Getting better sound

[Messi4h]

Arite..Ive got the monsoon setup, just bought myself 2 sets of infinity kappa's for the front and mid speakers, and im gonna get infinity 4' for the rear hatch speakers. What would you suggest I do to get the best possible sound out of these?! Replace the stock amp?! Give me a suggestion for the best amp for the cheapest possible price if so [img]smile.gif[/img]
But will I notice a nice differance with these new speakers with the stock amp?

[Law_Dawg_USN]

An amp is just that ... an amp. The whole purpose is to amp the signal coming from the head unit to your speakers. The real sound comes from the speakers. I.E...great amp + Wal-Mart speakers = GARBAGE ... in the same respect, stock amp and good speakers = good sound. The only time you're gonna run into a problem is if the amp isn't powerfull enough to run the speakers you just picked up. I really don't see you having that problem here though ... good luck, and let us know how it sounds.

[Law_Dawg_USN]

One other thing I forgot to mention, I'm not shure where to find it, but try looking up the "THD" or Total Harmonic Distortion rating on the stock amp ... usually a .005% or something like that ... natrually the less distortion the better, so if you do want to change out the stock amp, that's something you need to look at too. BUT, neither one of us would even be able to really tell the difference between them without audio testing gear. Try it with what you got before plunging into the checkbook for more cash.

[megabass]

If you want my opinion, do not put any 4" speakers in the back hatch area. Those are are meant to be subs and they do piss poor job at that. You certainly don't need any highs coming from way in the back.

All you need is a good set of components up front (running off an aftermarket amp of course). Mids in the rear sails are optional--especially if you need any sort of surround. But for general audio, they are not needed. And then just a decent 10 in a driver's stealth should be plenty to make a nice setup.
:D

[HotWheelz]

I definitely agree with Mega. Don't put the 4" in the rear hatch. But as for your speakers, the Infity Kappa's should give you a pretty decent sound. They should sound just fine with the stock amp, but you'd definitely get better if you were to buy an aftermarket amp. A lot of it depends on just WHAT kind of sound you're wanting.

For example, all I'm running for mine are two pairs of Sony Xplod 6.5" in the doors and in the back, a pair of Lanzar TWS dome tweeters mounted near the corner of my windshield, and a pair of Xplod 6x9's in boxs mounted in the back. That right there gives me a very good sound, even with the fairly cheap amps I'm using to push them. Those, combined with a good pair of subs and a decent box (thank you Mega :D ) give me a sound I'm really happy with.

[camaro_speedemon]

If you want the best sound, here's what you do. Take out every stock stereo component, and replace with aftermarket stuff. Head unit, speakers. You don't need an aftermarket amp unless you want to run subs. If not take the monsoon amps out and just run the speakers off the head unit. Most aftermarket head units supply plenty of power to be decently loud. Also you want the THD to be as low as possble, like posted before anything below .005% is fine, I personally wouldn't go any higher than that. You also want signal->noise to be high DB number (I think that's right). I think 100DB is about average. What that means is the sound is much louder than the noise. You still get the noise, but you don't hear it ;)

[ June 27, 2003: Message edited by: camaro_speedemon ]</p>

[Messi4h]

yea ive got an alpine head unit. And i plan on putting subs in, just need a box

[96firebird311]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Messi4h:
yea ive got an alpine head unit. And i plan on putting subs in, just need a box<hr></blockquote>

Check out www.subthump.com for that.

Ok this thread needs some help. First off, the sail panels are actually the "woofers" of the monsoon system. Not the 4" far rears. Next, I also recommend ditching the 4"s altogether. Those high freqs behind the listener will destroy any chance at a good soundstage.

Since you already have replaced the stock headunit and are adding new speakers and subs, an aftermarket amp is a must. You can go with a single 5 or 6 channel amp to power everything. Or two seperate amps. One for the subs and one for all the other speakers. What kind of budget are we working with here? For good buys, check out the Kicker KX700.5 for a 5-channel amp. Or pair the kx600.4 with the kx400.1. Or for more power, use the kx800.4 and the kx600.1.

You guys read too much Crutchfield! :D A .005% THD and 100db S/N is better then average, but don't let these numbers decide your amp. You probably won't hear a difference until 1% THD and 75s/n, maybe not even then.

[Messi4h]

So that kicker amp (kx700) would be good enough to power the speakers and my 2 12s? if so I think im sold. I can afford that lol
keN

sorry guys im just really dumb wen it comes to stereo and etc. Im tryin to learn this stuff though lol

arite one more thing, wat about the tweeters?! O_o dont think the kappas come with tweeters?

[ June 30, 2003: Message edited by: Messi4h ]</p>

[96firebird311]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Messi4h:
So that kicker amp (kx700) would be good enough to power the speakers and my 2 12s? <hr></blockquote>

Didn't see that you had two 12"s. Depends on the woofers? Which ones do you have? What impedence are they? ie. single 2 ohm, dual 4 ohm, etc. If they could be wired for a 2 ohm load, then the kx700.5 will output 400WRMS which could be enough. BUT, if you could spare the money for the kx600.4/kx400.1 combo you could give your speakers nearly double the power.(75W vs. 40W) But the subs would still only get 400WRMS. If you need/want more, you'd have to step up to the kx600.1. :D As you can see, there are trade offs. Get whatever fits your budget. If your woofers can be wired for 2 ohms... I say get the 700.5.

Which Infinities did you get?

[Messi4h]

I got infinity Kappas 652.5i 2 sets of em, doors and mids [img]tongue.gif[/img] And I dunno which amp to get for these speakers? Ive got an amp for my subs. So I guess I just need one for these speakers. And it can be installed in the same place as the stock amp correct? I figure that would be easiest
thanks alot