zmandan

Mike what are you using in your 90 GT? Stock or upgraded?

I was toying with the idea of finding a wrecked newer car with an Alpine sound system and using that cars small amp to work with my Alpine head unit.

that much difference between 2 way speakers and componite speakers?

(sorry for poor spellen)

dan z

MikeN

I'm running a year or two old black midrange Alpine unit (only one I could find at the time that looked decent, although Nakamichi and a few others do make some nice understated decks now) with Bass Engine and subwoofer control. MQ quarts all the way around with two JL 6" subs in a small enclosure in the back behind the seats. Two small Soundstream amps power it all......one 4 way for each corner and one mono for both the subs.

Componant speakers tend to be slightly less efficient then 2-ways, but will sound better due to better crossovers, more adustments, etc......

zmandan

Your using componant speakers mike? and where do you put your amps.
If you where not going to use the subs would you still use the amp?

I guess the question is: Is the sound that much better with an amp and componant speakers but no sub(s) as compared to a good head unit, and 2 or 3 way speakers with no amp?

I think Iam chasing my tail,

PS the audio shop is pushing the amp etc. ...of couse

Thanks

dan z

natemoran

Zman - I am installing speakers this weekend and will use 2 sets of 4" 2 ways (MB Quart) and the component 6.5" (MB Quart) as the woofers (crossed over w/o the tweeter) without any amp other than the high powered head unit. I will post Sunday night and let you know how it sounds. I want to keep the car as stock as possible (stock grills, no extra amps / subs, etc.) but also sound good - we'll see.

zmandan

Thanks for the heads up natemoran, I'll be looking forward to your report.

And for the audio challenged: when you say 2 sets you mean 2 or 4 speakers, I assume you mean 1 - 2 way speaker per door and the subs in rear seat area? For a total of 4 speakers and your not using the small door speakers or the 2 in the very rear?

Thanks

dan z

natemoran

Zman - I am not using any of the stock tweeters (front door or rear panel) and will replace all four 4" (front and rear) speakers. I am planning on running all 4" on one channel and the woofers on the other channel. When I fade to the rear, that will increase my bass. I'm no expert either but have some friends helping out so we'll see.

MikeN

Just some hints, but......

The 4" speaker depth in the back is around 1". There is no decent aftermarket speaker that will fit in that area without having to use spacer rings, and in some cases many of them. In my opinion.....they look stupid when done, but to each his own. You would be better off replacing the large 6.5" speaker with a two-way and leave the 4" alone. Or get a 6.5" component system and put the tweeter where the 4" would be. The fronts are where the imaging/highs will come from, so you don't have to worry too much about the back when it comes to the mids/highs.

I don't know what you will be using to drive the speakers, but chances are it will not like having all four 4" speakers on the same channel......even if wired in a way the deck/amp will tolerate, I don't think it will sound good.

natemoran

Mike - Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize the rear mounting depth was so shallow - maybe I won't be able to use the new 4" in the rear. I mis-stated before - the 4" will be on 2 channels (LH and RH). I guess I will have to use the 6.5" component and mount the tweeter as you recommended. Thanks

cage433

Nate-

I just did a (10) speaker replacment in my shark, and need to do more. PO had replaced the original head unit with an Alpine (no, I don't like the disco lights, but that's another story). Unfortunately he didn't do anything about the speakers (and, I presume the stock amp). Upon inspection, all the 4" and 6.5" speakers were blown. So here's the point:

I installed MB Quart Premium 4" components and tweeters all around. You need to use the stock tweeter housing (Dremel indicated), but otherwise they fit fine, including over the back wheel wells. Trust me, I just did this last weekend......

I used MB Quart 6.5" add on woofers. I Dremeled the stock speaker mount so I could retain the contoured ring that fits flush with the interior panel.

I used the stock grilles on the tweeters, and the MB Quart grilles on the other speakers. They look fine.

The sound is 100% improved even using the stock crossovers (didn't have time to install the 'Quarts). Finding space for the crossovers will be a challenge.

Hope this helps.

JE928Sx4.

There should be a thick Red wire and a thin Red wire and a thin black wire as I recall. The think Red wire is actually the constant power source, the thin red wire is the power with ignition on and the thin black wire is for the power to the antenna booster. But that is on an 88 S4.

jej3

Just did an upgrade to a Porsche CDR-220 in my 87 S4. I pulled the stock AMP but didn't have to bridge the 12 volt circuit at the AMP.

Is my car unique or did the circuit change in some given model year?

I don't recall which was switched Power and which was constant but I am thankful for the advice on the positive feed to the antenna as my reception right now is REAL crappy.

Is the antenna power wire in the same plug as the ground, constant 12V and switched 12V?

The easiest thing for me to do was to run some new speaker wires from the head unit to where they used to plug into the amp. That process went real quick.

Someone yell at me if I goofed on my wiring.

JE928Sx4.

Yes, on the standard plug there is a thin white wire with a small male plug that the thin black wire with female plug hooks up to.

Regards,
JE

natemoran

cage433,

Thanks for the info - I completed mine as well using 4" front and rear and the 6.5" component (low end only) for the woofer; I also cut out the stock grill to flush mount to the quarter trim. I am not using any of the stock tweeters and actually used the MB Quart crossovers for the 4" (fronts are painted black and in the door panel where the tweeter used to be and rears are under the quarter trim). The 6.5" crossovers are under the panel where the stock amp used to be. The 6.5" woofers do not provide enough bass for me even though I listen to mostly rock music so I am installing a powered 6.5" sub this weekend to supplement. I am happy with the sound and the spacers that come with the MB Quarts look fine in the rear.