I don't have any question about installing speakers, but I would like to know what kind of wattage people are putting into thier bugs. Has anyone had any luck getting away with the power put out by a head unit, say 50 watts (17 true watts) per channel? I bought a Sony head unit which includes line level outs in case I need to add an amp but I don't have the cash for that right now. I'm basically piecing together parts I've got on hand. Luckily I'm an audio engineer so I've got more parts than most.
Here's what my plan is: I've got a 500 watt powered bass tube that slides right into the spot behind the back seat. That will take care of my low end, I had it in my GTI so I know it rocks. I've also got two 4 ohm JBL Control one near field monitor speakers which come with mounts. By mounting the control one's to the top of the bass tube, the speakers end up sitting where they would if I had a panel back there. They'll take 150 watts so it'll be interesting what kind of sound I can get from them with that Sony deck. For the front I've got two 8 ohm 7 watt sony reference monitors, cool little 3"h x 6w" x2"d cabinets with a tweeter and a mid. Those will mount up around the kick panel with no problem. The deck references 17 watts at 4 ohms so I should get about 8.5 watts at 8ohms. They mount up tight and neat on the wheel wells, or at least they will if I fire them up and they sound good.
I've looked at the kick panel deals that you can install for standard car audio speakers, but I'm not excited about giving up that extra leg room. (I'm a big guy)
So does anyone think I'll be able to hear this while I'm wailing along at 70mph? Anyone running anything remotely similar? This would compare to big 6x9's in the rear and 5" speakers in the doors off 50 watts of deck power. Running the calcs I get 98dB SPL between all five speakers, if all numbers are true.
I think I'm going to be pushing it, but it'll work for now. Maybe I won't hear all the strings in "over the hills and far away", but I'll get the power chords for sure.
Thoughts?
Car Stereo on the Cheap
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fatalifeaten
- Senior Member
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:05 am
- Location: The 480
Give it a shot. With such specific equipment pieced together I doubt you'll find anyone with a similar set up to get any feedback.
Car audio is an interesting thing - I know you said you are an audio engineer, but hear me out. It's all relative. If you have nothing to begin with and install your gear - you've already gone from nothing to something, so it's a good starting point. Once you have it in, just tweak what you have until you like it. Maybe it needs more highs up front, or less highs in the back. Maybe you need it louder to deal with ambient road noise so you add an amp later on (or sound deadening.) Maybe it's too much bass and you need to adjust the gains on your tube ... etc.
Get in there and have at it. Don't waste time searching for someone to agree with what you are doing. There are waaaay to many keyboard installers out there dishing out terrible advice to people on the net. Trust me on this one.
Get it installed and then tell us how it sounds to you. If you like it, screw what others say. If you don't like it, then you've burned an afternoon out working on your Bug and having a good time with it. To me, that sure beats an afternoon at work or doing chores around the house.
Car audio is an interesting thing - I know you said you are an audio engineer, but hear me out. It's all relative. If you have nothing to begin with and install your gear - you've already gone from nothing to something, so it's a good starting point. Once you have it in, just tweak what you have until you like it. Maybe it needs more highs up front, or less highs in the back. Maybe you need it louder to deal with ambient road noise so you add an amp later on (or sound deadening.) Maybe it's too much bass and you need to adjust the gains on your tube ... etc.
Get in there and have at it. Don't waste time searching for someone to agree with what you are doing. There are waaaay to many keyboard installers out there dishing out terrible advice to people on the net. Trust me on this one.
Get it installed and then tell us how it sounds to you. If you like it, screw what others say. If you don't like it, then you've burned an afternoon out working on your Bug and having a good time with it. To me, that sure beats an afternoon at work or doing chores around the house.