Very very interesting plan. I like your idea.
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Very very interesting plan. I like your idea.
So, decided this tangled mess of RCAs just wasn't going to cut it:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7903/...ac324956_b.jpg
Stripped back one of the jackets to reveal a pretty common setup, outer shielded with a center wire for the RCA outputs of the DSR1:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7913/...da8cdd56_b.jpg
Picked up some Mogami 2319 Wire and JCM RCA connectors, snipped the female ends off the DSR1 harness, soldered on the Mogami wire:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7896/...f5772fb5_b.jpg
Was a bit tedious, but eventually we ended up with this:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7884/...f59d3f1d_b.jpg
And ohhhh yeah, that's better:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7882/...6f8cc331_b.jpg
Wat da fcuk? Chit has stereo equipment in his ride?
For now...
:D
Welp, Al jinxed it. The distortion is back again today, and WAY worse. I tested different speakers on the Arc amp, and still getting the distortion. Then swapped amps and used the different speakers, no distortion. Hooked the factory amp back up, and guess what. Distortion. Now I'm really bumfuzzled.
Could one of the ID 6x9s be fubar, and putting the Arc amp into some sort of protect mode that causes it to sound fuzzy and distorted?
Maybe try a different source straight into the amp.
Is the factory amp in play when you get the distortion?
You said "Then swapped amps and used the different speakers, no distortion." sooooooo i'm confused
Whole story... starting two days ago, the crackle was back, but only at certain volumes. It really sounded like the tweeters though, because it come from both the left and the right side. I'm thinking, ok... maybe it's an EQ problem... the tweeters are distorting at a certain frequency... no problem. I can tune that out later. Well yesterday on the way home, oh noooo... it got BAD distorted. So bad I pulled over and shut the tweeters off with the DSR1 app on my phone. That didn't fix it - it was the driver's side midbass again!!! So I swapped RCAs from right to left, but it stayed with the driver's side mid. So I'm thinking, crap. It's either my wiring, the speaker, or the amp might be fubar.
The way I have it setup, DSR1 has tweeters (1&2), midbass (3&4), rear full ranges (5&6), and sub channels (7&8). The Arc 1200.6 has Front, Rear, and Sub inputs. From the DSR1, I have channels 1&2 (tweeters) to the rear channels of the amp (that's how the Arc manual recommended doing it because it only has a high pass feature), channels 3&4 (midbass) to the sub channels of the amp, and 5&6 (rear full ranges) to the front channels of the amp (because you can bandpass the front channels).
Got home, immediately unplugged the left midbass speaker output from the Arc amp, and wired up an NVX 6.5" - the distortion was still there? :hmm: So then I'm like, ok. It must be the amp channel. Maybe cap went bad, something. Decided fine, I'll just move the midbass outputs of the DSR1 to the front outputs of the amp. Guess what... still distorted. This is when every channel, including the tweeters, starting getting fuzzy and distorted. I hit the breaker to shut power, and just accepted the amp must be fugged. Unhooked it, and hooked up an Infinity Kappa Five to make sure. Didn't have enough wire length to test the factory harness, so I hooked up the NVX 6.5" and the TC 15" sub to the Infinity, and no distortion. That confirmed it right there, or so I thought. Decided to put the factory amp back in just to get by for a bit, and freaky deak, the driver's mid sounds BAADDDDD distorted now.
Long story short, had the speakers running off factory power for months with no issues. Finally install the DSR1 and Arc amps, and get distortion on driver's side midbass. Unhook, put the factory amp back in, had distortion again right after hooking it up, but not the next morning and for the two weeks it took my to put the DSR1 and Arc amps back in again. All is good for almost two weeks, now the distortion is back in the same speaker, but worse. And again, put the factory amp back in, distorted right afterwards, but this morning, didn't notice it at all.
I'm bumfuzzled. So now I'm wondering, is the ID 6x9 bad? And is that causing a crazy ohm load on the Arc that's putting it into a semi protect mode?
shorted wire going to the ID? did you use the same wires when you tested the nvx speakers and infinity amp?
Used new wire for the NVX and Infinity. Same power wires and RCAs, but different speaker wire.
If the NVX speaker distorted on the Infinity amp with different wire going to the speaker that means the ID speaker and Arc amp "should" be fine. We ruled that out...HOPEFULLY. And you get distortion with the factory amp in use and dsr1 bypassed correct? If that's the case we can rule out the processor. This leads me to believe something in your signal chain is fooked. But now I'm foncuzzled so who the hell knows what's going on now. I know I mention this a lot in strange noise issue threads but have you considered getting a priest involved? Might be something strange entity in the Jeep itself...ONLY PARTIALLY BEING SARCASTIC WITH THE LAST COMMENT!
Ha!!! I can't help but think replacing the 6x9 is the first place to start, find out if the issue repeats. If not, then we have the culprit.
The factory head was in the signal chain in all of those scenarios, right? Hence my suggestion to use a different source straight into the amp.
Yeah I agree an alternate source to take the 8.4 out of the picture will be your best bet. It's the ONLY thing that's been in the signal chain EVERY SINGLE TIME correct? This includes when the NVX speaker had distortion? Also, hook up the cdsp and ampro some crazy mofo from Arkansas sent you and see what happens. Not saying it will solve your problems but you own it free and clear so may as well try it;)
Well, it didn't take two minutes tonight to send the driver's side mid into distortion like a mofo tonight with the factory amp back in. I'll swap it out first, and see what happens, then try a radio direct through the Arc amp into the ID mid and test that too. Might as well rule out all possibilities.
And I do like the idea of the AmpPro and MiniDSP. :thumbup:
I would try to rule out the headunit first. Something simple, like an ipod into the rca inputs of the arc.
Check your grounds, too.
So, you ain't gonna believe this. Couldn't take it anymore, and even with the drizzle outside, I tore that mutha fuggin door apart to figure out what this issue was. Took the speaker out, hooked up a NVX 6.5", and no distortion. Pulled the phase plug on the fuzzy sounding ID 6x9 and looked like there was some slight debris there near the coil. Used the air nozzle and shop vac to spray and suck :rofl: but that didn't fix it. Still distorted. :rant:
Found that the cardboard cover around a new razor blade fits perfect inside the coil gap, so I ran it around the inside hoping to clean up anything that may still be floating around in there. Hooked up, sounded like the distortion was gone, put the speaker back in, and poof. Still there :daniel: Decided to just swap to the NVX 6.5" mids for now, but those things don't fit! The MDF baffles from the Challenger space them out too far, and the door panel wouldn't go back on. So in a last effort, I decided to clean the coil again with that piece of cardboard, hooked it up, distortion gone again! Yes!
That's when it hit me... when cranking down the screws, apparently I was tightening them too much, and twisting the plastic basket. I guess it tweaks the cone just enough, putting a bind on the coil, which then rubs and distorts. Was very careful to get the screws just tight enough to seal everything up, but kept the basket perfectly flat. No distortion!!!
Persistence pays off! I would have f-bombed everything in sight and ripped the driver apart, saying “whose distorting now mother f’er”, then realized how much money that just cost me, lmao!
Thank you friend! It was very frustrating, but glad the good peeps here are always offering support to tackle the issue and keep moving forward.
Need to revisit the subwoofer enclosure, and tidy up the wiring. Ordered some new RCAs and may try them, check these babies out:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7923/...58115f36_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7834/...739c4882_b.jpg
Cooool. They looks so fancy.
Ordered fitty if you need some!!! :eyebrows:
One of these days, you are gonna have to do some vids of how you clean up all your wiring and make your connectors. It amazes me to see what you start with and what you end up with, even going back to the Challenger. Always beautiful, clean work bro.
You are too kind my friend! Definitely couldn't do any of it without all the great knowledge shared between us fellow junkies!!!
Well, amps and DSR1 are removed. Have tried three times to hook it up and every time, keep getting this nasty distortion and crackle, that isn't there with the factory amp. It's even awful with the touch screen tones, just selecting things, the soft tone is distorted. Backup warning beeps aren't working either. So, had to pull it. Could be my wiring, but I think it's more the DSR1 in this application. Does that make it bad? Tough to say. I honestly think in another vehicle, could be just fine. Like the Challenger, only had six factory speakers, I bet it would have worked perfectly in there. But in the Grand Cherokee, trying to sum all those signals and do backup beeps and bluetooth, etc. - guess it just wasn't the best choice.
Will check the Arc amps to make sure everything is ok with them, then go another direction with the processing.
Well kiddos... let's play a game. It's called, Guess Which Woofer Quit Working On The Way Home From Work Today:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7808/...4147c207_b.jpg
You give up yet? The distortion was back yesterday, so decided to pull them both out and swap, see if it's the speaker causing the problem, or maybe the factory radio. I think we can all agree, it's the speaker. Wasn't playing at all. Could push in on the cone and it would make sound, but soon as you let go, it slowly went back to resting position and quit playing. Guess the coil is shorting out against the pole piece. Could have been what was causing the nasty sounds with the DSR1 and Arcs!!! Anyone have some hot sauce? Time to eat that crow.
As before, the NVX won't fit because the baffle from the Challenger is too deep for the door panel to fit back on. But... I forgot there are XS 6.5" speakers in the back doors, and they are MUCH thinner than the NVX. Swapped them into the baffles, and the door panels went back on. Going to rock those for a bit, see if we can live with, "just" a 6.5" speaker in the doors, and go from there. Stay tuned, this could turn into an NVX build pretty quickly!
Sucks that the ID’s gave up on ya. Glad you already had a nice replacement though!
Well, kind of. Seems like midrange has improved a bit. Cymbals and guitar seem, "meaty" - definitely have more bite and crash to them... But that midbass... man. Seems like one of those you don't miss it, until it's gone. Now I'm really torn. Go with the 6.5's to keep that midrange that did seem to be lacking just a little bit... or lean back towards the midbass...
I know how we can find out...
http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-conte...sby_weiner.gif
There is actually quite a bit. Just restricted to that 6x9 oval shape.
Maybe you had a faulty X69 driver from the start... Who knows, if you find another pair of X69, maybe you will have your midbass and that sweet midrange ;)
Kelvin
I did find another pair, but can't help wondering if this is going to be an issue again. With them rusting and locking up.
Alright, you talked me into it. Found another pair for quite a bit less. They are listed as New, and sure look it. We'll take a chance. But, I'm also picking up some 6x9" foam baffles instead of trying to use those 6.5" ones. Maybe a little extra moisture protection will help prolong the life.
It's not like you don't have a spare xs69 laying around.
New XS69 woofers arrived, installed them yesterday. Also picked up some 6x9 baffles instead of the 6.5" I used before. Hopefully, provide more rain coverage to protect these from rusting like that other one:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7861/...67cfb73b_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7909/...f90492be_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4898/...79b8d84b_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7906/...d0abd7b3_b.jpg
Decided to try something different with the IDMAX:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...68bb05a0_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8ac1a0bd_b.jpg
Double baffle, bottom baffle has both openings cut out into it to get as much air into the wheel well cavity as possible. IDMAX is secured via 2 inch screws, with a one inch washer on the backside to prevent ripping out of the MDF. Mounted to the vehicle via the factory locations:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...210b6e2f_b.jpg
She sounds, different. Bass seems so natural. Like, way too natural. The seat bottom vibrates now instead of the seat back, and bass extension seems to be crazy low. But where I had the midbass crossed higher with the previous sub in an enclosure, seems like the crossover point will need to be moved down a bit to mate up better. Can't offer much opinion just yet on whether I like this or not. Guess that's what an, "SQ" oriented install is supposed to sound like? Just an odd sound from what I am accustomed to.
Still can't decide if I like this or not. Listened to quite a few tracks on my Corsair HS70 headphones last night. Are they audiophile by any means? I dunno. But they sound good. Darn good. I enjoy them better than most of the Sennheiser and Audio-Technica in my collection. Right on par with these Master and Dynamic MH30 I have. You can definitely hear bass. Lots of bass. Head bobbing bass. But in the Jeep right now, there is none of that. It's just, odd. Turn the sub off, and you can tell a difference. But when it's on, just kind of disappears into the music. Lowered the crossover of the midbass to 63Hz, and brought the sub up to the same frequency. Used some Noico thin dampener around the edge of the baffle to try and seal any air that may have been leaking out around the foam weatherstripping I used around the sub and sheet metal. One of those definitely helped, got quite a bit more, "punch" doing that. But still, no exaggerated, bloated, gut wrenching bass.
Listening to a track I've become quite familiar with, Arlissa - Every Time I Breathe - the bass on that track would shake the seat back a bit, and now that's gone. It's just this low low kick, thump, rumble, kick, thump, gone.
Halsey - Without Me - man. With that Ground Zero 15 ported, could probably do a small hair trick before. But you just get low rumble again now. The kick drum though is solid. Thump, gone. Thump, gone. Thump, rumbling arpeggio, gone. No overhang or anything. Maybe that's what I'm used to, the big boomy overhang, and just missing it?
Scrolled over to Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears - that bass guitar intro, you get the plucks, solid, bada doom doom, bada doom doom, bada doom doom - just crazy realistic, then the drum comes, sharp snap of the snare, and then the bass drum, solid, and up front. The floor vibrates under your foot, not the seat. It's just way different bass with the IDMAX mounted in this configuration.
Guess it's just a decision now if this is what I really want. May spend a few days listening more before yanking this out and just going with an enclosure. I mean, if the goal was to reproduce music as naturally as possible, then this is definitely doing it. But, only if you're sitting still. Driving, still losing a lot of output compared to other setups. Can't help wondering if road noise inside the fender well could be causing cancellations.
There are no cancellations, chithead.
The bass from two ten inch IDMAX in a "Decware" W. O. 32" , folded horn is very similar to your current configuration, except, this is in my living room with a 1,000 watts { so seamless and integrates beautifully with a YAS-108 (which plays 50 Hz and up) , no bloat, overhang, "fake tub thump" .
Your sub is in the zone!
Now. . . Bring on your midbass ( 8`s/10`s) and the hit in the chest ! ! !