Speakers

[pgpd324]

P.O. installed a Kenwood Apple car play stereo and replaced the front door speakers. (I think 6X9 or 6.5 if I'm not mistaken). The question I have is that the stereo has a million possible adjustments in the equalizer area and I have messed with it a ton and got it some better but it till sounds like crap. Isn't it true that the factory Mark Levinson speakers are 4 or 8 ohm and only they or 4 or 8 ohm speakers will work? it is a great head unit but from there it is having major issues. any help would be appreciated. Sounds like a 50's model car stereo, one minute too much Bass and then the next minute ear piecing treble.

Edit: O.K. after reading more post I am more confused now more than ever. So are these 4 ohm or 8 ohm speakers from the factory? Can you just put the same ohm in as replacements and will it work? If not why?

 

[SugarPines]

The ML system has 8ohm speakers all around according to my research. You can use 4ohm speakers, but it will put more stress on the amp and overheat. As long as you don't blast it for a long period of time 4ohm should be fine. 8ohm aftermarket speakers are hard to find. The best option is probably OEM, but they are pricy.

I can't speak to changing out the head unit, but I just ordered some Kicker 4ohm 6x9 speakers to replace the the lower front door speakers since one of them is busted. There are some decent youtube videos on the subject if you search.

 

[sedonut]

You have to make sure they are in phase. If they are out of phase they sound like crap.

I'm not an expert, but the right positives to the right negatives on the wiring.

 

[drowzyGX]

OP, have you confirmed that you even have the Mark Levinson setup?

unless the previous owner went through the trouble of a non-nav conversion, they couldn’t add in the aftermarket head unit. It’s not unheard of, but not the most popular mod.

if you do have factory ML amp and speakers, then, yes, the speakers are all 8 ohm. Beyond that, you’ve the fact that the speakers are wired in an odd way. For example, the trunk speakers are standard mid range speakers, but wired with resistors and sound more like tweeters.

if you’re unhappy with the sound and already have an aftermarket head unit, I would just yank the ML amp and speakers. Then you can drop in whatever you want.

 

[Geezer430]

P.O. installed a Kenwood Apple car play stereo and replaced the front door speakers. (I think 6X9 or 6.5 if I'm not mistaken). The question I have is that the stereo has a million possible adjustments in the equalizer area and I have messed with it a ton and got it some better but it till sounds like crap. Isn't it true that the factory Mark Levinson speakers are 4 or 8 ohm and only they or 4 or 8 ohm speakers will work? it is a great head unit but from there it is having major issues. any help would be appreciated. Sounds like a 50's model car stereo, one minute too much Bass and then the next minute ear piecing treble.

Edit: O.K. after reading more post I am more confused now more than ever. So are these 4 ohm or 8 ohm speakers from the factory? Can you just put the same ohm in as replacements and will it work? If not why?

Don't bother with trying to match a new headunit to the ML Amp or ML speakers. The ML amp will die at some point and the ML speakers are known for dry rot over time. I moved my ML headunit to the glovebox as it controls other things , removed the ML amp, replaced the headunit with a kenwood single DIN, added a 5CH Kenwood amp, rewired all speaker wiring from headunit to amp to doors, added Kicker 4ohm KS front and rear door speakers, and a 2 ohm wired in series dual coil Skar 6.5" sub .. System hits hard, sounds as good as the ML, and does not have the center or cargo door speakers active. Very happy except that Im stuck with a single DIN headunit due to the Climate controls buried into the NAV screen

 

[SugarPines]

Don't bother with trying to match a new headunit to the ML Amp or ML speakers. The ML amp will die at some point and the ML speakers are known for dry rot over time. I moved my ML headunit to the glovebox as it controls other things , removed the ML amp, replaced the headunit with a kenwood single DIN, added a 5CH Kenwood amp, rewired all speaker wiring from headunit to amp to doors, added Kicker 4ohm KS front and rear door speakers, and a 2 ohm wired in series dual coil Skar 6.5" sub .. System hits hard, sounds as good as the ML, and does not have the center or cargo door speakers active. Very happy except that Im stuck with a single DIN headunit due to the Climate controls buried into the NAV screen

Man that sounds like a lot of work!