Author Topic: Calling all Stereo experts...  (Read 3710 times)

Offline 70chall440

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Calling all Stereo experts...
« on: August 29, 2016 - 12:08:29 AM »
I am in the process of assembling my 73 Cuda and am thinking through the stereo. Here are the components I currently have;

- 1 x dual voice coil speaker in the dash
- 2 x 3.5" kick panel speakers
- 2 Pioneer 6x9" speakers for the package tray
- 1 x 2 channel pioneer amp
- Pioneer head unit

So I am thinking I would run the dual voice coil speaker (has 2 input leads on each side) and the 3.5" speakers from the head unit and the 6x9" speakers from the amp.

I am definitely not a stereo guy but I would rather wire it right the first time. Any help is appreciated, I am not against changing out the amp of adding something and I am not looking for a "big" stereo, I just want it clean. The car has Hushmat throughout currently.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)




Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2016 - 12:58:14 AM »
I don't consider myself any kind of expert but have installed quite a bit of simple stereo equipment through the years.
What your describing reminds be a bit of the setup in my '98 Mustang that has 6-speakers which gave me the opportunity to try something a different in an effort to have individual control over the 3-pairs using only the head unit.
It would require that your head unit have a separate SUB RCA output & control.  It does not require any extra or different wiring.
What I've done is run the 2-rear deck speakers through an amp off the SUB channel, the 2-kick panel speakers as the rear channel of the head unit & the 2-dash speakers as the front channel of the head unit.
I am able to better control the balance between the kick panel & dash speakers plus do not need to run as much bass through them to get it from the rear deck speakers as the SUB output has it's own control built into the head.   

If your interested I can make a rudimentary diagram
« Last Edit: August 29, 2016 - 07:58:13 AM by Bullitt- »
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline lulurocks

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2016 - 06:25:51 AM »
 :2cents:
Here is a different senario you mentioned:

Wire the   The dash speakers to left and right voice coils accordingly .  Then wire that to the amps as channel 1 .

Wire rear 6x9's to channel 2 .

Then  you will be able to (amp spec unknown)  change what freq go to what channel. You can limit  the lows to the 6x9s for more bass, and have the higher freq handeled by the kicks and not kill them with bass.   Your  head unit wont be able to filter  signals like a good amp will. Again all depending on your amp and you will have to watch what resistance (i.e 8ohm 4ohm) you group on a channel.

Sorry for the runon sentence ...

Again im not stereo guru by any means , but this has worked well for me .
« Last Edit: August 29, 2016 - 06:31:59 AM by lulurocks »

Offline soundcontrol

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2016 - 06:41:44 AM »
When you say" - 1 x 2 channel pioneer amp", do you mean 2 stereo channels, L and R, (wich would actually be a 4-channel amp) or does it just have 2 mono channels? (1 stereo input).


/ Ken
Restoration thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=102525.0
topic=108917.new#new

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2016 - 10:47:24 AM »
I don't consider myself any kind of expert but have installed quite a bit of simple stereo equipment through the years.
What your describing reminds be a bit of the setup in my '98 Mustang that has 6-speakers which gave me the opportunity to try something a different in an effort to have individual control over the 3-pairs using only the head unit.
It would require that your head unit have a separate SUB RCA output & control.  It does not require any extra or different wiring.
What I've done is run the 2-rear deck speakers through an amp off the SUB channel, the 2-kick panel speakers as the rear channel of the head unit & the 2-dash speakers as the front channel of the head unit.
I am able to better control the balance between the kick panel & dash speakers plus do not need to run as much bass through them to get it from the rear deck speakers as the SUB output has it's own control built into the head.   

If your interested I can make a rudimentary diagram

Definitely interested in a diagram.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2016 - 10:51:35 AM »
When you say" - 1 x 2 channel pioneer amp", do you mean 2 stereo channels, L and R, (wich would actually be a 4-channel amp) or does it just have 2 mono channels? (1 stereo input).

This is the amp I have (Walmart buy)

Pioneer GM-A5602 2-Channel Bridgeable Amplifier with 900 Watts Max Power and Bass Boost Control

Specifications
Color: Multicolor 
Number of Channels: 2 
Condition: New 
Watts: MOSFET 
Size: 16.80" x 10.60" x 4.30" 
Material: Multi 
Manufacturer Part Number: GM-A5602 
Brand: Pioneer 
Features: Pioneer 2CH Amplifier 900W Max 
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline soundcontrol

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2016 - 01:16:44 PM »
That is a stereo amplifier, it has only 2 channels, one for left and one for right. What I would do is to get a subwoofer in the trunk, and one more mone amp, or an active sub (built-in amp). (If your head unit has a sub output). And run the amp you have on the 6x9's and the kick panel speakers and dash speaker like Bullitt suggests. You can run the 6x9's as subs, but those are so nice to have fullrange in stereo.
/ Ken
Restoration thread: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=102525.0
topic=108917.new#new

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2016 - 11:16:21 PM »
This article opened my eyes to what makes for better sound in a car, not a lot of boom from the back or screaming highs from the front...more like the band is sitting on the hood..all about getting the proper balance
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-1w4YqwsSA8R/learn/learningcenter/car/speakers_imaging_soundstage.html


Again this will only work if your head unit has a separate pre-amp SUB channel with separate controls
  For the rear speakers adjust your SUB control to middle setting & volume on head unit to about 75% then have your trunk monkey adjust the Amplifier..Start on low settings & raise the gain & frequency, try different bass boost settings, till you find what you like best with no distortion as loud as you can imagine listening to it..
     This is very simple.. I left off power wiring as that is straight forward from your manuals
   With that large of an amp you should supply power directly from the battery with a separate fuse.
  An Amp wiring kit would be helpful  https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Amplifier-Installation-Performance-Interconnect/dp/B000FKP7TY/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1472526901&sr=1-13&refinements=p_72%3A1248879011   
« Last Edit: August 29, 2016 - 11:24:41 PM by Bullitt- »
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2016 - 10:46:55 PM »
Thanks all, I am currently traveling so I can't look at the head unit but it has sub controls I believe. My objective is to have clean sound verses loud sound.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2016 - 01:10:41 AM »
finally got a chance to look at this. Are you showing me a 2nd amp or is that a sub? Sorry, I am a bit stereo ignorant...
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2016 - 06:37:40 AM »
finally got a chance to look at this. Are you showing me a 2nd amp or is that a sub? Sorry, I am a bit stereo ignorant...

One amp.. front & rear connections as pictured on the web I found
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Calling all Stereo experts...
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2016 - 11:21:31 AM »
Ahh, got it... should have looked at it closer. Thanks. I am in the "wiring" phase of the build, so this will be handy.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)