Hi everyone, this is my first post in here !! as I've just bought a 380 SX about a month age...

Anyway, I'm posting to ask few questions regarding upgrading the audio system of the car.

So my plans are;

- keep stock head unit (the 6 CD stack one)
-install two amps (one 4 channel & the other one a mono amp)
-upgrade back speakers for sure (not sure about the front once)
- add a 12" sub, still juggling between a custom make box on the left side recess of the boot or a normal sub box.

Now before I start, I would like to ask few questions,

1. will the stock front speaker withstand the 'power' from the amp?
2. I believe that the stock head unit does not have RCA out connection, therefore since my 4 channel amp has a 'speaker level input connection' I'm gonna use that but I'm not too sure how to connect them using this connection.
Will it work if I disconnect the speakers and use the "stock' speakers wire to connect it to the 'speaker level input connector' then from the amp out I wire a new connection back to each speaker.
Then use the 4 channel RCA line out to connect the mono amp which will power the 12" sub.

I'm attaching a sketch that I did together with a snap shot of from the manual of the 4ch amp connections.

any advice or comment or if I'm doing some thing wrong !!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x57sk6gkx93bo9p/iib86x3UAf

1. No, while they are good speakers for what they are, they will barely handle an aftermarket head unit, let alone a dedicated amp.
2. Theory is you can do this. However I just got line level to RCA converters, hooked the fronts up to my front ch on the amp, and rears up to sub + rear. I actually ended up disconnecting my rear speakers altogether as they sounded terrible with a sub.

My recommendation would be to leave the rears unplugged, spend the extra on getting some decent fronts and a sub. You can even get away with just a 4 ch and run the rears bridged for the sub this way.

So what size are the front speakers? and how to get to the tweeters? As I do have some speakers running around from my old car sound system...

So I currently have:

* 2x 5inch woofers c/w a cross-over to 2x tweeters
* 2x 6inch 2way speakers
* 2x 6x9 3way speakers
* 12inch Sub with no box, (use to hv but....)
* 4channel 800W amp
* 2x RCA cables

If I keep this set-up and change the stock speakers, all I need to get is the mono amp and a sub box and some power cables + speakers wire

For the love of bacon, screw the rears, upgrade the fronts!!

1 - Look for a simple processor/line level converter. It'll simplify things a little and also give you some extra tuning capabilities. eg. Rockford Fostage 3Sixty.1, JBL MS8 etc.

2 - Upgrade those front speakers! You can literally ditch the rears, until you've got your front stage set nicely.

SuFz :ninja:

This is Correct, download the manual.

2. I believe that the stock head unit does not have RCA out connection, therefore since my 4 channel amp has a 'speaker level input connection' I'm gonna use that but I'm not too sure how to connect them using this connection.


IMO
If I had to put that gear that your have in a car without spending any more money on audio, I'd -

1 - Cut the magnets off the 6x9's and use them as screw collectors, or to magnetize my screwdriver sets, or stick stuff to the fridge with em'.

2 - Mount the 6" coaxials to a MDF board, the size of the speaker hole in the rears. Head unit power.

3 - MDF mount the 5" mid from the splits and mount in the door, ( I'd rather get 6" splits, but hey) mount the tweeter up front, near the base of the A'pillar aimed at the top of each opposite B pillar. Power with Amp. Use Amps Hi/Lo input for signal. Off Channels 1 & 2.

4 -Power a 4 Ohm (?) sub off Bridged Channels 3 & 4, hi/lo of the rear speaker signal.

If you have some coin, Get the Bit Ten, it'll give you EQ, T/A, and individual RCA outs, all while improving quality at the same time. And you can fit to the next car you have too.

This is just general info and not aimed at you. But has some stuff that may clear some questions up.

I've got to say, why everyone wants to upgrade rear speakers and a sub, the 6x9's almost do bass well, but if you throw a sub into mix, the sub will out perform, and sound better than good 6x9's every day of the week.
If you want to go against grain of advice and add rears with a sub, put in something in that will do the job a sub wont do, and put in 5" - 6" splits or co-axials mounted on MDF. If you feel that rear fill is a must.
That will help avoid nasty resonances and cancellation.

People go on and on, about ditching/ignoring the rears and upgrading the fronts instead, it gets so repetitive. Cause they are right, every time. Every premium audio Magna or 380 has splits up the front, in the case of the 380 GT etc, better splits, though rudimentary cutoff filters.
And have a look at the amps you have, or might buy, if they have a high level input, and most do, I'll bet dollars to pesos that they out perform a standard Hi/Lo converter everytime, because they are powered, not passive, and the reputation of the manufacturer is at stake, you'll know they have a good one in there when you connect it up. This of course applys to Decks without RCA's.
They wont out perform a sound processor, like the Audison Bit ten, the bit ten d, bit one, the 3Sixty. But that's gone way above simple. They are however, excellent, if you want to chase down a brilliant sounding system, and keep everything looking stock.
As always, care in fitting will always improve the end result. Speaker gaskets, minimal air leaks, and deadening will always improve a system, how much is up to you.
/rant:chainsaw::headbange

lol

Thanks alot to all,

I'll be going as 'shoot' said, and then later on I instal one of the sound processors, but not sure which one now!!!!

as some of you had already said there's a few, i could find 4;

- Audison Bit Ten
- JBL MS8
- Rockford 3sixty
- Alpine PXA-H800

the JBL MS8 looks good ...

What you guys think?

Have a look here.
http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au/article/news/oem_integration_devices/

If Fooz was about. He's discuss the serious shortcomings and disadvantages of the ms8. As well as lack of support. I used to sell JBL gear. They had no idea on the processor.
No mention of the bit ten or the bit ten D. Seriously cheaper.
That review is over 2 years old.
And the JBL cant use your OEM volume knob. Hardly Integrated at all.

No mention of the bit ten or the bit ten D. Seriously cheaper.
That review is over 2 years old.


IIRC Bit Ten's have not be out for too long themselves have they? I know Bit One has been around for donkeys though.

I always thought the MS8 looked alright but I remember reading something about them that made me frown upon them, Ill have a look later as I dont have time atm, have we all had a look at the Mosconi 6to8?