Got a new head unit (Pioneer DEH-x6600BT) along with some new front speakers (Polk DB651). I also have a older Profile 2ch 200 watt amp. My question is, can I power the fronts with the amp and then have the head unit run the stock rear speakers and still have fader? My head unit has a front RCA and rear/subwoofer RCA outputs but I wasn't sure if those outputs were affected by fader. Thanks.
Car stereo question for you audiophiles...
- Thread starter yakobo75
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yephoto:
So fader does adjust the sound from the two RCA outputs (front to rear etc) even though I'm only using the front set?
Yes it will still work. Why not bridge the two fronts on one channel and the rears on the other?
The problem with running two speakers on an amp and two on the head unit is two speakers will be louder than the others. The only way to get around that will destroy the purpose and sound quality of an amplifier and upgraded speakers.
Brian757
New member
Adjusting Fade/Balance on a head unit only tells the head unit to deliver sound and what level to each speaker. If left at 0 or the "middle," all speakers receive the same equal power distribution from the head unit. It's sort of like muting speakers with the head-unit.
And then the amplifier is just a continuous power house for whichever speakers are wired to it. Power is applied via power wires, (-) & (+), and then the RCA's transfer the actual "sound" amongst amp and head unit.
The head unit by using face/balance has no impact on power delivery from the amplifier, you can measure that with a multi-meter. It is all dependent on the internal sound control in the head unit.
So to conclude, yes, you can wire your rear speakers to the factory power wiring behind the head unit, and then wire your front speakers to your amplifier.
Depending on how he wants his stereo system setup, he might not have many backseat passengers, thus wanting more sound up front. I can agree with his decision on this one, as I would do the same given I was in his situation. 200 watts isn't very much given it's distributed among 4 speakers.
Another thing he could do would be to turn up the gain on his amp and leave the other 2 speakers alone, so that as he cranks up the stereo, he isn't distorting the sound on the rear speakers that are wired to the head unit. That and if he uses the amp for the 2 speakers, they have 200W to share with each other, and the rear can get their own power from the truck internally. That would produce better sound that splitting a 200 watt amp around 4 times. Or at least that is my perspective on it.
Think of it like this SV, his Pioneer already puts out 50W x 4 speakers, so that means it has the potential to deliver 200 watts. His amplifier is 200 watts. So he may as well use his headunit for power than wiring all 4 speakers to his amp. By splitting amp and internal head unit power, he could have 100w x 2 on each side, yielding 400 watts total. Quality will obviously not be as good in the rear, but it will make due.
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Yes but why run only two speakers on an amp and leave the other two alone? And it will still sound way off and will throw off the staging. I'm just not seeing the point.
Skidmarcx
New member
Id run it the way you described... Personally I don't care for rear speakers... I'm not using rears, but it depends on if you care about back seat passengers... Time alignment is a huge factor too... You may use rear fill to slightly broaden the sound stage if you don't have the ability
From what I've read, it makes most sense to upgrade in order of importance:
head - front speakers - subwoofer - rear speakers...so I was going to go this route and add a subwoofer later...I was planning on doing something for the rear doors initially but the size was a big letdown unless you custom/cut your door up.
Brian757
New member
Oh man. Your going to want to turn your gain up on your amp so that when you turn up your head unit, your not delivering a bunch of power to those rear speakers. You almost want it so that at max volume, your rear speakers sound clear, and then tune your amplifier for your fronts to be as loud and clear as can be at max volume.
That's your best bet because otherwise those paper speakers will scream before they die.
Well made 5 1/4's, properly amplified, can produce just as clear of sound as a decent 6" x 9" speaker. What sucks about the back seat is speaker placement. They're aimed at your passengers feet. And there aren't any tweeters in the back, so your highs aren't as distinct(If even present) in the back, you only really get mids/lows.
I've heard a 4Runner with retrofitted components in the rear, and it was amazing in the back. Honestly, I concur with mostly everyone in here. People in the back can K.M.A.
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I'm with skidmarcx on not needing the rear speakers. When you go to a concert and watch/listen to a band, do you near music behind you or in front of you. I had a pretty sweet stereo in my tundra with a 3 way front stage, 2 12" subs with a welded sub enclosure under the rear carpet powered by a 7 channel zapco amp. The imaging was pretty spot on and you wouldn't even know it didn't have rear speakers. Point being, for a good sound quality build you don't need rear speakers.
I was pretty proud of that install since it was my first major stereo install.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...ires-audio-accessories/106393-subs-floor.html
To the OP, if you plan on upgrading your stereo more then do it all at once or just run 2 way single speakers in the doors off the amp and forget about the rear speakers.
I was pretty proud of that install since it was my first major stereo install.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...ires-audio-accessories/106393-subs-floor.html
To the OP, if you plan on upgrading your stereo more then do it all at once or just run 2 way single speakers in the doors off the amp and forget about the rear speakers.
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Brian757
New member
I also agree with this statement. By splitting power, your essentially bolstering power to the rear, and being factory cardboard/paper, they will be out the door before you know it. Blown speakers do your electrical system NO good. Save up the moneys and get a decent set for the back and then amplify them.
Now I'm confused...couldn't you just fade the music more towards the front with fader to 'lessen' reduce the power/sound/impact going to the rear doors? So say if the fronts were blasting, the rears would only be slightly audible? Maybe I'm not understanding how the fader works on a car stereo but I thought I'd be able to dial sound in/out of both front/rear if I used the RCA fronts for the front speakers and just used the rear speaker outs from the head unit for the two rear doors.
Disregard this post...I totally get what you're saying now Brian...wasn't thinking...thanks for all the input guys!
Brian757
New member
No, no, no. You were correct. Yes, if you want to power the rear speakers to the head unit, yes, you can fade the sound to the front to "theoretically" turn the gain down on the rear. Fading to the front will turn up the volume on the front though, but turning the gain down on the amplifier will fix that.
That was my method for tuning front and rear to get them both to the best sound quality at max volume.
It will take trial and error to get everything somewhat smooth, but let me know when the time comes and you can call me and I will walk you through tuning.
I will look up all of your equipment and guide you through it if you need.
