Car Audio Advise

[creationblue]

This year I put some tuneage in my bus (about time after 5 years). The speakers were top end Alpine DDD 6" with x-overs and tweeters back in the day & ran them in a modded Mk2 Gti then boxed them up for years......So these are now in the bus powered by a Blaupunkt low end headset with aux in. Sound is pretty good, but is there a better option? Dont wanna put another amp in or any more speakers so need some advise on what is good and what is not, Not looking to spend loads either, read JVC makes a nice sound...... looking for good power with a rich sound....

Any advise people?

Just

 

[pottinger]

without doubt a alpine headunit (any newish one will do) then this allows a powerpack (alpine KTP445) that gives a TRUE 45 watts RMS per channel

The beauty of this is, the powerpack does not need any wiring in like an amp, is very small, doesnt get hot and doesnt take much draw in power.

Basically, it plugs into the original plug socket on the back of the headunit, then the old headunit loom plugs in the other end, job done.
(just make sure a 15a power source was being used for the headunit)

Ive got only 2 speakers running of this and i love it, way better than a stand alon headunit and none of the drawbacks of running seperate amps etc etc etc

:lol:

a jive bunny potts

 

[creationblue]

without doubt a alpine headunit (any newish one will do) then this allows a powerpack (alpine KTP445) that gives a TRUE 45 watts RMS per channel

The beauty of this is, the powerpack does not need any wiring in like an amp, is very small, doesnt get hot and doesnt take much draw in power.

Basically, it plugs into the original plug socket on the back of the headunit, then the old headunit loom plugs in the other end, job done.
(just make sure a 15a power source was being used for the headunit)

Ive got only 2 speakers running of this and i love it, way better than a stand alon headunit and none of the drawbacks of running seperate amps etc etc etc

:lol:

a jive bunny potts

Nice one that sounds like a way forward................

 

[pottinger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbhI_uPyrWs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For £99 i dont think it can be beat
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-ktp445.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


there ya go.

a loving me sounds potts 8)

 

[Marriedblonde]

Must stop reading this forum. Thats another £100 it's just cost me...

 

[betsy70]

lol me too just fitted a alpine headunit that ll do nicely

 

[creationblue]

Any links to suitable head units guys? Then I'll look on ebay for a bargain.......

Thanks

 

[Marriedblonde]

All the latest Alpine head units use the new stlye power connector so just make sure it's not a million years old. My head unit from my R32 (bought in 2002) has the correct style connector.

J.

 

[creationblue]

All the latest Alpine head units use the new stlye power connector so just make sure it's not a million years old. My head unit from my R32 (bought in 2002) has the correct style connector.

J.

Cheers chap, ill get looking

 

[Marriedblonde]

The 2002 was to highlight how old a unit you can go but i guess you figured that just ordered one so will confirm how good/bad it is in a few days

 

[pottinger]

:lol:

guys, i love mine BUT couple a things to make damn sure of (not wishing suck eggs and all that)

1) MAKE SURE the power supply to the original headunit is on a good size cable and 15amp supply MINIMUM (tried on a 10 amp and the sound was DEFINATELY restricted as it couldnt draw enough power)

Basically, on the alpine headunits loom you have red (ignition) / black (ground) / yellow permanent 12v supply - its this (the yellow 12v supply) that you need to make sure has something like 17amp wire to supply 15amp inline fuse, the red/black will be fine as they are.

2) speakers - i am only running 2 (focal coax ca165's) and they where £85.00 - but worth every penny.
The KTP445 is rated at 45watt rms per channel.
You need speakers rated NEAR to the RMS of the supply to get the best.
RMS is the standard continous level of power - total or peak watts are useless.

Thats why banging in speakers rated at 100RMS or 500 watts peak sound crap off just a headunit regardless of how much they cost. Big figures need big power to drive them, underpowering them is as bad as overpowering a speaker.

I plumped for the Focals cos they sound lovely and are rated at 60 RMS (about as high as i personally would go) on 4ohms
co-ax as there being mounted at head height (if not buy components with crossovers)

There are some cheaper speakers (JBL do 4ohm ones rated at 45-50 watts rms) they will sound killer.

To prove a point (i bought some 85 watt RMS vibe speakers rated more powerfull than the focals and at 18 on the volume i started getting big distortion, the focals hit 26 crystal clear and much LOUDER - that prooved without doubt to me underpowering a speaker is just not the thing to do.

if you can 6.5 inch speakers are the best of all worlds (sound better than 6x9's imo)

LASTLY, speaker pleacement and depth has a BIG BIG effect on the end result. As this is a second system the speakers are mounted in the westy wardrobe - that in itself creates a fantastic sound.
your ears hear from the front though thats why two FRONT mounted speakers with a sub in the rear sounds better than any front and rear system, remember you dont go to a concert and turn your back on the artist, unless its .....better not.... :lol:

anjoy your sounds guys and if i can be of help just let me know

a amped up potts

 

[creationblue]

Good advise thanks 8)

 

[pottinger]

Oh and also note

The ktp445 also comes as a ktp445u that, can be used on non alpine head units and is BRIDGEABLE to make 90wrms pr channel if only running couple of speakers and separate amp/sub as the remote on wire will still work for another amp and that's goes for both Ktp,s.

Costs another 25 quid from memory .

a puffed out potts

 

[Marriedblonde]

Cheers potts, no need to worry. I've not had focals as i love infinity speakers and have run various infinity ref speakers (prsonal preferrence)for years and have these in my bus.

Although been using alpine head units for as long as i can remember.

Back in the day i used to have stupid stereo's in my cars... I drove mk first mkiv golf gti off the forecourt to my house and stripped the interior to fit a system. Much to my mrs surprise... She came home to see my nice shiny new car with less than 20 miles on the clock in pieces.

Now i just tick the harmon kardon or b&o boxes when ordering my cars. Not as good but easier to install, those ticks can be troublesome, and i still have acusable boot

 

[pottinger]

Cheers potts, no need to worry. I've not had focals as i love infinity speakers and have run various infinity ref speakers (prsonal preferrence)for years and have these in my bus.

Although been using alpine head units for as long as i can remember.

Back in the day i used to have stupid stereo's in my cars... I drove mk first mkiv golf gti off the forecourt to my house and stripped the interior to fit a system. Much to my mrs surprise... She came home to see my nice shiny new car with less than 20 miles on the clock in pieces.

Now i just tick the harmon kardon or b&o boxes when ordering my cars. Not as good but easier to install, those ticks can be troublesome, and i still have acusable boot

funnily enough, came accross my old 2 channel alpine amp (looks as good as new) with all the leads etc etc and some clarion sunvisor speakers that i bought new back in the 80's - must hook them up and see what there like now :lol:

Infinitys are great speakers too, I was just trying to make sure anyone in the future that reads this thread that is (like i was a few months ago) a complete novice, has a little head start on the basics.....presuming i am correct of course :shock: :lol:

a top of the morning to you potts

 

[Heebee_GB]

Ace advice. Cheers Potts. 8)

 

[dubdubz]

so would a small amp be ok [instead of the alpine power thingy] ?

I have infinity kapppa 6x9's for the back, going to get either some 6x9 JBL GTO's in the front doors [yes these are what I have already- I'm a cheapskate]

is this a rubbish idea? I have a sony headunit as it was the best bluetooth streaming job I could afford....

 

[Guest]

I made this for my Vert, Sealed fiberglass subbox. I'll be doing the same for the Devon only different shaped separate pods for the rear

Retrosounds Model One headunit
InPhase 2.4 farad Capacitor
Alpine PDX 1.1000 monoblock subs
Alpine PDX 1.400 mids and highs
Alpine Type-R 1242 12" Subs
Two Alpine Type-R 6x9 two way with tweeters (Rear)
Two Alpine Type-R 5 1/4 two way with tweeters (Front)
Four Alpine Type-X tweeters (Front)
iPod connector/charger in the ashtray


heres a little video of breaking in at about one quarter volume.

[youtube]4CqsF0VOle4[/youtube]

i love the sound, its about 4000W peak. The alpine amps are excellent.

If you want bang for your buck Type-R subs and speakers all the way. The subs will take anything you can throw at them. The amps are pricey as they are Class d digital but they bang out 1290W RMS for the mono at 4 or 2 ohms. I would go with a cheaper amp and Type-Rs if i was on a budget.

 

[Marriedblonde]

so would a small amp be ok [instead of the alpine power thingy] ?

I have infinity kapppa 6x9's for the back, going to get either some 6x9 JBL GTO's in the front doors [yes these are what I have already- I'm a cheapskate]

is this a rubbish idea? I have a sony headunit as it was the best bluetooth streaming job I could afford....

Small amp would probably better than the alpine in line Amp. The alpine one is just nice and compact and plug and play. Especially if the AMP takes it feed from RCA leads and not line in.

 

[Marriedblonde]

funnily enough, came accross my old 2 channel alpine amp (looks as good as new) with all the leads etc etc and some clarion sunvisor speakers that i bought new back in the 80's - must hook them up and see what there like now :lol:

Infinitys are great speakers too, I was just trying to make sure anyone in the future that reads this thread that is (like i was a few months ago) a complete novice, has a little head start on the basics.....presuming i am correct of course :shock: :lol:

a top of the morning to you potts

Stupidly I had a clearout in prep for my bus to arrive and gave away my Rockford Amps I used to use :-( Didn't occur to me I would be going old skool and putting some tunes in it...