ideas for a quick n cheap audio upgrade

MightyBoy tech questions and answers.
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Kel
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does anyone know if cd quality is better vs plugging an ipod into headunit to play music ?? :?
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ceej
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CD quality is way better from my experience. However the iPod setup i had was one that you tune into the radio so there was interference etc. and CD's get scratched... :cry:
Garry. Nuff sed!
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Brayden
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Unless you have the very best audio system, there's no noticeable difference in quality between CD and having an iPod hard-wired to the head unit. (Assuming you don't have crap quality MP3s)

FM modulators however will only give you FM radio quality, which is rubbish.
F8B EFI turbo - Three pots and a snail.
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Kel
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delicious, alright that pretty well tells me not to bother finding a headunit with MP3/Ipod input which means it should be cheaper :wink:
can someone explain 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way speakers n stuff ?? im assuming 2-way is something like 2 speakers, 3-way is the same but with a sub or something, 4-way being front and rear left n right speakers ??

cheers
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CoinSlot
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Personally I *would* get one with iPod connection. Can't beat having so much music in such a small package. Beats hauling around your entire CD collection...


In regards to your second question: If you had 1 speaker per side (assuming a stereo setup, not 5.1 or anything crazy) you would have 1-way. 2 speakers per side that cover different frequency ranges (i.e not just 2 of the same speaker doing the same thing) you would have 2-way. Add a sub to 2-way and you have 3-way. People will talk about 3-way fronts, meaning they have 3 different speakers up front.

In regards to coaxial speakers (ones with a woofer and tweeter in the same driver) 2-way refers to it having a woofer and a tweeter. 3-way would be a woofer, a tweeter and another (which is generally another tweeter for whatever reason :roll:) Avoid any coaxial that is 3-way or higher. You're paying extra for useless crap.

Most people run 2-way fronts plus sub. It's easy to setup and is relatively cheap. Do your research and you'll have an extremely good sounding setup for minimum cost.
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Brayden
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The easy way to explain is that a 2-way speaker is essentially 2 speakers in one. You get a mid-woofer and tweeter, and they look like this:

Image

From there you go to 3 and 4-way speakers, which just adds more tweeters of different size.

Image
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coinslot wrote:Most people run 2-way fronts plus sub. It's easy to setup and is relatively cheap. Do your research and you'll have an extremely good sounding setup for minimum cost.
Exactly. A set of 6" 2 or 3-ways (or splits) plus a sub and 4 channel amp and you'll be set.
F8B EFI turbo - Three pots and a snail.
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Kel
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mkay, im thinkin 3-way (4 speakers + sub) would be plenty for the small cabin in my MB :P as for the four speakers two front 6 inch cones for front and two 6x9's for the rear ?? would that be the way to go ?? does that cover the frequencies better or something ??
annnnnnd if i put that in assuming everything is running off a 4-channel amp ?? would i be able to add like 2 tweeters and run them off the head units pre-amp ?? im thinkin of when i get a bit more money to mount 2 in the front courners of the roof ?? my mates dad used to do pro interiors n all that jazz so it should be on material rates n maybe a case :wink:
thanks everyone
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gremlin
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I'm pretty sure what coin and brayden mean is a pair of 2way coaxials or a pair of splits running off a four channel amp with a sub as well.
I'm using this set-up with cheap low quality gear (total of about 550$ of gear) and it's plenty for me. :D
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Brayden
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You're spot on, gremlin.

One pair of speakers in the doors (6" of some description) and a sub, all running off a 4 channel amp is plenty, assuming you buy decent products.
F8B EFI turbo - Three pots and a snail.
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Kel
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ahhh i see what ya mean, n bridge the 3&4th channels for the sub ?? i found a good example of what i was askin bout lol a pair of 6x9's 4way ones... audio gods model no: AG-694x
-163 x 237 m/m laminate fiber woofer
-2.5'' PP midbass
-1.6'' PP midrange
-1'' PP tweeter
frequency response: 28 Hz - 32 KHz
Sensativity (dB spl): 98-dB @ w/m
strontium magnet
4 ohms impendance

freebies off dad from one of his old cars... so would they run alright ??
thanks again.
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Brayden
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They will run okay, but ruin your sound stage. What you want is speakers in the front, and subs in the rear - otherwise it all blurs to mush.
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Kel
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sound stage eh ?? lol i see *shifty eyes* so what would you recommend a pair of 2-way coxial 6x9's and a sub ?? any specific size sub ?? im thinkin just mount them in the back shelfy dealy with the amp hidden under one side and the sub sitting ontop inbetween the 6x9's in its box ??
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CoinSlot
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Subs up front if you can manage it :D Although you're long past insane when you start trying that (like me :lol:)

Splits > co-ax. Having the tweeter seperate from the woofer allows for greater tuning abilty by being able to position them whereever sounds best.
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ceej
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If you want 6x9's in the back and a sub you might want to put something more mid-high range up front like splits in the door. I have 3-way 6x9's in the back, two 12"subs on the rear shelf and 4" 2-ways in the door. sounds fairly good!
Garry. Nuff sed!
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Kel
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mkay i get that now 8) lol only way to learn i suppose !! im more into working with metal but im lovin learnin bout electronics and car audio aswell... dam yr 12 takes up so much time that i could be spending doing other things :wink:
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