Swapping/Adding some new speakers and amps...

[Bacstar]

I have the Beats by Dr. Dre audio package in my car that I bought last year (Chrysler 300S). At first I thought it sounded good enough to not mess with, but after a long drive over the weekend, I decided it was missing something.

The setup consists of 5 - 3.5" speakers (3 in the dash, 2 in the rear doors),
4 - 6x9" speakers (2 in the front doors, 2 on the rear deck), 1 - 8" woofer in the rear deck, and 1 - 8" sub in the trunk. All powered by a 500+Watt 12-channel amp.

The plan is swapping out (all Alpine gear) the front 6x9s with: SWS-610C's (components -6.5" mid and 1" tweeter ); Rear 6x9s with SPR69 6x9 2-way coaxials powered by an PDX-F4 4-channel 100wX4. Swapping out sub with a SWR10D4 10" sub powered by a PDX-M6 600W mono amp. I'd swap out the head unit too, but it pretty much is integrated into all of the car's electronics.

I'm wondering if I should disconnect the remaining speakers or leave them hooked up? After doing some investigating online, I heard the stock system speakers are manufactured by Alpine already. I think my main problem with the stock system was most music other than hiphop sounded kinda flat and dull. Bass was there but muffled. Parts are on order, so while I'm waiting, I'm starting to wonder if I did enough to make a difference or just wasting money?

 

[96Firebird]

I would disconnect them. I never understood why cars come with so many speakers, when all you really need is door speakers and rear fill, plus the sub if you want to hit the lows hard. My Trans Am came with 4" mids and 3/4" tweeters in the hatch area, totally pointless but it sold as a "premium audio system".

If you aren't replacing the head unit, how are you sending the signal to the amps? Does your stock unit have pre-outs?

 

[JulesMaximus]

You should hear the audio system in my Camry. Holy crap does it suck.

Already looking at adding an amp, speakers and sub. Going with all Alpine too.

 

[Bacstar]

If you aren't replacing the head unit, how are you sending the signal to the amps? Does your stock unit have pre-outs?

My installer hasn't pulled out the head unit to check, but just in case, he added a line-out converter to the parts lists.

Once he gets everything installed, we'll see how it sounds. There is a part that Alpine makes PXA-H800 digital signal processor that I may add to the system later on down the road.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My installer hasn't pulled out the head unit to check, but just in case, he added a line-out converter to the parts lists.

Once he gets everything installed, we'll see how it sounds. There is a part that Alpine makes PXA-H800 digital signal processor that I may add to the system later on down the road.

My guy recommended the PDX-V9 5 channel amp. He is going to use some type of converter as well.

 

[Bacstar]

You should hear the audio system in my Camry. Holy crap does it suck.

Already looking at adding an amp, speakers and sub. Going with all Alpine too.

It's funny when I first bought the car, I thought it sounded good enough and swore I was going to leave it alone. After my first long drive (4hrs) and fiddling with the sound settings the entire way this past weekend, that promise went out the window.

I always try to run a separate amp for my sub, usually a mono one, and I think with the separate amp setup, I got the option to control the volume of just the sub at anytime. Something I've read or was told long ago that was the best way to go.

 

[96Firebird]

Nowadays there is little difference between going with a mono amp and a multi-channel amp. Usually you can get more power at a lower impedance on a mono amp though. Seems to be around the same when comparing the Apline models.

I've heard mixed reviews with line-out converters. I've never personally gone that route, but I've heard about excess noise in the signal. Which is understandable, since you are taking an already-processed signal that comes with distortion from the head unit. The Alpine signal processor seems like an expensive fix for this problem, but if it all sounds good to you in the end that's all that really matters.

 

[Yourself]

Are you completely dead set against replacing the head unit?

 

[Bacstar]

Are you completely dead set against replacing the head unit?

The head unit controls all the settings for electronics, my rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated seats and steering wheel, rear camera, auto aiming headlights, climate control, etc as well as navigation, blu-tooth for phone and music streaming, dvd player, memory card, usb, etc.

That's why I was looking at the digital sound processor I mentioned earlier. Rather expensive, but about the same amount for a head unit that has navigation.

 

[Bacstar]

Nowadays there is little difference between going with a mono amp and a multi-channel amp. Usually you can get more power at a lower impedance on a mono amp though. Seems to be around the same when comparing the Apline models.

I've heard mixed reviews with line-out converters. I've never personally gone that route, but I've heard about excess noise in the signal. Which is understandable, since you are taking an already-processed signal that comes with distortion from the head unit. The Alpine signal processor seems like an expensive fix for this problem, but if it all sounds good to you in the end that's all that really matters.

I'm hoping when we get to installing stuff, we won't need the converters. The current 12-channel amp is a separate unit, so the head unit must have some line outs for that?

 

[JimKiler]

I would disconnect them. I never understood why cars come with so many speakers, when all you really need is door speakers and rear fill, plus the sub if you want to hit the lows hard. My Trans Am came with 4" mids and 3/4" tweeters in the hatch area, totally pointless but it sold as a "premium audio system".

If you aren't replacing the head unit, how are you sending the signal to the amps? Does your stock unit have pre-outs?

Agreed. I always love commercials touting a 20+ speaker setup for new cars and I never understood why i want more than what you described.

 

[Bacstar]

Got everything installed finally. Took the installer a couple days. The first day the shop had a power outage, so he couldn't do much in the dark.

Had to go with 6x9's in the front doors instead of the 6.5" components. Sounds pretty good after fiddling with the settings for an hour or two, but something still isn't right. I ended up going flat across my factory treble, mid, bass settings. He suggested I get this.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_136441DSP/JL-Audio-CL441dsp-CleanSweep.html?tp=37274

and an EQ.

 

[nerp]

Do you have the UConnect system in that bad boy? Make sure the installers didn't bork something. I've heard horror stories of installers bricking units. I'd contemplate getting a lockpick c8 to turn off the disabled controls while vehicle is in motion and to connect an external video source on occasion but I don't want to mess with the system. The rear backup camera kit Mopar sells is a easy install and just needs a dealer flash, so I think I'm going to attempt that. For about $150 it's reasonable to me.

 

[Bacstar]

Uconnect is still installed and working just fine. When I showed the installer what it all did and controlled, he pretty much agreed I couldn't swap it out just yet. He did say that there should be modules or something that would cover all the functionality, but I haven't seen or heard anything about that while searching the internet...

 

[nerp]

Yeah, I don't know if there will be an aftermarket system that takes care of the car controls and settings anytime soon. Or even an affordable one. I don't mind as long as Chrysler doesn't make replacing the display a nightmare if it dies after my warranty ends. Thankfully, the system is actually nice to use and very functional so I'm not feeling the need to swap anything out at all.

 

[Bacstar]

I was playing with an Alpine HU with an 8" screen @ the audio shop, and noticed right off the bat, that it wasn't as snappy as the Uconnect system when switching through the various functions. I was pleasantly surprised. However, Uconnect is lacking in the audio features that Alpine or most high-end aftermarket systems offer.

I really want to get the Cleansweep and an EQ or the Alpine PXA-H800...but that means spending quite a bit more money. I'll mull it over in the coming weeks, but I know it's going to be bugging me...