Audio n00b needs help!

[TURBOgls]

Ok, so my birthday was on tuesday, and i got some money i will be putting into my car. I want to start off with the sound system. I already have a JVC KD-LX100 amplified headunit. I want to get these (http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=13690) speakers for the front doors, but will i have to run more wires for the tweeters in the speakers? Also, how hard is it to install an enclosed subwoofer box in my own driveway? I'm a bit sceptical about ripping the inside of my car out and running wires, thanks for your input!

[Munky]

When I took my door panels off for the first time to install speakers, there were already wires ran for the tweeders taped to the speaker harness, with a plastic connector already on them. If it doesn't connect correctly to the new speakers, splice the wires in.

[Ugzz]

yes, the tweeters and speakers should already have their own wires run and you should be set. either get the elantra harness adapters or just cut the wires from the stock speakers and splice them into the new ones. whichever..

as for that speaker, its not bad, but remember its an entry level pioneer. even the 5 ways are more entry level. after having every brand CC and BB offered i moved away from pioneer due to overall sound quality. the only pioneers i ever loved were the ones with compression horns and they discontinued them fast :(.
if your open to other sugestions in that same price range i would go alpine s type or perhaps infinity ref series. they should be similar in price anyway. if your stuck on it, they are an ok speaker. just not my personal fav.

as for the question, can i install an enclosed sub in my driveway.. i dont know what your asking. to install an enclosed sub just get a prefab box, drop the speaker in, connect the wire and screw it in.. its done, just set it in the car and wire it to an amp! -its getting the amp in the trunk thats more of the pain.. and even thats not too bad if you follow the DIYs for running power wire.

as for ripping your car apart you dont need to do much other then take the door panels off really. you can run all wires and everythign over the carpet and not rip up a single thing.. now if you want a clean sub install you can pull your carpeting altogether, run the wires and such and then just cut a slit in the carpet where you want them to come up and get a clean profestional looking install. but its up to you. i mean ive done a ton of installs and i only rip up the carpet and make it all nice and neat if im doing it for someone else or if im being paid lol. if its for me i could care less hehe

[Munky]

Another good suggestion would be Polk audio, that's what I have in my doors.

Also...you can get compression horns here (http://www.cardomain.com/shoplist~t~Horn+Loaded+Compression+Drivers). Not pioneer, but still good.

Before paying $75 for Pioneers, check out the brands here (http://www.cardomain.com/shoptype/2-Way+Speakers).

[Ugzz]

^munky, those horns are redic! and id makes GOOD STUFF! ive seenthose b4, but never had that kinda $$ to toss hehe. Also the pioneers i had were actually 6x9s with a full rubber 6x9 cone, but instead of tweeters they had two sets of compression horns mounted right into the magnet.. they were swankadelic!

and yeah, polks are good, i just got anti-polk in 2004-2005 when giving any polk speaker over the rms would fry the tweeters instantly. any speaker should be able to handle over its rms by a little amount as long as you keep your gains set proper and the volume down :P
/end polk rant
but on the flipside i see a ton of people runnin them now and liking them. (even seen them in comps) and if you go to CC they have polk component sets that sounds damn good for the price.

also id check out here: http://sonicelectronix.com/viewcat.php?id=47&show_description=1&show_available_items_only=0&show_thumbnails=1&request_url_name=6-1-2---speakers&&&page=2

id ignore anything on page 1, and only start really paying attention to stuff around the 70-80 price range.. you really do more often then not, get what you pay for. As long as you find a dealer who isnt a rip off that is..

now those are all 6.5 coax just like the pioneer you chose, if you find the cash, components realy do sound way better. and if you have a factory tweeter.. well you already have a place to mount a new one! so id say Go For It!. comps sounds awesome.. and you can get NICE sets for just over 100$ nowadays:
http://sonicelectronix.com/cat_i29_6-1-2---component-systems.html

ignore anything under 100$ and start there. you got alpine, jl, infinity, kicker, polk all in that nice 100-140 price range. all good sets. Go out to a local store like CC or BB and listen to a few coax, then listen to some components, its like night and day at least imo..

no one can tell you whats good and whats the best.. but we can tell you whats crap hehe. and those pioneers you chose were imo not the best.. so id look around

*i just have to add i was playin some oldschool gauntlet legends yesterday and when i say this thread i immediately thought "audio n00b needs food badly!" yeah im dumn.. its cool haha

[TURBOgls]

thanks guys! another question: do i need to run a power wire from my headunit to power the speakers, or are the wires that are in the door already amplied by it?

[DJ Hellfire]

Guys, I believe he was asking does he have to run extra speaker wire for the tweeters on the Pioneer speakers. Anyhow, Turbo, the answer is no. The woofer, mid, and tweet on the Pioneer is already connected together. You just have to connect a single source to them. That means one positive and one negative wire from inside the door.


thanks guys! another question: do i need to run a power wire from my headunit to power the speakers, or are the wires that are in the door already amplied by it?

No, the speaker wires are the power. Just a simple + and - wire. Like someone said, you can find speaker harness adapters. You wire the adapter to the Pioneer speaker (just two wires, + and -) and plug the harness right into the plug that was connected to the stock speaker. It's simple. Take a home stereo for example. The actual cd player portion is your headunit. And the two speakers that you would put on each side of your TV or cd palyer, those are your door speakers. So it's just as simple as connecting home speakers to the stereo.

[Ugzz]

hyundai elantra adapters made by scosche @ cardomain:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/SCOSHUI01B

[DJ Hellfire]

hyundai elantra adapters made by scosche @ cardomain:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/SCOSHUI01B



Sucks! When I first changed my speakers, they didn't make those yet. But then again, the car wasn't even out for 2 years yet when I first changed them!

[TURBOgls]

Guys, I believe he was asking does he have to run extra speaker wire for the tweeters on the Pioneer speakers. Anyhow, Turbo, the answer is no. The woofer, mid, and tweet on the Pioneer is already connected together. You just have to connect a single source to them. That means one positive and one negative wire from inside the door.




No, the speaker wires are the power. Just a simple + and - wire. Like someone said, you can find speaker harness adapters. You wire the adapter to the Pioneer speaker (just two wires, + and -) and plug the harness right into the plug that was connected to the stock speaker. It's simple. Take a home stereo for example. The actual cd player portion is your headunit. And the two speakers that you would put on each side of your TV or cd palyer, those are your door speakers. So it's just as simple as connecting home speakers to the stereo.

exactly!! thanks!!!

[TURBOgls]

another question, if i want a fold out monitor(only monitor..), how do i run the powers? do i tap into the ones from my headunit or what? this is if i keep the headunit and add the monitor

[bdiggy]

Dude, even if this one is explained for you, I think you're getting in over your head now. Not trying to offend you. Start w/ trying to hook up an amp and sub by yourself first. If all goes well and you find it easy, then maybe think about trying the monitor. Remember, if it's not part of the current HU, you're going to need a modified slot in the dash for the monitor to flip out of. That and connections to the HU.

[Ugzz]

^ what he said.

And in answer to your question, no. do not "steal" power from anywhere. its always safer to run another power line. much of the stock wiring etc. is made to carry the weight of a stock system. so if you change out your HU, then add a screen and try and power it all off of the same line as just the hu you may start blowing fuses. Just run another line from the battery into the dash and fuse it with a small 10-20a fuse depending on the draw of your monitor.
If you have already run amp wires etc, then this will be cake.

[Munky]

another question, if i want a fold out monitor(only monitor..), how do i run the powers? do i tap into the ones from my headunit or what? this is if i keep the headunit and add the monitor

Since you're asking this question, you are obviously not ready to do this yourself.

Learn the basics first.

[TURBOgls]

thanks for the input, i'll try to gain more experience berfore trying to atempt this one....

[Ugzz]

i see what your up too, when i was a n00b i would ask simiar q's also and get similar responses.. but before diving into a project even if your new to it, its good to get the whole "big picture" scenario and see whats involved. I would start by running the wires for an amp by following the diys here on the site. once you get that far then start tackling the other stuff one by one.
If you need further help feel free to hit us up. were here to help

just keep in mind that adding a monitor or an amp sounds so easy, but there really is some wiring and fusing and setup involved. You can also reference google and crutchfield for guides and such too. there a ton of helpfull info out there

[TURBOgls]

i see what your up too, when i was a n00b i would ask simiar q's also and get similar responses.. but before diving into a project even if your new to it, its good to get the whole "big picture" scenario and see whats involved. I would start by running the wires for an amp by following the diys here on the site. once you get that far then start tackling the other stuff one by one.
If you need further help feel free to hit us up. were here to help

just keep in mind that adding a monitor or an amp sounds so easy, but there really is some wiring and fusing and setup involved. You can also reference google and crutchfield for guides and such too. there a ton of helpfull info out there
thanks, and having a dad who is an electrician helps, even though there are many differences between a house and a car...he still helps me out

[Munky]

i see what your up too, when i was a n00b i would ask simiar q's also and get similar responses.. but before diving into a project even if your new to it, its good to get the whole "big picture" scenario and see whats involved. I would start by running the wires for an amp by following the diys here on the site. once you get that far then start tackling the other stuff one by one.
If you need further help feel free to hit us up. were here to help

just keep in mind that adding a monitor or an amp sounds so easy, but there really is some wiring and fusing and setup involved. You can also reference google and crutchfield for guides and such too. there a ton of helpfull info out there

Exactly.

It's not that we're trying to give you crap because you don't know how, we just want you to take it one step at a time so we don't see a "HELP, I Screwed Up!" thread where we have to bail you out.

Take it a step at a time, learn what you need to learn, and you'll be able to do it by yourself with no problems.

[KeWLKaT]

yep, what he said.

[TURBOgls]

yep, what he said.

oh, i expected a don't ruin mommy's car comment

[Ugzz]

less then 200 posts and turbo already knows you kewlkat ;)
awesome

[TURBOgls]

lol, i've been on this site forever, well, 2 years, i just haven't been very active

ps-6x9's arrived today, everything i ordered is now here, will be installed in a few weeks(the first free weekend i get)

[DJ Hellfire]

^ what he said.

And in answer to your question, no. do not "steal" power from anywhere. its always safer to run another power line. much of the stock wiring etc. is made to carry the weight of a stock system. so if you change out your HU, then add a screen and try and power it all off of the same line as just the hu you may start blowing fuses. Just run another line from the battery into the dash and fuse it with a small 10-20a fuse depending on the draw of your monitor.
If you have already run amp wires etc, then this will be cake.


Agreed, though, the right way to do it would be to "steal" power in a sense. If you just go straight to the battery, you will have to add a switch to turn it on and off, and sometimes, you might forget to turn it off. What I would do is power the monitor off of a relay that get's triggered by the ignition power by tapping into an ignition power wire. That way, the tv will only be able to turn on with the key in the second position and you're not stealing juice from anything else, like Ugzz said. You could still add a switch this way too.

But like the guys already said, this type of installing is a bit more advanced than just connecting an amp. You should get a couple of amps, HU's and speakers under your belt before really getting into your cars electrical system.

[Ugzz]

^i thought you could turn screens on and off like a hu..? maybe only some brands? i know in my state its illegal to have screens on while driving if they are in view of the driver, so if its tied to your ignition and kicks on automatically then its a bad thing. then again im sure as long as your not using it to watch a movie or something it would be fine..

but in that case, yeah a relay wouldnt be a bad idea. and they are simple to install also :)

[DJ Hellfire]

^i thought you could turn screens on and off like a hu..?



Yeah, you can, but if you allow the screen to have direct battery power all the time, the power button on the monitor will always be hot allowing you to forget to turn it off. But if the screen has some type of remote wire, that would help.

And yeah, in my state, the only thing allowed on a screen is Navi or the radio for the driver.