Car Audio Gurus......help me build me a system!!!!!!

[Hamburgerpimp]

I want to upgrade the system in my Tacoma. I want to keep the stock CD deck. Right now, I have one way 6X9 speakers in the front and back for a total of 4. I also have a small tweeter in each door. I just want to replace all the speakers with Infinity Kappa Series, but don't know if I should go with the 692.5i 2 ways or 693.5i 3 ways? And do I replace the tweeters in the doors or keep them? Lastly, I'll get a 4 channel PPI PCX4125 amp which is 125WX4. Please advise so I don't mess something up. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[d33pt]

I have the 3 way kappas with Emit tweeters and i really like them alot. That PPI amp is pretty nice, more than enough power IMO. I run mine with 75w/chan amp. Another route you can go is get a component set for the front which will replace the tweeters. I'd just keep the stock speakers in the rear because it's just rear fill and you don't want tweeters to pull the image to the rear.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

First step... ditch the stock deck. I know you'd like to keep it, but if you run an amp... you'll have to use line converters. I've seen people blow their stock radios because they were feeding such a crazy amount of voltage to the amp.

 

[Doodoo]

Id get the 2 ways since you already have tweeters. Everything sounds good, except make sure you check the ohms of ur original speakers. You could keep the tweeters if their 4ohms i think. Are all your speakers being run off a stock amp or off the head unit? If its a stock amp, make sure you get the ohms right when u disconnect the other speakers. Oh and if u get tweeters...u can get the component set by inifity that includes the crossover.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

It all runs from the stock deck. But, I would like to keep it. d33pt, what channel amp should I run? Also, do you have 2 Kappas and 2 tweeters or 4 Kappas and 2 tweeters?

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

My friend just emailed me with this:

Your tweeters will carry the "highs" without needing a lot of power-don't upgrade them unless it comes with the package you want. Besides, it's very hard to blow them. You will get a some better bass from a bigger amp, but it's hard to get great sound with these Tacoma door mounts anyway.

 

[Shockwave]

Interesting.
The Kappa series is a pretty good series. I think theres better for the money, but thats a new thread

If I were you, I'd dump any thought of rear fill. Run eithr the 2 way's or 3 ways, it shouldnt matter. The 3 ways could probably handle a bit more power. Also, PPI is a strong amp name, but not as strong as they were in the early 90's. Still good though. You want 1 channel on the amp per side of components.

Thus, 1 component set (Left & Right) you want a 2 channel amp. Most aftermarket amps wont have a problem running the resistance the speakers provide, so dont worry too much about speaker resistance until you do a sub.

SO, it sounds like you just want some better sound, not to actually compete. Thus, IN YOUR CASE, rear fill is up to you. Generally, competition systems want zero rear fill as the point is to mimic being at the live performance, where everything would come from in front of you.

As for tweeters, I would DEFINATELY change out the stock tweets. Heres the deal that everyone overlooks. Everybody spends countless hours deciding on a sub, then runs out to the buy the first component set they can find. Heres food for thought. Its much MUCH easier to hear distortion and other artifacts in music in the middle to high frequency range then it is in the low range. So, shouldnt you spend more time on selecting mids and highs? Yep

Swap the stock tweet, if its high on the dash give it a 10k hi pass, run the comps in either factory or preferably kickpanel mounts. You could keep the factory tweets up high, then run the comp set together (The ideal scenario, as it blends better) But still, any tweet mounted up high, if it was me, would have a high pass X-O set very high (10 or 12K) or very little power.

SO! To cut to the chase...

I'd buy 1 set of components, and a 4 channel amp if the price was right. From there, you can throw some midbass in the back later if you'd like. The 4 channel amp gives you flexibility. Personally, I'd find the cheapest amp that gives you the power you need. Essentially, amps are pretty much the same. Watts are watts. Anything other then the flea market crap (Pyramid etc). JBL comes to mind for a good budget amp. Run 1 4 channel amp, 1 set of components and the optional tweet is up to you (As far as up high)

My 2 cents.

^^Why the hell was I thinking components? *L* Either way, I'd do the 3 way if I were you. If you can, go audition them somewhere. Speakers sound very different, and you have to find one that sounds good to you. Anyways, 3 way.

Components...Jeez....Off to find coffee......

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Sh1t, that's a little over my head. When you say a set of components, do you mean 2 or 4 speakers. And what Tweeters do you recommend?

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

And if I get a 4 channel amp with 4 Kappa 3 way speakers and 2 tweeters, I'll be already to go? Except installation of course. Here's what I'm looking at, but I may or may not buy off Ebay:

Kappa Tweeters

Kappa Speakers

PPI 4 Channel Amp

 

[Shockwave]

You could run the 4 3 way's off the amp, and run the tweets off the stock deck. You can also wire up 1 3 way and 1 tweet to 1 channel of an amp, so you'd have 1 tweet / 3 way on 2 channels and the other 2 channels for just 3 way's.

But, yes. You would be set except install.

2 things. Why the extra tweets. The tweets on those infinity's should be pretty good. Also, are you sure the Tacoma takes 6x9's in the factory locations, or do you plan on doing some cutting?

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

2 things. Why the extra tweets. The tweets on those infinity's should be pretty good. Also, are you sure the Tacoma takes 6x9's in the factory locations, or do you plan on doing some cutting?

Well, you suggested I replace the tweeters. Also, I checked and all 4 Tacoma speakers are 6X9's.

 

[Shockwave]

Well, you CAN replace the tweets. Its completely up to you. I dont think you'll need to, but yes, you can. Those 6x9 tweets should be plenty. If I were you (Now with a better picture in my head) I would just do the 6x9's for now and see what you think of it. 4 6x9's AND tweets would be alot of highs!

I try the KISS rule to audio. Also, as far as sound stage, its hosed anyways with 4 6x9's so you dont have to worry about lifting it, thus I would not do th tweets. Just run the 4 6x9's and see what you think.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Hamburgerpimp
I want to upgrade the system in my Tacoma. I want to keep the stock CD deck. Right now, I have one way 6X9 speakers in the front and back for a total of 4. I also have a small tweeter in each door. I just want to replace all the speakers with Infinity Kappa Series, but don't know if I should go with the 692.5i 2 ways or 693.5i 3 ways? And do I replace the tweeters in the doors or keep them? Lastly, I'll get a 4 channel PPI PCX4125 amp which is 125WX4. Please advise so I don't mess something up. Any advice is appreciated.

Are you sure you have 6x9, and not 6x8? What year is your truck?

 

[KevinH]

As far as 6x8 vs 6x9....believe me, making a bigger speaker fit in a smaller hole is BEYOND possible with little more than a jigsaw. That ish is moot. If it's relatively close to 6x9, u can fit a 6x9.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Hmmm, I've had people say 6X8 and 6X9, I'm just gonna take the things out myself and see before I order anything!

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
First step... ditch the stock deck. I know you'd like to keep it, but if you run an amp... you'll have to use line converters. I've seen people blow their stock radios because they were feeding such a crazy amount of voltage to the amp.

When you power an amp, you run a line directly from the battery, giving it a relatively constant voltage between 12-15 volts. After that, you run the remote wire, which sends 12 volts to "wake up" the amp from your head unit. I've used LOCs (Line output converters) over and over without a problem.

If you're looking for an excellent and inexpensive 4 channel amp, look on ebay for a Legacy 1200 or 1600 amp. I've had one for over two years and i just got my friend one, and we both have nothing but good praises about the amp.

-=bmacd=-

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

I'll check that out.

 

[d33pt]

Sh1t, that's a little over my head. When you say a set of components, do you mean 2 or 4 speakers. And what Tweeters do you recommend?

Component set means that it will come with a separate tweeter and midbass unit. So the midbass would replace the speaker in your door and the tweeter would replace the tweeters you already have. They also come with the crossover that you will need. The 2 and 3 way speakers you are talking about are called coaxials.

components
coaxials