Fading question + wiring

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=63558
Printed Date: July 15, 2025 at 11:20 PM

Topic: Fading question + wiring

Posted By: johnlarkin
Subject: Fading question + wiring
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 4:54 PM

I am putting together a basic stereo for my wife's car. Here is what I have so far:

Alpine CDA-9847 18Wx4 rms 3 RCA outputs
Kenwood KAC-943 50Wx4 rms
JBL GTO 926 6x9" 100W coaxial
JBL GTO 426 4" 35W coaxial
Sony EXM-302 90W rms bridged (had from years back)

Here is what I am adding to the list:

JBL GTO 626 55W 6.5" coaxial
JL 8W0-4 sub

The plan is to put the 4"s in the dash, the 6.5"s in kickpods in the front floors, and 6x9"s in the rear, stock location over the struts. The Sony amp will be bridged to run the JL sub in a wierd 6 sided sealed box I am finishing up (1.05 cu ft, fits on the side behind the left rear wheelwell); it will be in the hatch ('96 Saab 9000).

The question is: should I wire the 4" & 6.5" speakers together as the front channel? If so, how could I balance them so one does not overpower the other?

Replies:

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 6:34 PM

If you're looking for good sound quality, I'd recomend not using the 4" speakers at all.

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Posted By: tcss
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 6:55 PM

Also Alpine decks are not designed to handle a 2 ohm load so I would ax the 4 inch too.

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Posted By: johnlarkin
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 9:43 PM

Thanks much but I'm unable to change the plan knowing what I have to work with. I do need some help with calculations here: Wiring the 4 & 6.5 in parallel will drop the amp output in half and increase the resistance to 8 ohms, right? I would like to wire a resistor or something in between the two speakers outputs to drop it back down to 4 ohms, restoring my amp's power. Is this feasible?

Posted By: johnlarkin
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 9:46 PM

Woops, I meant series. Sorry, just starting to learn.

Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 10:50 PM

You're not able to leave out the 4" speakers? The good advice above is what you'll get here.

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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 11:59 PM

johnlarkin wrote:

Thanks much but I'm unable to change the plan knowing what I have to work with. I do need some help with calculations here: Wiring the 4 & 6.5 in [SERIES] will drop the amp output in half and increase the resistance to 8 ohms, right? I would like to wire a resistor or something in between the two speakers outputs to drop it back down to 4 ohms, restoring my amp's power. Is this feasible?

No, this is not worth doing. Adding a resister will simply mean the resister will absorb 1/2 the power that you are forcing the amplifier to produce, and the speakers will function as if it was not there. Simply leave the 4" speakers out of the system completely. They will only cause nightmare problems for sound quality, The 6.5" speakers are what you want to use.

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Posted By: johnlarkin
Date Posted: October 01, 2005 at 10:02 AM

Thank you for your advice!