QuestionHello Brian,
Thank you for all of your help in the past with car audio systems. I am still a bit confused on 2 possible setups that I am considering, and was looking for your opinion.
I am planning on purchasing a new head unit, 2 Eclipse SE6500 3 way speakers and some sort of subwoofer, and possibly an amplifier. My total budget is $500 max. I am looking for decent overall sound, with a good amount of bass for the budget that I am on.
1) My 1996 Subaru Outback (it is a station wagon, so no separate trunk area) has a 6-speaker stock system, with only a head unit and no amplifier. It has separate tweeters/midrange in the front, but combined in the rear. Is this setup currently powered by a 2 channel, 4 channel, or 6 channel head unit?
2) One of the systems that I am thinking about:
2 channel head unit (20w/channel) with auxiliary input for my iPod.
4 channel amplifier (50w/channel) to power the upgraded front speakers, stock rear speakers, and a subwoofer. Would a 4 channel amp be able to handle this?
3) Possible other system, if the above system would not be feasible.
3/4 channel head unit (20w/channel) with aux in for iPod. This would be used to power the amp and the rear stock speakers.
4 channel amplifier (50w/channel) to power the upgragraded front speakers and the other 2 channels would be combined to power a subwoofer (either tube of regular).
4) Other possibility:
6 channel head unit (20w/channel) with aux in for iPod. This would be used to power the upgraded front speakers, stock rear speakers.
A powered tube subwoofer (around 100w).
Would a regular head unit be able to adequately power the upgraded Eclipses?
What are your thoughts on this? How do tube subwoofers compare to regular subwoofers in terms of bass output? Where does one usually locate a tube subwoofer in a car? Also, if I was to use a standard (10 or 12 inch) sub, where would I install it in my car? Would I need to place it in a box in the trunk? Or would I be able to install it somehow into the wall of the car in the trunk?
Here is the previous message you sent me, for your convenience if it helps:
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Question:
Hi Brian!
I am thinking about upgrading the stereo system in my car (I drive a 1996 Subaru Outback), as the factory installed system does not seem to be of great quality (and is old!)
Do you have any recommendations for systems that I could buy/install (preferably myself). I am fairly good with projects such as this, but have almost no idea what I am looking for. My budget would be around $500 max. How good of a system could I put in for this amount? Preferably one with a pair of nice subwoofers would be great. It wouldnt need any special electronics / cd players, etc. as I would want to use it through an auxilary imput for an iPod.
Also, how does one go about selecting an amp? (is this the correct term?) that could be used to power the speakers?
I understand that it may not be the best idea to invest in a stereo system for such an old car, so I was wondering how difficult it would be to save the stereo system and potentially use it in another vehicle should I have to get a new car at some point?
Thank you!
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Answer:
Hi James,
I wouldn't be concerned at all about putting a nice after-market system into an older vehicle such as this. Your Outback uses 6-1/2" speakers in the front and rear doors. This is about the most popular speaker size out there, so it's very likely that when you're done with the car you'll be able to use the same speakers in your next vehicle, or re-sell them.
My first question would be: what are you looking for in a new audio system? You mentioned that you'd like a pair of subs. Are you trying for a heavy bass output, that can be heard down the street? Or are you just looking for good bass response inside the car, or a balanced overall sound with plenty of depth?
In my personal opinion, many people tend to put too much emphasis on the bass part of the system, and neglect the rest. Maybe you like a lot of bass, or maybe you're looking for the best overall sound. The choice will make a difference when you're designing your system.
If you're looking for the best possible overall sound upgrade, without breaking the budget, here's what I'd recommend:
-An in-dash head unit with at least two sets of RCA outputs (three sets would be preferable). Make sure it can handle all the audio sources you're likely to use: if you have an iPod, look for a deck with iPod controls. If you store music on a "smart" phone, look for a deck with built-in Bluetooth audio functions. Sometimes you'll need to buy additional parts to use these features. Also, in your car you can use a "double-DIN" head unit, so be sure to explore that option.
-A 4-channel amp, rated around 50-70 watts per channel RMS at 4 ohms.
-One good set of 6-1/2" speakers. Pick the most natural-sounding speakers you can find. Don't look for speakers that are especially bright, bassy or loud; and don't assume a 3-way speaker is better than a 2-way design. Just look for the most realistic and natural sound.
-I'd suggest leaving the rear speakers stock, for now. For your budget, there's not enough upside in replacing the rear speakers to make it worth the money. The position of the rear speakers makes them fairly unimportant to the sound quality, from the perspective of the driver or front seat passenger. You can always upgrade later, if you wish.
-One 12" single voice coil, 4-ohm subwoofer in a matched enclosure.
In this system, you'd use two amplifier channels to run the front speakers, then bridge the other two channels into a single output for the subwoofer. A single 12" sub, with about 150 to 200 watts of power, should give you plenty of bass inside the vehicle. The rear speakers can be connected directly to the head unit's outputs.
The advantage to this setup is that it gives you a big improvement in sound quality for a limited budget, while allowing for future upgrades. Later, you can always upgrade the rear speakers and use the 4-channel amp for driving the front and rear speakers, while adding another amplifier for a bigger subwoofer package.
However, it's pretty likely that your $500 budget might not cover the cost of a system like I've described. If not, then I'd suggest starting with the head unit and front speakers, and add the other components when you're ready.
Finally, I'll go back to the possibility that your main goal is lots of bass. If so, then instead of a 4-channel amp and a single subwoofer, I'd start with a mono amplifier and a pair of 12", 4-ohm SVC subs. You can get away with a basic head unit, with a single set of RCA outputs; and use the deck to run the front and rear speakers. I'd suggest buying a deck that has a high-pass filter option; this lets you cut the deep bass out of your front and rear speakers, and just send it to the subs. This way your speakers will sound cleaner and won't distort with the bass notes; and you're less likely to blow them.
Hope this helps!
Brian
AnswerHi James,
Your stock Subaru head unit is a 4-channel design, as are just about all the after-market head units you'll find. The only true 6-channel head units I've seen have been specialty units designed for recreational vehicles. In your Subaru, the woofer and tweeter in each door are wired to the same head unit output channel, with a passive crossover in-line on the tweeter wire. When you install your after-market speaker, I'd recommend just leaving the tweeter disconnected--you really won't miss it with a good 2-way or 3-way speaker in place.
I think your #3 system design would be the best choice, but it may strain your budget. You'll have an easier time using the amplifier for the front speakers and a sub than trying to run all four speakers and a subwoofer. The subwoofer you choose would need to be installed in an enclosure, placed in the cargo area. I wouldn't recommend trying to build one into the side panel. It's not as simple as just cutting a hole and mounting the sub. Most subwoofers require an enclosure with a recommended air volume; if you wanted to install a sub into the side wall, to save space, you'd probably need to fabricate some sort of enclosure behind the panel.
There's nothing about a bass "tube" speaker that's any better or worse than a more conventional box. Tube enclosures are often used for inexpensive powered subs, because they can be built with less expensive materials. The internal volume of a subwoofer enclosure is more important than the shape of the box, but it's important that the sides of the enclosure are very rigid and won't flex with the changing air pressure. The curved side of a cylinder is inherently stronger than a flat panel, so where a flat-sided box requires at least a 5/8" medium-density fiberboard (MDF) to maintain a rigid structure, a "bass tube" can be built with a much lighter, cheaper composite material.
You might be happy with the output of an inexpensive powered bass tube, but you'll have a lot more options to choose from if you stick with a conventional subwoofer and enclosure, and you'll find it easier to upgrade later on. Either type of subwoofer would be placed in the cargo area, and I'd recommend mounting it to the floor. Usually they're placed right behind the rear seat, facing the rear, but you can experiment with different positions and see what sounds best to you.
If you decide to wait on the amplifier for now, I think a typical head unit should be able to run your Eclipse speakers without a problem. They're a relatively sensitive design, so they should do well without a lot of power. You'll need an amp to use them at their maximum potential, though.
I understand that the budget can be a factor, and it's very possible that you would get good results with an upgraded head unit to drive the front and rear speakers, along with a powered sub to handle the bass. If you go with this option, look for a head unit that includes a "high-pass filter" feature--this lets you cut the deep bass out of the front and rear speakers, so they'll sound cleaner at high volumes. However, I think your #3 option would be a superior system--a 4-channel amp for the front speakers and sub, with a conventional 10" or 12" subwoofer and enclosure.
Hope this helps!
Brian
