Hey everyone,

I'm putting together my shopping list for my audio overhall and was wondering what everyone who has upgraded their center speaker is using to power that thing. I have a JL 450/4 for the mains and a 500/1 for the sub, but I can't figure out what to use for the center speaker. Anyone have any good recommendations on an amp to use?

Also, is it ok to run I/O guage power from the battery and split 3 ways with a distribution block to power all 3 amps? Or is that too much strain on the alternator? Or do I not even know what I am talking about? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Since my Alpine 4 channel is currently powering my four cabin speakers, I decided to use an old small amp I had left over. I can't make any amp recommendations, but I can tell you how I have it set up.

I am running a 4 channel amp to power the center speaker. The cool thing about using the four channel is that I can run 35 Watts to my Polk center speaker(35W RMS), while bridging the other two channels to run 70 watts for my 6x9 speaker that I put in the trunk in a sealed box. I can allow my 6x9 to receive a full range signal, while applying a crossover to the center speaker on the other channel.

I am using 1/0 gauge wire with a distribution block to power 3 amplifiers. I am currently running a total of 1000 watts RMS with no problems.

Link to my install:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-94/tech14-complete-audio-installation-643839/

 

ditch the center

music is 2 channel, left and right.

 

No need to amp the center channel as all music plays on 2 channels only. It's a waste of money.

The only way to take advantage of the center channel for music is to get DVD audio discs.

 

I had difficulty getting a center speaker signal from my current LOC, and decided to use the RCA preout from the Alpine 4 channel amp. The center speaker gets the left signal, and the 6x9 gets the right. I think it sounds more full. To each his own.

 

Unless you are playing DVD-A. The differences in sound quality between CD and DVD-A are quite significant and if you want to realize the full potential of DVD-A you should invest in a decent center channel.

 

who still uses dvd-a?

people usually use cd's or mp3 players

 

Thanks for the input everyone.

Eggy,

What about the voice command stuff for the navi? All of that comes through the center speaker. Are you saying I should leave the center hooked up to the OEM amp and not bother upgrading it? At one point, that was my plan to save some bucks and headache...

 

i'm not sure how that works since i have a 2nd gen non navi

maybe that can be tapped into.

 

I was going to rewire everything from after the OEM amp and run it into a 3sixty. I guess I could just leave the center channel alone and rewire everything else. That should work fine.

 

I second this.

 

*I* seconded it... you're gonna have to go ahead and get behind me.

giggity giggity

 

correct. that's what I did. I am using the OEM amp for the center channel.

 

depending on the model and year of the TL, the center speaker can be used quite a bit or not at all.

In navi models, the center speaker is used for voice commands, and direction response
In 2004-2006 models, the center speaker is used for DVD-A and Navigation voice.
In 2007-2008 models, the center speaker is used for DVD-A, Dolby Pro Logic II and the navigation voice.

With Dolby Pro Logic II, the audio is "recalculated" to become simulated 5.1. The center speaker is used for the mid and higher range of sound. The front speakers produce mid-range and slight low range. The sub in the back produces low range. The speakers in the back are speakers for "the bounce off effect" which delay the signal by milliseconds to simulate sound traveling to the back of the car. As well it replays the higher notes since those are the most likely to bounce off.

Either way, messing with it is going to be a bit more complicated.


Music is not only 2 channels, it can be as many as 11 channels The TL supports 6 channel audio and most folks with 07-08 models use all 6.

The best bet for the OP would be to post the model and year of his TL for a better response.

 

Thanks man, I didn't know all of that stuff. I have a 2007 TL S Type with Navi.

csmeance, do you think that it is worth it to replace the center?

 

you can have 40 speakers

music is still 2 channel.

ditch the center channel and get a good front stage

 

shoot, just when i thought upgrading my system (with center) was already challenging enough...

so no one really upgrades their center? they just remove it, is this what im getting?

i have no navi, what is recommended for someone who just wants to hear music?

 

a good front stage

some decent rear fill(if u want it)

good 4 channel amp

 

you do not want to remove it, you will need it for your HFL.

 

the center is generally left alone since it does HFL and navi functions. If you want to hear just music, leave it alone, its not harming your music experience unless you want to feed it pure 5.1 audio.

 

If you use the Dolby Pro Logic II function, replace it and amp it. If not, leave it alone, its only being used for Navi and HFL functions.

 

I upgraded my center to one of the Infinities. And the reason I bought a 6 channel amp was to retain the center.

But I get the best sound on regular CDs with the center off and I don't own a DVD-A disk so I ended up bridging the amp for more power and left the center to run on the stock amp. Looking back, I would not have bought the Infinity for the center.

 

What happens during regular stereo audio listening -- is the center channel even on?

 

Why that's just crazy talk.


Do you mean you're a purist and think the music should be played in a "purer" mode? If so, perhaps you mean ditch the L & R, music is meant to be Mono. That's how recorded music began.

But surely you don't/can't mean that, so I won't pursue it further.


Perhaps you mean exactly what you wrote: "music is two channel". But if so, I'm guessing your being a hypocrite. You *do* use the LF, RF, LR, RR don't you. Isn't that 4-channel? Do you use the Sub too? If so, that makes 5.

Perhaps you mean "Music was meant to be Stereo". Really? Do you think that's how it was recorded? No. More like a mix of Stereo and Mono Channels. 12, 18, 24 channels; maybe more. Why don't you play it back that way? We can't can we? - there is no 24-channel commerical mix available; and we don't have 24 channels to play it back anyhow.

So what you *must* mean is that the music you listen to was "optimized to be played back in Stereo". If so, in the TL, stereo playback does not even go through the Center Front speaker. Turn it all the way up and all the way off - nothing happens. So, no need to "ditch" the center speaker if you listen to Stereo recordings, just ignore it.

However, there is some really good DVD-A, DTS and even - gasp - simulated surround. And for *that* the center channel is an integral part.

BTW - a lot of people *listen* to MP3, but on a decent system, MP3 sounds like shit compared to even homemade DVD-A from original source material. And compared to Commercial DVD-A or DTS it's barely even music.

 

No music comes through it. Try it - turn it all the way up and all the way off - no change in the sound of the music.


It is "on" for HFL/Navi, but not "on" with regard to the stereo playback.

 

you're thinking way too much into this

music is not surround sound.

you don't need a damn center channel for regular music cds or even mp3s so why bother to use it? and who still uses dvd-a?

 

cool, that solves my main conflict. i'll keep center on stock set up, thanks guys!

 

I said that. With (so called) 2-channel music the Center is NOT operative. Why are you so worried about "ditching" it? It's needed for Navi/HFL.







Thats the same as saying "Music is not Stereo." Maybe you'd like real stereo, one mono input, output to two equidistant speakers?

In fact, music is whatever the artist/engineer makes it - whether you like it or not.


DVD-A is a great medium; too bad it never took off. Who uses it? Acura owners with taste in good sounding music. The real question is: Why do insist on missing out?

 

I've tried it and some sound comes from it in normal stereo mode. With it turned to max I hate the way the stereo sounds. I keep mine turned off.

 

Unless its a theater the sound belongs in front of you. The exception is the sub, but you can't localize those frequencies anyways

 

Yeah, I listened to my center channel (put my ear right up to it .. had to be in the passenger seat to do this) during regular ipod stereo listening .. and yes, there is sound that comes through it ..

however, there isn't an appreciable difference when going from -6 to +6 .. it's very subtle. In the 2009 TL, the difference in stereo audio volume through the center is MUCH more significant when going from minimum setting to maximum setting (and this was using stereo, NOT prologic, so don't flame me)