QuestionQUESTION: I have just installed a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X589 and have all the rca patch cords and other wires that I will need to use out in the open so I dont need to open my dash again when I finish the system. I listen to heavy metal and would like some advice on what I should buy for speakers, subs, and amps. I love Kenwood but will use multiple brands if ness. Each front door has 5 1/4" with a 1" tweet, want to replace with some high-performance components. The rears are 6x9s and would also like to replace with better 6x9s, maybe run the doors and rears with the same amp? My main problem is where do I put the subs, I want to avoid putting them in the trunk, Im not a big fan of big bass but i want some. Can I fit some free-air subs in the rear with the 6x9s? I just dont know if I should gut the 6x9s completely and cut out room for subs and then find a place in the rear doors for some mids, Im lost here. I have installed a major system in my 87 toyota 4x4 but it being a truck it was quite simple to figure out what I needed and where it went but with my car i have no idea. If you can help me or know someone or somewhere I can look at other bonnevilles and how they are setup that would be great. Also, what tools are needed to remove and replace my door panels, the ones on my truck were simple, the bonne is a whole different pain with all the power buttons and size of panel. Any advice will help, thanks. Chris
ANSWER: sure! I can help ya! First off, if you need help on how to open up those door panels, I'd get your speakers from www.crutchfield.com. they give free illustrated step by step instructions on the vehicle you have if you buy the speakers from them! (just make sure when you order you tell them your exact year make and model and they'll come free)
if you want a good sounding system for metal your defiantly going to want a small sealed box sub. Putting it in the trunk is really your best option, putting it on the rear deck will defiantly rattle bad (unless you do ALLOT of work re-enforcing) it will also be a big "steal me" sign just sitting there, plus being exposed to direct sunlight will make the surrounds dry up and rot much quicker so I defiantly wouldn't do that. If you don't need a ton of bass you can probably get away with a very small box with 1 12" sub in it and you can even make it removable with a quick disconnect on it, so if you need the extra space, just unhook it and stash it.
as for the door speakers, concentrate on the fronts as much as possible, the rears should be much quieter than the fronts to produce a nice "concert like" up front experience, so if the 6x9s that are in your car make vocal ranges and treble ok for now and aren't all beat up etc, I'd just keep them and spend your money on good speakers for up front. 6x9s are often used because the car manufacturers want to give the car some bass without a sub but oval speakers distort allot more than round speakers (another reason to turn them down quieter than the fronts) but if you have a little extra cash replace them, but I'd leave that for the last thing. Depending on how much you want to spend etc. I would probably pick different components for you, I've pretty much found some of the best bang for the buck stuff in my opinion so this is what I'd recommend:
front doors:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-A4i1tJf2wln/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=410&I=107DB5250
Sub:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/POLDB124
door speaker amp:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/POWOV41200
subwoofer amp:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/POWOV2800
and if you want to change out the rear speakers:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-A4i1tJf2wln/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=51800&I=107DB525
(these are 5 1/4" rounds and I know you said your car has 6x9s but again, if you get them at crutchfield, they'll give you free adapter brackets so that these will fit right in, then you'll have the clearer sound that a round, smaller speaker can make, without the unnecessary bass that the 6x9 would make (unnecessary cuz you have a sub).
if you dont mind spending just a little more you can get 2 sets of the component speakers (first ones I listed for you) put one in the front and one in the rear, and again, crutchfield will give you the brackets for the rear free. its a little overkill but its not allot more money and they will handle more power better.
let me know what you think!
look forward to hearing from you.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks alot for the long detailed response, I did not even expect a short one. I was at the crutchfield site and was wondering why they were showing me components when I was looking for 6x9s, now I know. I think the suggestion of having components both in the front and rear is an excellent idea, no 6x9s. Now I have not gone back to crutch to look at the items you have listed but will soon. The reason I did not want subs in the trunk is because I feel you lose so much power and sound but maybe I'm wrong. Since there is nowhere to put a subbox other than the trunk, it looks like the trunk will do. Now would you suggest 1 amp to power the 2 sets of components or an amp for each, I have stated that I will only buy Kenwood but I have changed my mind, I love their head units and will be using one to run my system but their speaks and amps fall short of the quality to price ratio, so I am open to all brands even though in the past I have always kept my system in harmony with everything the same brand. I will price some items on crutchfield but was hoping to find items cheaper on ebay but it sounds like crutchfield is the way to go, I threw them over 2 grand in 2000 for a Kenwood system for my 87 toyota 4x4, trucks are much more simple to config then cars, at least for me. I will figure out some things and get back to you, thanks again you have been a big help. Chris
ANSWER: Sure thing! glad to be a help. yeah the components will blow away the 6x9s anyday in quality.
as for the subs "losing power" by being in the trunk, subs most of the time sound better in a way, being in the trunk, they rattle the car better and provide the "feel" of bass more than being annoyingly loud. when the subs are inside the car they will be louder but will provide less feel of the bass. the result is that you will be tempted to turn the subs up to get the feel and at that point they will be overpoweringly loud. I've designed cars both ways and usually prefer the sound and effect of putting them in the trunk.
as for the amps, I defiantly DON'T recommend using 1 amp to run both door speakers and subs, like using a 4 channel amp to run 2 doors and 2 subs. YUCK!! but I have no problem with using a 4 channel amp for 4 door speakers and a 2 channel amp bridged mono to run the subs.
good luck!
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for all the help, here is what I have decided on and I'd like to know what you think. The Kenwood Exc. X589 cd deck, Polk MMC5250 in doors, Polk db6500 in rear, a dual 12" ported subbox for the trunk with 2 Eclipse SW6200 subs, a Power Acoustik OV2-2600 for the subs and a OV4-1600 for the doors and rears. I have found most of these items for less than crutchfield prices and am wondering if I can just order the adapters for my door and rears from them or someone? Also let me know what you think of this setup and if you see anything that needs to be changed or recommended, I only have the head unit now and plan to buy other items very soon. Dont know how to bridge amps but I will look on the net for that, will rate you at the top for help, thanks again.
Answerthis cd player looks pretty advanced for the price.
the polk mms look great for front doors. I LOVE the sound of silk tweets in a car over hard dome tweets. so these should sound very nice.
the components in the rear are slightly overkill but if you have the money go for it and they are on sale so there you go!
definatly use the OV4-1600 for these component speakers, they'll love the extra power, make sure you set the crossover on the amp right (highpass at 90-100hz for front speakers, highpass at 80hz or so for the rear speakers)
these subs look nice too, and the ohms add up right for the amp. they're dual 4 ohm so you'll wire them in series each to get each sub at 8 ohms, then put them in parallel together to get a 4 ohm mono load. wattage wise they're a good match as well.
Yeah, crutchfield is a little more expensive but depending on how much you're saving, it may not be worth it. like I said, crutchfied is excelent with providing everything you need for free, documentation on your vehicle, the adapter brackets, even tools to remove your radio or door pannels if nessesary, all free!
