6x9 can handle more bass then a 3" so a simply crossover switch isn't always sufficient.

 

[mtnbkr]

disconnecting factory amp

I tried hooking an amp up to my car. I replaced the HU w/ a pioneer premier 740MP last year (I have an '02) It's a great HU, plays mp3's off the CD and everything. Good folder structure and display too.

One of my friends is selling a Boss amp that I know works, but when I hook it up to my HU no sound. I used the subouts on the back of the HU and made sure Sub-out was on on the HU, but no response. I was told by another friend that I probably have a factory amp in the P5 as most new cars do and I have to bypass this by re-running my speaker wires. Anyone familiar with this?

When the HU was put in there was no wire harness available so all factory wires are spliced in, but done in such a way that the factory can be re-attached. If I get a wire harness will I be able to by pass the amp without running all my speaker wires over again?

Thanks.

BTW - I've read through the other posts, great info. You guys know your $hit. I've now been educated, but at the same time confused.

Moe

 

[Sir Nuke]

Re: disconnecting factory amp

I tried hooking an amp up to my car. I replaced the HU w/ a pioneer premier 740MP last year (I have an '02) It's a great HU, plays mp3's off the CD and everything. Good folder structure and display too.

One of my friends is selling a Boss amp that I know works, but when I hook it up to my HU no sound. I used the subouts on the back of the HU and made sure Sub-out was on on the HU, but no response. I was told by another friend that I probably have a factory amp in the P5 as most new cars do and I have to bypass this by re-running my speaker wires. Anyone familiar with this?

When the HU was put in there was no wire harness available so all factory wires are spliced in, but done in such a way that the factory can be re-attached. If I get a wire harness will I be able to by pass the amp without running all my speaker wires over again?

Thanks.

BTW - I've read through the other posts, great info. You guys know your $hit. I've now been educated, but at the same time confused.

Moe

Moe, the P-5 doesn't have a "FACTORY AMP", so no need to bypass something that isn't there....and no need to rerun your speaker wires..... now...this may sound like a stupid question...but I have seen this before....so you ran your sub outs to the amp, and speaker wires to your sub....and you have a power lead to the amp...and a ground on the amp......did you REMEMBER to run the ON/OFF lead to the amp?? without that.....your amp has power to it...but its not turned on.

 

[mtnbkr]

Re: Re: disconnecting factory amp

Moe, the P-5 doesn't have a "FACTORY AMP", so no need to bypass something that isn't there....and no need to rerun your speaker wires..... now...this may sound like a stupid question...but I have seen this before....so you ran your sub outs to the amp, and speaker wires to your sub....and you have a power lead to the amp...and a ground on the amp......did you REMEMBER to run the ON/OFF lead to the amp?? without that.....your amp has power to it...but its not turned on.

The on/off lead is that the remote wire? yeah. I ran the red for power, the black for ground and the pink wire (amp side), I ran to the blue wire (said remote) in the back of the HU. Thanx for clearing up the "factory amp" thing.

 

[1sty]

The P5 has no factory amp.
The Sub outputs usualy have a volume adjustment, make sure its turned up.
If the amps not turning on you should check your power, ground and remote turn on wire.
Did you hook up the remote turn on wire?
Did you remember to put the fuse in the power wire?

 

[1sty]

Whats the amp running?

 

[mtnbkr]

Whats the amp running?

Well, I want it to run a little 10" MTX sub in a Qlogic box. It's a Boss 400 amp. I tested the amp the other day on a friends system (he's got two 15's) (the one that said I had a factory amp)and it worked. loud! In my car the power light was on. But there was no sound, not even a pop or that feedback buzz. Almost like there wasn't even a signal going to it, but I had the RCA's hooked to the subouts.

Oh well. I think perhaps I may call pioneer. So a wire harness wouldn't do anything then huh?



Moe

 

[mtnbkr]

OFF TOPIC

MP3 in NH what RPM does your turbo kick in? Do you know what HP 8PSI puts you at?

I know it's off topic, but wanted to ask since I had your attention.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Well, I want it to run a little 10" MTX sub in a Qlogic box. It's a Boss 400 amp. I tested the amp the other day on a friends system (he's got two 15's) (the one that said I had a factory amp)and it worked. loud! In my car the power light was on. But there was no sound, not even a pop or that feedback buzz. Almost like there wasn't even a signal going to it, but I had the RCA's hooked to the subouts.

Oh well. I think perhaps I may call pioneer. So a wire harness wouldn't do anything then huh?



Moe

check to ensure the gain is turned up on the amp.....if its not....it will act EXACTLY like you are describing....I remember when I put my first one it I thought I screwed something up because I was getting NOTHING>....then I turned the gain up...and PRESTO CHANGO...I HAD BUMPIN THUMPIN going on!

 

[1sty]

What ipedance is the sub and what impedanceis the amp ment to run at. If the amp only takes a 4 ohm load and your sub is a 2 ohms it may go into protect mode to aviod harm.

There may be an issue with the RCAs also, can you get me the model number of the amp. Also what kind of power wire did you run to the amp?
What is the crossover set at?
Definitly check the gain!

 

[shaftwagon]

dumb question:

did you remember to connect a wire to the amp in order to serve as a remote turn on? you need to do this on most amps.

 

[mtnbkr]

WOW! Overload! Thanks for the great suggestions. I will hook everything up again on Thursday and try some of the suggestions. Shaftwagon...yes, I hooked up the remote wire. thanks though. I'll check the impendencies of everything too. The Amp model is a Boss AVA-400M. It says 2 ohm stable on it.
Fuse in power cable is still good.

 

[1sty]

What is the subs model number?

 

[litnav14]

pulling out the factory head unit

courier new[/FON

Your definitly not an idiot you are actualy asking some very indepth questions for a newbie so good for you (thumb).

I am speaking more generaly in my earlier coments. I have little experience with your stock mazda head unit. However, generaly these days a head unit signal is good except it lacks the power to properly control a speakers giving it a higher level of detail. All a speaker does is vibrate at certain frequencies creating sound. The more power and control that speaker get the quicker and more dramaticly it can change those frequencies and play them acuratly. Amplifiers have saveral other properties other then just power, THD and damping factor are 2 important ones. An out board amp give you far more power and at much lower THD, total harmonic distortion. To most this simpl means tha amp can play louder, this is true but only a small part of it. The amp can also play lower volumes with more control and less distortion creating better sound. Damping factor is usualy summed up as the ability of an amp to properly control a driver. Basicly it how well the amp can distiquish and contol the speakers movements. Higher damping means a better clarity between frequencies and levels.

Both of these will increase if you use an aftermarket head unit but in no way as much. For example look at the size of even the smallest 25 x 4 amplifier of decent build. It costs close to $200 and is about 10" x 10" x 3". How can a CD player that at most is 7" x 7" x 3", be a reciever, tuner, cd player amplifier and processor for the same price and spec and still deliver the same quality. Simply put it can't. An out board amplifier contains cleaner circuitry period.

This is the first step in audio I like since I feel it gives you the most return per dollar. Therews no set order you have to do As long as you get to your goal without wasting alot of money.

 

[litnav14]

I am also a newbie. Sorry. I am trying to change my factory head unit and I can not get it out. How do I do this proceedure?

 

[NoRotorNoMotor]

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123616292

not sure it will help but it is a more recent thread

 

[santisurf]

1sty see if you agree with me here, New HU Better Power, im worried about theft also, so ur not alone in the pit, now if you get the new headunit ur stocks witll sound alot better (which i know off) and ur sub will be much more managable, ALSO!!! installation, Example: "you wake up one morning ur stereo doesn't work who do you take it to?" make sure you either watch exactly what they are doing so you know for future reference, or install yourself. it will be a great experience to know you car inside out. think of it like a girl, u need to get under that Hood