3-way

Welcome Guest, we hope you find what you're looking for. Take a few seconds to register for an account and participate in the conversations!

ALL FORUMS ARE OFF-LIMITS FOR 0-POST USERS
CLICK THE SIGN AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF

[skiiirt]

Ok I remember having this discussion on another forum long ago.  However I can't find the post
I want to replace the rear 6x9's.  Now I have the upgraded sound package (bass controller).  I want to know if the reason the bass controller works is because the speakers are 3-way.  In other words, to keep everything functioning the same with new speakers I will need to buy 3-ways. correct?

[tijuana_no]

i don't know much about your system but i know some about audio ,and didn't no answers. i 'll answer as a audio person so if i'm wrong please some one correct me.
a bass knob is volume control equalizer knob why because is a filter that is sensitive to frequezy and can manipalate it and the frequency it cotrols are adjustable.
most amps today are equip with a bass knob and you adjust the frequrncy to be control in the crossover of the amp .
if your car came equip with a bass knob and cotrols the bass in the 6x9's more likely is adjusted to the lower frquecies played by the 6x9 and that is in the woofer part ,so there is no need for a 3 -way.

hope this helps you ,unless there is a weird way gm wire this ,and they do alot of weird stuff.

[3100MPFI]

GM did something weird with it.  Been there done that.

What it is, the best way I can describe it is that the rear speakers are set up like a DUAL VOICE COIL speakers.  Meaning each speaker has 4 wires going to it.  The NORMAL wires are used to do the HIGHS but the BASS BOOST wires are made to do the lows.  If I can find one of my old speakers, I will take a pic.

When I originally put new rear speakers in my STE (the STE has the same setup as the Cultass Supreme), I bought ROCKFORD FOSGATE PUNCH COMPONENTS.

I wired up the 2 tweeters to run off of the normal wires, but the MAIN SPEAKER was run off of the BASS BOOST.  That worked very good to give me an adjustable gain control, but there was a BAD INTERFERANCE when I changed out my HEAD UNIT.

If you are going to use the stock head unit, then do it however you want.

If you are going to go aftermarket, just hook the new speakers up to the NORMAL wires, and unplug your amp.  That will make them work like normal.

[Dstanic]

Aftermarket "3-way" speakers only have 1 set of wires going to them.  3-way aftermarket speakers have built in crossovers to control the woofer, midrange and tweeter that are all wired up as one unit.   The speakers currently in your car are different, as 3100MPFI described it has 2 sets of wires going to them, just like they are 2 seperate speakers.  It's a really stupid design for factory speakers IMO.

[skiiirt]

Ok.  Thanks..
So now my next option.. Replacing with factory.  I know they are like $90CAD each.  I am thinking it will be worth while.  
I really have a thing against losing any previous options in my car, enough to use a tape adapter for my mp3 player instead of replacing my factory tape deck.

I think what I would like to do is mount a deck in the side of the console or in the center arm rest.  I want the factory deck to prevent prying eyes and also because I personally don't like the look of decks stuck in that small hole

[Dstanic]

My old Grand Prix had a Pioneer 6-disc CD changer (FM modulated) hooked up to the factory tape deck.  It sat in the trunk but you could put it wherever.  That would be better than having 2 decks and cheaper IMO.

As far as keeping the speakers original- why?  They don't sound any better or anything, and you can not SEE them either so who cares.  Just get some cheap 2-way maybe Inifinty or something if you are worried about sound quality.  You really will forget/not notice what is back there anyways.

[tijuana_no]

from what i said and what taylor describe "having 2 set of post " is that the bass knob controls the volume and the frequency points are set ,so i would go with a 3 way cause the cutoff points might be too low to play on a 2 way and you might blow the tweeter.

[Dstanic]

from what i said and what taylor describe "having 2 set of post " is that the bass knob controls the volume and the frequency points are set ,so i would go with a 3 way cause the cutoff points might be too low to play on a 2 way and you might blow the tweeter.

Not if you unlplug the amp and run the NORMAL wires, as Taylor also mentioned.  My GP had the same/similar setup.  Regular $100 2 or 3-ways only have 1 set of wires going to them anyways, unless you are going with components.

[tijuana_no]

from what i said and what taylor describe "having 2 set of post " is that the bass knob controls the volume and the frequency points are set ,so i would go with a 3 way cause the cutoff points might be too low to play on a 2 way and you might blow the tweeter.

Not if you unlplug the amp and run the NORMAL wires, as Taylor also mentioned.  My GP had the same/similar setup.  Regular $100 2 or 3-ways only have 1 set of wires going to them anyways, unless you are going with components.

that is correct if he runs a after market head unit ,you want to disable the amp and not use bass control knobs.then the speakers be receive full range
(unless the head unit has a crossover)and its crossover and it don't matter if he uses 2- or 3 way speakers.you can also hook up a set of comp. or separates the same way ,but usualy   the amp in the head unit is not powerful enough to push them and would not sound good a simple set of coaxials would sound much better.
i just thought he was thinking of keeping the factory set up just repalcing  the speakers,in that case i would recommend a 3 way just for safety that the" normal" wires are corssover too low for the tweeter (tweeters usualy don't like to play frquencies below 5000 khz unless to get hi-dollar tweeters).
man ,sorry if i confuse some one ,i love audio stuff . i speak more audio than i do spanish.man ,i love that sounded good lol"i speak more audio than i do spanish"

[3100MPFI]

You are kinda off.

The reason he was asking was he wants to keep the stock features working correctly.

Meaning he want to replace the speakers, and still have use of the BASS BOOST switch.

I had use of the BASS BOOST in my STE, but once I replaced the head unit, I had to change it.  I would LOVE to put a stock head unit back in, but for now, I am not going to mess with it.

I was going to get the speakers from GM as well for my pink car (was adding in the MONSOON setup), but decided against it.  The NEWER stock ones don't seem to hold up that well.

If you do go to GM and get factory speakers, get some from a 1989 Cutlass Supreme INTERNATIONAL with the delux radio.  Those older speakers were designed better (the stock BLOWN older speakers sounded better than BRAND NEW stock ones).

I understand about wanting to keep the car pretty close to factory, but there will come a point where you might have to make compromises.  I had to do that with my STE.

Another thing to consider is the CD CHANGER.  I have one in my 1988 Cutlass Supreme.

Let me tell you a little about my 1988 so you can see how you might get around doing something different, but it seem stock.

I replaced my DASH, DOOR and REAR speakers with the normal PIONEER (2 and 3 way).

the HEAD UNIT is STOCK.

Pioneer 6-disc CD CHANGER mounted under the passenger seat.

For the BASS BOOST switch, I wired it up to power a BASS TUBE subwoofer.

It does not have a lot of power, but it adds just enough bass to round out the stock sound.

[tijuana_no]

You are kinda off.

The reason he was asking was he wants to keep the stock features working correctly.

Meaning he want to replace the speakers, and still have use of the BASS BOOST switch.

I had use of the BASS BOOST in my STE, but once I replaced the head unit, I had to change it.  I would LOVE to put a stock head unit back in, but for now, I am not going to mess with it.

I was going to get the speakers from GM as well for my pink car (was adding in the MONSOON setup), but decided against it.  The NEWER stock ones don't seem to hold up that well.

If you do go to GM and get factory speakers, get some from a 1989 Cutlass Supreme INTERNATIONAL with the delux radio.  Those older speakers were designed better (the stock BLOWN older speakers sounded better than BRAND NEW stock ones).

I understand about wanting to keep the car pretty close to factory, but there will come a point where you might have to make compromises.  I had to do that with my STE.

Another thing to consider is the CD CHANGER.  I have one in my 1988 Cutlass Supreme.

Let me tell you a little about my 1988 so you can see how you might get around doing something different, but it seem stock.

I replaced my DASH, DOOR and REAR speakers with the normal PIONEER (2 and 3 way).

the HEAD UNIT is STOCK.

Pioneer 6-disc CD CHANGER mounted under the passenger seat.

For the BASS BOOST switch, I wired it up to power a BASS TUBE subwoofer.

It does not have a lot of power, but it adds just enough bass to round out the stock sound.

what are you doing so late taylor,i was just to pm you .give a call tommorrow.
 but ,i know what i want to say may not write it down correct .i said i speak audio more than spanish ,the problem i have i don't know how to translate it most of the time .LOL

[3100MPFI]

You seem to be doing pretty good.

What I meant by you are kinda off is what mr selfdestruct had said:

"As far as keeping the speakers original- why? They don't sound any better or anything, and you can not SEE them either so who cares. Just get some cheap 2-way maybe Inifinty or something if you are worried about sound quality. You really will forget/not notice what is back there anyways."

I kinda intepereted that that he saying just put normal speakers in, but what Skiiirt had said:

"Ok. Thanks..
So now my next option.. Replacing with factory. I know they are like $90CAD each. I am thinking it will be worth while.
I really have a thing against losing any previous options in my car, enough to use a tape adapter for my mp3 player instead of replacing my factory tape deck. "

That tells me he does not want to lose the option of the BASS BOOST if he does not have too.

Just trying to tell him the best way to go about doing that.

If you get a COMPONENT SPEAKER, and do NOT use the CROSSOVER, you can wire up the 6X9 part to the SUBWOOFER wires, and you can wire the TWEETERS to the NORMAL wires.  That will make the component work the way the stock setup does without risk of messing up the speakers.

[3100MPFI]

I went ahead and dug up one of my old BASS BOOST speakers to show you.

From the top you can tell it looks pretty much like a NORMAL speaker, but on the BACK it has 4 wires (2 red, and 2 black).

I cut the connector off to use in my current car, so the wires on the right side are kinda short, but I digress: