will seperates in front make a difference?

[Geoff]

OK, I have a 96 Eddie Bauer w/ the JBL system, I want to get better qualty sound, i.e cleaner, crisper, so my first instinct was to replace the factory front speakers w/ seperates, assuming I get a pair of speakers that the stock system can power correctly, will this make a difference? Or will I get better sound quality from replacing the head unit, I am hesitant on this because it seems to be such a hassle to replace it, with the brains of the system being in the back of the car and all. Also, I like the way the stock head unit fils up the dahs, an aftermarket will mean a big balck panel in my dash. I am not a bass head, I listen to all types of music, classic to rap, and want a system that will sound clean in the entire range, and not unbalanced between the highs, mids, lows. If repalcing the fronts w/ seperates wont do it, what do you suggest?

 

[X-Man]

Separates is the way to go but, with the stock system you won't get the full effect from the speakers, you need to amp them up, most separates ask for between 50-100 watts, the factory system won't put out that much. You can change the factory speakers to some better aftermarket speakers and it will improve the sound. Find out the watts your factory system put out and get some speakers that handles a little more than that, ie. if the factory system puts out 30 watts, buy 50 and up watts speakers.

X-Man

 

[RFR2212]

I stand behind the seperates all the way. I've got an older set of kicker resolution 5 1/4's and they're gettin 75watts from a two year old alpine that has been in water(leaky convertable in other family memebers car) and they're still ear piercing. I'm also runnin 2 Eclipse DVC's and they're runnin 900 watts constantly 1500 max from a new alpine amp. I can still hear them clearly. I just picked up a set of Rockford Fosgate Fanatic Q's for the front to go into kick panels and the kickers are gonna go in back...So maybe it'll be clearer now...Who knows..gonna start the install over thanks giving..I'll try and get pictures throughout the process..Hope that helps a bit
Thanks,
Pete
P.S.--Welcome to the site Geoff!

 

[JTang]

Pete,

Once you install the new kick panels, can you post your conclusion on the install? Just want to see how you end up dealing with the emergency brake. I heard it's pretty tough.


Geoff,

Welcome first of all! If you're wanting a nice system that sort of covers everything, then you won't really have to go crazy. At minimum, if you want the best from your components, then you should get the kick panels to maximize their usefulness and potential, powered by a real amp. The kick panels will allow for up to 6.5" I believe which should help compensate for a nice lower midrange in cooperation with a sealed 8" or 10" sub in the back. You could go with a smaller size for your midrange, but 6.5" will ensure an easier transition from the midbass to lower bass frequencies with almost any brand. Also, an important point to making a good system is ensuring that you have proper crossover and cutoff points for your speakers. Not only will this help minimize sound distortion (like your 6.5"s trying to play too low of bass) it will also help your amp free up power by keeping it from playing the extra frequencies that you don't want them (and that they may not be able to) play. If you want smooth transitions, then you'll be paying a lot for components with the expensive materials, like hybrid materials or silk dome tweeters. The sound is a lot warmer, but then they demand power.

It's just like everyone else said. With this stuff, it's like you buy one thing, you have to buy other stuff to bring out the best. At minimum, you could get the components and try the stock amp. It will most likely be better than you current stock stuff, and when you're ready, you can upgrade later.

Jon

 

[RFR2212]

Jon--Emeregency brake? Who needs that! My cable rusted...so upon the lift, removed it...I'm gonna pull the whole pedal assembly thing, or what ever you would like to call it.
Pete

 

[JTang]

Lucky break (bad pun intended). Guess that solves that problem then!

[Edited by JTang on 11-15-2000 at 09:26 PM]

 

[RFR2212]

Yep, now as I get to my breaks, the long tedious work of fiberglassing! Ach!
Oh well, it'll be cool once done!
Pete

 

[Ru Dawg]

seperates?

Kinda silly question here, just wanna be sure...are "seperates" just the oposite of "components", just another pair of speakers like a set of 6x8's or something?

 

[RFR2212]

Nope...they're the same thing.....Seperates and components are the same...they're not attached to each other like a coaxal or triaxel...Hope this helps...I was breif though
Pete

 

[Ru Dawg]

oh ok...I get it....seperates like not 3- or 2-ways right?

 

[RFR2212]

They can be both....if you look at a coaxal or triaxal, you'll see the speaker is one piece(the woofer with a stud in the middle and the mid and tweeter attached) these are more common that the seperates...
Coaxal pic http://www.alpine1.com/html/dds_r17k.html
triaxal pic Dead Link Removed
The components as they're called, have the midrange and tweeter seperate...there are expensive 3 way components too
component (2 way) http://www.alpine1.com/html/ddc_f17c.html
component (3 Way) Dead Link Removed

Hope this clarifies a bit more than before
Pete

 

[JTang]

Pete, you gonna take pics of your kick panel job? I know Rock and I would love to see how it's done!

Jon

 

[RFR2212]

I'm planning on taking pictures through out...and if it turns out excellent, I'll probably make a full write up.
Pete

 

[Geoff]

kick panels

please do let us know how those kick panels turn out, did you get the q logic ones? I was gonna get some, but held off cuz I heard they require a lot of modifications for the emerg. brake.

 

[RFR2212]

No, I didn't get the Q-logic's, nor do I plan on it. I'm going to a complete custom job on them. I'm going to attempt it all my self. I know it's hard to stretch vinal, so I may have a shop do that, but i may also carpet them. I'm home for a week on thanksgiving and 3 weeks over x-mas from school. So hopefully I'll get them mostly completed over this time...The heated garage helps!
Pete
P.S-this is my 500th Post!
Whoohoo! Got my 4th explorer with it too! Go me!

 

[ron831]

kick panels

just to let you know i put the q-logic pods in my explorer and had no problem with the e-brake. just my 2 cents. one thing i did do was put a coat of fiberglass in them. that was to stiffing them up a bit. also put some dynomat in them then packed some poly-foam around the speakers. the speakers i have are boston 6.5 3's. i put the 4.5 mid and the 1 in. tweeter in the pods and put the 6.5 woofer in the door.

 

[PekingMan]

ron831,
How do the Q-logic pods sound? Do they do the bostons justice? Also, how was the e-brake not a problem? I had thought that you had to bend it a few inches right to fit the pod. Is that not true? Pics??? Thanks
Chris

 

[JTang]

It's only a problem for 91-94s, sadly. It'll probably be pretty difficult to bend since emergency brakes are consisting of the strongest metal components in the car, for the actual pedal part at least.

Pete, take pics and do a write up even if it doesn't turn out excellent. Every bit of knowledge helps!

 

[PekingMan]

damn

 

[ron831]

pods

PekingMan,
they sound great i have awsome front staging thats what i was after. also i did not have to move the e-brake. i have no picks as of yet looking to get a digital camera soon.
ron