Help me chose an audio system.

[smileymattj]

Sensitivity is actually not important unless you are powering it with a weak amplifier or direct from the headunit. Just because a speaker is less than 90 (which is almost every high power sub), doesn't mean it's a bad speaker. It also has nothing to do with the sound quality.

It highly depends on how much power you are going to be giving the speakers. Of course if it has a higher sensitivity to start with, it will be louder at first, but if that speaker is only good for 75 watts, and you are comparing it to another at 200 watts with less sensitivity. The lower sensitivity can be louder.

SPL sensitivity efficiency reading is measured at 1 meter from the speaker being powered by 1 watt. 1watt/1meter.

Speaker efficiency 1w/1m (base/start-off)	2w	4w	8w	16w	32w	64w	128w	256w	512w	1024w
89 SPL	92 SPL	95 SPL	98 SPL	101 SPL	104 SPL	107 SPL	110 SPL	113 SPL	116 SPL	119 SPL
91 SPL	94 SPL	97 SPL	100 SPL	103 SPL	106 SPL	109 SPL	112 SPL	115 SPL	118 SPL	121 SPL

Can you tell the difference between 89 SPL and 91 SPL? No human can. 80 SPL to 90,100, yea you'll tell it there, big difference.
Higher sensitivity specs doesn't meant the speaker is louder, it means that the speaker is X dB louder at the same wattage power than the comparable one. Most are going to be around 89-94 dB for mid/high/full range speakers. Subs are normally 87-92 dB.

So you have to compare apples to apples, oranges to oranges. If you have a 91 SPL efficient speaker powered by a 22w RMS head unit, against an 89 SPL efficient speaker powered by a 75w RMS amp, then the 89 SPL speaker is louder. It's not a straight up side by side comparison. It depends on what the max RMS of the speaker is, and what you're going to be delivering to it.

If you're going with powering the mids/full range by the head unit, then yes you'll want the best efficiency you can find, because you're not working with a lot of power there. Powered by an amp, depends on what power you're talking about.

[FlexBravo]

Here are a few component speakers I am trying to decide between. I also should say I have not heard the Kenwoods but I have heard the other two without any bass subs going (which is how I listened to them). I prefer the silk as I found the highs to be less harsh (muddy tin). I'm not sure if I would change my mind when you add in the bass of a sub though.
What I like about the Kenwoods is: more watts, and silk. Also I found the JLs for $129 and the matching rear 6x9 for $104. So that also plays in my decision as well.

Can you guys look at these and give me your thoughts?

Kenwood eXcelon KFC-X1730P
JL Audio C2-650
Focal 165 A1

[smileymattj]

Each of those speakers don't go very low. 63, 59, & 60 Hz. A lot of bass in music is around 40-50 Hz. You'll be losing that. These are meant to be accompanied by a subwoofer.

Are you saying you want a sub or not?

Although the Kenwoods can handle more power, they will roughly be the same result at the JL's or Focal. There is 5-6 dB difference in the efficiency. In the case of the JL vs Focal, the 1 dB difference isn't going to be noticed. Though the Kenwoods at full power also wouldn't be any noticeable volume level difference, it will require more power to achieve that.

All three are good, and simular. Nothing really to say one is better than the other. Only thing is if you don't add a sub, you'll probably want speakers that are 20Hz-20,000Hz. If you're doing a sub, these are fine.

Max loudness:
Kenwood - 106 SPL
JL - 108 SPL
Focal - 109 SPL

[FlexBravo]

I think my initial plan is to just add the speakers and the head unit. A sub and possibly a 5-channel amp may come later, as I am going above my initial budget as it is.

Given the info you provided then I'm leaning towards the JL Audio set up then. The rear 6x9s they offer are here: JL AUDIO C2-690tx 6X9

They are 3-way and offer 53 - 22,000, Hz which will give me a touch more of the bass, not as good as 40-50. However I think that in the end I will not be totally satisfied until I add in a sub. Although, I only really want to keep as much of my trunk space as I can so I'd be looking at something that will be small and still get the job done.

On a side note; Has anyone bought anything from Tekoffers.net Their prices are good however in looking at a head unit they have it listed twice. One mentions it is brand new the other has no mention of this. This leads me to wonder if they are refurbs.

Okay so if I get component front speakers with crossover and this head Kenwood KDC-x996

The head has a crossover;
X'Over: The head unit features independent Front, Rear, & tweeter high-pass crossovers, as well as a subwoofer low-pass crossover.

Front High Pass Filter: 40, 60, 70, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, or 220 Hz; slope of -6, -12, -18, or -24 dB per octave (or select Full-Range)
Rear High Pass Filter: 40, 60, 70, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, or 220 Hz; slope of -6, -12, -18, or -24 dB per octave (or select Full-Range)
Tweeter High Pass Filter: 1, 1.6, 2.5, 4, 5, 6.3, 8, 10, or 12.5 kHz
Subwoofer Low Pass Filter: 40, 60, 70, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, or 220 Hz; slope of -6, -12, -18, or -24 dB per octave (or Select Full-Range)

So if you're running components which already have crossovers what do you do? Do you disconnect them and just connect to the Kenwood Head crossover? Do you connect the Kenwood crossover to the component crossover? Is there some other way that I am missing?

[FlexBravo]

I went to a couple junk yards today looking for the upper door panel with tweeters. I was unable to find any, however as I went to a UPull it, I was able to remove a few door panels and the dash and put them back together for practice. And seeing how easy it is I no longer have a fear of drilling holes in the upper panel for tweeters myself. If I screw it up I can get a couple more for about $10.

I just need to figure out now exactly what I need to install the Kenwood head. I think I need some sort of plastic molding around the head to make it look correct and not have any gaps. I'm also unsure if I need any sort of DIN sleeve or if I can reuse what ever the stock radio has.

[hyundave]

I just need to figure out now exactly what I need to install the Kenwood head. I think I need some sort of plastic molding around the head to make it look correct and not have any gaps. I'm also unsure if I need any sort of DIN sleeve or if I can reuse what ever the stock radio has.

Depending where you bought it from, they usually provide one.

[smileymattj]

Sorry been busy at work.

Those should be good powered by a headunit, and later can increase volume with an added amp. Though I'd prefer not to lose < 53 Hz, you can live with it till you can add a sub.

Never heard of tekoffers.

The crossover selections on the headunit won't tune the sounds, it just adjusts the cut-offs. Unless you start to get anal about sound quality, you won't need to tune each frequency, which would require an external processor anyway. Sounds like it's good configurable head unit, usually you get 3-5 filter options.


Crossover on the Kenwood is going to say nothing under/able the selected frequency will be sent to the speakers.
Component speakers have woofers and tweeters, crossover separates lows and highs, then only sends them to the proper speaker.
They won't mess anything up together, and adjusting the Kenwood is as simple as left-right, fader adjusting.

That's awesome you found a junkyard you could go out and play on the yard. There is only 1 in the entire county here that will let me do that.

Yes, you'll need an adapter for single din. I believe it will give you a pocket. You might be able to flip it to have the pocket above or below the stereo.