What should i look for when looking to by a Component System? Should i look at the RMS wattage? or should i look at the freq range? is higher freq range better 40k-35k or 40k - 28k? will i need additional speakers to play more of a mid range sound? for example subs cover from about 20 hz to about 100 and some, highs will cover from 28k and up will i need certain speakers for the range of 100 hz to 28k? thanks in advance. Im still new to the component area, i started as a sub man, but now i want to have a real nice and balanced system. Everything im going to do is probably really close to being top of the line so i'm hoping to get a REALLY REALLY NICE SET UP.
Replies (6)
ravin on 12/2/2006 19:14:24
From what I've heard from years of reading about selecting speakers it basicaly comes down to what you like the sound of best. There really isn't an undisputed number one choice. You need to go somewhere with a sound room and bring your own music and listen to the different speakers at high and low volumes. Every speaker sounds alot better at louder volumes so don't forget to listen to them at lower volumes. Also I would pay attention to the transition between the mid and highs. This is the area that gives most systems of components a challenge. I've heard that listening to music with female vocals makes it easier to isolate that trouble zone since their vocals travel from the mids to highs in that zone. I like using component sets because they are cleaner sounding than coaxiles. You should be able to easily get a range from 80hz to 20khz or even higher from one set of components. I'm no expert but just my two cents. Hope this helps.
swez on 12/2/2006 19:29:07
There are many great Component systems out there and one need not go broke in the process of finding them. Here's a general chart on speakers and ranges they work at:
Subs: 30 - 80 Hz.
Midbass: 80 - 300 Hz.
Midrange: 300 - 3,000 Hz. (3KHz)
Tweeters: 3Khz and up (Most adults cannot hear frequencies above about 18KHz.)
When shopping for full range speakers in car audio, power handling is one part of the equation. So is efficiency and clarity of the sound they produce. Put your best speakers up front as this is what we hear the most.
Ideally, you can fit 5.25" or even 6.5" Comps in the front doors of that truck. BTW, I cannot find any info on a 1995 Silverado Ex Cab. Do you know what size factory speakers are in there and where they are located?
The 5.25" Comps will go down to 80 Hz., and depending on the crossover and tweeter used, you're covered well enough from Midbass to highs. The 6.5" Comps can often go lower, but not absolutely needed as the sub(s) handles that anyway.
As for power, figure 50-75 watts RMS per speaker is usually enough for all but the most robust speakers. It's clean SPL we are looking for here... not how many watts we can shove into a given speaker.
As for the rear channel speakers, you can go with fullrange Coaxials or just Midbass drivers. Here, we often get some help on Midbass due to the acoutical properties of the rear speakers. (Not from 4x6 or 4" rounds, but larger cones will) Some guys will build custom enclosures or use surface mounted 6x9" wedge boxes for better MB response.
Does that help get you thinking a bit? Think budget, size, power and location first... then we can help pull a package together for you.
Swez
PS All quality 2-way Comps are designed to cover Midbass, Midrange and tweets very well. Sure, some speaker makers offer 3 & 4-way coaxials too. But the quality of the speaker elements and crossovers used are often well below par on quality. Give me a solid 2-way component system anyday!
cplkittle on 12/2/2006 23:35:53
The biggest decision I had to make was aluminum or silk tweeters. I thought with all the bass in my car that silk just wouldn't keep up so I went with aluminum. I didn't really like the crispness. It was just too much. silk does a great job, and it does not fall behind in performance.
The material your mid drivers make some difference also.
Aluminum is a little brighter
composite plastic or poly is great all around
paper has a little more dampened sound.
I would not mix aluminum and aluminum or silk and paper.
aluminum or composite midbass drivers with a silk tweeter is the cleanest, clearest combination I have heard.
one more thing.. plasitc or composite tweeters don't last very long.
Victor on 12/3/2006 03:07:23
What kinda money you wanna invest also guides your decision a lot,
Branks like Focal, Diamond, Rainbow, Morel, DLS, CDT's, Illusion Audio, Dyn Audio, Image Dynamics, a/d/s , JL Audio, Sound stream, and a few more are high quality brands, if one has the budget these are benchmark speaker manufacturers you will definitely relish the quality.
Victor.....
Ash on 12/3/2006 14:21:53
Right on there Cplkittle.... Try to stay away from the metal domes unless your needing the extra brightness and/or the tweets are going to located in the lower doors with the midwoofer. Even still they will need to be of high quality. Any soft dome will have a smoother sound and still be bright enough if placed properly.
I believe that truck has 6.75" in the doors with 4x6" in the rears if that is correct. This should lend you plenty of choices within the correct mounting depth limits.
There is no need for extreme cost brands unless that is what you prefer. There are some nice ones out there that are quite affordable, just make sure that they are using decent to high grade crossovers with some tweeter attenuation circuitry. 12db minimum or higher for the slopes. However, when checking some out, try to hear them in a real auto environment if you can. Demo boards can be very deceiving as they are usually in a controlled environment.
My favorites usually consist of poly cones with rubber surrounds along with a silk or textile tweeter. They usually don't require complex crossovers, are quite tunable, and are a good mix of durability and performance.
cecilio87 on 12/3/2006 17:16:46
Hey everyone thank you very much for all the input. I'm looking at spending around $ 200 . So far what I'm looking at is a component set of Alpines or MB Quart. My speaker sizes are front 6.5" round, and i believe it is 4x9 in the back. For Alpine I am looking at the SPX-177R. I believe this is the best component set Alpine has to offer, which i can get for around 215. I am also looking at some middle line MB Quart stuff, such as the discuss or reference stuff. But i don't know yet guys...
Replies (6)
ravin on 12/2/2006 19:14:24
From what I've heard from years of reading about selecting speakers it basicaly comes down to what you like the sound of best. There really isn't an undisputed number one choice. You need to go somewhere with a sound room and bring your own music and listen to the different speakers at high and low volumes. Every speaker sounds alot better at louder volumes so don't forget to listen to them at lower volumes. Also I would pay attention to the transition between the mid and highs. This is the area that gives most systems of components a challenge. I've heard that listening to music with female vocals makes it easier to isolate that trouble zone since their vocals travel from the mids to highs in that zone. I like using component sets because they are cleaner sounding than coaxiles. You should be able to easily get a range from 80hz to 20khz or even higher from one set of components. I'm no expert but just my two cents. Hope this helps.
swez on 12/2/2006 19:29:07
There are many great Component systems out there and one need not go broke in the process of finding them. Here's a general chart on speakers and ranges they work at:
Subs: 30 - 80 Hz.
Midbass: 80 - 300 Hz.
Midrange: 300 - 3,000 Hz. (3KHz)
Tweeters: 3Khz and up (Most adults cannot hear frequencies above about 18KHz.)
When shopping for full range speakers in car audio, power handling is one part of the equation. So is efficiency and clarity of the sound they produce. Put your best speakers up front as this is what we hear the most.
Ideally, you can fit 5.25" or even 6.5" Comps in the front doors of that truck. BTW, I cannot find any info on a 1995 Silverado Ex Cab. Do you know what size factory speakers are in there and where they are located?
The 5.25" Comps will go down to 80 Hz., and depending on the crossover and tweeter used, you're covered well enough from Midbass to highs. The 6.5" Comps can often go lower, but not absolutely needed as the sub(s) handles that anyway.
As for power, figure 50-75 watts RMS per speaker is usually enough for all but the most robust speakers. It's clean SPL we are looking for here... not how many watts we can shove into a given speaker.
As for the rear channel speakers, you can go with fullrange Coaxials or just Midbass drivers. Here, we often get some help on Midbass due to the acoutical properties of the rear speakers. (Not from 4x6 or 4" rounds, but larger cones will) Some guys will build custom enclosures or use surface mounted 6x9" wedge boxes for better MB response.
Does that help get you thinking a bit? Think budget, size, power and location first... then we can help pull a package together for you.
Swez
PS All quality 2-way Comps are designed to cover Midbass, Midrange and tweets very well. Sure, some speaker makers offer 3 & 4-way coaxials too. But the quality of the speaker elements and crossovers used are often well below par on quality. Give me a solid 2-way component system anyday!
cplkittle on 12/2/2006 23:35:53
The biggest decision I had to make was aluminum or silk tweeters. I thought with all the bass in my car that silk just wouldn't keep up so I went with aluminum. I didn't really like the crispness. It was just too much. silk does a great job, and it does not fall behind in performance.
The material your mid drivers make some difference also.
Aluminum is a little brighter
composite plastic or poly is great all around
paper has a little more dampened sound.
I would not mix aluminum and aluminum or silk and paper.
aluminum or composite midbass drivers with a silk tweeter is the cleanest, clearest combination I have heard.
one more thing.. plasitc or composite tweeters don't last very long.
Victor on 12/3/2006 03:07:23
What kinda money you wanna invest also guides your decision a lot,
Branks like Focal, Diamond, Rainbow, Morel, DLS, CDT's, Illusion Audio, Dyn Audio, Image Dynamics, a/d/s , JL Audio, Sound stream, and a few more are high quality brands, if one has the budget these are benchmark speaker manufacturers you will definitely relish the quality.
Victor.....
Ash on 12/3/2006 14:21:53
Right on there Cplkittle.... Try to stay away from the metal domes unless your needing the extra brightness and/or the tweets are going to located in the lower doors with the midwoofer. Even still they will need to be of high quality. Any soft dome will have a smoother sound and still be bright enough if placed properly.
I believe that truck has 6.75" in the doors with 4x6" in the rears if that is correct. This should lend you plenty of choices within the correct mounting depth limits.
There is no need for extreme cost brands unless that is what you prefer. There are some nice ones out there that are quite affordable, just make sure that they are using decent to high grade crossovers with some tweeter attenuation circuitry. 12db minimum or higher for the slopes. However, when checking some out, try to hear them in a real auto environment if you can. Demo boards can be very deceiving as they are usually in a controlled environment.
My favorites usually consist of poly cones with rubber surrounds along with a silk or textile tweeter. They usually don't require complex crossovers, are quite tunable, and are a good mix of durability and performance.
cecilio87 on 12/3/2006 17:16:46
Hey everyone thank you very much for all the input. I'm looking at spending around $ 200 . So far what I'm looking at is a component set of Alpines or MB Quart. My speaker sizes are front 6.5" round, and i believe it is 4x9 in the back. For Alpine I am looking at the SPX-177R. I believe this is the best component set Alpine has to offer, which i can get for around 215. I am also looking at some middle line MB Quart stuff, such as the discuss or reference stuff. But i don't know yet guys...
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