My new speakers sound like crap!!

**res940** · 10-24-2005, 11:35 PM

So here's the deal, I have no idea what i'm doing when it comes to car audio. I have a chevy cavalier, I put in a Sony headunit a couple of years ago that says 45x4 (watts i think). I just had the stock speakers and everything was fine. Today I got brand new JVC 6x9's to put in the back (JVC-V6934). It says they're 3-way and 280 watts max. well i spent all day putting them in and they sound like CRAP. so much worse than the stock speakers. It almost sounds like they're blown. Even at super low volumes it just sounds like poor quality. The polarity's not backwards or anything either. I wish i could explain what it sounds like better, it's kinda crackly almost, like it's blown. is it clipping? or is there any way i can figure out what the problem is? or do you already know and you think i'm an idiot? lol, thanks for the help ahead of time.

Ryan

**res940** · 10-24-2005, 11:59 PM

also i had the bass up when i first tried them out... it sounded like something was being pushed way too hard, i didn't already ruin the speakers did i!?! I have new HU that i'm going to install soon (KD-AR560) will that help at all? sorry i'm so nieve, but ya gotta start somewhere

**StrataG** · 10-25-2005, 12:09 AM

How is your carpc hooked up to the headunit?

**res940** · 10-25-2005, 12:16 AM

hmmm, i have no idea, i had my head unit installed by a professional a couple of years ago

**BassBinDevil** · 10-25-2005, 12:46 PM

Maybe they're less efficient than the stock speakers and you are clipping the amp in the headunit. Try a separate power amp.

**Will Albers** · 10-25-2005, 02:17 PM

What vehicle and how are they installed? Are the openings in the rear for a 6x9 speaker or are they just sitting back there?

**dtran01** · 10-26-2005, 03:47 PM

a couple possibilities come to my mind.

first, it's impossible to blow your speakers with that headunit. i'm thinking it's the opposite. if you have 280W, then even the RMS will be much higher than your stock speakers. it is possible your headunit amp just is underpowering it. I got some 300W speakers (100RMS) and my headunit, which was 45W (22RMS) was not giving it enough oomph to really show off it's capabilities. It was all solved when i hooked it up to my kicker amp. If you are not hooking it up to a power amplifier, then u may consider a lower speaker.

second, check the connections on your speakers. if you are working with raw wires instead of connectors, then it's really picky -- you might have to solder them in to get better connections.

**Will Albers** · 10-26-2005, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by dtran01

a couple possibilities come to my mind.

first, it's impossible to blow your speakers with that headunit.

Very very very very wrong. I could blow up a 1000 watt speaker with 100 watt amp easy peasy

A stock head unit could destroy his speakers

**NisAznMonk** · 10-27-2005, 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by Will Albers

Very very very very wrong. I could blow up a 1000 watt speaker with 100 watt amp easy peasy

A stock head unit could destroy his speakers

umm...no

there is 3 ways to "blow" a driver...

1. exceeding the thermal power handling capabilites
2. exceeding the mechanical capabilities (x-mech)
3. factory error or malfunction

If a coil of wire can handle 25 watts RMS, the signal can be clean or distorted and it will handle it. The only scenario where a distorted signal may cause a sub to be more prone to damage is when the distorted signal causes the sub's movement to be irregular. This may result in decreased air flow through the vents which hinders the dissipation of heat. Heat kills speakers, not distortion.

**NisAznMonk** · 10-27-2005, 03:09 AM

Ryan,

Try using an aftermarket amp. Like BassBinDevil said, an aftermarket amplifier may help. A HU will never pump out more than 15watts RMS per channel. The listed 45x4 will only happen if it got struck by lightening.