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Front speakers, parallel or series

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=72925
Printed Date: May 11, 2024 at 8:07 AM


Topic: Front speakers, parallel or series

Posted By: audioduck
Subject: Front speakers, parallel or series
Date Posted: February 16, 2006 at 1:08 AM

Here's what I have:

Blaupunlt Accapulco MP3 headunit

In the front, I have both 4" and 5 1/4" Infinity Reference speakers - both run off of the front speaker channels.  They are currently hooked up in parallel.

The 4" speakers are mounted under the dash pointing more or less down.  The 5 1/4" speakers are in the fornt lower part of the door panel.

It's not loud enough for my tastes so I'm wondering what I can do to make it louder.  Currenly the amp starts crackling if I put the volume at 58-60 (out of a possible 66) and it doesn't seem that loud.  I suspect that maybe I should try the speakers hooked up another way so I'm considering the following:

1) Hooking them up in series

2) Just disconnecting the 4" speakers(since they're pointing down anyhow so the 5 1/4 cna get all of the power from the head unit.

Thoughts on this?




Replies:

Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: February 16, 2006 at 7:11 AM

Some of the Infinity speakers are built at a 2 ohm impedance.  There are some answers you need to find out:

  • what is the impedance of those Infinity speakers?
  • what is the continuous power handling of those speakers?
  • what is the power output of the deck?
  • what is the minimum impedance load you can place on the deck?
  • what is loud?
  • how much power does it take to get to the "loud" level you're looking for?
  • why does everybody else install an amplifier to increase clarity and volume?
  • why do people use only one set of speakers in the front?
  • whly do people choose speakers of a larger size, like 6.5"?

A general response:  wiring - parallel combinations result in a lower impedance load than would a series combination.  Lower impedance loads cause the amplifier to produce more power at the expense of sound quality and the health of the amplifier.

amplifier - if this deck is the only source of power, you must understand the limitations of how loud it will get.

speakers - putting two sets of speakers in the front is either one of two things:  a high quality, well thought out and engineered sound system...or a rookie manuever.  You can decide which category yours falls in.

For now, I suggest you remove the 4" speakers from the car and focus entirely on the one set of 5's.  As you are able to upgrade, buy an amplifier.  Upgrade speakers as you can.  Without an amplifier you will not have "loud".



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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.




Posted By: audioduck
Date Posted: February 16, 2006 at 8:31 AM

Thanks, I'll pull the 4" speakers.

In the stock setup that came with the car, the 4" and the door speakers has separate amps and performed different functions.

An amp is in my plans in the near future.

Thanks for your assistance.





Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: February 16, 2006 at 9:27 AM
  • why do people use only one set of speakers in the front?
  • whly do people choose speakers of a larger size, like 6.5"?
  • I like all of Stevdart's questions here.  The above two in particular.

    Also, the crackling sound -could- be your speakers bottoming out.  Put a high pass 150hz crossover on those babies and you should be able to make them sing a bit more.



    -------------
    New Project: 2003 Pathfinder





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