Qstn for the audiophiles

[tirwin]

Question for all you audiophiles out there.

I am restoring the interior on the '83 and have everything stripped down. I bought some good quality speaker wire and was planning on running it to new speakers. Polk 6.5" in front and Blau 4x6" in the back. I bought a new Kenwood head unit about a year ago when I bought the car.

As I started to wire up the new speakers to the cheap-looking harness wires that came with the head unit, I got to thinking that it seems like a waste to have great speakers and great speaker wire hooked up to a cheap harness. Would I be better off adding an amp and connecting the speakers to the amp and then RCA between the head unit and the amp?

If I'm going to do something like this, it would seem now is the time to do it when I have the opportunity at hand.

Whaddya think?

If I do an amp, what are the current recommended brands? I haven't cared about this stuff since the late '80s.

[ant7]

Originally Posted by tirwin

Question for all you audiophiles out there.

I am restoring the interior on the '83 and have everything stripped down. I bought some good quality speaker wire and was planning on running it to new speakers. Polk 6.5" in front and Blau 4x6" in the back. I bought a new Kenwood head unit about a year ago when I bought the car.

As I started to wire up the new speakers to the cheap-looking harness wires that came with the head unit, I got to thinking that it seems like a waste to have great speakers and great speaker wire hooked up to a cheap harness. Would I be better off adding an amp and connecting the speakers to the amp and then RCA between the head unit and the amp?

If I'm going to do something like this, it would seem now is the time to do it when I have the opportunity at hand.

Whaddya think?

If I do an amp, what are the current recommended brands? I haven't cared about this stuff since the late '80s.

hi Tirwin,
to be honest you can get some seriously powerfull head units today, but if you want more power and versatility, then go for it, just remember, if you go for an amp on stated power output, make sure its in RMS not music power,.
Hope this helps.
Anthony.

[geoz]

Maybe it is just my car but I don't feel any of my investments in better speakers & a better head unit make any difference unless the car is standign still & the engine is turned off ...

[Rickysa]

DIYmobileaudio.com is a great source. I posted there when I was planning a system, and I've been out of the car audio loop longer than you!

[nineball]

due to the amount of power a headunit (radio) puts out on it's own the wire gauge needed is pretty small - even 16g would be more than enough. you will not lose anything by connecting your speaker wires to the headunit harness.

adding an amp will almost always yield better results as the typical decent hu puts out ~15-20 watts rms per channel, some much less. just like an engine, more power is better, but that doesn't mean you will drive with it floored the entire time (or volume at max). as far as brands, if you stick to the well known names yo should be ok - alpine, kicker, jbl, etc etc.

take a look over this thread and maybe it will give you some pointers. if you have specific questions feel free to pm me.

new audio install

[HelmetHead]

I would go for the headunit/pre-amp output to a separate amp...the distortion levels with this setup are lower (at higher volume levels) than with a headunit with powered output...

You can also run the speaker out leads from the amp back to the wiring harness in the dash and utilize the factory speaker wiring...much easier than running dedicated wire to each speaker. We used to do this when hooking amps to factory stereos using PAC SNI35's...convert the powered headunit output to adjustable level RCA out.

Crutchfield.com has just about anything audio related for automotive applications.

Unless you want old skool Rockford fosgate Punch 45's 8)

[nineball]

Originally Posted by HelmetHead

You can also run the speaker out leads from the amp back to the wiring harness in the dash and utilize the factory speaker wiring...much easier than running dedicated wire to each speaker. We used to do this when hooking amps to factory stereos using PAC SNI35's...convert the powered headunit output to adjustable level RCA out.

i'd strongly suggest you run new wires instead of the 30+ year old factory wires. i tried to use mine to help pull the new wires into the door and they snapped like a twig. it's not that hard to get new wire into the door and you will be set for another 30+ years.

OP, if you want to make a purchase at crutchfield, and i highly recommend you do for their superior customer service, i can give you a code to get $20 off your first purchase. shoot me a pm if you need it.

same thing for anyone else as well, the code never expires or get used up.

[Tidybuoy]

Just fyi: I mounted my amp under the passenger seat. I first installed two rails that are below the seat tracks and allows the amp to sit 1.5" below the seat track but not on the carpet (I can still remove the carpet for cleaning as nothing it bolted thru it).

I have new door speakers to install still, however, the amp instantly made the old speakers sound great and at much less volume.

[RWebb]

add a high-quality amp and connect the new speakers you buy after you ash-can the Polks to the amp

carefully dampen all enclosures

there is a trade-off in wt. vs. sound quality, not just in cost

[rgoodrich]

Have any of you installed sound dampening to the floors or behind the rear seat?
If so, any perceptible benefits?

[nineball]

Originally Posted by rgoodrich

Have any of you installed sound dampening to the floors or behind the rear seat?
If so, any perceptible benefits?

yep.

it seems like everyone else has done it, so why not me... (interior)

[a&j]

I was in the same situation like you...remember listening to both my Dad and brother...

"Keep it simple and if it is not broken, don't screw it up!"

"Stay away from bling!...that aftermarket HU faceplate can induce a seizure!!!"

"It engineered w/o cup holders because it was meant to be driven on the road, not in a fast food drive through..."

Anyway, If you restoring it back to factory "stock", then I suggest get the classic/retro HU from becker. Becker Autosound Website

If you are restoring it as a trackcar....forget about this scheme...it's all fat!!!

If you are restoring it as a daily driver, then there are plenty of selections out there for single din + the amp to your liking. I suggest visiting a local reputable sound shop and "test drive" various amp they have...bring a sampler of your favorite tracks (cd & usb/flash drive formats, stream it, etc. ) + please include some test tunes that will test the legs of what they are peddling...the rest will follow. what you hear is what you most likely will get...

So many ways and directions to go...Really depends on what you want. the challenge when asking audiophiles "Whaddya think?" is like asking a Republican if they totally agree with a Democrat (and vice versa). Powder keg.

Do you want to hear your mp3's /pandora/xm OR would you rather enjoy the unique sound of the flat 6 accelerating??? Either way it is MUSIC to your ears.

[nineball]

Originally Posted by a&j

Do you want to hear your mp3's /pandora/xm OR would you rather enjoy the unique sound of the flat 6 accelerating??? Either way it is MUSIC to your ears.

you can only do both if you have some form of an audio system. i always laugh when i hear people say something along the lines of "the engine is all the music you need". why not have the best of both worlds? if i want to hear the engine i just turn the radio off - can't turn on what you don't have. i can't even begin to imagine making the 6+ hour drive each way to hershey every year with no tunes.

[NoLift911]

While you do need power and lots of it...you are not going to move much air with 4X6 and 6.5 inch speakers...

You need some subs to back up all that high and midrange - go with some subs behind the seats - 10 or 12 inches.

Will make a world of difference in your setup with clean power.

[RWebb]

yes, it will - and it will make a world of difference in the wt. of the car too

see my trade-off comment above - everyone has to decide what they want; my view is if you want a Lexus sound system, then buy a Lexus

[NoLift911]

Originally Posted by RWebb

yes, it will - and it will make a world of difference in the wt. of the car too

see my trade-off comment above - everyone has to decide what they want; my view is if you want a Lexus sound system, then buy a Lexus

Exactly. He wants to upgrade the sound system, he made the comittment and sounds like it is getting deeper with amps etc. so why stop short and half ass it? Get some real speakers with some real bass.

Weight is not his concern - otherwise he would ditch the whole thing and use the volume pedal on the floor. If you want music in your 911 grab your ipod.

[tirwin]

Thanks for the help.

A little more background. I am installing new sound deadening in the doors and floor pan. I will post pictures in a couple of days. I'm waiting for some of it to arrive.

Nineball, your threads are bookmarked in my interior resto research folder. I am definitely installing new speaker wire. That's one reason I am trying to decide all of this -- so I know how much and where to route all the wire to.

I am working on a setup to integrate my iPhone to use for navigation, music and the radar detector (EscortLive). I am installing a new auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink. The radar detecor will attach to the mirror post using the BlendMount. I am running a Cat3 wire in the passenger side A-pillar. This will let me connect the SmartCord Live and keep the cord from dangling down in my field of vision. I'm thinking about adding another cig lighter either under the dash just for the SmartCord. I might actually have a practical use for the empty box in the center console now.

[a&j]

Hi Nineball,

From another audio nut to another, I am currently enjoying listening to some old 80's tracks with an inexpensive "T-Amp" (<$100) that I modded with new caps/connections, etc. and re-cased that I think easily outperforms several high $$$ amps favored by the audiophiles. Glad I for one do not have to spend the kid's trust fund to enjoy my music .

YES! It is very possible and very feasible to get the best of both worlds. Once the OP is steered to what is more to his liking and setup guided to his realistic expectations, then this will be a worthwhile and wonderful upgrade. Otherwise, it would be like changing a flat tire while driving down the twisties of Big Sur...yikes!

BTW, My first time going this year to Hershey...see you there
Rain or shine, we'll be there joining those severely afflicted by porsche-itis...
Hope I get to see and hear your auto audio setup there...

Originally Posted by nineball

you can only do both if you have some form of an audio system. i always laugh when i hear people say something along the lines of "the engine is all the music you need". why not have the best of both worlds? if i want to hear the engine i just turn the radio off - can't turn on what you don't have. i can't even begin to imagine making the 6+ hour drive each way to hershey every year with no tunes.

[RWebb]

Weight is always a concern in a sports car

for me, I am quite willing to do what is done in the so-called "British mini-monitors" -- try hard to get the mid-range right and sacrifice the bass region (which is going to have problems in a small cabin anyway)

some people have use bass modules that can be removed for twisties & races; put back in for a long freeway drone

[tirwin]

RWebb,

So if you don't like the Polks, what DO you like?

I agree with the idea of getting the mid-range right. I am kicking around the idea of doing a small sub under the driver seat. Don't know if it's really practical, but it might be fun to try.