Upgrade Speakers and add amp/sub

[mike519]

Recognizing that I have to get a line level box or two for the speaker outs from the factory deck in order to add amps, what speaker/amp/sub combos have others used or would recommend?

[Technyne]

Recognizing that I have to get a line level box or two for the speaker outs from the factory deck in order to add amps, what speaker/amp/sub combos have others used or would recommend?

 

That is a very tough question to answer, everyone's ears and musical choices may lead them down a path to choose components that sound good to their ear.

 

If you want to add a sub that in my opinion sounds fantastic, I would recommend the JL Audio Stealthbox. It is a bit pricey, but JL, as always, engineers the box/sub design location, angle of firing and many other factors to obtain the best possible audio performance out of that specific vehicle type on top of offering a superior quality product. In short, you get what you pay for.

 

In any case, no matter what amplifier you go with it's ability to perform will be greatly hindered by using a line level converter. I would suggest upgrading the head unit if that is an option. If it isn't, choose a good quality line out converter or on the high end, a signal processor (again JL has a great product here) that will produce the best possible sound from a line level source.

 

-Technyne

[mike519]

That is a very tough question to answer, everyone's ears and musical choices may lead them down a path to choose components that sound good to their ear.

 

If you want to add a sub that in my opinion sounds fantastic, I would recommend the JL Audio Stealthbox. It is a bit pricey, but JL, as always, engineers the box/sub design location, angle of firing and many other factors to obtain the best possible audio performance out of that specific vehicle type on top of offering a superior quality product. In short, you get what you pay for.

 

In any case, no matter what amplifier you go with it's ability to perform will be greatly hindered by using a line level converter. I would suggest upgrading the head unit if that is an option. If it isn't, choose a good quality line out converter or on the high end, a signal processor (again JL has a great product here) that will produce the best possible sound from a line level source.

 

-Technyne

 

Thanks for your reply. While I would like to considder an upgrade to the HU, I have SYNC and don't want to mess with its functionality.

 

I am familiar with line level convertors but not signal processors. Do they run off speaker outputs as well?

 

Thanks again

[Technyne]

Thanks for your reply. While I would like to considder an upgrade to the HU, I have SYNC and don't want to mess with its functionality.

 

I am familiar with line level convertors but not signal processors. Do they run off speaker outputs as well?

 

Thanks again

 

Yes they run off of speaker inputs as well, the difference between them and a line out converter is that they are specifically designed to get as close to a good aftermarket signal as possible from speaker level inputs.

 

I'd recommend the JL audio version of it, it's definitely more expensive than your ~$30-50 LOC but you will obtain the best possible sound from a speaker level input.

 

You can read more about what it does and what it offers here: Click Me

 

Additionally,

 

Depending on what your budget is, there are aftermarket units that offer ALL of the features Sync has to offer in addition to many, many more.

 

Here is one example that I have in my Edge: Click Me

 

-Davin

[mike519]

Yes they run off of speaker inputs as well, the difference between them and a line out converter is that they are specifically designed to get as close to a good aftermarket signal as possible from speaker level inputs.

 

I'd recommend the JL audio version of it, it's definitely more expensive than your ~$30-50 LOC but you will obtain the best possible sound from a speaker level input.

 

You can read more about what it does and what it offers here: Click Me

 

Additionally,

 

Depending on what your budget is, there are aftermarket units that offer ALL of the features Sync has to offer in addition to many, many more.

 

Here is one example that I have in my Edge: Click Me

 

-Davin

 

 

Thanks for the help Davin.

 

That looks like a pretty cool unit, though way out of my price range at this point I think.

 

Will look into the JL units...looking at the stealthbox sub that they have and is designed for the Edge.

 

Thanks again,

 

Mike

[baum]

I have been told that when the factory radio reaches a certain volume the bass response starts to cut off. This meaning if you go off of the factory it could have an effect on how well the sub will preform.

 

There are retention harnesses for sync. They are on the spendy side about $150-200.

[Technyne]

I have been told that when the factory radio reaches a certain volume the bass response starts to cut off. This meaning if you go off of the factory it could have an effect on how well the sub will preform.

 

There are retention harnesses for sync. They are on the spendy side about $150-200.

 

While it is correct that the factory radio does in fact cut the bass as the volume increases, the JL unit I mentioned above is specifically designed to dynamically "sense" the frequency cut and process the signal adding those frequencies right back in.

 

The end effect is a smooth balanced signal with little to no noticeable cutout from the sub, despite the factory radio's best efforts to reduce it.

 

-Davin

[mike519]

Just found thiss box as well...

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-lX3gseEmWcc/p...e-Q5.html?tp=84

 

I like the look of it as it has 5 channels and is a little cheaper than the JL.

 

Curious though...I found an Alpine 4 channel amp that accepts speaker INPUTS for use with factory HUs. I assume it has built in convertors. Do you guys think this would be better or worse than a stand alone option like the unit I linked to above?