Happy New Year Everyone!!

Im looking for some audio guidance, as Im not really too knowledgable about how to tackle this issue.

In the most simple sense, I want my stereo louder, AND I want to add a subwoofer. I am probably going to order that custom box from the vendor on here, that much I know already. Af of now, I dont want to get into changing out all my speakers, just put more power to them. This is my first question, how many channels do I need for an amplifier for my inside speakers? I will no longer be using the stock sub when all is said and done, so I don't need to power that.

Sorry if my direction is unclear, I'll try and clarify it if it is not. I'm trying to make this as simple of an improvement to the sound as possible, as the stock sound is good, but just not enough for me. I find myself turning the volume into mid 30s just to feel like it has a good volume, I think that is going too far IMO

 

I believe 5 channel with the sub, so it would be 4 channel without the sub hooked up.

 

That's what I was thinking also, but I know someone has probably done what I'm shooting for, so I was trying to see what others have done. I'm still a new owner, and I'm looking for direction!!

Allow me to ask, does the center channel do anything unless you are using the HFL? Because I dont use mine now, maybe I will one day, but I dont now at least.

 

Might be best to get enough channels to separate the tweets from the mids and add an active crossover. Not sure how long they would last with more power and just the OEM cap on them. With the center and rears included, assuming channels for the tweets you will need a grand total of 7.

 

I'm going to run 2 amplifiers, I think that is just the best way for me to do this, for space purposes. One for the subs, and then I guess 1 4 channel for everything else and I'll pair the tweeters into 2 of those channels.

 

I believe that the factory amp has separate outputs for the tweets which indicates an active crossover. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong). This means that if you wanted to run the rears on a 4 channel amp, you would need passive crossovers. The center channel creates the sound stage, so I definitely recommend leaving that in.

I recommend this: keep your factory amp on the center channel and on the rear mid-range speakers. Get a 4 channel amp with LPF/HPF capabilities on each pair and hook that up to your front mid range and tweets. Get a 2nd amp for your sub (sounds like you already planned on that). This will definitely increase the loudness of the factory system. Be careful though, I think the factory speakers are 2 ohms so make sure it can handle a low impedance. This thread should help with that: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-94/els-stock-speaker-specs-size-imped-depth-556521/

Do you have the Dolby signal processing enabled? I found that if you turn that off, the output is louder.

 

I read your reply 3 times and im not really sure what you are going for with leaving in the stock amp? And the signal processing, im not sure if this is on or off... How do I check?

 

I would leave the factory amp and center alone. Disconnect the factory sub. Add a 5 channel amp to run 4 new speakers (components front, coax rear) and then add the sub of your choice.

This will be the simplest way to get to where you want to go.

 

Now I'm getting more and more "simple" because this is only one amp option.

Sorry to sound so uninformed though I am... I would leave the original amp in, but what would be its purpose? Then I'd add in a 5 channel, the tweeters and front door speakers on 1 channel each.... 1 channel each for the rears.. and then 1 for the sub correct? Totaling 5 channels.... I'm not trying to take away the platform in which they intended for the car, just get more sound out of it, and bass... which will come from the externally added subwoofer.

 

Let me break it down for you bro!!



First, you must understand what's in the car, and for that I have attached the wiring diagram from the service manual, with some annotations. With this in focus, it's a good time to explain the reason for retaining the factory amp. First, you get to keep your center channel speaker. You want to do this because it creates a sound stage. It doesn't need to be ridiculously clear or very loud, but it sounds much better. Second, it's much easier (and cheaper I think) to get a signal processor that uses "speaker level inputs".

What does that mean, you say? A speaker level input is a high-power signal that powers the actual speaker, as opposed to a low-power signal which is fed into the amp. The amp does just that: amplify the low-power signal to a high-power signal. So, what you want to do is to disconnect the factory speakers from the amp and use the outputs of the amp to feed a signal processor. Here is an example of one just so you know what I'm talking about: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_161LC6I...C6i-White.html AudioControl is a popular brand of these.

The purpose of this device is to take high-power speaker signals that are coming out of your factory amp and convert them to low-power audio signals. These low power signals then get sent to the aftermarket amp, are amplified, and then finally sent to the speakers. Poor signals, pushed around like that.

Anywho. This is where it gets interesting. You have some options in your setup. I suggest you select whether or not you want 1 or 2 amps first.
Pros of 2 amps: If you have a dedicated amp for the subs, you can much more freely select your subs without affecting the rest of the system design. Especially if you want to swap them for something different later. You can also select more powerful subs. You also expand the amplifier selection immensely! There are far more combinations of mono/4ch amps than there are 5ch amps.
Cons of 2 amps: more space, could be a little bit more expensive.

I drew some block diagrams to help you understand how this would all be connected. You'll notice that the center channel stays connected to the factory amp indefinitely. Also, please note that I drew in some passive crossovers for the factory front mids/tweets. According to the wiring diagram in the service manual, these X-overs are optional as you can just hook the mids/tweets up in parallel. BUT BE CAREFUL! I believe that these speakers are 2 ohms or so, making it more difficult to find an amp that isn't going to overload the speakers/underload the amp. You'll need one that's 2-Ohm stable.





Yes, this is a lot of work for a system that is just "louder". At this point, you might as well dump some extra cash and get a good set of components to put in the front too.

 

Just re-read your original post. Replace the speakers. The stockers won't like the extra power. Most decent 4 channel amps will be 2 ohm stereo stable allowing you to connect the factory speakers, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

Vlad, Thank you!!
That did make it a bit easier to understand. And in regards to your posting, I have also already thought about adding in some front components into the car because I did read about the omhs on the stock are not going to be the easiest to power with aftermarket amps. I dont mind adding in the additional expense of adding in a component set for the front, I was more getting lost on the keeping the stock amp in.
Im asking all these questions so that when I go to my desired installer, I can tell them what I want, incase they are not versed on the Acura soundsystem. Additionally, I think I would prefer to run 2 amps in the setup instead of 1. I just think it would be easier to find a 4 channel then a 5 with enough power for the sub for my liking. I still have not decided on 10inch or 12inch but I know I am going to do that custom enclosure that I saw on there. Thank you all again. Im trying to understand it all, and make this thing what I want audio wise. I think I now know everything I need to start getting ready to buy: 1 or 2 amplifiers - 2 component sets(Dont know what size we need as I read there is some plastic housing thats in there because our sizing is weird) - subwoofer - and coaxials for the rear. Im getting excited again I must say! Thanks guys!

 

Awesome dude, glad you're learning something! If I were you and had a goal of just going louder, I would get 2 amps. I would leave the center and rear speakers untouched (connected to factory amp). 1 of my amps would power a sub/subs, and the other would be a 2 channel amp for the fronts. I would purchase a drop-in set of components (just one set for the front). This means you spend less on the amp (4 ch vs 2), less on the processor (only need a 2 channel processor), less on speakers (you don't gain much volume by upgrading the rears, and it generally damages the sound stage unless it's tuned correctly). This is basically option 2 except a 2 channel amp instead of a 4 channel amp, and the RR and RL speakers stay connected to the factory amp.

This is the most bang for your buck you'll get in terms of your goal of having a louder system. The next best improvement would be to apply some sound deadening/dampening to get the most out of what you already have.

 

I think I will still do the 4 channel, though I understand your logic totally about the 2 channel. I do want to change speakers to make sure it is clear and crisp sounding with more volume. Im not looking to have the clarity of a movie theater in my car, just improved and so i dont need to turn the volume on the headunit into the mid 30s.

Gonna try and get some recommendations on components from other owners in here, because I do need 2 sets for both front doors. But I do not want to spend 300 a pair either. lol

 

Typically when you're talking about a "set" of components, it refers to a pair of tweeters, a pair of woofers, and a pair passive crossovers. So if you're just doing the fronts, you only need one set.

Nothing wrong with amping the rears and a 4 channel amp would save you $$ and space. The tricky thing is that your aftermarket front components will probably load 4 ohm impedance on each channel and take a bit of power (north of 60W per channel @ 4 ohms). This means that the 4ch amp should produce something in the neighborhood of 50W@4Ohms which would be 75W@2Ohms (factory rear speaker impedance). This becomes a problem because I think they can only handle something like 30W so you might burn the coils.

How do you avoid this? Get a 4 ch amp that does ~40-50W per channel @ 2Ohms and is bridgeable. You can connect the rears each to a channel and they won't be too over powered. And you can get more power to the fronts by bridging the 4 ohm components you're going to buy resulting in a 2 ohm load bridged across 2 channels. You might see a rating like 110W bridged, but that's shared between the pairs, so 55W to each tweet/woof pair.

I honestly think you'll get a louder system by leaving the rears on the factory amp and getting a beefy set of components with a beefy 2 channel amp. You can go higher with the power if you don't have to worry about burning out the rears.

If this sounds like french to you, check this out. http://crutchfield.custhelp.com/app/...bXk1M3lJTGw%3D
Crutchfield has a lot of good info on how this is all done. Try their search function. They have diagrams and videos and all sorts of stuff.

As far as recommendations for components, if your only goal is volume, then look for a name brand that's on sale. I have personally had positive experiences with Alpine, Sony, Kicker, Hifonics, Pioneer, and Rockford Fosgate drivers. Find a pair on sale for the most bang for your buck!

 

It mostly made sense HAHA!!

I know people get into these non standard store brands memphis- focal ect ect which I dont know much about but they seem to be good. I want clean-crisp and just a little louder, and then some bottom end, but that I'm not looking to do science to accomplish. I know clarity, being able to bring out the full compliment of sounds that you might find in r&b, soul music I want present. I know some cars come with a premium sound system factory, but I'd like a bit more. Thank you for your help though, I'm learning more and more each post!

 

I got your back dude!!! Do you have any specific questions??

Yeah man it sounds like any of the brands I mentioned are right up your alley. Plus a few others. JL Audio, Polk, and Kenwood make decent drivers too. Your goal screams to me: find the best deal on a component set by one of these brands and get a two channel amp for it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Your bottom end will come from the subs, which I recommend all of the same brands for. They will give you the most bang for your buck.

 

Question, tell me If I am on the right path of understanding. So going the direction in which you mentioned would be the following:

Replace the 2 front speakers with a component set and run a 2 channel amp.
Leave the rears and front center speaker on the stock amp.
Disconnect the stock sub, and add in a sub and amp.

Am i correct? Also, say I go this way and then want to power the rears (say i dont like the sound). Then would I be just replacing them, changing my 2 channel to a 4 channel?

 

You have it exactly right. Haha I would actually feel really bad if you weren't happy with just the fronts.

 

That boy LUDA!
@Jperk

 

Vlad, do you know anything of this direct replacement amp that I think Uncld4 was offering on the forum? Just considering all the options before I start buying anything. Might that be enough to power a component set up front, give a bit more to the rears? Then I'd only need to buy the sub amp

 

^smart man. Educate yourself before spending your hard-earned cash. Do you have a link? I'm not familiar.

 

whats im speaking of is this:
https://acurazine.com/forums/sponsored-sales-group-buys-10/3rd-gen-tl-pnp-amplifier-upgrade-836276/

Is it true that JL amps are the best in producing the most true power? I'm going to start looking at 2 channel amps now. I just dont know how this would sound because I know technically all the speakers are amplified, but the fronts would be more amp'd than the rears, would it sound "off" ?

But im heartbroken to know that Ucld4 is no longer on the forum!! I dont know where I'm going to get a box for now, as I wanted his enclosure for my TL !!