Tweeters From Head Unit or Amp?

Hello, fellow car audio enthusiasts! I'm back! And back at installing more electronics into my car. No subs this time, and no 3 or 4 amps. Just basic stuff.

So, I searched and searched for an answer to this question in the forums but couldn't locate anything, so I figured I'd run it by you all in a new topic.

My question where I need opinions or advice this time has to do with powering tweeters.

In my past car audio systems, I've always run my tweeters from the head unit after I added amps and ran the other speakers off the amps. In some cases, I have even connected my tweeters to my dash speakers. They always sounded great.

This time, I'm running a 4-channel Boston Acoustics amp. My original plan was to run each front and rear Kenwood 6.5" speaker to each of the 4 channels of the amp. Then run my Pioneer tweeters off my Kenwood deck. But I started thinking this morning about an alternate way of doing all this. I currently have all my speakers hooked up (except the tweeters, which are going in today) to my deck. Today I'm installing the amp, the tweeters (with bass blockers even with my high-pass filters), and future plans include a Clarion EQS-746 equalizer (next week or two).

So what I'm thinking about is this: run the front AND rear speakers in parallel, both front and rear left speakers to left rear of amp and both front and rear right speakers to right rear of amp. They're all 4-ohm speakers and the amp is safe for 2-ohm operation. Of course I could always run them in series for an 8-ohm load but would lose a little bass if I did this. Anyway, I want to run the full-range speakers off the rear of the amp and the tweeters off the front of amp.

I have lots of experience running subwoofers in both parallel and series, but have NEVER run full-range speakers in either configuration. Anyone done this? How did it work? Sound awesome? Too many highs?

I hope to get a few opinions before I get ready to hook up the amp this afternoon, but can always do it in normal 4-channel and run the tweeters of the head unit and change it all later, like when I install the equalizer. No problem changing things. I just want to do most of this today.

Thanks for your opinion/advice! Pictures will soon be posted.

Sure, you could do that. You'll lose the ability to fade front to rear, which I think is a critical control. Another method is to use the 4-channel amp to power the 4 main speakers then just connect the tweeters (with their crossover) in parallel with the front set. You may need to add an L-pad to reduce the level of the tweeter to match the front main on each side, but it's a simple thing to do.

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Thanks, man! I knew I would lose my fader, but its centered so nice front to rear Im not worried. Got all wires and cables ran now, and just about to makes connections at deck, so I think I just might do that with the tweeters. I do have bass blockers to run with the tweeters. Pics on Monday! Thanks again!

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Well, got the amp in yesterday. Unfortunately, I feel like I'm reliving the 70's again by putting it under my seat! Had no choice really. My trunk is jam packed with tools and stuff for work. I need to have easy access to it for when I want to tweak the settings or crossovers. Sounds awesome, but I never did install the tweeters! Ran low on time. So I guess I'll put those in next weekend when I install the Clarion equalizer. Not installing the amp cover yet. Still tweeking settings. Plus I haven't decided how I'm going to run the tweeters. Only complication during the install was I ran out of 12g speaker wire and had to use some cheesy 16g. :(








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If you leave the amp under the seat, a trick to keep it from sliding around is to get some Velcro with an adhesive back and stick the hook part to the underside of the amp. It'll grab the carpet.

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Thanks. I was going to secure it, this was only a quick install and the picture was before the finishing touches. It's secure now. I just used the sliding screw tabs with super short screws. You're right though, the velcro is a great idea! Wish I had thought about that before I drilled into my floor.

Got the equalizer in finally! Now just a matter of installing the tweeters and upgrading my cheesy rear 6.5's to 6x9's for a bit more bass and power handling.





(SORRY ABOUT THE BLURRY PICTURE)

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Made some changes already! Just like my last system, I can't stop changing stuff. So after installing 4 Kenwood 6-1/2's, I'm already replacing the rear speakers with Audiobahn 6x9's. They don't technically "fit", but will do fine when I mount them on the underside of the rear deck. Just have to drill screw holes. STILL have not installed the tweeters yet! I know, I'm slow. Guess that comes with age. SOON! And yes, I've decided to run the tweeters in parallel with the front speakers and run them off the amp, which is stable at 2-ohm loads. This stereo just might sound awesome when it's done!

The latest updates: I'm in the process of looking for a mono block sub amp and a pair of 12's. But I have no room in my trunk for a box, so I'm searching for some free-air subs. They used to be found anywhere, but now are harder to find. Will probably mount them behind the rear seat like most people do. I had one car where I removed the back seat and cut a piece of MDF to fit the entire wall behind the seat, but had to cut out the metal braces. It all worked out. Ran a pair of 12" Pioneers off a 600 watt Profile amp and they pounded hard!

All this talk of tweeters and amps and power and sound it probably confusing for some folks after hearing me say all I was looking for in this car was just basic, cleaner sound. Well, us car audio enthusiasts just don't know when to say WHOA! Pics will follow!

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