2, 3, or 4 way speakers? thoughts and opinions?

[bellathetsx]

Hi all! I have been thinking about upgrading my speakers on my 08 tsx? I have read many different review about which brands to use but no discussion of which is best, either 2, 3, or 4 way speakers? I want to upgrade my system and eventually will add a amp but unsure of which speakers wil be best. Any thoughts? I have a preference for pioneer, infinity and alpines. Any suggestions?

Maybe in the future I will also add a jl clean sweep. I'm looking for good highs in the fronts and lows from the rear, I really don't want to add a subwoofer!

[cYn]

If you want to use the 6x9 as sub woofers, don't buy a 6x9 solely for hard hitting bass because our rear deck is thin. So thin that my 2x100 watt Polk 6x9 make rattles. Also, you don't get the same quality bass as sub woofers that are enclosed. Our 6x9 are free air sub woofers so they give off nasty sounding bass sometimes.

I would suggest a 3 way 6x9 because they give off a more "surround sound" because I can now hear the highs coming from the rear. I can't suggest any brand but mine are polk audios and I don't regret them.

You said that you wanted good highs in the front, then I can tell you that the Polk MM6501 component system gives off a very good high from the tweeters.

[bellathetsx]

What would be the difference between using componets vs a 4 way speaker for the front?

[cYn]

I have never had 4 way speakers before so I can't chime in on those. This is my second component speakers and every time I upgrade, the tweeters (the highs) are much better than stock. The mids I can hardly tell sometimes because the highs overlap them.

[Phisigbrotha]

Clean sweep isnt needed in the TSX. The stock head unit puts out a flat signal. The signal coming out of the factory is not though. 4 way speakers are worthless. For the front, look for a good set of 6.5" components and the rear some 2 way 6.5" coaxials. More than a 2 way for the rear deck is unnecessary since the rear deck signal coming out of the amp is low pass only.

[cYn]

Originally Posted by Phisigbrotha

More than a 2 way for the rear deck is unnecessary since the rear deck signal coming out of the amp is low pass only.

Are you talking in terms of using the stock amp? Because I have 3-way 6x9 running through a 4 channel amp and I get both low pass (from the woofers) and high pass (from the tweeters). I love the 3-way 6x9 because I can hear the highs from behind me.

Also, if you did run the 3-way 6x9 through the stock amp, couldn't you run a cross over on the 6x9 to enable the tweeters? (this is where my knowledge lacks so you can correct me on this)

[Phisigbrotha]

Originally Posted by cYn

Are you talking in terms of using the stock amp? Because I have 3-way 6x9 running through a 4 channel amp and I get both low pass (from the woofers) and high pass (from the tweeters). I love the 3-way 6x9 because I can hear the highs from behind me.

Also, if you did run the 3-way 6x9 through the stock amp, couldn't you run a cross over on the 6x9 to enable the tweeters? (this is where my knowledge lacks so you can correct me on this)

Yeah with the stock amp has a low pass crossover for the rear deck 6x9s so only low frequencies are played.

To get highs from the 6x9s an aftermarket amp would be needed and it would need to get its signal from the headunit not from the factory amp.

Many car audiophiles would discourage too much rear fill and would probably keep the rear deck for bass so the back doesnt overpower the front.

[orgasm_donor]

Originally Posted by Phisigbrotha

4 way speakers are worthless. For the front, look for a good set of 6.5" components and the rear some 2 way 6.5" coaxials. More than a 2 way for the rear deck is unnecessary since the rear deck signal coming out of the amp is low pass only.

X2.
3-way and 4-way speakers are all about marketing. A midbass with a tweeter and a sort-of mini-mid tweeter type thingy is kind of poop. Its just too many drivers in one little place.

Components are where its at. A good quality midbass and tweet are all you need for your fronts. Jam some coaxials in your doors and take out your 6X9's. 6X9's are NOT subwoofers! They are midbass drivers that can play low frequencies at low volumes. Once you start to turn them up, you get what is called 'crappy sound'. If you want to play deep bass, get a subwoofer.

[Phisigbrotha]

^ chuuch!

[cYn]

Hey guys, for my 6.5 component speakers, my mids aren't giving off bass. Like in some cars, I can feel bass coming from the door speakers. But with this new Polk 6.5, I don't feel any bass coming from the door speakers. Is that normal?

[orgasm_donor]

Originally Posted by cYn

Hey guys, for my 6.5 component speakers, my mids aren't giving off bass. Like in some cars, I can feel bass coming from the door speakers. But with this new Polk 6.5, I don't feel any bass coming from the door speakers. Is that normal?

Thats pretty normal. OEM speakers are designed to play lower frequencies to make up for the lack of bass in factory speakers. By doing this they tend to sacrifice pretty much any quality midrange or mid-high. You probably also notice that your highs sound a lot cleaner and clearer than ever before and all of your vocals are wayyy better right? Thats the sacrifice.

That said, if you use good power (100 watts per channel minimum), sound deaden the door properly and equalize the system correctly, you will get your mid-bass back.

When I sell components, I almost always suggest buying a small subwoofer so the entire frequency range is covered and your mid-bass can be taxed less.

[cYn]

Originally Posted by orgasm_donor

Thats pretty normal. OEM speakers are designed to play lower frequencies to make up for the lack of bass in factory speakers. By doing this they tend to sacrifice pretty much any quality midrange or mid-high. You probably also notice that your highs sound a lot cleaner and clearer than ever before and all of your vocals are wayyy better right? Thats the sacrifice.

That said, if you use good power (100 watts per channel minimum), sound deaden the door properly and equalize the system correctly, you will get your mid-bass back.

When I sell components, I almost always suggest buying a small subwoofer so the entire frequency range is covered and your mid-bass can be taxed less.

Thank you for the info. I was afraid the installer did it wrong (I didn't install it myself for my lack of knowledge in amp installation).

You are right though, my highs in the front are MUCH better. I can hear the vocals so much better and when I turn the volume higher, the sound is still clear instead of distortion like the OEM ones. This makes freeway driving more enjoyable. I really don't mind the lack of mid-bass since my 6x9 give off a good amount of bass already.

I actually didn't make the decision to go 3-way 6x9. My girl friend surprised me for Christmas with speakers and I didn't want to hurt her feelings by returning it for something else. So I stuck with it.

Thanks for the extensive info though. You got repped for that.

[bellathetsx]

so from my understanding then


componets on the front
2 or 3 way speakers for the rear door
and 2 ways for the rear deck

is this correct?

any brand recomendations?

[orgasm_donor]

Originally Posted by bellathetsx

so from my understanding then


componets on the front
2 or 3 way speakers for the rear door
and 2 ways for the rear deck

is this correct?

any brand recomendations?

I would say skip either the rear door speakers OR the rear deck speakers. For price and quality you can look at Polk Audio DB series.

[molder]

Originally Posted by orgasm_donor

I would say skip either the rear door speakers OR the rear deck speakers. For price and quality you can look at Polk Audio DB series.

I've got Alpine Type-S and they're great as other people have said too. I recommend doing the rear deck instead of the rear door as it's really simple and you don't have to take anything apart.