Car audio references/tips/guide (to be updated)
Hi everyone Im new to forum, im not actually a member yet but here is my contribution;)
This is a reference/guide i made up through my experience of car audio . I do know something or two about car stereo as i used to be into car stereo and actually came to installing it many time. I used to have an $9000 stereo, my friend had a $20000 and his friend had something like $80000(alpine F1 status and rock fosgate gears in a van came second in SPL competition but he came first for spl hardware)
whats the different between SQ and SPL?
SQ=sound quality: SQ is basically beautiful sound in term of clarity very distinctive producing pure linear sound wave. SQ sound system will give you good staging of and evenly distributed sound with clarity much like in the opera. People seem to misunderstood that SQ setup have no bass therefore they go SPL (ported), SQ sub have bass but in a clarity form. SQ sub is tight, clear and is like fast attack bass. To give you an idea imagine yourself on ground when 100 b52 bomb explode that is SQ bass.
SPL =Sound Pressure Level: SPL is local ambient pressure caused by a sound wave. The effective sound pressure is the root mean square of the instantaneous sound pressure over a given interval of time. In a sound wave, the complementary variable to sound pressure is the acoustic particle velocity.
To put in simple language SPL is just pressurised sound in term of bass, more tended for crazy competiton. The disadvantages of SPL that it will kill your mid/high range sound signal and the bass is blurry and distorted. Advantage are it increase generally about 3 decimal to your overall system. To give you an idea of what SPL is, imagine standing high in the mountain(where is high pressure) then a nuclear bomb exploded now that my friend is SPL
some tips
When you buy low price audio equipment doesn't matter what brand they tend to be of the same output (i mean watts output or THD value etc...), its when though extra money burn you'll see a big different in brand but that doesnt mean that the low price goods from known brand is shit because of the technology they use, how they build it? Material used "internal and external", tand finally their reputation for putting these fact in action which earn them the reputation through time, now that is what determine a good brand name.
eg.boss amp=$200 vs alpine amp=$200 (get an idea what i mean in term,of the way is was built, material used, technology etc...)
picking brand will give ya da bomb system (pick the best from each)
NEVER buy amp speaker because of power rating in term of SQ
NEVER be fool when buying amp or speaker by their power output.
always looks and RMS rating rather then MAX. If just say 1000watts no max or rms is advertise to fool you.
eg. Boss amp rating at 1000watts lol.
Generally, "good" amplifiers tend to cost more (in money/watt) than "bad" amplifiers. So when you see an amp advertising 300W for only $100, and are comparing an amp with 50W for $300, you will usually find that the 50W/$300 amp will be of much higher quality than the 300W/$100 amp.
buy the best front split you can afford believe me makes a big different.
If you think you will upgrade your system i recommend just save those extra buck buy the good stuff in the first place as upgrading general u have to pay install cost, eg.deck,amp,rewire,new isze sub box or false floor, labourcost etc...unless u know how to install
is 6x9 speaker good? to tell u the true NO, if you into highend system 6x9=out, giving the fact that when u have decent sub, ur sub will kill the 6x9, u need more of a midrange signal like split.
if you have no sub yes its good in some way but if you have a killer sub you wasting ur money on 6x9 the sub will kill the 6x9 bass. recommend a split but for fitting reason then 6x9 is the way to go.
it is very common to use a low pass crossover with the rear speakers (at 2500 Hz) since rear-fill is intended to produce "ambiance," and high frequencies (>2500 Hz) can confuse the soundstage, making it appear that music is originating behind you.
3 way or 2way
if you taking about 3 ways as in 6x9 three then makes no different, if you talking about 3 ways as a component setup then thats the way to go.
eg. alpine type x split+type x midbass=3ways(three separte speakers combine through a crossover to make a 3way setup) not your conventional 6x9 three way see the different?
Using separates allows you to position the drivers independently and more carefully, which will give you greater control over your imaging.
coaxial or split?
of course split, split come with a separate crossover circuit designed to break down signal whereas coaxial is welded with just a tiny resistor but for any fitting reason then by all mean go coaxial.
For best results, try to keep the mid and tweeter as close together as possible - this will make the two drivers act more like a single point source (which is ideal).
Capacitor: are they any good?
for those that say they do nothing you are absolutely wrong.
Capacitor are good for SQ system but not for SPL. If you dont believe i will prove it, my knowlegde about audio is quite extensive. 10/10 audio expert i spoke to confirm it and there was a audio forum with 2 electrical engineer debating about the capacitor functionality, they have proved with endless theory and testing on actual car system using equipment (yes is good for SQ system)also evidence from audio supplier have confirm. Im not sure if i can give out link but pm im happy to give you thre link.
what is the best capacitor
Of my experience and been recommended, the best capacitor "Alumapro" originally make for the militory and nasa now with that same technology is incorparote into car audio. Alumapro CAP come in 5 ,15, 50farad,fastest charge & discharge cap
i got a 15 farad alumaprod (its freakin mad)
Seal or ported box?
personally i prefer seal give better sound quality and clarity. People think seal box dont have bass but wrong is massive bass but in a SQ and clarity form. I have known and see many started as ported then going seal when they actually hear they love it. Advantages of seal also give you a smaller box volume (spacewise)
Also really got to do with what music you listen to but seal generally rate at all music, if you just going port all will hear is ported bass when u want to listen to other music u stuck with bad quality. Anyway is for you to decide. As for ported box(SPL) it will generally increase 3decimal to your overall sound system but you paid the cost of sound quality.
What much bass do i need?
i will try to break it down into 3 categories and put a reaction of what a newcomer to the car audio would react to give those that never into car audio an idea of sound. You could think of it as a guidline line.
newcomer: low budget
recommend 2xsub of about 300watts rms each
eg. last year model of type R sub rate 300watts rms 12inch/500rms 15inch
newcomer reaction: ***en this is loud wow but soon to realise as day by day pass, the bass seems low cos he/she getting used to bass or he/she migh even think something wrong with their sub. "I need more bass,"said the newcomer. "Time for upgrade."
novicemedium budget
2xsub of 500 to 700watts rms, or 1xsub of 1000watts RMS
newcomer reaction: this is freaken loud do you think i might get deaf
advance:high budget
2 to 4 sub of 1000watts RMS or 1x18inch 1000 to 3000 RMS
newcomer reaction: let me out im having a heart attack
What size wire to run and what fuse?
follow these to determine what fuse/wire to use:
if u feel u have a longer length cable go to next size, is better running a bigger cable than what is require that way its a piece of mind, make further upgrading like adding another amp easier instead of rewire.
Wire Gauge - Fuse Size note:fuse size refer to ur ampplifier or amplifiers total amps
2/0 gauge - 430 amps
0 gauge - 345 amps (over 300amps u might consider to run 2 cable divide up the fuse)
1 gauge - 265 amps
2 gauge - 215 amps
4 gauge - 135 amps
6 gauge - 80 amps
8 gauge - 55 amps
10 gauge - 30 amps
12 gauge - 20 amps
14 gauge - 15 amps
16 gauge - 7.5 amps
use below for more accurate regarding wire lenght
Length of run/wire (in feet)
Current 0-4 4-7 7-10 10-13 13-16 16-19 19-22 22-28
0-20A 14 12 12 10 10 8 8 8
20-35A 12 10 8 8 6 6 6 4
35-50A 10 8 8 6 6 4 4 4
50-65A 8 8 6 4 4 4 4 2
65-85A 6 6 4 4 2 2 2 0
85-105A 6 6 4 2 2 2 2 0
105-125A 4 4 4 2 2 0 0 0
125-150A 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 00
blue number represent the gauge size require in accordance to the current ranges through to the lenght of run/wire
How many Devices can i attach to my remote turn-on lead?
The remote turn-on lead that most head units will not provide very much
current (usually 250-300mA), so there is a limit to the number of
components you can activate with it. Generally, it is safe to hook up
two devices to the lead without having to worry about problems.
However, if you'll be activating more components, then you should
probably use a relay.
while writing this guide i got timeout 8 times need relog each time ^^ idle time in this forum is too fast.
man i hate this timeout i came to finish explaing SPL and SQ save and i have to relog then lose it now i need to retype.
any further thing you like to know, if i know i tell ya;)
