Audio Advice

[Andrew Bluemel]

Recently I installed a new Kenwood KDX-X399 and 4 new Focal speakers. Even though the sound is night and day better, I still don't feel like it's as good as it should be. It's like my dad's 01 Tundra has a better sound. It seems like all the noise is coming out of the front two speakers and there is nothing from the back. I have tried going through the settings and changing the equalizer and all that stuff with little success.

So my question is where to go next. Do I need a new amp? Should I pull the stock sub and replace it? Or is it worth getting new speakers for the 3rd row?

Sorry this is kind of a bland and dumb question but I would really appreciate some input.

Thanks!

 

[n00g7]

Not sure how the setup is, or how it's wired, but generally speaking, adding an aftermarket amp will result in a night and day difference.

If you add an aftermarket amp, yes you should ditch the factory subwoofer.

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Not sure how the setup is, or how it's wired, but generally speaking, adding an aftermarket amp will result in a night and day difference.

If you add an aftermarket amp, yes you should ditch the factory subwoofer.

If I ditch the factory one should i get a new one or just leave it to the door speakers?

 

[n00g7]

Add a sub. JL makes very good 10" shallow subs for small truck enclosures. You could either stick with F&R speakers only (4-channel) or get a set for the 3rd row and wire in parallel to your rear speakers. The alpine V9 is small enough to mount hidden in the rear, and is a 5 channel amp.
Channel 1&2 -> Front speakers
Channel 3&4 -> 1 or 2 sets of rears
Channel 5 (mono) -> Subwoofer

I have this exact setup in my XJ Cherokee, the sound is clear and will go as loud as you want it. Going on 2 years with it. I plan on doing this same setup in my 80 as well.

I also have a very similar setup in my wrangler (before the V9 came out, so I have 1x 4 channel amp and 1x mono amp, both alpine as well) that works just as well. Going on 4 years with this setup, only thing I've replaced are the rear rollbar speakers (a few months ago) that are exposed to the elements.

The nice part about the V9 is that it's tiny and you can hide it almost anywhere.

 

[tampacruiser95]

Get a compact amp for factory location to run the door speakers. Ditch the factory sub and get a compact self-powered sub for the back. It fits perfectly behind the center console and the wires can run inside there for a clean look.

 

[tlin]

Ditch the stock amp, get a new sub (self-powered or standalone). I've got this sub, it's "good", not great (huge improvement over stock). Fits perfectly in the rear panel where the stock sub would normally go (I did a custom mount, never had a problem). I simply wish I had a bigger sub, the 8" one I bought definitely sounds like an 8" sub in a small enclosure at times (not a perfect fit for all music).

Someone above recommended a 10" sub, look into that if you're going aftermarket. My $.02.

 

[n00g7]

Alpine PDX-V9
4x100W to 5 1/4in Alpine SPS-510s
1x500W to 10" JL Audio W3V3

On the 80 this amp will fit in the rear Qpanel. I have a similar sized amp there in mine already, but it's just mono for a sub, that I will be replacing with the V9 when I redo everything to accommodate a 5kWish inverter setup like I have in my XJ.

 

[huuunnnt]

Do you have the original amp still hooked up?

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Add a sub. JL makes very good 10" shallow subs for small truck enclosures. You could either stick with F&R speakers only (4-channel) or get a set for the 3rd row and wire in parallel to your rear speakers. The alpine V9 is small enough to mount hidden in the rear, and is a 5 channel amp.
Channel 1&2 -> Front speakers
Channel 3&4 -> 1 or 2 sets of rears
Channel 5 (mono) -> Subwoofer

I have this exact setup in my XJ Cherokee, the sound is clear and will go as loud as you want it. Going on 2 years with it. I plan on doing this same setup in my 80 as well.

I also have a very similar setup in my wrangler (before the V9 came out, so I have 1x 4 channel amp and 1x mono amp, both alpine as well) that works just as well. Going on 4 years with this setup, only thing I've replaced are the rear rollbar speakers (a few months ago) that are exposed to the elements.

The nice part about the V9 is that it's tiny and you can hide it almost anywhere.

That's perfect. Just what I needed to know. Thank you very much!

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Get a compact amp for factory location to run the door speakers. Ditch the factory sub and get a compact self-powered sub for the back. It fits perfectly behind the center console and the wires can run inside there for a clean look.

The stock amp is in the rear right?

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Ditch the stock amp, get a new sub (self-powered or standalone). I've got this sub, it's "good", not great (huge improvement over stock). Fits perfectly in the rear panel where the stock sub would normally go (I did a custom mount, never had a problem). I simply wish I had a bigger sub, the 8" one I bought definitely sounds like an 8" sub in a small enclosure at times (not a perfect fit for all music).

Someone above recommended a 10" sub, look into that if you're going aftermarket. My $.02.

Great advice. Thank you! My whole goal is to make it as low profile as possible

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Do you have the original amp still hooked up?

I still do. I will unhook it soon however

 

[tampacruiser95]

The stock amp is in the rear right?

There are two stock amps, one behind the dash and one in the rear.

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

There are two stock amps, one behind the dash and one in the rear.

So if there are two stock amps how do you wire those to the new one? Sorry if this is stupid basic and I'm missing something

 

[tampacruiser95]

So if there are two stock amps how do you wire those to the new one? Sorry if this is stupid basic and I'm missing something

I removed both stock amps. I had two Kenwood compact amps installed - one under driver seat and one behind the dash. I replaced the rear sub with a 6.5 shallow woofer and had a separate self powered 8 installed behind center console. Also replaced door speakers with hertz and back ceiling with small kickers. Does that answer your question?

 

[canman]

Just installed a Kenwood DDX393, and feel the same. Sound is clear (still dealing with a hum/whine) but feel it is not performing to its' fullest with the stk amp (LX450). Really feel that a new amp is the only solution.

 

[tampacruiser95]

Just installed a Kenwood DDX393, and feel the same. Sound is clear (still dealing with a hum/whine) but feel it is not performing to its' fullest with the stk amp (LX450). Really feel that a new amp is the only solution.

I spent quite a bit of money and have a clean/clear sound. But I have spent less before and got more sound. The only way to get that full sound in our rigs are full sized amps and full sized subs in a real box. But the trade off is loss of space...

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

I removed both stock amps. I had two Kenwood compact amps installed - one under driver seat and one behind the dash. I replaced the rear sub with a 6.5 shallow woofer and had a separate self powered 8 installed behind center console. Also replaced door speakers with hertz and back ceiling with small kickers. Does that answer your question?

I appreciate all your information and yes it answers most of it. However I don't get do I have to purchase 2 amps? I would really like to if possible just gut the old stock sub (have it out now) and gut the two stock amps and wire up a new one and see how it does.

 

[tampacruiser95]

I appreciate all your information and yes it answers most of it. However I don't get do I have to purchase 2 amps? I would really like to if possible just gut the old stock sub (have it out now) and gut the two stock amps and wire up a new one and see how it does.

I think if you purchase one full size amp and a real sub you will get good sound. None of it will fit in stock location, so you will sacrifice space in the back for good sound.

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

I think if you purchase one full size amp and a real sub you will get good sound. None of it will fit in stock location, so you will sacrifice space in the back for good sound.

That's great to know. Thank you. Now please excuse my next dumb question. When I had this head unit installed I let car toys install it (I tried at first and had no luck turned out the head unit was messed up) but I can't figure out what they did. I know they used the adapter from Crutchfield to go from head unit to speakers but I can't tell now if they bypassed the stock sub or not. I'm kind of in over my head here (15 and just descided today I wasnt happy with the sound). But if you don't mind me asking I know this is dumb but where do I go from here? Do I take out the center console to access the stock amp? I already have the back one out. I'm just concerned about the wiring and how to go about this.

Here is a pic of the wiring in the front