front speaker distortion
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=103304
Printed Date: April 29, 2024 at 10:29 PM
Topic: front speaker distortion
Posted By: jmalbright
Subject: front speaker distortion
Date Posted: March 21, 2008 at 8:36 PM
I am in need of some advice on how to improve my system. My head unit is a Pioneer DEH-P80MP and I have a MTX Thunder 404 amplifier powering Infinity Kappa's (4X6 in the front and 6X9 in the rear).
Here are some links to the product pages:
Head Unit
Mtx Thunder 404
Kappa 4x6's
Kappa 6X9's
My problem is that my front speakers are a major weak link in my system. I also have a sub, but my front speaker's woofers distort way before any other component in my system.
I am using the high pass filter on my amp and it helps some, but it is not adequate. I like to listen to techno/trance style music that often has hard beats that aren't that deep and this kind of music just kills my front speakers.
I know I can turn down the gain on my amp (it's already pretty low imo), but then the back speakers start to dominate to the point that things sound like crap. So what's my best bet to fix this issue without buying a $500 set of component speakers?
Replies:
Posted By: audioman2007
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Ok looking at the amp, its a 4 channel amp. Do you have each speaker wired to each channel, thus keeping each speaker load at 4 ohms? Lets say that each channel can put out 35watts RMS if you were to have the speakers at 4 ohms. Now looking at your 4X6 speakers, it says they are 2 ohm speakers. You can still wire them up to be 4 ohms. That would actually be safer since most speakers are 4 ohms anyways. This will help with your speakers and also with the amp. But first, how do you have the front speakers wired to the amp?
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 11:41 AM
The amp is slightly overpowered for those speakers, How was the gain set? Also, set your HPF to at least 100Hz for those 4X6 plates or you will definately drive them to the stops. And bottom line, if you are "distorting" your speakers, then you need to turn the volume down - not the gain, the VOLUME. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 11:43 AM
audioman2007 wrote:
Ok looking at the amp, its a 4 channel amp. Do you have each speaker wired to each channel, thus keeping each speaker load at 4 ohms? Lets say that each channel can put out 35watts RMS if you were to have the speakers at 4 ohms. Now looking at your 4X6 speakers, it says they are 2 ohm speakers. You can still wire them up to be 4 ohms. That would actually be safer since most speakers are 4 ohms anyways. This will help with your speakers and also with the amp. But first, how do you have the front speakers wired to the amp?
The speakers are 2-ohms and the amp can handle a 2-ohm load just fine. What are you trying to say? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: audioman2007
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 11:51 AM
What I am saying is that I like to keep my speakers at 4 ohms. Yes you can run those speakers at 2 ohms and yes the amp can handle a 2 ohm load. But the amp is too powerful for those speakers so to help the speakers out, I would have them wired to 4 ohms. I have already had my speakers run at 2 ohms and I didnt like the way they sounded. Yes they were louder but the overall clarity wasnt great compared to 4 ohms.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 11:54 AM
And how would you "wire them for 4-ohms"? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: audioman2007
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 12:04 PM
each speaker to each channel.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM
audioman2007 wrote:
each speaker to each channel.
Well since they are 2-ohm speaker systems, one speaker to one channel = 2-ohm load on the amplifier. You cannot create a 4-ohm load with Infinity Kappa speakers (or any other 2-ohm speaker) unless you start buying multiple sets and wiring them in series, which would be a very foolish thing to do. When these speakers are properly installed with their crossover as intended, they place a 2-ohm load on the amp. All the OP needs to do is set the gain properly and set the HPF properly, and maybe turn the system volume down. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: jmalbright
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Thank you for the info. I normally don't listen to the volume that incredibly loudly I don't think. It's only the fronts that start to ever distort at the volumes I listen and never the rears or the sub. That's why I said they were a major weak link in my system and I am looking to improve the issue.
I am only using the high pass filter on my amplifier. It has an off and on setting, so it's really not adjustable. Any recommendations on a external HP filter I might look into?
Posted By: jmalbright
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Oh, btw, each speaker is wired to its own channel, but as DYohn pointed out, they are 2 ohm speakers. Also the 4X6's aren't equipped with a crossover, but the 6X9's are.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: March 22, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Ah, I thought the 4X6 plates came with an external Xover too. In any case, a decent low-cost high-pass filter is made by Harrison Labs. A set of FMod in-line filters might be enough, or try the HP-1 if you want one that's variable. ------------- Support the12volt.com
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