7 replies to this topic

[mr.v]

Hi,

Just got my mini and the previous owner fitted an impressive sound system. Here's a like to a youtube video he made

Now it no longer has the large sub on the back seats (seats are back in place) but it still has both amps in the boot and all the other speaker. 2 on parcel shelf, 2 behind front seats, 2 in front foot wells

I know nothing about audio equipment but i want to get a good sound and fix what I see as a few problems.

1. I listen to Rock, Punk and Ska so don't want excessive bass that drowns out guitar. At the moment, having no sub i have very little bass (don't know if there is a way of getting more with what I have?)

2. when I turn my music to a fairly low volume I get a background hiss/static sound.

3. whatever I do I want it to not effect the practical use of the car (would like to keep the boot space, would like to be able to take passengers in the back.


Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Ben

[Ruckus]

Ok sorry to be an arse, but unless you give us a complete kit list of what you already have no one will be able to help you...

So to start:

A complete kit list.
What's installed where.
If you need more kit do you have a budget?

Thanks

Oh and welcome to the Ice section

[mr.v]

Ok, have had a play and managed to get rid of the hissing sound by messing around with the graphic equalizer. Will have to find a manual for it to adjust the levels better.

As far as equipment list goes from what I can see I have: an Alpine CDA-117Ri head unit, a kenwood KGC-9044 Equalizer, All the speakers a Alpine Type R: 2x 6" with small tweakers above in front foot wells, 2x Oval 9" speakers behind seats 2x Oval 9" speakers on parcel shelf. Then in the boot they are hooked up to a JL Audio XD600/6 Class D Amp. I also have a JL Audio XD600/1 Sub Amp that has all the leads just needs a sub speaker.

Have no idea what wiring ect. As I said I know next to nothing about I.C.E The info hear is just what I can see without pulling things out.

As far a budget goes don't really want to spend more than £150-£200.

I was thinking of getting rid of the 2x Oval 9" speakers behind the seats so I can take passengers and maybe adding a small sub somewhere.

Cheers

Ben

[mr.v]

I have taken out the 2 speaker boxes from behind the driver & passenger seats and was thinking of trying to hook up some small sub speakers that would fit under the rear seats.

do I need to get a different sub amp to do this (current one Audio XD600/1) ?

[Ruckus]

You have a lot of Very good kit, thats half the problem. As instead of the original owner keeping it simple and investing in a few bits of awesome kit, he has fallen in to the trap (most likely pushed by a local ICE dealer) in going for lots and lots of ok kit.

I'm on the road this weekend, but in the week I'll get back to you on this thread after I've had a think as the best way forward with what you already have. Or what I would recommend you stick on eBay.

I will say though you have great amps, that will be able to run any system I can think of, inculeding a fully active 3 way front end plus a sub (or a pair)!!

And lastly (at the moment) don't think just because you are not in to dance or dub-step etc you don't need sub bass. All music to be correctly reproduced needs even output for all frequencies, inculdeing sub bass.

Classical being the prime example. Some of the lowest recorded frequencies in published music, is found in classical music.

Plus the fact in an automotive environment sub bass is critical to cover road/engine noise...

Edited by Ruckus, 22 January 2012 - 12:15 PM.

[mr.v]

That would be great! Good to have some advice from somebody who knows there stuff but isn't trying to sell me things.

Cheers

[Ruckus]

Ok with the 9” speakers can you get models numbers, and to be honest it would help if I also had them for the front 6” speakers.

Before you move in to rewireing things, I can see an improvement you can make straight away.
Re-postion the tweeters to the corners of the dash, like this http://i.imgur.com/0F2eV.jpg

Normal car or home audio is about reproducing the stereo ‘image’ I quote from my own Mini Audio 101:
“In this guide ‘ideal placement’ means speakers positioned to best recreate the live experience or the sound the recording engineer wanted to create.
This means a good size ‘Soundstage’ and correct ‘Imaging’.

Imaging is basically the ability of the sound system/speakers to correctly position individual sounds and elements in a recording. With good imaging, the position of the voices and instruments should be easily identifiable at specific locations and shouldn't seem to move with variations in frequency.
Soundstage is the creation of the three dimensional stage on which all of these element exist.”

With the tweeter up of the dash with the driver’s side aimed at the passengers head and the passenger side aimed at the drivers head, you will have a much ‘higher sound stage’ and better ‘imaging’.

Now to the rear.
Unfortunately the guy that paid for or did this install didn’t really understand about really audio reproduction and did the worst thing you can do in a mini…. Installed full range speakers behind you, and worst TWO sets!!!

It’s simple: when you go to a gig or listen to live music, do you stand with your back to the stage? Plus the imaging that the front speaker are creating will be ruined by the rears ‘pulling it back’.

If all you want for a system is music everywhere and high volume and noise, then cool go for that… but when its possible to position speaker to get the sound reproduced correctly why would you do something different.

So basically you should remove the rear full range all together or set the 6x9’s up so they are just playing sub bass.
But I will add that 6x9’s are the work of the devil. The design is a compromise and they are the life blood of the chav and Halfords boy.


Sub bass can come from anywhere (explained here http://www.theminifo...ost__p__2288591) so its fine for subs to be installed behind you as long as adequate sound deadening has been done.


If I was in you I would remove all the speakers you have (I know big ask) put them on ebay or Talkaudio classifieds, With that money go for a best set of components I could afford and a pair of oval subs or 8” subs under the rear seats.

You has great amps and LOADS of channels, so if you don’t mind losing the front air vents you could/should go for a 3 way front end, powered actively (ditch the passive crossovers).
Something like these, http://www.talkaudio...speaker-system/

[mr.v]

Grate thanks for all that. Will look up the model numbers of the speaker.

I think I will take your advice and put them on ebay, see what I get for them and then go from there.