Porchpup

With all the rambling I did in the first post I thought that I did define this. I don't know how else to put it into words. I really do understand that the install is far more important than components but is there no happy medium? I'm not trying to be an ass but if all things remain equal, wouldn't it go without saying a set of Rainbows would sound better than a set of Kracos in the same install? Well maybe that's a little overboard but you see what I mean. Sure the Rainbows may not be performing to their full potential but it's got to be an improvement. The thing that I keep hearing is without altering my doors/panels, kick panels and without proper aiming, imaging and time alignment I can't improve the quality of my system. To ///M5 and all the others that have replied, I really do respect the work that you guys do to reach ultimate SQ and maybe I sound like I'm being difficult but is there really no way to improve without major mods to my truck?

As for the time alignment I'm beginning to understand that a little more. I was listening to Ode to Billy Joe by Patricia Barber and notice the "Arena" effect or slight echo that I do not hear with headphones. Do I understand that time alignment will correct this and help with stage imaging. By correcting the amount of time it takes to get to the drivers ear, won't it make the effect worst for the passengers ear? Is this correction more of a Mid driver and High driver time adjustment over a left and right adjustment or am I missing something and on the totally wrong track? BTW I couldn't pass on the One Day Only Sale and went ahead and picked up a pair of the MLI-65's. For $50 I had to at least give them a shot.

Like I always tell my Wife...I got what I wanted.

Yes the AC DQXS is a change on the fly model. As of now I'm using it for Sub, Mid, High. I believe it has enough adjustment to convert to a front stage only. To be honest with you I have never played with time alignment so that would be a whole new world to me. I like that idea but I see me making it only worst with too many adjustments that I don't totally understand. I might be able to fit a 7". The Quarts I have now are not supposed to fit either so I'm pretty good at making do. That's what I'm tinking too. Go with the textile?

Ok I know you guys can get WAY too technical (not to mention harsh) for me but I'm going to try this anyway. I am currently running an active 2-way front stage plus two (sealed,downfired) 12" TC-9's in a Chevy Colorado extended cab. See profile. Although I am pleased with this setup I'm still lacking that "something" that makes it near perfect to my taste. In my mind I'm looking for SQ but I have seen too many people beaten down for using that term because we do not know what SQ is, let alone how to achieve it. I can not...nor will I...argue with that. I am 46 so I'm not going to play the 16 year old that knows more than everybody here and refuse to listen to advice. With that said here's what I'm up against. I would like to go with an active 3-way front stage but I DO NOT want to alter my door panels. Meaning midbass and tweets must stay in stock locations and off axis. I also like the idea of a small dome midrange glassed in the kicks due to the fact I can't loose anymore foot room. Max mounting dept in the doors for midbass is 2 3/4" and doors are well deadened. Crossovers are controlled by an Audio Control DQXS and front stage amps are Sundown 100.4 and 100.2. First off the Subs are great so we'll leave them alone. What I'm looking for in midbass is more authority, chest pounding kick to blend with the subs. The drums are very important to my ears. My midrange is near null. Vocals are the weakest point in my present set-up. As of now I'd prefer to listen to anything without vocals. They are just not right and I don't know how else to explain it. As for tweets, they are "OK" but could be better. I do tend to turn them down. I don't like the harsh, ear piercing highs that ring in your head for 15 minutes but I do like them to be crystal clear. So here's what I have determined that I would like to try. Budget is around $250 for front stage. Crossover points are of course just a starting point. Midbass----Mach5 MLI65. Crossed at around 80 up to 600 Hz. Subs handle everything below that. BTW my doors are for 6 1/2 woofers. http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/shop/in...p;productId=157 Midrange---Dayton RS52AN-8. Crossed at around 600 up to 4500 Hz. This one is still up in the air. I like the small design of a cone with the ability to move around until I'm happy with a location. http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cf...6980947#reviews Tweets------Seas 27TFFNC/G. 4500 Hz and up. I don't want to go large format so this one will still fit the stock location. Not real sure if I want metal or textile. http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=1466 At 46 my ears are not near well trained as most of you so take that into account. Yes I do like loud music but I'm not out to break any records. With a cheap RadioShack sound meter my current system is running about 110 to 120 db (on bass heavy music) and that is plenty for me. I listen to mainly classic rock, country, hip hop, techno, jazz. Hell I'll listen to anything expect that new screaming, off key, make want to kill somebody so-called rock that some of you call music. I apologize for rambling but I'm trying to give you as much info as possible. I do value you guys opinion or I would not ask so chime in with your thoughts. Thanks Jim.

I don't think it was the power that hurts, it was the hertz that hurts. Lame....I know but I couldn't resist.

You have to get from Rick at RAAMaudio. http://www.raamaudio.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

Now that's cool. I love it. Like we know anything about coping with heat around here.

WOW!!! Not a cheap mistake. Makes my gut hurt. I feel for you man.

Man I'd kill for a Sundown T-shirt.......as long as the blood stains don't show.

Deadening is a total PITA. It takes hours of work. This is my attempt. Two layers of RAAMmat on the outer skin. This is after a layer of Ensolite on the outer skin and a layer of RAAMmat on the inner skin. Don't have one of it finished but I covered the openings and added another layer of mat and a layer of Ensolite. A Huge, Huge difference in mid bass. Knocking on these doors is like knocking on concrete.

Your other post said you are running a 1606D with an Alpine deck. Start with these settings.... Subsonic at halfway (12 O'clock). Bass EQ off (0 db). Low Pass a little less that halfway ( 11 O'clock). Phase at 0. Level at 3/4 (3 O'clock). If you're not getting any sub at these levels then you have something wired wrong.

A front stage that can produce 150 db at 20 kHz!!!!! I don't think I want to be around to hear that.

Anybody using/have used this xover? Pros, cons, noise issues? As a now I'm running an Audio Control DQXS to cross my bass mids and tweets. My plan is to add the HK3X into the mix to bandpass the midbass and continue to let the DQXS handle the subs midrange and tweets.

I could see where this was going from the get go. Nothing wrong with a little humor.

Now that's funny. Maybe nobody realizes that you're just kidding.....You are kidding aren't you?

Brian & Porchpup im having a BBQ at my house next weekend http://texasbasswars.freeforums.org/viewtopic.php?t=169 Cool. I have a little Colorado Xtreme and my system is in my signature. Nothing at all like you guys but I would love to hear both of your setups.

where you located ? i live in Dallas TX neer HWY 635 & 75 I'm up in Celina. North of Frisco. Off 380 between Denton and McKinney.

Hey Baccus how can I find out when/where these comps are in the D/FW area? Looks like fun and I'd like to come check them out. Thanks, a fellow Sundown owner.

I have to agree. I've only had a couple of dealings with Jacob and even though my purchases where relatively small scale he was still very helpful. If it's $5 or $1000 he gets involved and follows through with your needs. I am a customer for life and Sundown Audio will always be my first choice.

Found it...It was the ground to the DQXS. Grounded but apparently not good enough. Got that fixed and then devolved a bad ass popping, crackling noise. I guess it was trying to ground thru the RCA cable and must have fried it. New RCA and all is good now. What a picky SOB. Thanks guys for your help.

I'm installing my AudioControl DQXS and setting up my active system. As a total newbie to this active stuff, I'm crossing one huddle at a time. The first thing is a major, and I mean major noise issue. So bad that it sounds like a test tone being played when the system is at 0 volume. With the vehicle running or not, it only changes in tone. I finished up late tonight and have not been able to do much troubleshooting. I did play with the internal (jumper) ground settings on the DQXS without any success. I was in a bit of rush when I wired it so here's what I did. I daisy chained the power to the DQXS off one of the amps. A 4 gauge wire from the battery to the amp to the DQXS. Maybe a that a bad thing? It only needs a small power source and has an inline 2 amp fuse installed. The ground wire is grounded to the same point as both the amps. Before now I had no noise issues so it has to be something I did. Power? Ground? RCA's? Any other ideas?

Why did the Chicken cross the road.... To prove to the Armadillo that it could be done. Most people don't even have to try to hit one, but you really go out on a limb.

Thanks guys. I kind of figured the gain settings on the amp would be the same routine. When you say bypass the amp xovers...would you just set them on Full as to not interfere with the active settings?

Very nice. Good luck on the going active part. Seems nobody will answer simple questions you might have. More than basic information is Top Secret.