infinity reference installed - what a dissapointment
- Thread starter floatingkiwi
- Start date
I just fit 2 Alpine PDX amps to the back side of the rear quarter where the little cubby is on passenger side. What a pain in the ass, but only place I wanted them out of site/harms way. I am running components front AND rear doors. I custom mounted the tweeters in the dead space of the door panel to bring the sound up off the floor.
Single 10" sub and it hits hard and sounds crystal clear beyond what my ears could handle without ear plugs (when I tuned it). Amplifying makes a world of difference as stated. These same speakers without amp's sounded like crap through the previous aftermarket deck only.
Single 10" sub and it hits hard and sounds crystal clear beyond what my ears could handle without ear plugs (when I tuned it). Amplifying makes a world of difference as stated. These same speakers without amp's sounded like crap through the previous aftermarket deck only.
floatingkiwi
Member
OK sounds like a little amp is required....
That alpine mentioned above looks quite handy.
That alpine mentioned above looks quite handy.
Scramble
New member
:bat:
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theesotericone
New member
Just finished hooking up the Infinity 6500CX, Polk DB651's and the Hifonics Zeus 4 channel amp. It's too late to really tune it without pissing off the neighbors but everything sounds bad ass. Plenty of bass with the 6500CX's without any gain set on the amp at all. As an added bonus my Dual double din that was less then 150 bucks doesn't clip the system at full volume. So tomorrow I'll set the gains for the speakers. Then I'll set the gains for the sub, which should be pretty well set already. Then play with high passing the 6500CX's. All in all I'm pretty pleased with this setup. After tuning it's only gonna get better.
Killer Squirrel
Member
I had Infinity Kappas in my Supra, aftermarket head unit with 4 channel amp, then separate sub and sub amp. In the smaller car they sounded great to me, but maybe a larger space would be different. I sold my Supra and am looking for my first T4R (will be my first larger vehicle, I have always had Supras/Celicas) - would you guys say the increased airspace in the 4R makes a definite difference in how various speakers perform?
floatingkiwi
Member
So I've just been on a long drive for work. The sound is so shrill and nasty and midrangy that I actually turned the radio off for the majority of the journey - I know an amp will give more power etc etc but is it really going to change the basic sound characteristic?? Because the basic sound is awful.
BrianSD_42
New member
Do you have any friends, neighbors, co-workers or acquaintances that can personally listen to it and off advice.
We've covered the basics but there is no substitute for being there in person. Maybe your head unit is bad. Maybe the speakers are duds. I am inclined to believe the problem matches the answers already provided but who knows. None us are able to listen first hand.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
I can attest to the difference of having higher-end speakers with an amp, and without an amp. Ever listened to really good speakers in a Best Buy or electronics store? They usually sound terrible - they are not given enough power.
I had some awesome Kicker's I got for a really good price slightly used and put them in my Pickup and ran off an aftermarket head unit at 15 RMS. It was better than stock for sure (only had 1 speaker left...) but I couldn't listen to music for more than about 30-60 min. Why? Sound distortion or what some refer to as "ear fatigue". It doesn't produce clean sound since it's under powered and eventually will start to cause discomfort for the listener. It's a real thing, I experienced it in my last car (was on a small budget, no sense in pouring money in a car worth $1500).
An amp will help get rid of ear fatigue and help round out the sound, but if they are still too much treble for your taste, and amp will not fix that.
floatingkiwi
Member
OK, just installed an amp on these Infinities - still sound like crap. Very fatiguing on any length of drive. I can even tell well known passages of music that have instruments that are subtly changed or even partly missing, especially at certain frequencies. The sound is the opposite of being described as "forward", which often brings with that description harsh listening characteristics. It sounds muffled and "backward" if you see what I mean.
It's just bad sound. The basic sound characteristics of these speakers just seems to be bad. Totally missing midrange, poor bass, no warmth at all to speak of. Checked and double checked phase and X-over wiring.
I now have spent a lot of money on an aftermarket system that is clearly inferior to the original equipment.
Dunno what to do now except get some trusty pioneers in there.
It's just bad sound. The basic sound characteristics of these speakers just seems to be bad. Totally missing midrange, poor bass, no warmth at all to speak of. Checked and double checked phase and X-over wiring.
I now have spent a lot of money on an aftermarket system that is clearly inferior to the original equipment.
Dunno what to do now except get some trusty pioneers in there.
You'll never get any meaningful bass (and not the window-shaking BOOOOM you may be thinking I'm talking about) without at least a powered subwoofer. It doesn't need to be insane by any means. I put a 10" bottom-firing Pioneer sub in the back area, and mounted a $100 amp under my drivers seat. I also replaced the door speakers all with nice (but not CRAZY nice) Pioneers, but while they sound great and provide clarity, if you use the head unit to turn off the subwoofer, even at blasting volume the bass is practically nowhere to be found. We're talking about pretty weakly powered 5 and 6" speakers, and at like.. calf height.
BrianSD_42
New member
1) you didn't spend a lot of money (although the concept is relative
2) just take back the infinity and exchange them
3) what song were you listening to? This was brought up before to no avail
4) mid quality consumer speakers like these should sound far above decent if installed properly and the music isn't junk
5) go see Dunkirk. It was really good. Be sure to see it in IMAX so the experience is up to par
:bat:
2) just take back the infinity and exchange them
3) what song were you listening to? This was brought up before to no avail
4) mid quality consumer speakers like these should sound far above decent if installed properly and the music isn't junk
5) go see Dunkirk. It was really good. Be sure to see it in IMAX so the experience is up to par
:bat:
NissanTechJake
Member
I was considering these speakers but noticed they were 6.5”? How did you mount them?
I thought the door speakers were 5.25”? I haven’t opened up the panel yet to look but am running an alpine deck and alpine ktp-445a.
I thought the door speakers were 5.25”? I haven’t opened up the panel yet to look but am running an alpine deck and alpine ktp-445a.
BrianSD_42
New member
I marked the metal, drilled and cut. Then I used thick rubber as a spacer when mounting the speaker.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Ha, that's pretty much my exact same audio setup! Gotta love that little amp that's plug and play with the Alpine receiver.
The rear speakers will need a mounting adapter. You can stick them out more for some models but for the Infinity Reference, you'll have to do a little bit of trimming inside of the door panel to get them to fit. If you don't want to do that, get 5.25" speakers for the rear.
I took some photos on how I did it here and how much I trimmed: Thinking About Upgrading Your Sound System? Do It!
floatingkiwi
Member
Is this addressed to me? If so, dont get these speakers. They sound terrible. I have still not changed them but I will be doing so at some point. Get something, anything, else.
5 Speed Dave
New member
If I were you & unhappy with these speakers, do what Brian suggested and return them if possible. SOUND is very subjective to the listener's ears.
I have been into audio for a long time and am also a musician.
I would suggest you use the same few songs (2 or 3) that you have heard sound good before to evaluate your system. I personally use Joe Satriani (Flying in a Blue Dream) and Rush (Limelight) as I am very familiar with those songs.
DO MAKE SURE you have removed your factory amplifier.
FWIW - My Sweet Wife bought me an ALPINE CD/Bluetooth deck for Christmas last year. (I think CD-172). I installed it after removing the FACTORY AMP & wired to my FACTORY Speakers. It sounded much better. The CD sounds much better than Bluetooth. USB and AUX inputs also sound much better than Bluetooth. I added a used BOSTON 10" sub box with an amp and made it easy to remove / unplug. This little cost system sounds really well for what I spent on it.
BTW - If playing songs from my phone, I usually use the AUX with a cable.
I have also downloaded about 500 songs to a USB stick for my carpool to work.
Good luck finding / getting the great sound you are looking for.
I have been into audio for a long time and am also a musician.
I would suggest you use the same few songs (2 or 3) that you have heard sound good before to evaluate your system. I personally use Joe Satriani (Flying in a Blue Dream) and Rush (Limelight) as I am very familiar with those songs.
DO MAKE SURE you have removed your factory amplifier.
FWIW - My Sweet Wife bought me an ALPINE CD/Bluetooth deck for Christmas last year. (I think CD-172). I installed it after removing the FACTORY AMP & wired to my FACTORY Speakers. It sounded much better. The CD sounds much better than Bluetooth. USB and AUX inputs also sound much better than Bluetooth. I added a used BOSTON 10" sub box with an amp and made it easy to remove / unplug. This little cost system sounds really well for what I spent on it.
BTW - If playing songs from my phone, I usually use the AUX with a cable.
I have also downloaded about 500 songs to a USB stick for my carpool to work.
Good luck finding / getting the great sound you are looking for.
floatingkiwi
Member
A few years too late I'm afraid. I'm the OP of this thread. I build power amps for HT/music systems in my spare time and have a rather extensive home system setup. I'm also a mechanical engineer so there has been no chance that I've set it up wrongly. They JUST SOUND BAD. I've been meaning to do some REW sweeps but haven't got round to it yet!!
NissanTechJake
Member
I ended up going with some infinity kappa components in 5.25”.
Going to install some hertz 5.25 in the rear.
Trying to figure out where I want to install by back up camera, the license plate lights ruined my original idea ha.
Going to install some hertz 5.25 in the rear.
Trying to figure out where I want to install by back up camera, the license plate lights ruined my original idea ha.
